King Of Limbo

"As things are, we can't take the chance of offending any groups. If we want to walk around here somewhat freely, we must build up our strength."

Although Jin had put in years of grueling training and discipline to get where he was, he knew it wasn't that simple. Jagu's eyes indicated interest in the idea of gaining strength.

He continued to elaborate after Aron noticed the uncertainty in his eyes.

"I want to help each of you become stronger in your specialized fields while also developing mine."

Although Jin gained some clarity, his face still showed bewilderment. "Then what's the point of questioning another creature? Shouldn't we train first then ask later?"

"A race that has inhabited a place for a sufficient amount of time will be aware of the whereabouts of other races' territory as well as numerous threats, such as wild mana beasts."

They still didn't get it at that time, but Aron had just made obvious what his present objective was.

To increase the number of beast aspects in his arsenal. He would try his best not to expose himself to bigger threats until he did.

The others agreed without fretting over the specifics while still being unaware of his intentions.

"Let's try to catch one; for this, I'll need Rose and Jin's help; you two stay here."

Before directing Rose to lead Jin and him to the desired spot, Aron gave a quick instruction.

Aron wrote instructions for Jin and Jagu in a notebook during the journey there.

For Jin it was an art that could vastly increase his speed while for Jagu it was a technique for bettering one's physique, both of which he got from his legacy ring.

He took this action since he didn't know how long it would take to get enough knowledge; during that time, the two could train and see what Aron had to offer them.

Evanora was unlikely to depart, so he didn't worry about her; all he needed was for Rose to mark the spot where she would be sleeping with a runic design.

As for Rose, she received nothing because he would only ever speak to her personally.

…

But when they approached the forest's edge, an open valley in front of them presented their first obstacle.

Even if the grass it contained was just slightly tall, it wasn't enough to conceal them well enough even if they knelt down.

Additionally, their movements would ratchet the nearby grass and warn any Panthera-like creatures that were nearby.

In the middle of the wide valley, the Panthera had what appeared to be a well-established village constructed of stones, long, dry grass, and tree brunches.

Given Limbo's unpredictable nature, it was obvious that it was far from established because it was clustered and had no barriers, but in Aron's opinion, it was actually rather fine.

"Remember your roles; retreat if something goes wrong." Aron spoke wisely before nodding to Jin, who was standing on his extreme right.

Jin then rapidly climbed up one of the big trees that was covering the edge of the woodland.

He climbed to the top of a branch that was two meters wide, sat down, and then turned to face the front.

[ Illusion Arts: Shroud ]

As soon as he took position, the air started to become more humid, and then slowly but surely, fog started to emerge.

Aron watched with patience as the fog moved into the wide valley and continued to do so for two kilometers before clearing. After that, it started to get progressively thicker until no one could even see their limbs.

The same was true for Aron; in Jin's cloak, smell and sight were entirely useless.

He was forced to use an aspect once more as a result. He could feel his focus slipping, which indicated that he was running low on energies.

He had a multitude of wills, but just two aspects. both the death stalker and the horned basilisk.

He now controlled many wills, which is why his body contained a staggering amount of mana.

All of this mana was previously the property of different beasts, but he was unable to use any of its properties without knowing whose species it belonged to.

This had the advantage of converting the latent mana inside if he were to take mana from a creature whose will he already possessed.

He put his palm on the surface and felt the terrain with the horned basilisk's aspect.

The vibrations would reach him as long as a creature in contact with the ground moved in any way. This made detecting any nearby prey effortless, even when there was no sight or scent.

He immediately took off his armor and started walking forward while unclothed.

He approached his prey, a lone Panthera, with his body concealed in the grass and bare feet making not the smallest sound.

It appeared to be perplexed and was holding a long spear. It seemed to Aron that it was moving quickly and randomly, as though it were lost.

It kept doing this up until...

Pa!

The Panthera abruptly bumped its back into a strange surface. It attempted to turn around because it couldn't see in the fog, but it was prevented from doing so before... Its neck was broken.

Shoooo~

Aron came bare-chested from behind it and began to whistle in a way that resembled wind.

Up until Rose's scouter appeared in front of him, he kept doing that.

The Panthera was then stripped of its clothing before Aron lifted the lifeless body from the ground and set it on the surface of the scouter.

[ Death Stalker Aspect: Mimic ]

Crack!

His body cracked and creaked in different postures, as a thin mist started to slowly emerge from him.

Although this process was excruciatingly painful, Aron could only grind his growing, deformed teeth.

