CHAPTER 37: A NEW TARGET

Nick’s smirk only faded slightly as he slipped out of the crowd and toward the teleporter in the central square, which was rather barren now since most people had already rushed over toward the front gate to see what all the ruckus was about.

He’d shown his face, stirred up no suspicion, and had already heard half the sanctuary buzzing with talks of war between the two gangs.

He’d done more than enough for one day.

With one last look at the War Beast Sanctuary, Nick stepped through the teleporter, feeling that same stomach churning twist of space folding around him, before promptly being spat out on the other side.

He adjusted his shirt slightly, before stepping away from the teleporter.

’Feels good to be back on safe ground.’

Terminus might be a backwater cesspit in some areas, run mostly by greedy corporations and the odd crime syndicate, but compared to the beast ridden hellscape that was the Beast Domain, it was practically like a five star hotel resort.

Nick made his way through the teleport station’s chaos with ease, weaving through the hubbub of people, catching a glimpse of himself in a reflection before adjusting his expression.

Turned out he was fashioning an ear to ear grin the whole time since he’d returned!

’Calm down idiot!’

’You’re just another weakling heading back home after a day’s unsatisfactory hunt. That’s right, live up to the expectations these morons place on you!’

It only took a few seconds for him to compose himself.

No one but him needed to know that he was the one behind the looming gang war between the two strongest forces in the War Beast Sanctuary, and he intended it to stay that way, indefinitely if he could do anything about it.

Once he stepped onto the maglev, Nick leaned back and crossed his arms behind his head, aiming to portray himself as just another tired, exhausted hunter heading back from the Beast Domain.

One day he might look back and call all of this paranoia excessive, but he wouldn’t regret being too prepared one bit.

It was better to be over prepared than under prepared.

Meanwhile, his mind was churning with action.

’Time to see just what Beast Slayer is missing out on.’

He thought as he summoned the details of his newly obtained Beast Armament.

[Beast Armament: Radiant Wind Mantis.

Beast Armament type: Armour.]

’Fucking...’

’YES!’

His mind was filled with ecstasy the moment he saw the word Armour appear! He was secretly praying that it wasn’t another weapon type, which he was pretty sure it might be due to how offensive focused the Wind Mantis was, but then he remembered just how tough the Mantis’ chitinous armour was!

...And he could barely contain his excitement!

With this, normal Awakened Beasts wouldn’t even be able to leave a scratch on him! Let alone hurt him now!

If he went out hunting for more Sabertooth Wolves, he wouldn’t even need to use his Radiant Beast Spear! All he’d need to do was just equip his armour and start pulverising the poor wolves with his fists!

Nor would he have to rely on his Soul Ability to heal himself lest he get hit by any stray attack during a battle.

As he didn’t even participate in the fight with the Wind Mantis, he wasn’t even injured when he received the kill notification for the formidable Radiant Beast, and so any life force he felt enter his body was just sent towards keeping him rejuvenated and easing his exhaustion.

But moving on from all of this, a new plan formulated in Nick’s mind.

Awakened Beasts?

Nah, he felt like he was more than powerful enough to take on Mutant beasts now.

The idea made his heart race.

He wasn’t suicidal. Not in the slightest.

In fact, he was more desperate to live than anybody else in the War Beast Sanctuary!

He knew what Mutant Beasts were capable of, but he also knew that even they couldn’t compare to the monstrosities that were Radiant Beasts.

And not only could his weapon pierce a Radiant Beasts’ body, but he also had a piece of Radiant Beast Armour to protect himself now too!

Wearing such armour, it would be like trying to pierce through the tough chitinous exoskeleton that covered the Mantis’ body.

Even Beast Slayer could only do that after activating his 400% strength increase alongside his already stacked stats, most likely harbouring over 200 Radiant Soul Seeds in his Soul Star.

That was essentially like making Nick a mini Radiant Beast himself — except of course that he was extremely under powered to be wielding such Beast Armaments.

His strength was still subpar even when taking into account the whole of War Beast Sanctuary, and his speed was only considered good when he underwent the speed boost provided by his Sabertooth Wolf Beast Armament.

So, he’d look like an absolute fool when he actually entered a fight, but it was a good thing he fought solo! That would save himself quite some embarrassing moments.

Though, now that he had such huge secrets, he’d never even consider teaming up with anyone anymore — even if he was pressured into it by Dido or Beast Slayer.

Of course he was still going to play it safe.

’Even though I managed to penetrate the softer layer of the Mantis’ flesh, I still have a long ways to go. For all I know, that area might have been extra delicate for the Mantis, having defence as weak as or even weaker than an average Mutant Beast’s skin.’

’But still, since I could penetrate such flesh, a Mutant Beast with lower physical defence should be possible. As long as I plan things right.’

He arrived at his station within the hour.

That’s right, Nick wasn’t planning on heading back to his apartment after returning from the Beast Domain just yet.

Instead, he planned on going hunting for some information on Mutant Beasts! Especially ones with lower defence than normal.

Of course, he was only going to narrow his search to areas surrounding War Beast Sanctuary itself.