Chapter 25:

Forest Frenzy (2)

MiracleBound


\\\ Jessica ///

The Carrier Titan flew up, carrying the princess with it. That should keep her safe while I deal with this kaiju.

I’m not too sure what’s going on with my man Oliver and that wolf guy, and quite frankly the more I think about it the less sense it makes. If Oliver’s from earth then how does he know a beastling?

I’m not the best when it comes to earth studies but I’m pretty sure beastlings like that guy originated in Thloria. Not that I have time to worry about all that. Right now I have other things to take care of…

The kaiju leered at my Furnace Titan, watching to see what it would do. I didn’t have time to engrave any commands into it, so I can’t ride the Carrier Titan and battle from a safe distance. But then again, art doesn’t mean anything when there’s no risk…

“Sorry about this you beast!” I yelled. “But I don’t have time to waste prolonging this fight! Now, Furnace Blast!”

The Furnace Titan raised its arms as I commanded, pointing its open palms towards the kaiju. Beneath my feet I could feel the inside of the titan heating up.

Out of the openings in the palms a stream of flame shot out, covering the kaiju. It screeched as its flesh began to burn off and started scrambling about wildly, knocking over multiple trees in its crazed rampage. As it flailed about, I had the titan follow its movements, never letting up the deadly torrent of fire.

Eventually the kaiju realized it couldn’t escape from the flame and decided to charge straight towards me. The impact from the collision knocked me off my feet, barely giving me time to command the titan to make a dirt platform under where I would land.

The platform raised me back up to the titan’s right shoulder just in time to see the kaiju’s tail about to smash through the Furnace Titan’s armor. I made the titan grab the kaiju’s tail with its left arm before it could make contact, but then the kaiju started banging and clawing the titan’s torso with its front paws and biting into it with its massive teeth.

I made the titan grab the kaiju’s head, forcing the beast’s mouth shut and pushing it into the ground. The kaiju struggled against the grapple and I could feel it escaping the Furnace Titan’s grasp, but there’s little more I can do right now than try to keep it pinned.

I need to get this beast out of my face so I can use Furnace Blast on it again. I haven’t used this titan before so close combat isn’t a very good idea. But this thing won’t back down, and I can’t just wait here for my man Oliver to get back, he might need my help after I’m done with this.

I can’t make any more titans right now and even if the Carrier Titan could fight I need it to keep Marion at a safe distance for now. This is troubling… but I’m sure I’ll come up with something.

Either way, this deadlock won’t hold for that much longer…

\\\ Marion ///

I feel… strange…

It’s almost like something’s holding me suspended in the air. Very strange…

I opened my eyes.

The first thing I saw was the ground far below me. I then noticed there was something like hardened dirt wrapped around my torso, and I heard fierce beating like an insect’s wings.

What happened to me? Why am I here?

Wait- I remember now…

I was fighting that wolf boy, I think his name was Tyler? He attacked me for no reason. He sliced me apart without knowing that I could regenerate. And all for… marshmallows…

I tried to talk to him but he wouldn’t listen. He just wanted to fight. It was like trying to reason with a wild animal.

He makes me mad.

I looked around once again. Right now, one of Jessica’s titans is holding me up in the air. I know because I’ve seen this one before, I think it was called the Carrier Titan, right?

I can also see below us, Jessica’s on a different titan, it looks vaguely similar to the big one that she used against Oliver, but his one seems… bigger. It has a more dangerous aura than the one from before.

But it looks like she’s fighting some kind of kaiju. I can’t see it very well from this position.

“Um… hello?” I said to the Carrier Titan, it didn’t really respond though, but I guess that makes sense. “Could you, uh, put me down or move around so that I can get a better look at what’s happening down there?”

The titan remained hovering for a moment, and as I began to think speaking with it was futile it flicked its tail, tossing me up so that I landed on its back.

“Thank you…” I said, although I’m bewildered that it actually understood me. I didn’t know Jessica’s titans could respond like that.

I slowly stood up, making sure not to lose my balance, which was easier than I expected it to be. I moved closer to the titan’s head and looked down at the scene below us.

The titan Jessica was riding was holding a kaiju down by its tail and head, although it seemed to be struggling to keep the beast pinned. Was this the monster that we had come to bring down? I think it might be a skrullbear kaiju. It’s dangerous, but I’m still a little mad because of that beast Tyler.

Just thinking about him makes me more heated…

That kaiju’s attacking Jessica, so… I should help her kill it, shouldn’t I? Yeah… helping friends is the right thing to do after all…

I’m going to kill it.

“Hey!” I said to the Carrier Titan, “Bring me down there so that I can help Jessica fight that thing!”

After a moment it began to fly down towards the battle, picking up speed so quickly that I had to crouch down to avoid falling off due to the wind pressure.

“Put me down over there!” I commanded while pointing to the kaiju’s legs. The Carrier Titan flew by, allowing me to jump off onto one of the middle legs of the kaiju.

Grabbing hold of the thick fur, I climbed up to where the leg connected to the torso.

“This is gonna hurt, you colorless beast,” I said as I gathered my demonic energy.

Demonic Rend!

I slashed open the leg, cutting apart the flesh all the way to the bone. The Kaiju reeled in pain, shaking loose from the titan’s grip as the wound slowly began to close up. But I’m not a very big fan of this thing copying my style.

“I’m not done yet!” I yelled as I used Demoic Rend once more, this time cutting through the bone, leaving only a cluster of muscle and skin keeping the leg on. It swung its massive tail towards me, but it’s too slow to ever hope of hitting me.

I jumped off of the kaiju right before its tail hit me. The tail smashed into the slowly regenerating leg, finishing the job and knocking it completely off. What a stupid creature.

