19 Conclusion, The Taboo Ac

Achievement is one of the greatest desires of any creature in any era or culture, it comes in many form, such gaining treasure that towers over buildings, building an empire from rubble, even simple matters such as kissing a girl or winning a game rock-paper-scissors.

Stigma had just entered his first fight with a beast, striking a stab at its neck and having his careful planning work against for the first time.

After exhausting oneself to reach a near impossible goal or task, an electric like feeling will run through their body, joy in other words would describe what they would be feeling. They all had one thing in common., the thrill of gambling, gambling with coins and dice leaves to chance or better yet manipulation of the outcome, but for players in internet, pc or mobile games, they can feel the effort they are putting in when they finally defeat a difficult opponent, say monster hunter doing your first solo boss kill, or catching all the legendary in each generation on pokemon.

However for Stigma there was no joy whatsoever, his left hand was still grasping the knife that was embedded in the wolfs neck, the problem was he was able to feel the breathing of the large beast, it was clear that it was not deep enough to kill it.

What if I tried to use 'Soul Eater'.

Soul Eater!

*BING!*

[Warning, using the skill 'Soul Eater' at the living is a taboo, skill is only for the deceased and the spirits, if such act was forced it will end with consequences.]

[As a forbidden act was made, skill Taboo was learned.]

Taboo (I) 0%

*A skill that makes one release a aura of death, darkness will follow the user, instant death skill are ineffective to user but darkness skills used will be increased by 100%.

After realizing it, he pulled the knife from his left and jumped back, and he noticed the surroundings have changed. The other seven who had not been attacking him, started to get closer to him and the wolf leader, three of the smallest were in front of the leader, while the other four were glaring at Stigma.

"Master you are still physically weaker than all of them so you must take caution, these beast have some form of intelligence, especially the one in the middle who you stabbed, he must either be the leader or an underling avenging its subordinates, given that he was still waiting for you to attack he must be mistaken you as the one who killed the other seven, and started to wear you down first."

With Hilda feeding him notes he was glad in someway, even if he had ordered Dusk to attack first the consequences would be dire. At the current situation, he was mistaken as a strong cultivator so it chooses the safe approach, he should be happy at the current development from a bluff.

The situation to be similar to humans acted, when they were in danger, protecting their injured leader and supporting him by trying to keep his opponent away baring their fangs at him if they had too.

The situation had drastically changed, it was a one-on-one with Stigma and the pack leader, and now it was eight versus one, the wolf either planned this or the pack did it out of loyalty. That goes to show how humans are different from beast, they have motives in helping others while the later do it for their pride in following the strong.

So that is why...

If he were to die now, he would rather be glad to have been cornered by a being who was loved than a fiend, who every one curses.

"Fools,dare...! [1]"

Facing with new foes he readied himself for their charge, when a enraged voice stopped them from moving. It came from in front of Stigma, behind the three wolves, it was the leader staring at all of his mates.

"Fight, for honor, shame, alone, human."

It spoke!

In nature, when a predator hunts a prey there was an unwritten law, when they hunt it was a taboo act to hunt another's prey or get involve in another's fight for supremacy, that wolf was agreeing to fight Stigma because of the difficulty of losing more of his men and it was an insult for him and Stigma to have outsiders involve in a duel to the death.

"The Heavenly Beast of the Wolf spoke, but form my memory only higher grades are the only ones who can speak clearly, he must be either a unique evolution or a descendant of one. Take caution master."

When he heard Hilda it made sense, the beast can evolve more than humans, hence they can at least mimic the vocal language.

Even with the broken sentence, Stigma can understand after looking at the corpse pile, the match was supposed to be for both of them only, with all their comrades dead the leader wanted to have minimal damage so he was the only one fighting so the others can survive with him being defeated.

"Really, a noble race indeed..."

Clenching Hilda, he position himself with the sword in front of him.

As for the pack the dispersed, with one hesitating to leave.

"No, shame, in, defeat." After hearing those words the wolf followed the rest only behind the leader.

"Apologies, strong one."

"No shame, great one."

With the broken sentence he paid their respects.

Both have taken their stance, with its one eye the leader was focusing on how Stigma was standing, if he were to lean on any side the leader will take advantage of its weight and continuously tackle, noticing that Stigma was having difficulty in positioning himself to swing his broad sword that was longer and heavier than him.

Even with the hole on its neck, it didn't spare any to it as he circled slowly around Stigma waiting for an opening, the size was alarming, its muscles were formidable, along with its experience, it would be a high hurdle to a greenhorn or an amateur trying to fight him head on.

