Kailen ignored the insult of the time dilation artifact. Call him cringe or not for choosing that word, it didn't really matter to him much.
"Now let's use this shadow necromancy skill."
Under the shocked gazes of the onlookers at the scene, as they wondered who had saved them from their deaths, Kailen whispered,
"Agglomerate."
A scene that caused everyone to question whether or not they were hallucinating occurred.
Tendrils of dark shadowy energy emanated from the headless body of the chimera-like creature Kailen had just slain.
The shadowy energy weaved into a benighted shadowy prototype of the lion-tiger chimeralike monster, as the actual body of the creature remained in its dead, headless state.
Its complete body boasted a beighted color, from its lion head, tiger's body, and four limbs.
The shadow creature's eyes were equally dark and deep as an abyss. It let out an aura so ferocious that the individuals, both awakened and unawakened alike, quivered.
The fear they felt this time was worse compared to the fear the previous monsters they had fought had made them feel.
"D-rank monster...?" Micheal blurted out, then stared at Kailen, who had just walked past him in shock. His group were the ones who were the farthest from the monsters attacking people.
Kailen had just appeared behind them, so they could connect the incident of the creature being slain and the weird shadowy creature being formed to him.
He knew this was the doing of the man before him—or rather, teenager?
The crowd, however, wondered who was responsible for the feat earlier, as the personality had not yet made an appearance with their actual presence on the battlefield. Also, was this creature related to the individual who had saved them earlier?
The monsters, however, cared not about the humans' shenanigans; they just kept attacking.
By now, plenty more had died due to the momentary loss of focus as a result of the anomalous event that had ensued.
The awakened decided to ignore the absurd happenings and fight for their lives.
"Damn it, what had been a mission to protect a county has turned into fighting for our own lives," one awakened clicked his tongue, then launched a fist-sized fireball toward one snake-like gigantic monster.
[You have created a D-rank shadow creature.]
Kailen smiled, then glanced at the shadow creature he had made.
It was at this point that some people noticed the D-ranked shadowy beast approaching them.
They quivered in fear. Some even soiled themselves due to the fear they felt.
However, the creature had just walked past them.
Just when they were wondering what had just happened, they heard a voice: "From now on, your name will be Feral."
The next thing they saw was that the creature meekly gravitated toward a young man with a relaxed and detached expression in a hoodie, jeans, and sneakers, and performed a bowing gesture as though it wanted to seek his approval.
"What the heck?! Who the hell is this guy?"
"So he's the one who killed the D-ranked chimera?"
"Not only that, his affinity allows him to even create some sort of shadowy replica of the creature he slayed? Just who is this monster?"
"Focus on the battle. With this guy around, I'm sure the tides will change. He's probably part of the reinforcements the association in New Alexandria City sent."
"But the other guys sent for reinforcements have run away? Screw those guys. It's not like we have the ability to run away. Even if we try to run, we will die. Our only option is to fight."
Various affinities rung throughout the environs.
Beasts and awakened clashed. Debris flew. Houses crumbled. Shockwaves spread.
Blood flowed. In just a few seconds, countless humans, both awakened and unawakened, had died.
This was the level of catastrophe a beast tide could bring. And this was just a beast tide whose strongest beasts were just D-ranked beasts. One could guess the level of mayhem and destruction beast tides involving higher-ranked beasts would bring.
Feral's shadowy eyes brightened, indicating it was delighted with the name its master had given it.
Various beasts lunged toward Kailen, however the shadow scythe he had conjured earlier would obliterate them.
Due to his ability to sense shadows in his immediate vicinity, his perception concerning an impending attack had improved, making it easier for him to react.
Kailen then spoke amidst the chaos of battle:
"Feral, care to show me what you can do?" Kailen asked the creature.
Feral nodded meekly like a pet trying to please its master.
"Good. Feral, prepare to go feral."
Szzzzzrtttt
Right when Kailen had just spoken, a massive dark fireball started conjuring from the mouth of Feral, the shadow chimera.
"There's no need to senselessly kill people. However, if someone decides to cause trouble for me, I won't hesitate to end them.
These people have not caused any trouble for me. The attack Feral will unleash will most likely turn this area into mayhem. It's senseless to get them caught in the attack. Since no one has tried to mess with me, there's no need to kill them. My principle is simple: there's no need to senselessly kill people. However, if someone decides to cause trouble for me, I won't hesitate to end them. I should give them a chance to retreat so that they don't get caught in the crossfire," Kailen mused inwardly.
Then his voice rung: "If you want to be alive in the next one minute, gather all the wounded and unawakened and run out of here. However, you can choose to stay and die."
At this time, Feral had conjured the massive fireball, but it was waiting for its master's command to launch it.
Most of the awakened and mundane people who were fortunate enough to have escaped the malevolence of diabolic beasts had fled the battlefield.
There were probably some who were under cracks and crevices of buildings and those the awakened may have overlooked and not saved. However, Kailen simply didn't care. At least, he had a conscience enough to not involve the majority in the massacre that was about to ensue.
As for those who would be caught in the crossfire after his attempts to make sure that didn't happen, it simply meant their end had come.
"Feral, fire away," Kailen voiced, his hands still clad in his pockets. He looked relaxed. To be honest, he felt completely at home, as though he was born for such an environment. That's right, he was relishing amidst the chaos.