Spirit Taming

Chapter 770: Left Behind

Grace looked like she wanted to be back up for Ralph and Ella. However, she understood that if they were going to face an earth and metal beast that she would be too weak. The wind and ice type energies that the youngling winter phoenix had…would not be enough.

The ice would shatter on the tough defenses of metal and earth combined. No matter how much the wind pushed it forward or how dense the cie was. It was just beyond the level of attacking power that Isa or Ella had combined right now. Not that it was impossible.

Jerold also wanted to help a bit, but he knew that he would have to be able to pierce the hide of whatever the monster was. If he couldn't, then the poison from his armored chameleon would not b able to help. He would just be angering the monster.

"There it is, the sixth floor. There are signs that there is a large group moving together through here. I would say they went to the right." Jerold was tracking the signs on the dusty stone ground. He was certain that the group moving ahead of them was large and had various monsters. All different monsters with different tracks was not a good sign.

"What about those markings there?" Reese picked up on the marks from the ground that didn't look to be in line with what Jerold was currently following right this second. They were smaller in a sense than what everyone expected since Clark wanted them so that the beasts within the dungeon got larger and larger as the floors progressed.

"Don't have to ask about that, there is a beast right there." Maria had not even taken a proper step behind Clark before she caught sight of something moving.

'Steel horned bull- rare

This is a somewhat large beast that has a slight earth affinity and a large metal affinity. The consumption of stones and ore causes them to grow horns of pure steel. Their skin and bones are also full of the same steel in lower purities.

They are often grown by the dwarven people as cattle and also as materials. While they are sometimes peaceful, they are often deceptive. They will act calmly before they run their horns in to others to defend their territories from intruders.

They have very little growth potential unless they mutate and gain a stronger earth energy that balances their metal energy. If that happens, they become an earth steel bull which grows to three times the size of the steel horned bull…'

"They are tough and they are territorial. Watch the horns and make sure we collect the bodies for Ralph." Clark spoke calmly so that he didn't spook the bull. Naturally, it still charged immediately at them. Reese hadn't been sitting and waiting though.

He lowered his stance and his partner landed right in his hand.. A single swing decapitated the steel horned bull. It was tough, but not strong enough to fight anything or anyone on their level. The beasts were also not as large as they could be compared to what Clark had warned them about. Therefore, Reese had used a little more energy than he had intended.

"We should follow them." Reese was still a little lower on energy from showing off his current strength earlier. But he had been fighting the weaker beasts without looking out for the more powerful beasts. It slowed him down, but he wanted to ensure that everyone remained at the stronger state for the powerful foes that they would be facing soon.

When they began moving, they all noticed that this was still one massive open room. However, there were large outcropping boulders that came up from the floor. It made the one massive chamber a massive maze of sorts. Especially since they were not organized. They seemed to be here and there without any organization. This was just the way that the dungeon developed.

"The floor will be hard to move around. The soldiers will need a sign that they can follow us. The cultists are the ones that seem to know where they are going. They most likely explored through here and lower than what their base was." Clark felt that this was the most logical explanation.

"I believe your theory is correct. They used the fifth floor as a base since it is easier to control and place a significance on experimentation for smaller beasts. Down here, the single floors are open but full of obstacles. It would be impossible to create a laboratory at all."

Ella paused for a moment while she thought about the facts that she had. "They most likely developed what they needed and are coming down this way to ensure that they can use what they created."

"Dammit all! We keep pushing ahead and we keep finding that they are still well ahead of us!" Ralph swore as he grabbed his axes. He called out the molten boar and the dragon welp again. He was sure that they would need the force to push ahead faster. "Ella, have the earth prince ready and your spirit infant ready, i want the boost as soon as we face these monsters."

The sudden commotion attracted a few of the steel horned bulls toward them. But between Reese and Ralph, they were crushed in seconds. The strength of the group was well over what anyone else would be able to sue in this situation. The only good thing was that the darkness of the last floor was not reflected here.

Natural crystal formations on the ceiling had appeared. They were raining down an odd light that did not send any additional energy in to the air. But it was enough to see and help the group move. Not that shadows weren't cast due to the large boulders all around them.

"Bugs bothering master, will crush them."

An intense burst of earth and metal energy rushed toward the group. Ralph crossed his two axes and his two partners leaped in front to block too. The energy that had burst ahead had an owner, and the owner was standing at ten feet tall and clearly had been fused with the energy of the steel horned bulls.

'Cracked steel minotaur- monster

A powerful fusion of a steel horned bull and a tamer that primarily used earth energy type beasts became this monster. While it is known that minotaurs are a beast species, the monster is a forceful fusion causing mutations and other violent combinations of energies. It alters the body to a degree that makes it go against nature.

The powerful earth and metal fusion causes the hide to be somewhat metallic along with the strength and power to be massively boosted. Lacking in every form of magical energy manipulation, this monster focuses solely on physical strength and powerful defense. It will constantly follow the orders it has due to a lack of intelligence.

The best method to defeat it is to tire it out over a long course of time before attacking its weakest points. Due to its powerful physicality, poisons and other similar attacks are resisted greatly. The longer it is exposed though, the more effective they will be…'

There was a lot more information that goes along with this. Clark had ignored it though, he had quickly shouted out to the others that the risks of fighting these beasts were higher because of its massive physical focus. It could easily break through their own defenses and harm them.

The molten boar's metallic fur had cracked and steam was oozing out as the molten aspect of its body fused the skin and fur back together. The dragon welp was worse off. It was not as tough as a proper dragon. It had taken a lot of damage and its scales were cracked in many places.

"Forget whatever you are talking about. We will handle this." Ralph stepped forward and distracted the cracked steel minotaur. Ella also moved forward and made a wall of earth by directing the earth prince to act. She and Ralph had the power to handle this and they knew it.

"Clark, we are trying them." She thrust a vial in to Ella's hands and pushed the other to move. The group was cut down again. Reese, Jerold, Isa, Grace, and Clark were the only ones left with Maria. But at the rate that Reese was fighting, he would be dropping back any moment to ensure that the pathways for the soldiers were clear. Especially since more beasts were being attracted.

"My partner, allow Ralph and his molten boar to gain their strongest state." Ella directed the spirit infant to boost the strength of Ralph and his partner. The dragon welp had already been called back into the taming space where it could rest. Ralph recognized he had to let the dragon welp rest or else it would not survive this fight.

He could also feel the bruising in his arms from the hit they had just taken.

"Let's get a little rough. Ella, heat up the air with that skeleton of yours." His knuckles cracked as the cracked steel minotaur roared out in challenge.