Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage Chapter 575: Kavakan’s Killing Intent

***

Inside his trial, Kavakan had completely lost any sense of the passing time.

Killing remained his sole activity, repeated endlessly.

Each time the endless bloodshed's corrosion started overwhelming his thoughts, he deliberately activated [Lycanthropic Transformation], changing into his tiger beast shape.

The transformation's built-in time restriction guided him subconsciously.

Once it concluded, reverting forcibly to human form cleansed the mental corruption away.

Sadly, sustaining this method grew tougher by the moment.

Staying rational during the cooldown after transformation proved more challenging—rational enough to initiate it once more.

The dangers persisted even post-transformation.

Kavakan sensed the mental purification's effectiveness waning as the shift ended.

Initially, the lingering corrosion seemed minor.

Yet now...

After each loop, greater amounts of residue clung to his mind upon returning to human shape.

Total consumption by the corruption loomed inevitable.

'This can't continue,' Kavakan reflected while unleashing the built-up power to rapidly eliminate yet another wave of assailants before encirclement.

'A way out must exist.'

'Survival in this trial demands it.'

Regrettably, deep thinking never ranked among his talents.

Action always suited him better.

'Boss would know what to do,' he thought silently, slicing through another forming trap.

Lacking Alex's presence, Kavakan considered the closest alternative.

'How would Boss handle this?' he wondered.

Sadly, as before, inspiration eluded him.

Rather than a fix, a fresh recollection surfaced instead.

—

'Boss... thinking's not my thing, I swear,' Kavakan complained, rubbing his head awkwardly.

A intricate map of the Wildlands lay spread out between him and Alex, acquired previously from Wayne Achard, the Dragonstone Oasis Adventurers’ Association's branch master.

Alex presented a what-if scenario, urging Kavakan for ideas, but minutes passed without results from the weretiger.

'It's not inability,' Alex explained gently. 'You simply avoid using your mind.'

'Relying on others for plans and choices has been your habit. Change comes if you'll command a unit in my place.'

He indicated the Orcs and Barbarians assigned to Kavakan's leadership.

'Imagine your followers perishing due to your failures—would you allow that?' Alex inquired evenly.

'Never...' Kavakan murmured, shoulders slumping.

Alex gave a faint head shake and paused briefly in contemplation.

Abruptly, he questioned, 'Understand the divide between humans and beasts?'

Bypassing Kavakan's expected silence, Alex provided the explanation.

'Instinct drives beasts, while humans reflect and analyze.'

His finger aimed straight at Kavakan.

'As weretiger kin, you bridge human and beast in this comparison.'

'Thus, pure beasts surpass your instincts in sharpness, yet human depths of thought might escape you too.'

'Still, you possess the strengths of animal gut feelings merged with human smarts.'

'Master combining them—that's key.'

'Combine them?' Kavakan brightened a bit. 'Tell me how, Boss.'

'Start with instincts,' Alex advised. 'Then apply logic to examine them and choose obedience.'

He lifted his shoulders lightly.

'Reverse it if preferred—reason first, instincts to verify afterward.'

'Crucially,' Alex emphasized, 'let one check the other.'

'Solutions will emerge through this.'

—

Kavakan's gaze intensified.

Drawing from Alex's recalled counsel, he ceased straining his intellect and delved inside to consult his gut feelings.

'Escape demands what from me?'

Shortly after dispatching two more foes in the chaos, Kavakan detected an instinctive pull.

Faint yet undeniable.

His core had perceived an element all this while, pushing him toward response.

Awareness dawned on him at last.

Kavakan turned inward, seeking clarity on his inner detection.

The notion emerged vividly in his thoughts.

'Dare I?' he pondered.

'Yes!' he affirmed quickly.

Action followed without delay.

[Call of the Wild]!

His kin's special power ignited.

A red tint swiftly amassed near his frame.

Yet prior to the scarlet energy solidifying to boost his physique, Kavakan encountered an unforeseen shift.

A momentary break from the mental erosion's grip.

Grasping the chance, he responded at once.

Through raw determination, he broke the tie binding his awareness to the advancing decay.

Next, he channeled it elsewhere.

Rather than fight back, he steered the decay toward the building red energy encircling him.

The decay poured into the energy freely.

In a flash, the [Call of the Wild]'s red glow detached somewhat from Kavakan's form.

No longer a mere fighter's energy layer, the red energy solidified into a spectral tiger apparition at his back.

It echoed Mogal’s beast totem.

The spectral tiger's stare emitted horrifying hostility.

Fighters meeting its view crumpled dead on the spot.

Slain!

'Killing Intent!' Kavakan burst out.

Comprehension struck him.

The mental plague termed corrosion was truly Killing Intent.

Hence, battle royale participants devolved into frenzied slayers over time.

Channeling Killing Intent to the spectral tiger liberated his psyche from its damaging hold, all while tapping its fearsome might.

With this insight, Kavakan directed his eyes at the surviving fighters.

A savage massacre ensued.

—

Freed from sanity's loss yet empowered by the intent's slaughter enhancement, Kavakan carved through the battle royale.

Unnoticed by him, he ended up solitary amid piled bodies, no life remaining nearby.

Crucially, his inherent Killing Intent advanced to Tier III, marking him as a skilled killer.

[A.N: Envision it akin to a Tier III Sword Expert.]

'ROAR!!!'

A surge built inside Kavakan abruptly.

Unbidden, he and the rear spectral tiger unleashed a booming roar, firing a red light beam skyward.

Undigested Killing Intent from absorptions rocketed up with the cry, piercing the firmament and rending the overhead void.

Before Kavakan grasped the events, the trial realm disintegrated.

Instantly, he reappeared by the stele.

Yet fresh from timeless warfare, he couldn't curb the raging battle fervor within.

This drew Alex's focus, snapping him from Udara-induced shock.

'Kavakan, rein it in!' Alex commanded firmly.

Kavakan regained composure fast, easing tension and subduing the fierce energy.

'Sorry, Boss,' he said remorsefully.

'Step aside and meditate. Compose yourself,' Alex instructed with a casual flick.

Kavakan shifted position promptly, avoiding disruption to trial-takers.

Alex sighed with a wry twist.

Watching Kavakan settle into meditation for self-mastery, Alex eyed the leftover steles.

Intrigued by Udara and Kavakan's evolutions, Alex approached the Armament Stele and took a seat.

His Spiritual Force entered the stele, yanking his mind into the Armament trial.

Concurrently, post-meditation, Kavakan tamed his Killing Intent and battle surge entirely.

Alex had commenced his subsequent trial by then.

Kavakan scanned about, spotting Udara now at the Grey Stele.

Quickly, he inferred multiple trials were feasible.

Bypassing the elder for queries, the brute marched to the Anima Stele, positioned himself, and launched anew.

***