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Translator: uly
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: The Martial Art That Turns One into a Beast: Beast Blood Demon Art
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Black Wind's left hand shot up, and the demon hook plunged toward Blood Wolf's throat.
Puk!
Black Wind yanked back the embedded demon hook.
With its throat ensnared, Blood Wolf was dragged forward. Black Wind sank his teeth into Blood Wolf's throat. His fangs pierced the hide and severed the veins. Salty blood flooded his mouth. He swallowed a mouthful and jerked his head back savagely.
Blood Wolf's hide tore away in a long strip.
With bloodshot eyes and Blood Wolf's pelt clamped in his jaws, he looked no different from a beast himself.
"Grraaaargh!"
His guttural roar sent the pooled Blood Wolf blood spilling from his mouth.
Black Wind leaped into the midst of the Blood Wolf pack.
Demon hook in his left hand, his right curled like a claw as he attacked the Blood Wolves. Bent fingers gouged toward a Blood Wolf's eyes while the demon hook's blade dug into another's skull. He seized their rear legs and used the recoil to launch himself forward.
His mouth struck another Blood Wolf's throat like a bird of prey diving in. His powerful fangs pierced the hide deep, severing the hidden veins within.
He whipped his head back, and blood erupted from the severed artery like a fountain.
It was a horrifying sight.
Human and Blood Wolf were indistinguishable. He clutched Blood Wolf fur with his right hand, stabbed with the demon hook, and tore at throats with his teeth. He spat out the chunks and seized another, stabbing and ripping.
"Grraaaargh!"
Crouched like a Blood Wolf, Black Wind let out a savage bellow. Startled by his ferocity, the Blood Wolves hesitated and backed away. Some even tucked their tails. But none fled.
Graang!
A massive Blood Wolf, twice the size of the others, stepped forward from the pack. It was the leader.
Black Wind hurled aside the demon hook in his left hand. He planted both hands on the ground and raised his hips. Beast and predator glared at each other, circling to the right.
"Is that really a human?"
So Pung muttered in shock.
"A beast."
Yo Pung said.
"A beast?"
"Anyone who masters the Beast Blood Demon Art becomes a beast."
"That's the Beast Blood Demon Art?"
"Yeah."
"But why were there no signs of martial arts training?"
"The Beast Blood Demon Art isn't based on internal energy."
"Then?"
"It's powered by one's utmost potential. That pinnacle of potential is called the Beast Sensory Path."
"So that's why that beast had such keen eyesight?"
"Most likely."
"Grraaaargh!"
A roar exploded from Black Wind's mouth, and his form shot forward like an arrow.
"Holy shit!"
So Pung stuck out his tongue in amazement.
In an instant, he had lost sight of Black Wind's movements. He hadn't looked away or even blinked. Black Wind had simply been that fast.
Graang!
The pack leader kicked off the ground as well.
The predator and beast collided in a flash, exchanging blows with their forepaws. Blood Wolf's claws, fully extended, grazed Black Wind's face, while Black Wind's fist smashed into Blood Wolf's muzzle.
Blood sprayed from Black Wind's face.
Thud!
Kyaak!
With a muffled cry, Blood Wolf's head snapped around. In a single strike, the pack leader's eyes went dull.
Clack!
Black Wind seized Blood Wolf's throat with his right hand. He yanked hard and sank his teeth into its neck.
His fangs bored through hide and flesh, rupturing Blood Wolf's blood vessels. He jerked his head back wildly. Blood gushed from Blood Wolf's neck like a fountain.
"Grraaaaaargh!"
Black Wind sprang to his feet, hoisting the gasping, bloodied pack leader high as he roared. Blood poured from his mouth, soaking his jaw and chest.
He was the very picture of a beast.
With their leader defeated, the Blood Wolves finally retreated.
Flash!
Black Wind launched himself after them.
"Hurry!"
At the sound of Black Wind's voice, the Eighteen-Man Squad sprinted at full speed. It was true—Blood Wolves targeted the weak first. With the leader gone, they no longer charged.
The group reached the dunes and climbed up.
Several small pits dotted the area five feet above the ground.
They leaped into the pits.
Though it was a desert, the mixture of sand and soil kept the pits from collapsing when dug. The squad members inside scraped sand with their demon hooks, leaving just enough opening to see out, then covered the rest.
"Grraaak!"
"Aaak!"
"Uwaaak!"
"Kill them!"
Then the Blood Wolf Clan that had been pursuing from behind arrived.
"Waaaaah!"
"Uwaaaah!"
The Blood Wolf Clan charged toward the Wind Squad with war cries. Those who hadn't escaped yet became their targets. They fought with all they had, but the enemy outnumbered them. For every five they felled, a sixth claimed one of their own; for every six, a seventh did the same.
The battlefield was cleared in short order.
Then Adalta, the great chieftain of the Blood Wolf Clan, arrived with the clan chiefs.
"Preserve the heads separately and feed the bodies to the Blood Wolves!"
"Yes!"
The Blood Wolf Clan moved through the battlefield, severing the Wind Squad members' heads and tossing their bodies to the Blood Wolves as feed.
The Blood Wolves' appetites were enormous. They devoured hundreds in moments.
"Now form squads and pursue them!"
As the Blood Wolves finished eating, Adalta bellowed.
"One Wolf Squad, follow me!"
"Two Wolf Squad, follow me!"
