The Champion prowled around the base of the tree that stood sentinel over the surrounding woods. Despite its thick limbs and stocky chest, it leapt from root to root with lithe agility. Kaius and Porkchop watched the lethal depths-born from behind the relative safety of a bulging root, a little ways into the edge of the treeline.

    "This place is way too open," Kaius whispered. "No way we are going to get the drop on it."

    "You''re right. We will have to strike with fury and bravery in our hearts."

    "What, just run out and charge it?" Kaius grunted, watching the way the Grimclaw moved with sleek grace. "With how bloody big the bastard is, I don''t think my armour will matter all that much. One good hit and it''d just cave my chest in. I''m not so confident at dodging this one, Porkchop, it''s moving around like a chase predator."

    "I''ll do it." Porkchop said with finality. Images flitted across the bond, filling Kaius''s mind. Challenging a worthy opponent, the rare one able to match him in physicality. Winning, bloody, broken, and triumphant. A glorious final roar, shattered body of the challenger lying limp under paw. Porkchop was serious.

    Kaius looked at his friend with a cocked brow, then turned back to look at the distant Grimclaw. "Porkchop, look at the claws. You''ll get cut to ribbons."

    "You forget," Porkchop said with a threatening rumble. "That you are not the only one with a full set of legacy skills. My hide might not be as unbreaking as your new scales, but you will find that I am hard to kill. Wounds that would end you would just slow me down."

    Biting his lip, Kaius continued to watch the champion. It stalked the area of the massive tree, slinking through the shadows to patrol its demesne. Reacting to some unseen motion, the Grimclaw dug its claws into hard roots with buttery ease. Kaius''s breath hitched. Wheeling around with startling ease, it blurred across the clearing. Away from them.

    Gods damned it was fast.

    It snapped up ...something in its jaws, before slinking back to the tree trunk with easy grace.

    Kaius shook his head. He needed to get a grip. It was a big bastard, but he''d managed to take out two Champions alone. He''d grown significantly since then, and he had Porkchop as well. Things would be fine.

    He looked over to his friend. "You''re sure?"

    "Yes."

    "Alright." Kaius let out a steadying breath. He drew his sword, the blade glinting softly as a beam of yellow swept over them from the hanging lanterns above. "Let''s do this."

    Porkchop let out a low rumbling growl, thick digging claws sinking into the ground. "After I challenge it, go offside and follow once I have it distracted. You will know when I engage."

    Kaius nodded. He set off, leaving Porkchop behind to move through the trees. He leaned into the stealth aspects of Explorer''s Toolkit, shadows reaching out tenderly to wrap him in their embrace. Once he had gotten far enough, he moved closer to the clearing. Pressing himself close to the trunk at the very edge of the start of the canopy far overhead.

    With his path set, their approach decided, Kaius''s nerves dissipated. In their place a rising anticipation grew. The slow rustle of the surrounding foliage faded. His vision sharpened, heart pumped slow and heavy as a tingle started to grow in the tips of his fingers.

    The Grimclaw didn''t seem so imposing now. He hoped it would put up a good fight.

    A Father''s Gift rested in his hands, its comfortable weight reassuring him of his success. He had armour now, had grown his skills at an unimaginable pace. The Depths had thrown its best at him, and he had come up time and time again. Using the challenges as a stepping stone to higher heights.

    He was born for this. Trained for this.

    He was a warrior.

    A deafening roar echoed across the clearing, soft ambience of the glade shattered by the sheer rage of Porkchop''s battle cry. His friend charged into the open, sprinting over loose earth and twisting roots. His hackles were raised, massive teeth bared at the Grimclaw.

    **Ding! You have challenged a Champion: Grimclaw Dreadbeast **

    Kaius watched the Champion turn to Porkchop in shock, whirling with a snarl of its own. It locked eyes on his friend, the very air seeming to hold its breath. Snorting its own challenge, the Grimclaw sprinted to engage.

    A cold calm descended over him. Not yet. He had to wait until the Champion had fully committed. If he tore in now it would see him, ruining any advantage of surprise. His grip tightened on his blade, muscles tensing in anticipation.

    The Grimclaw dropped its head at the last moment, trying to gore Porkchop in their collision. Porkchop went low. They collided with a crash, both beasts snarling as they snapped at each other. Wrapping his thick red and black arms around the Champion, Porkchop reared up.

