Chapter 21: The story behind a Monster

In the moonlit shadows, within the cavern of the alpha haunt hound, a startled "Argh!" escaped Oric as he began to regain consciousness.

His azure eyes slowly opened, revealing an unfamiliar and peculiar environment. Oric found himself within an ancient laboratory, adorned with broken and dusty tools and instruments. The atmosphere hinted at a long-forgotten research facility.

Quickly attempting to free himself, Oric realized an unseen force bound him to a stony platform, surrounded by dark-colored energy. Glancing to his left, he spotted Nevata, unconscious and in the same predicament.

"Nevata!" he softly called out, but she remained lost in her unconscious state. Trying again, he was interrupted by a voice that sent shivers down his spine.

"Don't bother..."

Oric turned to his right, discovering the alpha haunt hound engrossed in an experiment.

"Hmm?" Oric responded with a hint of bewilderment and hostility.

"You tried to take my life by (Eeirrn's) request, and here you are, right where I want you."

"Eeirrn... Is that the tree's name?" he inquired.

"Foolish and ignorant after all. I can't blame a tree for having zero knowledge in picking a new master. But I do have one question in mind," said the creature, walking closer. "Why did it choose you as its new master instead of a Yggr?"

"..." Oric remained silent.

"You don't know you are its master? Well, it saddens me that I've finally lost that right. But the real question is, what are you?" The creature approached Oric, smelling him.

"..."

"Why do I smell my kin's blood running through you?" he asked Oric.

"..."

"Still not talking? What I would expect from such a fascinating and delicate specimen," the alpha haunt hound smiled.

Suddenly, Slash! "ARGHHHhhhh!" The creature severed Oric's right arm with razor-sharp claws, causing blood to gush out. It used a wooden cup to collect Oric's blood.

Oric panted in pain but held himself together.

"Oh, such a brave one." The creature took Oric's amputated arm with its cup of blood, went to its working desk, and began to research it.

After moments of setup and preparation, the creature commenced its investigation.

"Fascinating. You aren't a Yggr and still possess our blood. It looks like you drank our blood and underwent a mutation, giving you Yggr abilities. Now you are part Yggr, and I sense two more bloodlines."

Unexpectedly, the specimen self-destructed, absorbing the alpha hound quickly. It let go, and the specimen disintegrated.

"Argh! Hmm, but I'll need more samples to test it out," said the monster, quickly gazing at Oric, who had lost a lot of blood and lay lifeless.

It then turned its gaze to Nevata, slowly walking toward her. Its broken fingers, which had been absorbed, quickly healed as it drew closer to Nevata.

"Hey, hey! What do you think you're doing? If you dare hurt my slave, I'll kill you with my bare hands!" Oric shouted in distress, but the monster paid no heed.

It reached Nevata, grabbing her jaw while inspecting her face and sniffing her body. "Hmm, I also smell my blood on you."

Proceeding to bite deep into her arm, it quickly let go and started to vomit. "Argh! Disgusting. She smells like the real deal but tasted like a mortal creature." It then placed the remaining bleeding arm into a cup and went to its desk to examine it.

"Hmm, she has a unique trait within her, a fire and water element spirit... nothing special. Hmm? I sense Arcane energy within her," said the monster, slowly turning to her.

"One is a spirit hybrid of a royal bloodline nixie and a fire spirit, and the other is unique in an intriguing way... Ha, ha, ha, hahaa..." laughed the monster as it walked to Oric, observing him still bleeding.

"By now your wounds should be healing since you are part Yggr," said the monster, and Oric's right hand began regenerating at a slow pace.

"I'll need more test samples. Hmm... since you are part Yggr, it takes a long time to regenerate, but you are still an unbreakable toy when given energy," said the monster with a sadistic smile as it proceeded to rip off Oric's two arms, then moved on to his two legs. Using a spell, it drew blood from Oric's four sides and summoned four cups to collect the pouring blood.

"By the way, what is your name, brave one?" asked the monster as it returned to its experimental desk.

"Argh!" sounded Oric, still in pain.

The monster continued while working, "Still not talking...? I am Arggrwill , Arcane mage of the race and the one responsible for our demise..."