The Cornered Tiger’s Wrath
Standing between us and the black dragon Raiden had protected both Liza and I at the cost of being dealt a frightening attack. Blood was dripping from his fresh wounds and high clothes were in tatters. If it were a normal person they would have dropped dead in that moment, but Raiden remained on his feet, his breath heavy with every exhale.
“Raiden are you okay!” (Arin)
“There’s no time for that master. Move!” (Raiden)
The black dragon didn’t give us a second to recover. Following the last attack the dragon dived toward us. Mana began to focus back in the dragon’s open jaw. Another breath attack was preparing to fire. The same purplish flame from before flew out of the dragon’s mouth and was on a collision course with all four of us.
In the very same moment Pebble used his [Earth Magic] to create a hole below our feet, which we jumped into to avoid the attack.
“I don’t think we can last that much longer. Dragons are one of the strongest monsters there is. How are we suppose to beat it?” (Liza)
Liza was visibly terrified. With every word her body shook, almost dropping her hammer. Pebble’s hole gave us a second to breath but we needed to figure out something quick.
“Master, will you listen to my request?” (Raiden)
“Don’t try to move so much Raiden. Those wounds are serious.” (Arin)
“There’s no time. Listen, I’m probably going to run out of steam soon. Before that happens I think I can deal enough damage to where you can finish the bastard off. But I need you to stay far away from me when I do.” (Raiden)
“Stop talking. We need to close up your wounds first…” (Arin)
“MASTER, LISTEN TO ME!!!” (Raiden)
Raiden had never raised his voice at me before now. The shift in how he usually acts to his seriousness now shock me in that moment.
“I probably have 30 minutes left in me until I’m out of commission. After that I’ll leave the rest to you.” (Raiden)
“Do you really trust us with finishing this?” (Arin)
“Don’t worry, I’ll leave in a much easier state to handle.” (Raiden)
There was no time left. The black dragon had finally noticed where we had escaped to. There was no time to argue.
“Raiden do whatever you can. Leave the rest to us.” (Arin)
“If that’s the master’s orders. So be it.” (Raiden)
With a combination of both [Lightning Magic] and [Wind Magic] Raiden propelled himself out of the hole and struck at the dragon’s neck with a powerful lightning lariat. It was strong enough to throw the dragon onto its back but it was far from hurt.
“Congrats you stinkin lizard. You’re the first opponent I’ve ever had to go all out on. Hope you don’t regret it.” (Raiden)
Ridden now showing a wicked smile on his face became focusing all the mana in his body. It was so intense his previously ruined hakama completely tore to shreads, revealing his exposed upper body. The power he was emanating warped the air around him and as he builds his power up to the very limit.
“Here we go! [Beastification] and [Berserk] activate!” (Raiden)
Responding to his will Raiden’s body mana surrounding his body suddenly spikes in power. With his new serge of mana Raiden’s body starts to physically change. He begins to grow in size with his exposed muscles veining out. Golden and sapphire colored hair begins to engulf Raiden’s entire body. His face reshapes to with fang like teeth taking form in his mouth. By the end of it all Raiden had taken a form similar to that of a bipedal thunder fang tiger without its two massive fangs.
Raiden’s new form surprised the black dragon but that was soon replaced with a burning rage. Both the black dragon and Raiden cry out to one another, signaling the second phase of their battle.
Raiden’s eye glow with a red light as he sprints at the dragon with unseen speed. With Raiden’s newly formed claws he slashes at the dragon. The black dragon strikes back in kind, trading blow after blow with Raiden. Acting more like a savage beast Raiden’s attacks were driven completely by instinct and ignored his previous tactics. Bother me and Liza were stunned watching the scene unfold before us. As I slowly regain my composure I use my {Character Appraisal] skill on Raiden in an attempt to understand where his new strength came from.
Tiger Beastman [Beast Mode]
Name: Raiden
Job Class: Samurai
Rank: 8+
Health: 68/150 Attack: 138 +(60) Defense: 98 Speed: 150 +(60) Intelligence: 82 -(30) Mana: 86 +(30)
Skills: Swordsmanship Lv MAX, Storm Blade Lv 8, Lightning Magic Lv 8, Beastification Lv 6, Swift Sword Technique Lv 7, Martial Arts Lv 7, Intimidation Lv 5, Wind Magic Lv 5, Berserk Lv 4, Intuition Lv 5, Passive Recovery Lv 3
-He is a warrior with ancestry going back to the Eastern Continent. His body was disciplined for the art of combat and will never turn down a worthy challenge. He is a truly loyal man to whoever he serves but has a rude mouth and not afraid to speak his mind. He enjoys eating meat of creatures he hunts and has a strong dislike to strong odors. (Currently in a berserk state. Cannot differentiate friend from foe).
Raiden’s stats have been greatly increased. His rank has changed from an 8 to an 8+. Both his attack and speed stats have gone up by 60, and mana by 30 as well. Unfortunately his intelligence went down by 30 as well. It must be a side affect of his [Berserk] skill. The warning in his status makes his previous statement of staying away from him make more sense. The crude mouth samurai Raiden was before has become more like a wild animal.
The physical brawl between Raiden and the dragon had now moved on to a clash of magic. Spears and blast of fire colliding a field of electric discharges riddled the battlefield with explosion upon explosion. It felt more like two natural disasters were fighting as apposed to living creatures.
The black dragon for the first time actually looked as if it was accumulating damage. Black scales begin to fly off its body, leaving exposed skin with signs of claw marks and electrical burns. The dragon let out cries of pain from Raiden biting into its flesh. Blood final began to spill the the black dragon, making it more and more angry.
“I can’t believe it. He’s actually hurting that think. We just might pull this off.” (Liza)
“No this isn’t good at all.” (Arin)
Liza seemed optimistic from the change in the battle’s direction, but when looking closer at Raiden he was being dealt more damage then he was giving. For every effective hit he had on the dragon Raiden would suffer more and more damage. His golden like fur body now had noticeable burns and he was losing to much blood from the previous wound on his chest.
“At this rate Raiden is going to give out way before weakening the dragon enough to finish off. He’s not strong enough to make a decisive strike.” (Arin)
Raiden’s job class is that of a Samurai. He fights at full strength with the use of his katanas. Without them it limits everything we can do. If only his swords didn’t break.
“Wait, if we can just get him a new sword then maybe…” (Arin)
I completely forgot, Liza can make weapons with her soul card. If we use that Raiden might be able to deal a killing blow.
“Liza did you unlock another copy of your soul card yet?” (Arin)
“No but I’m really close. I just need a big more experience. Why do you…” (Liza)
“Hurry, get your pickaxe out. We need to work fast if we’re going to help Raiden.” (Arin
