Ordinarily, a stab through the heart would have been enough to kill just about any normal person. But Rangers were anything but normal. And Mountain Gorilla Taru was a cut above the average.
As a Beta Class, spiritual energy saturated every fiber of his body to an absurd degree. To add to that his Patron Spirit tempered his body to be far beyond normal flesh.
When Rhos had driven the dagger toward his heart with every ounce of strength left in him, he was met with the resistance of muscles clamping down around the blade. Even with the momentum of a surprise attack, he had only managed to bury half the blade before it refused to go any deeper.
The wound was still severe, but it wasn’t severe enough to be fatal.
Blood streamed from Taru’s lips as he staggered backward, dropping to one knee. He took laboured breaths while looking at the blade lounged in his chest.
"Ggh!"
With a growl, he wrapped one hand around the dagger. Muscles bulged beneath his skin as he ripped it out and threw it to the side. A fresh spray of blood splattered across the forest floor.
But that did not last long because the muscles across his chest flexed violently. The wound visibly compressed beneath layers of contracting muscles until the bleeding decreased.
"Hah.... hah... hah..."
Taru spat another mouthful of blood before lifting his squinted eyes onto the two young Rangers, more specifically they glared at Rhos with murder inside them.
Watching this display, the young man began to regret why he didn’t go for the head.
Several meters away, Taru slowly stood back up on his feet
"You little... fucking bastard"
He murmured in both pain and fury.
"You actually stabbed me... You insignificant piece of shit actually raised a weapon against your Keeper!"
With Rhos not saying anything, he turned his gaze to Nimra.
"What the hell are you standing there for Leopard Cat? Kill him!"
The young woman visibly flinched in horror but didn’t act.
"K-Keeper..."
"I said kill him, you stupid bitch! The bastard just attempted to murder a superior officer! Do you understand what that means?! If the higher ups hear about this, they’ll brand both of you as traitors! Do you think the Corps will believe the word of some worthless Outborn over mine?!"
Keeper Taru was pissed, veins swelled across his neck and his breathing had become heavier. However he still managed to soften his tone as he said:
"But it doesn’t have to reach that point. Help me kill him. Our story doesn’t have to change. You can still remain a Ranger and continue to support those unwanted runts at the orphanage"
Nimra’s eyes widened at his words, causing her to unconsciously loosen her grip around Rhos for a moment before tightening again.
"Keeper, I.... I..."
Taru saw her hesitation and pressed harder.
"Leopard Cat, you’ve already seen enough death to understand how this world works! Someone has to be sacrificed! That’s reality! So stop acting sentimental and kill him already before I kill you both myself"
While still supporting Rhos to stand, there was clear visible panic on her face as if she did not know what to do or whose side to pick. She lowered her head and began muttering incoherent words.
Rhos’s stomach sank. This was not good because if she chose Keeper Taru’s side then he was as good as finished. He was in terrible shape right now, although he could feel the little rest he got, it was barely enough to take on two Predators at the same time.
It appeared Taru had reached the same conclusion.
"Since you’re too spineless to decide... I’ll make the decision for you"
His eyes flashed and blue spiritual energy exploded around both his arms, wrapping around them like flowing currents before condensing into dense layers. His already enormous frame seemed to grow even larger.
"Beast Totem Art:...."
The ground cracked beneath his feet as he lunged forward with surprising speed. Even while he was injured, he was still a Beta Class Ranger! Rhos never forgot that even for a moment, this was how he was able to shove Nimra away with everything he had.
"Mountain Breaker!"
The instant Taru’s punch struck the ground they had been standing a second ago, there was an explosion of energy. A violent shockwave ripped outward, sending chunks of stone and trees flying in the air.
Rhos and Nimra tumbled through dirt and broken branches before finally skidding to a stop. The impact of the blow had opened his bandages wounds, but he still forced himself back onto his feet.
When the dust settled, Taru stepped from the crater he had created. Blood continued dripping from his chest and spiritual energy coated both of his massive arms like burning fire.
"You two really are worthless. A useless Outborn and an emotional bitch. Division 14 would’ve been better off if neither of you had ever graduated"
He glanced toward the direction of the Elderwood Biome then at the darkness in the forest. He clicked his tongue.
"Not worth wasting more time"
Taru turned and started to run toward the Biome. Behind him chased the red haired young man. The instant Rhos saw him move, he didn’t hesitate despite his injuries and exhaustion.
He couldn’t allow this man to make it to Elderwood!
"Persistent little parasite!"
The moment the Keeper noticed him, he quickly turned and swung his fist. Rhos worked with his agility to narrowly throw himself to the side, letting it skim past his cheek before obliterating the tree behind him.
He used this opening to drive a kick toward Taru’s knee, attempting to mess with his balance. But it barely made him budge, forcing Rhos to disengage.
"Tch"
Rhos knew he couldn’t take the Keeper directly in a fight. A mountain gorilla possessed overwhelming muscle density and explosive strength. His body itself was a weapon built to survive violence.
He was out of his depth here.
"Red Deer, you’ve spent your entire career hiding behind everyone else! What makes you think you’re suddenly capable of standing in my way?!"
Rhos wiped blood from his mouth while straightening himself.
Just as when a livid Taru lunged toward the young Ranger, a streak of green suddenly flashed between them.
"Beast Totem Art: Cat Hunt!"
Nimra had shot forward like a bolt of emerald light, her claws carved straight toward Taru’s exposed side.
"Idiot"
The Keeper looked more disappointed than surprised. He turned and his fist met her face before her claws could touch him. Her body folded around that punch, her eyes lost focus and blood sprayed from her mouth.
She crashed into the ground hard enough to leave a crater several meters wide. Her transformation vanished instantly.
"One useless bitch..."
He raised his foot, intending to crush her skull. However, Rhos ignored the pain ripping through his body and lunged to grab the woman beneath both arms and threw himself backward.
The Keeper’s stomp shattered the ground Nimra had been lying on. Rhos landed several meters away, immediately wrapping his arms around her body.
Taru looked at him with genuine disgust.
"Do you really think that woman cares about you? If so, you really are the dumbest Prey I’ve ever met. She wouldn’t–"
Rhos finally decided to say something, cutting off whatever he was about to say.
"Yeah, probably. But I can live with it..."
A sudden enormous silhouette towered behind Keeper Taru. When he turned his head, his face paled with horror.
Rhos laughed weakly as he finished with:
"Can you?"