Tiara and the Silverfangs were a sight to behold. They weren’t the strongest Awakened of the Untamed Jungle, but their combat prowess surpassed most. Their raw power, flexibility, and high energy control were superior to most. However, the ability to undergo a partial – or full – transformation into a Silverfang Tiger was on a whole different level. It was an innate ability of the Silverfangs, also known as Dires by other Demihumans. Dires were rare, yet all Silverfangs possessed this kind of ability. The only problem was comprehending their inner Dire and learning how to transform mid-battle without ending up dying.
Tiara also had an inner Dire but had a much easier time transforming. The Silvarean Tiger Soultrait accessed her Dire, strengthened it consistently, and strengthened their connection. That was one of Tiara’s most significant advantages, and she used it thoroughly.
She charged ahead of her people and underwent a partial transformation. Her legs cracked and groaned as they transformed into a Silvarean Tiger’s legs. However, the transformation didn’t change her legs into the proper hind legs of the Silvarean Tiger. She remained on two legs but gained the Silvarean Tiger’s lower body strength. Tiara accelerated and emerged before a Tier-4 Awakened, her spear flickering dangerously. Yet right before her spear sliced across the High Awakened’s chest, Tiara’s eyes also transformed. Her human-like pupils distorted and formed into a Tiger’s eyes. The High Awakened was surprised, but he moved faster. A thick Aegis shield made of energy appeared before him. It was strong enough to block the incoming attack. The High Awakened used his momentum and shot forward when his foe’s first attack failed. He expected to create an opportunity to deal with one of the pesky enemies, only for Tiara’s spear to come at him again.
The High Awakened reacted fast again. He was surprised, but that didn’t mean he was helpless. He manifested another Aegis shield to his side, intending to block the second attack just like the first blow failed to injure him. However, Tiara used Inner Force to redirect her momentum. She spun around her axis, the spear flashing in several directions near-simultaneously. From an outsider’s point of view, it would look like Tiara was dancing in the middle of the bloody battlefield, but the High Awakened sensed imminent danger.
Tiara exerted Spirit Whip five times in a row, manifesting five small spirit whips. She intertwined the whips, straightened them in the blink of an eye, and used the customized Soul Technique, Penta-twined Whip, to amplify Spirit Whip’s power for a moment. She was given a moment, but it was also all Tiara needed. Her Penta-twined Whip lashed out and smashed heavily into the High Awakened, whose eyes rolled up until only the white was left in them. He stumbled and would have fallen without the Tier difference between Tiara and the High Awakened. Tier suppression allowed the High Awakened to endure the impacting power. Nonetheless, his mind blanked out for a quarter of a second. That was enough for Tiara’s spear to thrust forward. She used her 4th Soultrait, Thrust, alongside Inner Force and Silvarean Tiger, which directed her entire strength and momentum into the spear thrust.
The High Awakened regained his senses a quarter of a second too early. The silver blade was about to pierce through his neck when a small, multi-layered aegis shield formed around his neck.
The attack impacted heavily, and two aegis shields shattered, but the remaining shields of the multi-layered aegis shield endured the attack.
However, the attack wasn’t over just yet. Tiara was not alone.
Elemental might surged from Tiara’s body, forming several compressed lightning bolts around the High Awakened. Tiara clicked her tongue but pulled back when the High Awakened was about to attack her again. She released the lightning bolts of the forest Lightning Elemental of the Untamed Army.
The lightning bolts crackled aloud and burst forth, releasing a cacophony of thunderous noises as they crossed the remaining distance to their target. They were just about to impact when Tiara used Penta-twined Whip once again. Spirit Whip impacted at full power, draining Tiara’s Soul Power rapidly. She cursed softly when her soul power dropped below halt, but she used Inner Force to reverse her momentum from retreating into a full charge.
The Penta-twined Whip was the first to impact. But it was merely a quarter of a second later when the lightning bolts also crashed into the High Awakened.
Two Aegis shields obstructed a pair of lightning bolts, but it didn’t do much, given the piercing properties of the lightning bolts. The aegis shield didn’t shroud the High Awakened’s entire body or absorb the impacting attacks. Then again, the lightning bolts blocked by the aegis shields were weaker and slower.
Their impacting force was barely registered as the other attacks impacted simultaneously. The High Awakened tried screaming at the top of his lungs when his skin was burned. But another property of the lightning bolts restrained him: Paralysis. The lightning bolts invaded his body and spread through his nerves, finally overwhelming his system.
The High Awakened was strong enough to block the lightning bolts with his body, but once again, the piercing property of the lightning came into play.
‘To think that the lightning bolts of a Tier-2 Lightning Elemental are this strong. No wonder Zeroa took so long creating the Elemental Core of a Lightning Elemental.’ Tiara thought while her Thrust impacted again.
This time, the High Awakened reacted too slowly. His concentration flickered, and the aegis shield was neither perfectly timed nor placed in the perfect location. Tiara used that opportunity to the fullest and exerted Inner Force to slightly alter her attack’s trajectory.
Thrust reached the High Awakened and tore through his shoulder. The High Awakened’s physique was strong, and it came as no surprise when Tiara didn’t manage to kill her target right away. The High Awakened grasped her spear shaft and was about to reach out to her to grasp the Silverfang and tear her into shreds.
But, once again, Tiara was not alone. More lightning bolts formed around the Silverfang Princess. However, simultaneously, more Silverfangs spread out left and right to Tiara.
They had been busy working together to defeat some Awakened at the 3rd Tier. Under normal circumstances, the Tier-2 and Tier-3 Silverfangs would have issues eliminating their enemies quickly, but Michael chose to up his game. There was not a single member of Untamed Awakened with only one Soultrait.
They had either two or three Soultrait Symbols at this point.
Some even managed to acquire a 4th Soultrait.
Of course, there weren’t many with four Soultraits, and none of them had more than two 4-Star Soultraits either, but by accumulating a combination of compatible Soultraits, they acquired far more power than a simple star-rating upgrade could attain. The Awakened’s strength skyrocketed, reaching a threshold that couldn’t be reached by others Awakened on in their rank.
Ignoring the sweat pouring down their backs or the fact that the Sacred Desert wasn’t a suitable environment for them, the Silverfangs spread death and destruction. They poured everything into the battle and crushed the remaining bits of their enemies’ battle spirit.
The Silverfangs transformed into Silver Reapers, reaping the souls of those misfortunate enough to face them.