MTL NOVEL Chapter 7: Beast Master
Boom boom boom.
Thick military boots pounded the ground heavily as a group of thirteen soldiers wearing the uniform of the European Military appeared.
"This must be the place. There is a dead body here, and the stench of blood is thick." An ugly looking bear of a man said gruffly while sniffing the air. "Spread out and investigate."
"Roger that!" His men immediately dispersed in twos, leaving him alone standing there staring at the hole in the concrete forest caused by Damien's fearsome Deathball.
Damien Bloodbane was looking at the ugly leader with shining eyes at that moment.
"I can see his stats!"
[Name: Jarvee Germanicus]
[Hp: 700]
[Mp: 1200]
[Class: Mage - Beast Master]
[Spells]
[Beast Taming Level 2]
"A Beast Master with more mana than hit points. Comparing his values with mine, his Vitality is 7 points and his Intelligence is 12 points.
That should put him around… Rank C? He is probably weaker than Rick. But that is mostly offset by his way of fighting - using beasts." Damien Bloodbane analyzed his enemy calmly.
His main teacher had drilled into his bones one very important lesson.
Know yourself and know your enemy, and the battle is half won.
Studying his enemy and formulating the best strategy to win against him was one of many prerequisites to a long life.
"The best way to fight against a beast master is to quickly take him down before his beasts engage." Damien Bloodbane rose quietly from his hiding place like a specter of death and burst towards him.
BZZZZT!!
A fearsome black ball of energy appeared in his right palm as he prepared to fling it towards Jarvee Germanicus.
However, his blood turned cold at that instant when Jarvee Germanicus turned around to face him with a sneer plastered on his ugly face.
In battle, the first law of responding to an ambush or a surprise attack is to change your original course of action.
Whatever your original course of action was, no matter how awesome and how perfectly things had been going on up to that point, it would probably play right into the hands of your ambusher.
That was why Damien Bloodbane threw himself to the right to take his ambusher by surprise back at the European command tent.
And that was why Damien Bloodbane flung his Deathball downwards to the ground as soon as he saw Jarvee Germanicus' ugly grinning face.
KABOOOOMMM!!!
His Deathball seemed to respond to his will and immediately detonated without devouring anything. The force of the detonation flung Damien Bloodbane upwards at speeds he would not have otherwise achieved with his own strength.
Phuaa.
Damien Bloodbane vomited a mouthful of blood due to the force of the explosion. But it was much more preferable compared to the alternative.
ROAAARR!!!
A massive black wolf the size of a small sedan burst into view and flashed past the spot where he was a mere split second ago! If he didn't detonate his Deathball right there and then, he would have been caught in its massive jaws filled with sharp teeth…
Instead of being shocked into terror however, Damien Bloodbane's eyes flashed with a steely glint of determination.
Bzzzzt!
A second Death Bomb appeared in his left palm and he instantly flung it towards the snarling giant wolf who was turning around to resume its attack.
KEEEEEYAAAA!!!
The shrill scream of a powerful falcon sounded at that moment, causing the giant wolf to leap aside and avoid the Death Bomb!
KABOOOOOMMM!!!!
The Death Bomb exploded right next to the wolf and threw it violently aside.
At the same time, Damien Bloodbane had landed on the ground, and only had a split second to throw himself to the side to avoid the dive of a large bicycle sized falcon!
"Beast Taming Level 2. The giant Falcon is the second beast." The thought flashed in Damien Bloodbane's mind as he recovered from his roll and dashed towards the Beast Master. "The wolf is injured and the falcon is out of position. I need to take out Jarvee Germanicus NOW!"
"You injured my Shadow Wolf you Chinese bastard!" Shouted Jarvee Germanicus in anger as a handheld laser blaster appeared in his hands. "DIE!!"
Damien Bloodbane's eyes narrowed as his body flew across the five meters that separated him from the Beast Master.
"Can I make it?!" Damien Bloodbane's mind raced at top speed.
BANG!!!
The laser blaster fired out a powerful shot.
However, the shot only hit an empty spot where Damien Bloodbane was supposed to be!
"Huh?" Where is he?!" Jarvee Germanicus shouted in shock.
"Die European bastard!" Came Damien Bloodbane's shout from above him.
It turned out that Damien Bloodbane had chosen to explode forth with all of his strength in a powerful jump.
He willed for another Death Bomb to appear to finish off his enemy.
Alas!
[Insufficient mana]
"Damn it!!" Damien Bloodbane cursed and turned his killing blow into a powerful punch instead.
BAM!!
His punch smashed into Jarvee Germanicus' face and instantly knocked him out.
AWOOOO!!! KEEEYAAAAA!!!
The furious cries of his two beasts sounded as they charged towards Damien Bloodbane with sharp killing intent.
"Boss! What's happening?!" Loud shouts of concern also rang out from all around them as the twelve members of the platoon raced back upon hearing the sounds of battle.
In battle, a single screw up can turn a nearly successful plan for survival into fatal failure.
If Damien Bloodbane did not run out of mana, his Death Bomb would have killed Jarvee Germanicus instead of merely knocking him out, and his two beasts would have either died along with him, or been so injured by the sudden spiritual disconnect that they would be stunned senseless.
Damien Bloodbane could have made use of that tiny window of time to reposition himself and look for another opportunity to take out the remaining twelve soldiers.
But with Jarvee Germanicus merely fainted, his giant wolf and falcon were still in battle against him, and he could not escape!
"Hehehehe. Maybe I will be seeing you today after all, my friend." Damien Bloodbane's eyes glinted dangerously as his single remaining dagger appeared in his right hand.