Spirit Taming

Chapter 292: Grasping Instincts

Clark was easily holding off the plague rat. It was jumping at him trying to get at his legs since it was still closer to the ground than him. However, Clark had been adapting to the energies within his body even more lately. That was the bonus of being able to have three beasts within his taming space at once. His body was making unparalleled progress compared to others.

The ghostly steps that he had learned and been adapting to based on the movements of his other beasts was the star of the show. Because Clark was moving so much and dodging so well without even using his spear, the plague rat was becoming tired and slow. This was setting it up to be a perfect secondary opponent for Reese.

On the other hand, Reese was struggling. He had only truly fought against humans. He had trained against their beasts but that was still a small amount of his experience. In the last few days, he had managed to fight weak beasts, especially the brown rats now. But they all proved to be out of his league to a degree.

The proof was in how Reese found that the beasts could twist and move their bodies in unexpected ways. He didn't see Maria and Clark having these issues. Even Brad seemed more adjusted than him. What Reese chalked it up to was something simple, battle instinct.

Beasts were born with their natural instincts always giving them guidance. But humans grew up safely in their family for the most part. Unless they were in battles more often they would not have developed their instincts as much. The reason his fellow group members were so ahead of him was simple, battle experience. It made Reese feel like he was barely taking the first step in his journey.

He had still not learned anything yet.

With this on his mind, he followed what Clark had said previously. He relaxed the overly tensed muscles that were making him stay in the strict stance he had trained over and over. As often as Reese had gone through the motions, he knew that if he didn't adapt and become more flexible, Clark was correct, he would be hurt and fail. History had many stories of those that adapted to survive.

There were very few who persevered and did not adapt.

Upon relaxing and dodging to his right, Reese found that he could see the openings a little better. Normally he would have parried with his abyssal sword. They were partners and he would have been sure that the attack would be deflected. However, because he relaxed and saw the chance to move away he also found a new weak point to attack.

The slash downward hit the plague rat's ribs causing it to hiss in pain. The dark fur was cut open and toxic bubbling blood fell from its wounds. The plague rat was not defeated but Reese was able to see the true reason that these rats were considered a city's enemy. The blood was even full of toxic diseases and illnesses waiting to spread.

A good reason that plague rats were often burned or used to make medicines to fight the very dangers their bodies hold.

There was a slight feeling in that sword slash. Reese had felt the sword energies from his partner before. It was why he was able to use the sword auras with his strikes. They were able to repel and intimidate other beasts. Abyssal swords and their tamers worked together in this way. Yet, in this slash, Reese felt that he had discovered something.

The feeling had lasted for a blink of an eye before Rees had to move again to defend the slashing claws of the plague rat. But it was enough to make Reese want to chase the feeling.

After catching on to the change in Reese's attitude, Clark knew exactly what it was. He had the same feeling often while training. It wasn't something grand like an epiphany but it was inspiration. The connecting of actions in real battle making the body and mind finally come together. As far as any veteran would be concerned, this was an important task for any young warrior.

Without any hesitation, Clark let Brad keep the fight with the other rats and gave a thumbs up to Maria while he guided his plague rat opponent toward Reese. "Heads up!" Clark seemed like he was being mean if anyone was watching, although, Reese didn't even flinch. He was fully focused.

The tired plague rat saw a fellow plague rat in pain. This made it angry, therefore, renewing its energy. The battle became much more heated as Reese lost more and more chances to attack. He had to focus on his movement over everything. If he didn't he would have been hit by the dangerous claws or even bitten.

When his abyssal sword was raised above his head and the sword aura bloomed around him, Reese was able to temporarily intimidate the enraged plague rats. Just enough time was bought for him to change his slash in to a thrust.

Not many people were familiar enough with their sword style to change their moves in an instant. Reese was different, every single day he went through the sword style motions. The abyssal sword style was something he could do in his sleep if he desired it.

When the thrust came forward, the plague rat was already at a disadvantage. Reese knew that one was already injured, which left him attacking the tired plague rat. It was unable to dodge and was pierced through and through by the abyssal sword. It was the perfect attack at the perfect time.

With the defeat of its fellow rat, the last plague rat gave in to its desire for survival and attempted to run. But as everyone knows, showing your back to an enemy is the worst thing that can be done. Reese took advantage and jumped up to do a downward thrust of his sword. The abyssal sword easily pierced the neck of the plague rat.

The sudden change in atmosphere when this happened made the brown rats that were facing Brad want to flee as well. But his shield was blunt and the sword heavy. They had suffered broken bones and lost limbs. Brad may have been slow since he was not up to the strength of using both new black iron weapons yet. However, he easily crushed the injured and fearful rats.

As everyone looked around, they saw that Maria had already expertly defeated her plague rat. When she noticed that Clark was focused on the training that Reese was doing, she had been sure to assassinate the final enemy. Her dagger had pierced through its eye making it one of the dead sooner than it expected.

But that was the essence of Maria's training, she would be the silent blade that severed the fate of violence that her father created.

"Now do you understand what I mean by relaxing? You were breaking your habits there." Clark knew that Reese was not going to reply. There was a serious expression on his face. Reese was already reviewing the battle in his head.

"So what do we do with this nest?" Maria could see a few pieces of gold here and there. The nest was just a collection of scraps but a few good things hidden inside.

"If there are eggs we grab them because they are beast food for your snake type beasts. Maybe your midnight eel can eat them. They are similar when it comes to diet with the snake beats I have read about." This wasn't a half bad idea and Maria did exactly that

Unfortunately, other than a few pieces of gold that had been gathered from who knew where, the nest was too new to be full of good things that the rats had collected. They mostly found bones.

"The paths all seemed to meet up that way. Should we just go to the third floor?" Since Brad knew that Clark wanted to search for more, he didn't want to waste the time. But he did have a slight fear of the lower floors. The first two were considered easy and basic. Anything below would be more dangerous.

"We should go. But everyone should know, it's worse down there." The reason Calrk was so sure was that it was rare for people to stay on lower floors for long unless they were veteran tamers. It was full of danger but also because many people had not made it to the lowest of the lowest floors where the real ruins were.

"That means you two will watch our backs now. Clark and I are in the lead. If we sneak, you sneak." Maria had taken a much tougher attitude. But it was necessary. She had hardened herself for these moments. The places and times when she would be responsible for lives.

She was not some cold and hate filled monster that wanted to take power. She cared and knew that she had to act a certain way to ensure other's survived.