Only way out

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Ren propelled his body forward as fast as he could.

'It's hard.' Ren thought.

With his larger frame, it was much harder to move around. His agility had significantly decreased.

'Did it chase after Eva?' Ren thought.

He could hear the sound of sizzling slightly flickering against his ears.

'Fuck!' Ren thought as he dodged to the side.

A bolt of lightning pierced through the vegetation.

The tree that stood where his body was torn apart.

'A lightning bolt.'

Lightning… one of the most fearsome elements.

Ren turned around. Behind him, the Zeraora was charging at him at full speed. Its powerful leg muscles quivered.

[Spark]

A chain of lightning extended out from the Zeraora's hand.

[Spirit Control: Barrier]

A barrier extended around him.

The spark hit the barrier. Ripples of energy fluttered out of the point of contact.

'It's breaking.'

Was the difference that huge? Even one of its casual moved could break past his barrier…

Ren immediately counteracted.

He deactivated while dodging to the side.

[Spirit Control: Sludge Bomb]

Balls of spirit were discharged from Ren's body, targeting different parts of the Zeraora's body.

'Interesting'

Ren could hear a single phrase within his head.

[Fury swipes]

In a rapid sequence of movements, the Zeraora rapidly moved its claws, striking the sludge bombs.

The Bombs were deflected to the side.

'What the fuck.' Ren thought.

With a skill like that… Attack was exponentially harder.

Ren could sense the distance between him and the Zeraora rapidly closing.

He could sense the desire in its eyes.

Ren did not let his emotions control him. Fighting would be death.

As a wise man once said 'Nigerunadayo' and get stronger. Ren took these words to heart.

'First I have to escape.'

Ren's mind raced.

In between the trees, the bipedal and agile movements of the Zeraora offered it a greater ability to move in between the trees.

The Zeraora growled.

It sensed an opportunity

[Godspeed]

The Zeraora's body seemed to turn into lightning. With a flash, it's body moved with great speed.

In a second, the gap between the two of them closed.

Its fist raised into the air.

[Thunder Punch]

'Submit.'

At the same time, a wave of mental pressure extended from the Zeraora, clouding Ren's mind.

Ren struggled to comprehend all of the information.

Only a single thought filled his mind.

Survive.

Look for an opportunity and survive.

Time seemed to almost slow down, as Ren's aura surged.

He knew the direction in which he wanted to go.

All he needed was momentum.

An explosion.

He activated acceleration, at the same time igniting his spirit.

*Bang*

With a bang, Ren's body shot upwards.

The Zeraora's punch was stalled by a shield, before grazing Ren's body and hitting the air.

Ren raced from tree to tree.

He could see the Zeraora preparing its body for when Ren's body hit the ground.

'I can't go back down.' Ren decided.

With a push of his weary and tired muscles, Ren pushed his body up through the thick foliage of the trees.

He continued to ascend, passing through the middle ranges.

He had never been this high before and yet… he did not get scared. No, it was more like he could not get scared.

If he gave in to fear and his concentration was disrupted, it would be dangerous.

Memories filled his mind.

Back when he was a solo hunter, he had used a strategy just like this.

Gain height through bouncing from tree to tree.

Of course, there were differences. For instance, he had to be more careful. His larger body would break the smaller trees.

He was also not aiming to dive back down onto the forest floor.

That would be suicide.

Ren's body continued up, breaking through the thick canopy and into the fresh air.

Ren was momentarily shocked. A sea of green spread out before his eyes. This was what it was like above the forest.

He carefully positioned his body and struck down on one of the trunks.

His body launched forward a few meters before locating another branch and launching himself forward again.

He could feel the cool feeling of the breeze on his skin, as his body rapidly traveled the distance.

He was so much freer here. His speed drastically increased.

A large rustle sounded out.

To his side, a few meters away from him the trees parted to the shape of the Zeraora. The Zeraora had rushed up past the canopy as well.

'Come on.' Ren thought to himself.

The Zeraora leaped towards him.

[Thunder Punch]

Lightning covered the Zeraora's fist.

[Spirit Control: Jaws]

With a great manipulation of his spirit, a par of large bear trap-like jaws appeared in front of him.

The Jaws smashed down on the Zeraora's fists, barely getting past the skin and piercing into its flesh.

A small amount of blood escaped from its hands as its attack stopped midair.

It growled in pain.

It looked at Ren with hatred.

[Godspeed]

Once again, its body flashed.

Like it had teleported, the Zeraora appeared to Ren's side.

[Thunder Punch]

The first of the Zeraora met Ren's body.

*Crunch*

Ren could hear the chilling sound of the cracking of his bones.

'Fuck.' Ren thought in pain. He grit his teeth in pain.

He rapidly accelerated away before the Zeraora could get any more attacks in.

'I have to lose it.' Ren thought.

It would be hard.

With the Zeraora's agility…

Ren rapidly thought up a plan.

Ren rushed back into the foliage, back into the vegetation.

[Stealth]

He then activated stealth, his body blending into the surroundings.

The Zeraora quickly rushed back into the foliage as well.

It could not locate Ren anymore.

It searched around, before descending onto the forest floor.

It looked around yet could not see any tracks.

It sniffed the air intently.

Ren stayed in his original position, holding his breath.

The Zeraora picked up something.

It stared at the locating that Ren was hiding at with piercing eyes.

'Fuck… does this thing have no weaknesses.'

This was a creature both good at long and short-range attacks. It had good agility and it was able to track down its prey accurately.

Was this hell mode?

Ren jumped onto the canopy and began to rapidly move.

The chase continued.

Ren moved in between the different levels of the rainforest.

He knew that this could not go on forever.

He needed a break through point.

Ren found his opportunity a few minutes later.

A large crack in the mountain face.

A bottomless ravine.

Ren was struck with fear for a few seconds. He would have to jump into that?

Ren stared at the dark abyss of the ravine, before staring at the approaching Zeraora.

He did not have any choice. If he wanted to survive… this was the only way.

'I will be back and I will take your life.' Ren thought in his head, before jumping into the ravine.

His body quickly disappeared in the darkness, amidst the angry roars of the Zeraora.