Chapter 959: Chapter 959: Kiba’s trial (9)

Strength returned to Nanuk’s body thanks to Khiran’s efforts. His pace that had dwindled to half quickened, allowing him to make some decent headway towards the 1st room, the light at the end of this dark tunnel.

Keen to thank his colleague Nanuk turned his neck to call on him but Khiran wasn’t there. A feeling of dread filled him as he turned further. Several metres behind him with the distance quickly growing Khiran had stopped running.

With his back facing against him he stood between Kiba and himself, protecting him from the tiger’s maddened charge.

"Khi....."

"RUN NANUK AND DON’T LOOK BACK!!!" Khiran bellowed as he quickly chugged down a health potion, hoping to heal his body even a little before Kiba arrived.

He was the older of the two, his life more than half fulfilled, Nanuk was young, talented and the nephew of the woman he had come to care for. If Eha could sacrifice herself without hesitation then he could do the same, better to die alongside her and his longtime friend than reach for the impossible hope that was survival. His wounds would never allow him to escape; he was dead either way so might as well give the young lad a fighting chance.

"KHIRAN!!" Tears welled up in Nanuk’s eyes, first Lur then his aunt and now Khiran. He might not be family but with how long they’ve been adventuring together he might as well be. Such a loss was difficult for the young man to endure.

"Run kid!!! Live on and make us proud." Khiran didn’t turn his head only allowing Nanuk to see his large, strong and reliable back. He raised his hand in the air, balled into a tight fist, making light of the situation, akin to saying don’t worry I’ve got this but dripping down his face were salty tears, his body imperceptibly trembling as he stood in the face of death. He was scared, afraid of death but knew there was nothing he could do to stop it....Nanuk didn’t need to know that though, he should remember him as a brave warrior who feared nothing.

"Come pussy cat let papa Khiran show you the strength of my hammer rahhhhhhh!!!" To offset his fear Khiran fuelled his rage, roaring at the top of his lungs as he grasped his hammer, preparing to charge headlong into Kiba’s path.

Nanuk’s watching this through tear stained eyes bit his lower lip until blood was drawn. He memorised the visage of his friend in his heart before turning his head and charging for the exit, putting his all into escaping, honouring his aunt and Khiran’s sacrifices.

’I will survive uncle and I’ll make sure to carry you, aunt and Lur in my heart always.’ With this solemn oath his speed seemed to accelerate, unknown strength flowing through his body and straight to his legs....mid C-rank, he crashed through the wall in a time of crisis, but he couldn’t celebrate not now and not with the cost incurred.

Hearing Nanuk’s footsteps picking up speed and gradually growing faint Khiran unconsciously smiled, a feeling of relief washing over him as Kiba drew close enough for him to see the remnants of wounds dotted across his fur, scars left by Eha’s valiant efforts. It didn’t change the fact that he was no match for him, but it did allow for some semblance of hope. Him dying was certain but perhaps he could tie Kiba down for long enough or land a sufficient blow on an already wounded area that would make his pursuit of Nanuk impossible or at least more difficult.

Inspired by this thread of hope his body stopped trembling and from his storage ring he retrieved what appeared to be a blood red orb, a ball of strong smelling medicine.

"If I’m gonna do this might as well go out with a bang." He muttered as a flash of hesitation appeared. This orb he held was known as a last resort type elixir, something that promised far greater side effects- all determinantal- than benefits but when you had no recourse it offered an opportunity to triumph over adversity.

Khiran paused for less than a second as he recalled several of the more painful detriments but ultimately decided it was worth it. He tossed the orb in his mouth and started tearing it apart with his teeth quickly covering his tongue in a rancid, rotten meat like flavour.

"Bleurgh!" He had the urge to ultimately gag, even the worst health potions didn’t taste as strong and as foul as this but a moment later his body started to react. His blood quickened, his muscles became taught, expanding rapidly and his mind started to devolve, becoming bestial and savage in nature. His size grew in both height and stature, roughly 10 to 15% and his skin took on a red sheen.

In his mind there was now only fury, rage and the urge to kill everything in sight especially the massive flying tiger that was suddenly within spitting distance.

Kiba not wanting to fall for the same thing as with Eha increased his speed the moment he saw Khiran take out that strange red orb. He sensed danger and moved to take him out before anything unexpected occurred.

By the time Khiran’s elixir took full effect, boosting his strength and durability Kiba was already on him and without holding back in the slightest thwapped his shoulder with his right claw pushing the enhanced Khiran to the ground with an audible thud. If he hadn’t taken that elixir his shoulder, several ribs and possibly even a section of his spine would have been fractured by this momentous blow, but thankfully he remained in one piece, he didn’t even feel any pain just anger, so much anger. Like a savage beast Khiran roared as he tried to shove Kiba off even resorting to headbutting the large cat with his skull.

From an outside perspective it’d be hard to see who was the monster in this situation but it didn’t last long. Kiba had learned to use his full strength even when hunting a rabbit. Ignoring Khiran’s head butt and his emboldened pushing that genuinely brought no small amount of surprise to the young tiger Kiba wrenched open his jaws and bit Khiran’s succulent flesh. Even with the benefits brought on by the elixir his flesh could not stop Kiba’s jaws. His fangs sunk deep into his neck and shoulder, spurting copious amounts of searing hot blood, a fatal wound but as if oblivious to it Khiran kept struggling, his eyes already revealing an intense madness.

Since one bite wasn’t enough Kiba landed a second on the other side before tearing his head from his shoulders with a third. With a bloody head in his maw Kiba brought his jaws together with an eery crunch before locking his gaze on the desperately fleeing Nanuk.

The area in front of the entrance to this room was quite sparse, little foliage in the way so despite the gained distance Kiba could still clearly see his prey.

To pass his trial he needed to kill everyone, anything less was a complete failure so despite his wings still hurting from their earlier wounds -wounds that the health potion couldn’t remedy in just a few minutes- he took flight and chased Nanuk down, determined to bring an end to the exercise.

Surprisingly however as he moved he felt his mind cloud, anger and hatred starting to overwhelm him. His expression became far more bestial, savage even and in response he couldn’t help but unleash a ear shattering roar. It wasn’t a skill but somehow it was no less intimidating, guttural, primal and soul stirring.

Nanuk running as fast as he possibly could heard the roar and knew Kiba was already hounding after him. The exit was almost in sight, just a few more minutes and be able to leave its territory and hopefully escape this calamity but he didn’t have a few minutes, likely less than one.

He didn’t lose faith though, hell bent on making sure the sacrifice of his aunt and Khiran would be worth it in the end he ran and ran, his legs moving faster than they’d ever moved before. He took no notice of his surroundings and barely anything in front of him, his gaze and mind set on the exit and nothing else.

Eventually after running for who knows how long, every second felt like years with death being so close at hand he caught sight of the exit, success. His heart jumped with glee, hope reigniting and energy returning to his tired limbs as survival was in sight.

He was so focused on what was ahead that he didn’t notice that right behind was Kiba, too far to bite or claw but within reach to use something he’d learned back in the realm of Niflheim.

Schwoot, schwoot, schwoot.

There was a faint sound of something flying through the air and an instant later Nanuk felt his body being struck in three places, as if daggers or arrows had pierced him. He stumbled as a result, falling to his knees but only briefly before forcing himself back up and desperately running, limping slightly and at a much slower pace.

Schwoot, schwoot.

Two more sharp objects pierced his body slowing his pace even further but as if he knew nothing of this Nanuk continued to amble forward. Only when a massive and heavy impact struck his back did he finally stop.....the exit barely 200 metres ahead....so close yet so far.