The kaiju roared angrily as its leg began to regrow. The force of its roar shook the air, rustling the leaves around us and blowing my hair back.

The beast seemed to come upon some second wind, because it started to lash out much more violently than before. And it seems to be targeting me now.

I did my best to dodge the attacks, but it’s moving much faster now, and the size difference makes its area of attack problematic.

I ran around, ducking and dodging its massive claws as it chased after me. It was slashing apart trees as though they were made of butter, getting hit by those would definitely hurt like hell.

Jessica and her titans followed after us, but I can’t slow down enough for her to catch up and get this dumb beast’s attention.

The kaiju then spun around, using the momentum to swing its massive tail at me from the side. It’s moving too fast for me to be able to dodge it, so I’ll have to try countering the blow.

I gathered my demonic energy in my arms, clenched my fists, and swung both hands with all my might as the tail was about to hit. At the same time I heard a familiar voice.

Miracle Punch!

Appearing next to me in an instant, Oliver used his flair to help ward off the blow from the kaiju. But even with our combined strength it still wasn’t enough to cancel the force completely and it pushed us back a bit.

Oliver looked at me cautiously as we pushed the tail to keep it back.

“Mind using both hands, Stainsoul?” I said.

“R-right, sorry,” he said as he put his right arm up to the tail.

We pushed the tail off and turned to see Jessica’s titan engage the kaiju.

“I’m getting tired of dealing with this thing,” I said. “We’ll give Jessica some support. I’ll come at it from the right side and you take the left. Try to cut off a leg, got it?”

“Yeah,” Oliver said. “First things first I guess…”

\\\ Tyler ///

“So, you finally done yet!?” I yelled at Oliver.

“Huh? Done with what?” he responded.

What’s that supposed to mean? He didn’t get so scared of Canvas that he forgot about our fight, did he?

“With the break, obviously!!” I shouted. “It’s about time we got back to our fight!”

“Are you kidding me!?” Oliver yelled back. “I don’t have time to fight you right now! Jessica’s fighting that kaiju all by herself because of you!”

“Hmm?” Who’s this Jessica he’s talking about? Is that supposed to be one of the two kaiju that are fighting nearby? Why does he care anyway!?

“What does that have to do with our fight!?!” I yelled. “Let them fight! After I beat you, I’ll just beat whoever wins that fight!”

“Think about something other than fighting, Tyler!”

“Huwah…?” Something… other than fighting? But he’s talking about fighting right now!

“Nice try, but you can’t fool me!” I yelled triumphantly. “Right now you’re thinking about fighting, too!”

I could practically see the veins bulging on Oliver’s forehead. He must really wanna fight me!

A loud roar then interrupted the scene. I guess one of the kaiju just got really mad.

“That doesn’t sound good,” Oliver said as he turned to the direction where the kaiju were battling. Then he began to run towards it.

“Hey! Get back here!” I yelled. “Don’t run away from me!!”

I chased after him as he went back to the scene of the two kaiju fighting, but he still got away. How did he get so fast? Must’ve been because of the flairs we got after being reincarnated. Oliver’s sword style was focused on speed, so I guess he got a flair to match, too.

As I finally caught up, I saw the humanoid one and the bone bear were still going at it and- huh?

Oliver’s standing next to the person I beat up for the marshmallows. What was her name again… Marion?

Anyway, they both started helping the humanoid kaiju. I wonder why?

Hey, is there a person on that thing? What kind of sage would that make them? I can’t tell what that thing is, but whoever’s on it is definitely controlling it.

It looks like they’re all attacking that bone bear kaiju. But that doesn’t make sense… I’m a much bigger threat than some measly kaiju! They should be trying to gang up on me!!

“Get back over here and fight me, Oliver!” I yelled. “Is this how you treat all your friends!!”

“…”

He didn’t respond…

He’s just… fighting that kaiju. I’m not even sure he heard me in the first place…

Now I’m getting pissed!

I focused my power inwards, calling on the beast.

Fenrir! I yelled. Wake up old man!

I felt a stirring of the mana deep within me. After a moment I was met with an answer.

Tyler… The old man’s gruff voice said from deep within me. Why are you calling on me? I still haven’t fully regained my mana after we escaped from that bounty hunter.

Yeah! I know that! But I’m not asking you to fight, just lend me your body!

Are you sure you even need my power, Young Ward? Fenrir asked.

Of course I am! I answered. They’re underestimating me! I’ll show ‘em all that I’m the most dangerous beast around! I’m Alpha Predator!!!

Hmm… the old man said. I think it may be best if I accompany you myself…

Fine! I said. We’re more powerful together, anyway!

Just let me have control at first, then come out to deliver the finishing blow.

Okay! Okay! Let’s just go already! I’m getting pumped thinking about how awesome it’s gonna be! I exclaimed.

“Alpha Predator!!!”

\\\ Oliver ///

“Alpha Predator!!!”

Huh? What’s he doing now?

After just using the third art on the kaiju, I heard Tyler yell out something at the top of his lungs and looked over. I pondered what he was about to do, but no amount of pondering would prepare me for what happened next.

In an instant, muscle and bones erupted from his body, covering him completely. This new form continued to grow into the shape of a gigantic wolf with a rough, grey fur coat covering it, and a single long, dense tail that easily exceeded the length of its body.

Even sitting, its massive frame easily exceeded twenty feet.

From the nape of its neck a lump of flesh began to protrude. Out of the lump climbed out Tyler, grey fur covering all of his once exposed skin.

“Didn’t I tell you I’m the strongest one here!?!” Tyler yelled. “The wolf sage, Tyler Ward, is now ready to kick your asses!!”

What the hell just happened!?!