Essence Reader!

*

Species: Great Iron Wolf

Ranks: Rare

Skills: Iron Skin (II), Heavy Smash (III), Defense Up (II), Swift movement (II), Rush (III)

*

Iron Skin (II) 30%

*A skill that turns one's skin into armor, the thicker the muscle the greater the defense. Each level decreases the damage to blade attacks.

Heavy Smash (III) 45%

*A skill that turns one momentum along with one's weight into a powerful tackle. Each level increases the damage dealt.

Defense Up (II) 60%

*A skill that increase defense based on one's weight, if attacks does not exceeds its defense all attacks will be rendered ineffective. Each level increases the defense.

Swift Movement (II) 10%

*A skill that increase users agility, speed increases depending on the level. Passive Skill.

Rush (III) 35%

*A skill that increases tackle damage, effect will depends on how fast the user is. Each level will increase damage. Passive Skill

Shit, no wonder they didn't attack the Tiger despite its skills, the skills buff his defense and speed, but with the strong intimidation skill 'Thunderous Howl' it drastically changes their advantage to a disadvantage, looking through the rest, they all had common skill like the ones before it was all repeat skill.

The numbers would just be a burden towards absolute strength.

"Master, the leader appears to have the impression that you are a tricky opponent, with what you

did with the knife he is taking a distance approach and making sure you lose the weapon. Even I was amaze by what you have done, since you had no experience."

It was just a trick he pulled like how magicians fooling a crowd with their quick hand play on the cards.

With the 'Knife skill' Stigma was able to use it effectively like trying to aim, adding the 'Throwing'skill the damage was obvious by the amount of blood dripping from its eye, with the skill he had the was able to keep up the pace of the wolf in some way, piercing through the wolfs thick pelt was a different story.

He had look over his options again he still had the knife but without the other two being a distraction is all the knife is going to be, Hilda was a powerful sword no doubt judging from the large burns from where he struck it, the skill 'Erode' was effective, just the touch the burns were already showing from him and the previous wolf.

Dusk is an effective armor, despite taking those hits he was able to form faster back into it's original form than before, the knife was a good example, he covered the handle a little to change the fall it was going to land on his hand.

Then it hit him, if the wolf was so eager to get rid of the weapon then he was going to get a big surprise.

"Hilda!"

"Yes master!"

"Do you trust me!"

"With all due respect, I have just meet you master, but you are the one who named me so I trust you, as I am already yours, I will gladly be of service to you!"

"Thanks! Dusk, you trust me!"

Dusk had no response vocally, but its body was making waves to his arms, legs and his chest, confirming that he will follow his absolute command.

With inspiration hitting him, he smiled and the leader became vigilant showing it's fangs and its leg muscles, it was ready to pounce on him, but the unexpected happened.

Stigma charged at the wolf head on, only this time it was different, after swinging Hilda three times from his right, the wolf kept on dodging it, then the knife was throw at his unguarded midsection only to have it flung back from its tail.

After grabbing the knife again, he threw both the knife and Hilda up in the air.

"Master! What are you doing! I can't protect you if were apart!"

"Trust me!"

He silently ordered Dusk to help him, he took his stance, leaning forward with both hands on the ground feet were planted with one foot forward, like a track and field runner he was going to take his charge from full speed.

The wolf was still in the midair so he took the chance, he stomped the ground until it broke leaving behind a small crater, charging towards the wolf, the impact was like sack of rice was dropped a painful thud was heard, but the one who flew was not Stigma, it was the leader.

Before, Stigma had ordered Dusk to do the following, boost his physical abilities and avoid breaking his limb, after he takes his stance to tackle, Dusk would focus his body on his legs and his arms to cushion the impact and increase his speed.

But that was not all that he did, the leader had flung about five meters away, it was staggering as it tried to get up, bit it was not struggling due to pain, it's skills were keeping it from the damage taken. It was struggling from the the figure surrounding it.

Yes, the last trick he had in store was having Dusk split from his body and have Dusk prevent the leader from moving.

Stretching his hand out, Hilda had landed his right hand, and he charged at the wolf that was struggling, but reality was as cruel as ever.

*AWOOOH!*

Instead of having the leader being injured the wolf from behind him was the one who got injured.

The howl of leader was heard along with six others.

The sorrow cries were heard, the conclusion of the death match, a taboo act had been made.

[1] Purposely in a broken speech pattern.