    Despite easily being thrice Kaius''s size, Porkchop picked up the beast with ease, sending it sprawling backwards with a parting snap of his jaws. His friend slammed down, diving towards the Champion''s undefended belly.

    Porkchop had always told him that his thick dagger-like claws were for digging out burrows. They seemed to eviscerate flesh just as easily.

    The beast howled as Porkchop ripped open its midsection. It kicked out, using its powerful legs to rake Porkchop with its claws. He was forced back, thick lacerations on his chest weeping blood.

    It didn''t stop everything, even with the padding of his armoured jacket underneath the scalemail. The Champion''s blows were heavy, backed by enhanced strength and sheer weight.

    Kaius felt his bones creak under the assault. Each impact leaving sharp aches in their wake, his shoulders and chest bruising under the claws.

    **Ding! Adamant Body has reached level 10!**

    He had to do something. If he let the rain of slashes continue he would eventually collapse under the Champions fury. Behind the beast Kaius watched Porkchop surge to his feet with a slight stumble.

    "No!" He called, pivoting to deflect another claw. "I''ve got this! Keep healing."

    Porkchop growled in frustration before settling back down. That caught the Champion''s attention, its head snapping backwards to assess the potential threat of the opponent it had already wounded.

    Kaius''s eyes widened. Now was his chance. He stepped in. Aiming for the beast''s neck, he brought his sword down in a cleave. Flesh parted. His blade sank deep, cutting through the thick muscle that supported the Champion''s oversized head. Blood geysered from the wound, coating Kaius from head to toe in a sticky hot spray of vital fluid.

    A panicked gurgle left its throat. Snapping its head back to him, the beast hastily swatted him in the side. Kaius''s elbow dug painfully into his ribs as he was forced back.

    Rumbling a threat, the Champion crouched low, even as bright arterial blood continued to spurt from the wound on its neck with each beat of its heart. Watching him. Waiting. The spray slowed, eventually becoming a trickle.

    Kaius gasped, his chest heaving with the excretion of meeting a high levelled beast toe to toe in physical combat.

    The bleeding stopped.

    Drawing in a deep breath, the Grimclaw let out a soul rending cry. Mouth hanging open with finger length fangs on display.

    Kaius adjusted his grip on his blade, bringing it over his head into a high-guard. Behind the beast Porkchop surged to his feet, chest whole and hale once more. He met the Champions roar with one of his own, voices mingling in an ear ringing cacophony.

    The Grimclaw''s jaw snapped shut, quickly looking over its shoulder at Porkchop before flicking back towards Kaius. It growled in frustration, tail flicking.

    It was going to move now. It had to. Too much risk of being caught between them. A sharp breath stoked Kaius''s Bloodsong, battle fervour keeping him steady in the face of the Champion.

    Tensing, the Grimclaw made its decision. Scrabbling legs drove it towards Kaius, evidently taking him as the lesser threat. Porkchop surged forwards, chasing to take advantage of the Champions opening.

    Kaius charged forwards with a harsh cry.

    It threw itself to the side, digging claws in to spin its whole body away from him. Turning to face the approaching Porkchop. The Grimclaw''s large whip like tail snapped through the air. He shifted his blade, bringing it down to block the incoming blow.

    Instincts flared. He activated Mana Sense. The clearing was instantly enveloped in a billowing multi-hued fog of mana, obscuring his surroundings. But not the tail. That burned with inner light.

    "Fuck! It''s a skill!"

    Kaius tried to throw himself back. Out of range from the empowering ability. His insight into the attack may have only taken a moment. It was a moment too late. He didn''t have the time.

    The thick bony tail of the Grimclaw hit him with the force of a boulder in freefall. His arm cracked, blade swatted aside with contemptuous ease. The tail hit him in the chest. Without a rigid backing, his scale did nothing. Ribs collapsed inwards. Bones crunching like glass.

    Before he could even process the agony, the power of the tail whip lifted him off the ground., flinging him away.

    Hitting the ground with a thud, pain snapped into focus with a flash. Agony coursed through him, every finger span of his chest screaming for release. Rapid Adaptation compartmentalised the pain, shoving it into a corner of his mind.

    Scrambling backwards he pulled himself away from battling giants. Barely aware of the thundering cracks of Porkchop raging against the Champion.

    He had to breathe.

    He sucked in, getting nothing but a wet rattle for his efforts. Lungs filled with blood.

    Burning claws set into his chest. He needed air.

    As if from a distance, he heard something start to roar.