A hunter's trail

"This is the 12th body, it's like they experienced psychological torment before they were brutally slaughtered" Yuuki squinted her eyes as she observed a corpse

After leaving the central pavilion, Yuuki noticed Aetheris was missing and followed his scent to the Ripper Forest but As she traced his residual scent, she came upon a series of bodies, each marking a grim path through the forest.

Yuuki continued to follow the trail until she saw the clone of Aetheris; it was striping everything from the corpses, including their dignity... their clothes, leaving them naked.

"Why are you here, do you know what would have happened if the enemies were stronger..

explain yourself quickly I have to start screaming and run around for useless reasons when the young master comes back " Sebastian quickly suggested as his eyes began to swirl, when it comes to his young master..he shows no mercy.

"He's amazing isn't he"

"Huh???"

"Your young master, I mean, this body trail is technically art crafted by someone who is majestic and can leave many in awe," Yuuki quickly suggested as she began to use positive gaslighting.

"HeHe.. at least you have good insight; since you know your wrongs, I'll spare you this time." Sebastian foolishly smiled as he heard the 'praises' of Yuuki; on the other hand, Yuuki wiped the drops of sweat streaming down her face as she swore to be more vigilant.

....

"You can no longer hide from me Kaleos, why don't you be a good boy and stay right there"

Kaleos subconsciously took a step back, his breath hitching as a silhouette emerged from the shadows.

The figure of a young man, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight, had eyes that glowed with a neon golden light. The only word that came to Kaleos's mind was... Beautiful.

"Where are the rest of my teammates Aetheris" Inquired Kaleos as he took a fighting stance

"Dead Dead Dead Dead Dead Dead Dead Dead Dead Dead Dead Dead Dead Dead Dead Dead Dead Dead Dead, and don't say my name so casually we are not friends"

Kaleos gulped as he heard Aetheris; they were not merely teammates, but they were also brothers in arms.

"I'LL KILL YOU!!! Do you think you can wipe us out and walk away? I'll rip you apart for what you have done! You're nothing but a damn monster, YOU SON OF A BIT...*BLURGH*"

*BAMM~*

Kaleos vomited as he felt a sudden strong impact on his stomach; as he looked down, he saw Aetheris's glowing golden neon eyes filled with killing intent.

Aetheris's eyes glinted with cold malice as Kaleos struggled to recover from the sudden blow. The young man's presence was overwhelming, a force of nature that seemed to cause chaos wherever he went.

"You think your threats mean anything to me?" Aetheris's voice was devoid of emotion, a chilling contrast to Kaleos's furious outburst. "You were never more than a fleeting obstacle."

Kaleos's rage was met with an impassive gaze. "I have no interest in your vengeance. Your teammates are gone. They're not coming back. Your futile anger will get you nowhere."

Gasping for air, Kaleos tried to push himself up but found his strength waning under Aetheris's imposing presence. "You're... you're a monster," he choked out.

Aetheris stepped closer, his golden eyes piercing through Kaleos. "A monster is what you need to face the harsh reality. Do you think your death will make a difference? Your suffering is meaningless in the grand scheme."

The pressure in the air was palpable, and Kaleos realized that fighting back was pointless. The once familiar confidence was now replaced by a deep, paralyzing fear.

"[DIAMOND WALL]!!!" Kaleos roared as he slammed the ground, and a diamond-like Dome construct began to manifest from the ground.

"What the hell" Muttered Aetheris as leaped back Ward and saw a Dome surrounding Kaleos

The glow in Aetheris's eyes intensified, and with a flick of his wrist, the air around him began to warp and distort.

He raised a hand, and with a slight movement, a wave of pressure surged forward, slamming into the diamond dome with a force that sent shockwaves through the earth.. but the Dome was still standing.

'it seems like it is not merely a construct, but it has properties that absorb damage... But it must consume a lot of Mana' Aetheris concluded as he felt the Dome getting stronger

Kaleos, breathing heavily, steadied himself within the dome, his eyes locked on to Aetheris. "You won't get through this!" he shouted, his voice a mixture of defiance and desperation. "This barrier can withstand...H-how??"

*Tuki-tuku-tuku-tuku-tuku-tuku-tuku...*

A figure with a blurred, distorted form and glowing golden eyes phased effortlessly through the diamond barrier, its entrance accompanied by an unsettling vibrating sound that resonated in the air.

The figure seemed to flicker, its outline shifting as if it existed in multiple places at once, a sight that defied logic and comprehension.

Kaleos's heart pounded in his chest, his breath hitching as he watched the impossible unfold before his eyes.

This was something beyond his understanding—something far more terrifying than any threat he had ever faced.

The unnatural vibration, the way the figure seemed to exist out of sync with reality, sent waves of pure fear coursing through him.

He could feel the cold grip of dread tightening around his throat as the realization hit him: this was no ordinary opponent.

Kaleos's body trembled, his earlier defiance was crumbling into helpless terror as the figure moved closer, its glowing eyes fixed on him with a predatory intensity.

He was trapped, cornered by something he could neither fight nor comprehend.

"*BLURGH *How... is this a clone?" Kaleos choked out, blood spilling from his lips as he felt an excruciating pressure on his chest.

A hand penetrated from his back and his heart was being crushed from within, the pain searing through his entire body.

Desperately, he turned his head, his eyes widening in horror as he saw another Aetheris standing behind him, the same glowing golden eyes, the same eerie presence. The sight only deepened his confusion and terror.

He had barely been able to comprehend the first Aetheris, and now there was another, equally terrifying, equally real. Kaleos's mind struggled to make sense of it, but the agony and fear drowned out any coherent thought.

"It's not a clone but an afterimage...a speed mirage if you will....any last words," Aetheris inquired as he lifted Kaleos from the ground; it was his gesture of goodwill to give him any last words.

"Why... why would you kill me like this... so brutally?" Kaleos gasped, his voice trembling with confusion and desperation. His mind raced, unable to grasp the reason behind the sheer cruelty of it all.

His body shook, every word dripping with a desperate plea for understanding as he stared at the merciless figure before him. "What did I do to deserve this?"

"I wanted to torture you till you told me everything...I might have offered you a slave contract in exchange for your life...but you called my Mother a...BITCH Kaleos... DIE

[Flame Tornado]"

A large magic circle spanning 10 kilometres in terms of radius appeared beneath them and released a scorching flame Tornado that trapped them both, For Aetheris the heat wasn't a problem but the same cannot be said for Kaleos

"ARGHHHHHHHHH!!!! SPARE ME PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE" Kaleos roared as he felt himself losing consciousness, the flame was so hot that the ground touched by it was starting to crystallize

"Hmmmmmmm...was I too merciful" Aetheris wondered as he saw the ashes of Kaleos and passed out.

...

Thank you for reading ☺️ 🙏

Mana constructs rely on Mana, if the user is dead the construct crumbles including spells