"Three Wolf Squad, follow me!"
The clan chiefs and captains of the Blood Wolf Clan shouted as they dashed off.
Tweet! Tweet! Tweet! Tweeeet!
As they ran, blowing their whistles, the Blood Wolf packs followed. Soon the Blood Wolf Clan vanished in a cloud of dust.
Rustle!
Sand on the dune shifted, then collapsed in one spot. Black Wind's group emerged from the pit. They looked at one another.
"How's the arm?"
Black Wind asked Mad Blade.
"Think we have to amputate."
"Let's wash it first."
Black Wind pulled out water and cleaned Mad Blade's wound.
It was just as Mad Blade said. The tendons were severed; even if it healed, it wouldn't move.
"Leave it like this, and it'll rot. Treatment will be that much harder. Worst case, you die."
"Cold bastard."
"Great Wind, start a fire."
"Got it."
Great Wind entered the burrow and fetched bone-dry firewood. The group kept stockpiles in these rabbit holes they called home. He struck flint to light it.
"Now what?"
Great Wind asked.
"Grab a knife and heat it up."
Great Wind took a dagger and held it over the fire. Soon it glowed red-hot.
"We're in the heart of enemy territory. It's night. That means if you scream, it carries far. So if you scream, I'll kill you and we'll leave."
Black Wind said to Mad Blade.
"Fuck off. Give me a piece of wood, you prick."
"Here, bite this."
Black Wind offered what was slung over his shoulder.
It was the Blood Wolf hide he'd torn from its throat.
"Isn't that what you had in your mouth?"
"Yeah."
"Dirty fucker."
"...I only bit here."
Black Wind pointed to the clear tooth marks.
"That'll do. Wait. If you flinch from the knife, I'll kill you."
"Just bite down already, prick."
"Ugh, this filthy thing."
Grumbling, Mad Blade bit into the Blood Wolf hide. At that moment, Black Wind swung his blade.
Slash!
"Gh..."
Mad Blade's mouth gaped wide.
Shing!
The halberd that had severed the arm flew toward Mad Blade's throat.
Mad Blade swallowed his scream.
"Didn't flinch, fuck..."
The halberd stopped just before Mad Blade's throat.
"Good job."
Black Wind lowered the halberd and picked up the heated knife.
"So Pung!"
"Yeah."
"Get ready to cut his throat."
"What?"
"If he opens his mouth to scream, slice his throat. Remember, if we don't, we're dead."
"Got it."
So Pung took the halberd and stood beside Mad Blade.
"You're really gonna do it?"
Mad Blade asked.
"I really want to live."
"Gently... Gahk!"
Mad Blade's body went rigid like he'd been struck by lightning. His mouth flew open.
"I want to get married too, Mad Blade. Because of you..."
"Ah, didn't flinch, you bastard!"
Mad Blade bellowed.
"You held it well."
Black Wind pulled powder from his pouch and sprinkled it on the wound.
"What medicine is that?"
"Not medicine."
"Then?"
"Opium poppy."
"You carry that too?"
"Eat a bit when the pain's bad, hits right. Got a cloth or something?"
"No way I'd have that."
"Take off your underwear and bind it. Can't have dirt getting in."
"Gonna have to strip to skivvies."
"Use this."
Yo Pung offered a soft cloth.
"Where'd you get this?"
"Women always carry them."
"...Thanks."
"That's my last one, so pay me back later."
"If I survive, I will."
"Put out the fire and back into the burrow."
"Spending the night here?"
Yo Pung asked.
"Wandering tonight would just leave us cold and hungry. Better to rest like this. Two per burrow."
"Got it."
The group extinguished the fire and returned to the burrows.
Unlike for breathing, they entered two at a time now. That was the Wind Squad's way of spending nights in the desert. Sand doesn't hold the sun's heat long, so temperatures plunged at night. To sleep inside, two or more shared body heat to warm the burrow, or they'd wake with frostbitten mouths.
"I'll be right back."
Black Wind headed down.
"Tonight's watch is mine, so heads up."
Yo Pung said to the group.
"You won't do anything weird, right?"
Great Wind said.
"Better plug your ears if you're sleeping."
"Sleep's not the issue. Why'd that guy go down?"
So Pung jerked his chin toward Black Wind.
"To grab rations. What else?"
"We'll go too."
A plump-faced man and a giant taller than Black Wind headed down.
The two were So So, nicknamed for his laughing face, and Chang Pung, the tall one.
Moments later, Black Wind and the other two returned with meat wrapped in Blood Wolf hides. The group sliced thin fillets from the meat. They spread the hides and laid out the fillets on top.
"The stiff fur should let it air out well."
Black Wind said.
"Want me to fetch more meat?"
So Pung asked.
"Let's make jerky to take."
Black Wind nodded. The whole group went down and brought back lean meat and hides. The hides were for drying the meat.
They stowed the fur-side-up meat in the burrows.
With two per burrow, five were left empty. Work done, the group returned to the rabbit holes.
"Pairing with you tonight?"
He asked Yo Pung, who followed.
"Tonight, big sis'll love you up hot."
Yo Pung grinned mischievously.
"A Central Plains bastard's over there!"
A loud shout came from where the Wind Squad and Blood Wolf corpses lay scattered. The Blood Wolf Clan's voice dripped with killing intent.
"Bullshit!"
Black Wind's face twisted.