Lord Of Beasts

Ethan had put on a masterclass against the Rotwing Fly.

While partially assimilated with Talon, he made the best use of his Griffling’s abilities and avoided major damage. His left shoulder was rotting, and that seemed to be spreading slowly, but he wasn’t dead, which was all that mattered.

’This arm has been through a shit ton.’

From Rina’s arrow to all the beasts that had gnawed on it, he always instinctively shielded his body with his left arm. He was right-handed, so that was natural, and the shoulder was the most durable part of the arm.

Though it was unnervingly close to his neck, which was concerning.

But in exchange, he had grounded the B Rank Beast, making most of its abilities obsolete.

That alone was an impressive feat.

And just as he was thinking about how to finish off the disgusting thing without spreading more of its rotting around his body, he was suddenly hypnotised.

’Almost like the butterfly was saving it.’

Then, moments after that, the Steel Scarab had also stepped in to protect it from Bulldozer, who would have just ended up rotting the top of his head.

But that confirmed it to Ethan.

’They’re starting to work together.’

That changed things entirely.

His initial plan had been for each of them to take on one of the beasts. He didn’t have high expectations for the Bulldozer, but he was hoping that Dave would be able to zap the butterfly and help them.

If they could just hold their own against their respective beasts, there was hope.

Ethan was confident he could find a way to defeat whatever beast was put in his way, and he was on track to do so. After that, he could help the other two defeat their beasts.

He wasn’t too worried about the rot or whatever other injuries he sustained in the process as long as they won. With the skill he had just created, it shouldn’t be too difficult to recover, at least to a state in which he could continue fighting.

He had already thought about this all.

And just because he was reckless at times didn’t mean he was stupid.

But his companions had proven even worse than he had thought, which already wasn’t great.

Dave was still standing there blank-faced, and while Ethan had been facing the giant fly, he had seen that the Dreamveil Monarch had used some glowing attack. Ever since, the white-eyed man had been fighting in his mind.

’It makes sense considering it literally has Dream in its race.’

But he was hoping the man who was so proud of his mana control and the ability to see mana would be able to break out of the illusion.

’That’s what I get for relying on someone to not be a useless idiot.’

The only thing Dave was doing that was helpful was distracting the butterfly-like beast, which seemed focused on maintaining the illusion that he was under. Of course, he hadn’t done that intentionally, but at least it restricted the abilities of the hypnotic beast.

Ethan saw everything like a game, able to take a step back and study the battlefield.

Everything seemed to freeze around him, his mind racing.

But no matter how hard he thought about it, there was no way they could win, not when the beasts coordinated. It was odd that different insect species were working together, but the important thing was that they were.

And that sealed their fate.

’At this rate, we’re all dead.’

The thought was cold, but true.

Even if Ethan used everything, summoned every beast, used every skill at his disposal, he wouldn’t be enough. Nor would it be wise to do so since his MP was rapidly draining.

Dave, who was supposed to be their ultimate weapon, seemed to only be able to fire one of those devastating beams every minute. And even then, he was in a deep state of hypnosis.

’Now that they’re working together, all it will take is for one of the other two to crush or rot him to death.’

The white-eyed man was a literal sitting duck.

Ethan didn’t particularly care if Dave lived or died, but he needed those laser beams. The Bulldozer, on the other hand, just kept charging and being flung around, but didn’t serve as anything more than a distraction for the beasts.

Though he would be lying if he said he wasn’t impressed by the grey-skinned man’s resilience and durability.

But ultimately, that was just delaying the inevitable.

’I might be able to run, but how long for? And knowing the system, I’ll end up facing something worse.’

Ethan removed that option from his mind and knew he had to face these beasts. Once he defeated them and this so-called Phase Two was over, he could figure out what came next.

But as things were, it felt impossible, even for the man who always seemed to surpass his limits.

Then something suddenly clicked.

’The system does everything for a reason.’

His objectives, his rewards, and even his current predicament - it was always connected in one way or another.

Ethan’s last reward was useless here without the necessary Evolutionary Shards, but he had received one before that: the one for facing Mace in the UFC.

His eyes widened.

’The Instant Tower Token!’

It was a gamble, a ridiculous one.

Twenty-four hours in the Tower would not magically make him strong enough to handle this, but it would give him something.

Time.

Time to think.

Time to plan.

Time to figure something out.

”Be right back.”

The words left his mouth without hesitation, and then he brought up the System Interface and tapped on the Tower Tab, using his Instant Tower Token.

{Enter The Tower}

The world shifted, and reality distorted.

In the next instant, he was somewhere else entirely.

{Welcome back to the Tower Of Beasts!}

{Floor Twenty One: Acidic Swampland C}

Ethan stood still for a moment, staring at the familiar, disgusting environment.

The air was thick and humid, filled with the stench of rot and corrosion. Pools of bubbling acid stretched across the swamp, releasing toxic fumes that burned the lungs with every breath.

”I hate this place,” he muttered.

But this was the place he had to use to overcome his predicament.

’Otherwise I’ll be joining Mace, Rina, and that first fucker in hell.’