Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil

"Split up," Kalen ordered his team members in a stern voice before approaching the nearest demon beast to him.

The other members of the Eldric Force didn't need to be told twice. They were veterans who knew each other's strengths and weaknesses after battling alongside one another for decades on end.

As such, Kalen didn't need to give them specific orders. They chose the opponents they could handle, grouping together with other members and splitting up, attracting the three demon beasts on their tails.

Before long, three distinct battlefields emerged.

***

Kalen decided to take on the Shadowclaw demon beast all by himself. Now that he was away from his team members, he could use his Array Formations and powers freely without worrying about putting his teammates in harm's way.

"Let me see what you can do, little beast."

As Kalen squared off against Shadowclaw, the air crackled with anticipation. With a steely gaze, he activated his Array Formations, the intricate patterns weaving around him like a protective barrier. Shadowclaw, sensing the challenge, emitted a guttural growl, its eyes gleaming with malice.

Kalen unleashed his first move, invoking [Skill: Domain Mana Amplification]. Energy surged through his veins, empowering his attacks with heightened potency. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned a barrage of elemental projectiles.

"Kekeke. Human, don't underestimate me."

Shadowclaw reacted with lightning-fast reflexes, dodging and weaving through the onslaught. But Kalen was relentless, his attacks raining down like a storm. With each strike, he pushed Shadowclaw back, inch by inch, refusing to yield an inch of ground.

As the battle raged on, Kalen activated [ Skill: Domain Strengthening ], further enhancing his abilities. With newfound strength, he closed the distance between them, engaging Shadowclaw in a fierce melee. Swords clashed, sparks flying as metal met metal in a symphony of combat.

"I sense something really weird from you, human. I must kill you to know more about you."

Shadowclaw spoke as he upped his attacks. He fought ferociously, its claws slashing through the air with deadly precision. But Kalen was a master of his craft, his movements fluid and precise. With a swift motion, he countered Shadowclaw's strikes, turning its own momentum against it.

'I… I guess he is talking about the slumbering Soul Imprint within me. Should… Should I let it possess me?' Kalen thought before rejecting the idea. He didn't want to depend on Eren's powers. Doing so would turn him into another Eren that much faster. He still wanted to retain his identity as Kalen even though he had been turned into one of Eren's pseudo-avatars.

'I… I can handle this much on my own.'

Sensing an opportunity, Kalen unleashed his next move, [Skill: Domain Physical Stats Debuff]. Shadowclaw faltered, its movements slowing as its strength waned. Seizing the advantage, Kalen pressed his assault, striking with renewed vigor.

"Human. I'll fucking kill you."

Raaaaaah!

But Shadowclaw was not defeated yet. With a primal roar, it unleashed its own arsenal of attacks, each one more devastating than the last. Kalen gritted his teeth, weathering the onslaught with steely determination.

The scene of the battle soon turned into a purgatory as the A-Ranked mana attacks clashed against each other. The very fabric of the space was affected a bit as the two fought, unleashing their respective attacks against each other.

As the battle reached its climax, Kalen tapped into his final reserves of mana. With a surge of energy, he unleashed his ultimate technique, [Skill: Red Fire Swords]. Blades of crimson flame erupted from his Array Formations, engulfing Shadowclaw in a blazing inferno.

With a final, desperate lunge, Kalen struck true, delivering the decisive blow.

What Kalen didn't know was that when he was at his most desperate, he had subconsciously made use of the aura Eren's Soul Imprint carried. This instance forced the Shadowclaw to go on a defensive all of a sudden as a primal fear gripped the little demon. In the end, he was bombarded with Kalen's attacks.

Shadowclaw staggered, its form wavering before collapsing to the ground, defeated.

Breathless and weary, Kalen surveyed the aftermath of the battle. His mana reserves were depleted, his body battered and bruised. But he emerged victorious. With a weary sigh, he collapsed to his knees, the adrenaline of battle finally beginning to fade.

"I… I need to check up on my teammates," he thought before setting off in a certain direction.

***

As the Bloodfang demon beast and his countless familiars closed in on Lyra, Thane, and Rynn, the once serene atmosphere of the Shadowed Grove was shattered by the cacophony of battle.

"Kekekeke. Run, humans, run. This is the territory of our lord, Demon Earl Bifrons. Your puny gods don't have any control over here."

The creatures' snarls reverberated through the trees, sending shivers down the spines of the Eldric Force members.

"Now!"

Without a word, the trio sprang into action, their movements a blur of motion amidst the darkness.

Lyra, with her agility akin to a wraith, danced through the shadows, her every step calculated to evade the razor-sharp claws of the Bloodfangs.

Thane stood like an immovable fortress, his shield raised high as he absorbed blow after blow with unyielding resolve.

Rynn, her hands wreathed in flames, unleashed torrents of fire that engulfed the forest in a blazing inferno.

The battle unfolded with a ferocity that matched the creatures themselves. Lyra darted between the Bloodfangs, her Shadowstep leaving trails of darkness in her wake.

"Eat this, you shitty blood bastards."

With each strike of her Shadow Blade Dance, she left deep gashes in their hide, drawing blood with each precise blow. But the Bloodfangs were relentless, their frenzied attacks forcing Lyra to dance ever faster to avoid their snapping jaws.

Meanwhile, Thane weathered the storm of claws and teeth, his Shield Bash sending shockwaves rippling through the air with each devastating blow.

Boom. Boom. Boom.

The ground beneath him groaned and shifted with the force of his strikes, trees splintering and shattering as the earth trembled beneath his feet. But Thane stood firm, his determination unwavering as he held the line against the relentless assault.

As for Rynn, her flames consumed everything in their path, scorching the earth and turning the forest into a blazing inferno.