His breathing soon grew labored and resembled that of a ferocious animal. Aron began to perspire heavily as the procedure came to a close.

When he imitated a human with comparable features, it was considerably simpler, but this time, he had to genuinely alter his appearance.

'The more difficult something is, it seems, the more physical strain there is.' Aron scowled angrily at this idea before three times stroking the scouter.

After that, it carried the genuine, deceased Panthera and flew off, leaving Aron in its wake.

"Now for the last act..."

"Gah!!"

As soon as one of Lady Rose's scouters started to cause a scene, screaming started to break out in the fog from all directions.

This only lasted for a little period of time, and the fog soon started to clear.

Aron clenched his palm into a fist and slammed himself on the side of his head after seeing this.

Soon, blood began to drip down his face, giving the wound a terrible appearance. "This ought to do."

Then, in an awkward position, he closed his eyes and pretended to be unconscious.

….

"Let's leave, he can handle it from here."

Lady Rose directed Jin as she recalled her scouter and cast one last glance over the wide, hazy valley.

…

"Here!"

"It's Tlaloc!"

Aron's ears were soon filled with strange voices as he lay on the grassy ground with his eyes closed.

He kept pretending to be unconscious, but his awareness was still strong, and depending on the situation, he was prepared to fight or flee.

"Tlaloc! Hey! Get up! Please!"

He could feel his body trembling as the strange, hazy voice grew closer and closer.

"Get up!"

The voice pleaded passionately.

Then Aron made a faint sound as if breathing out, he exhibited a hurt look, and his eyelids started to flutter as he attempted to open them.

"Tlaloc? Tlaloc, yes! Ohtli?! Tlaloc is still alive!"The voice shook Aron even more as it gleefully wept.

Aron opened his eyes, but the words he spoke caused the muscular Panthera in front of him to become solemn.

"Who are you?"

Aron enquired while circling in a daze as though unsure of his location. He even went so far as to peer at his own furry hands and feet while displaying hesitation.

"Tlaloc? Hey that's not funny you scared me there…"

Aron continued to give the Panthera an odd look, which made him more concerned.

"Hey Tlaloc, this is me, really... Garu, your brother!" He said, tightening his hold on Aron's shoulders, but Aron didn't seem to understand.

"Your brother?" Where am I?" Aron started to scan the area while maintaining his composure; his act was perfect.

"Stop, you're hurt! That's why you're like this, don't worry after some rest everything will come to you!"

Another voice entered the scene, this one sweet and feminine as the Panthera called Garu commanded Aron to stop moving.

"Tlaloc!"

The Panthera who spoke to him was a female, and the only notable differences between her and males were that she lacked antlers and had a more rounded hip region that was more suited for childbirth.

She wore basic tribal-style clothes, just like the male, with a cloth covering her genitalia and her chest.

Similar to the Komi in Pesia, Aron could infer that they did not do this out of concern for nudity but rather to safeguard their private parts.

Aron continued to pretend to have memory loss after this woman named Ohtli showed up, which caused her to look really concerned.

He had no idea how relationships functioned in a society like this, but it was clear that these two genuinely cared for the former Tlaloc.

"Let's take him back and treat him quickly, if others see his weakened…" the female trailed while showing irritation.

When Garu saw this, he nodded and helped Tlaloc stand up before leading him to the village.

There was a lot of talking as the other Panthera tried to comprehend what had transpired.

The community was not severely damaged; only one shoddy shelter was destroyed, and one Panthera perished.

If too much damage was done then Aron wouldn't be able to assimilate easily.

Another male Panthera turned to look at Ohtli and Garu as they assisted Aron in settling into the community.

"Stop! The herbs are reserved for useful injured warriors, Tlaloc has missed two hunts already! He doesn't qualify." They were chased away by a larger Panthera after it roared at them.

"That's right, what happened during that one hunt was an accident, we all know it. By the way the others have agreed that if he misses one more hunt then he will lose his right to a mate."

The second Panthera supported the first, grinning toothily as he talked and looked across at Ohtli.

"I'm very much aware of that. Until then I as his mate will tend to his injuries so move Xalar."

The largest Panthera merely huffed and turned to leave without continuing the conversation. The person who had offered support looked at Ohtli again with an even more obvious grin.

"Don't forget, once your child returns she will have be chosen as someone's mate. Chances are high that will be me!" The Panthera merely expressed its desire by speaking with confidence and without hostility.

Garu and Ohtli didn't appear to be upset by this at all.

"If you beat the others who wish to contest for her that is." Ohtli grinned widely before leaving the area with Garu.