Conquering the Mythos: Reincarnated with SSS Rank Skill Corruption

Chapter 17: Company



Within seconds the tamers surrounded the carriage. Shuzen sighed as he noticed their ranks. 3 of them felt unfathomably weak to him, just 2 C ranks and a B rank. However, 1 seemed interesting as he had the aura of an A rank tamer.

For now, they were doing their best to hide their beasts' souls. However, Kai at least had an idea of each of them.

The C rank to the northwest seemed to adopt the mannerisms of a bird beast. Kai didn't know the exact species, but it reminded him of a mountain eagle or something similar. The biggest tell was the tamer's twitching arm, taking the place of the eagle's wings.

Kai didn't know how, but it appeared as though Anhita was able to enhance his senses. This helped him to notice small details of these hunters even if he couldn't see them.

The other C rank adopted traits of a lizard, the most prominent one being that he constantly shoots out his tongue.

Kai couldn't tell much about the b and A rank hunters as they hid the mannerisms of their beasts far too well. However, he knew it didn't matter too much because the hunters would be on them soon. He would learn their beasts soon enough.

Unsure if just his heightened physicals would be enough, Kai looked around for anything that could be a weapon.

The cabinet was filled with dishes and cups, which could cause some annoyance but probably wouldn't be enough for someone who could tame beasts. Trying to take someone who can tank the force of mountains with just a plate would be like using a bucket of water on a raging fire that's engulfed an entire town.

It is simply too weak for that large of a scope.

Moving on he focused on the table. It wouldn't be that good for offense, but it could provide a sort of cover.

'Probably not. It'll probably just shatter from the first hit instead.'

The best he could come up with for a weapon were some cooking knives.

'This will have to do I suppose. My strength comes from my knowledge of beasts anyway.' Kai thought as he took the chef's knife from its mound.

Although the blade wasn't even a foot long, it would have to do.

Giving thought to his surroundings Kai tried to create a plan.

'Shuzen will probably be able to draw in most of the hunters to himself. After all, an S-rank tamer is a much bigger threat. That would give me a good chance to lurk in the shadows until I get a good chance to pounce. Additionally, the smell of the Bès Rap shit should cloak me even further.'

He momentarily thought that maybe he could just use corruption on them, but seeing how his Juma soul was fighting against him, Kai didn't trust it to do the job. He figured that they would be too overwhelmingly strong and thus just resist.

Otherwise, he'd just walk up to every SSS rank and corrupt them.

Still, it would pose an interesting value as the fight continued. If he could corrupt the hunter and force him to fight his comrades, then that would instantly change the tide of battle.

Sensing that the hunters were very near-making the last few jumps through the trees before reaching the carriage-Kai braced himself for the upcoming battle.

Shuzen did as well, finally standing and his calm demeanor gone, replaced with malice. "Hold tight, boy. I'm dropping the carriage."

'Dropping the-' Kai thought with wide eyes before his thoughts were cut short.

The Chicos had dropped the carriage to engage in the fight. As the carriage impacted the ground with a thunderous bang, it was all Kai could do to remain standing.

Unlike earlier, however, he wasn't flung into the air this time around. Instead, his feet held firmly to the ground.

'Huh. Being aware of the Juma attributes allowed me to access its strengths?' He thought to himself, almost knowing the answer.

Kai smiled as Shuzen blasted into the air to meet the A rank. Just as he did in the battle against the Maka-Mako, Shuzen's departure left a giant crater in the ground he just stood on a moment ago.

Kai had no time to register Shuzen fighting, however, as one of the C ranks had found him.

Watching his left arm twitch, almost as if he had some kind of disease, Kai raised his knife knowing stealth wasn't on the table. He would have to face this man head-to-head and kill him.

"What're you doing here, kid? I don't even sense any beast soul within you. Are you even a tamer? Or are you a coward hiding behind an S-rank tamer?" The man taunted as his left arm adopted the traits of a mountain eagle.

Multiple blood-red feathers erupted from under his arm as the glint of 3 talons flashed before Kai's eyes. He narrowed his eyes, but not from the light.

"Am I a coward? I don't know, I'll have to ask your corpse."

The man looked at Kai for a few seconds, dumbfounded, before releasing a bellowing laugh. Barely keeping himself composed enough to strike at an instant's notice, the man said, "My corpse? Kid, do you not see my hand? Can you even do that?"

'Not until I kill you.' Kai thought as he thought over a mountain eagle's weakness.

A big one is its lack of strength. Although the talons on its feet would be very powerful, the ones on its wings were an entirely different story. So long as this man couldn't use the eagle's traits on his feet as well, Kai would be vastly stronger.

Then there's the fact his Dexterity directly combatted the eagle's natural speed and grace. Combine that with the fact Kai already knew he was smarter, and it was clear who would win.

Lost in a moment of ego, Kai could barely raise his arm against the man's speed. He grimaced as his left cheek began bleeding profusely, knowing if he was any slower the talons would've gashed his neck instead.

Realizing the danger, Kai took the threat of the man more seriously, as he had done when preparing for them. In the heat of battle, he had falsely thought himself superior for just a second, which almost resulted in his death.

There was no room in battle for mistakes or holding back. From the start, the person who survives is the one who is ready for anything and keeps complete focus.

Narrowing his eyes, Kai ignored the resounding tremors created by Shuzen's clashes and his own sense of superiority and instead gave the man in front of him his full attention.

The second he did that, he saw the momentary openings in the man's guard. Not only from his twitches but also from his lack of experience. Kai surmised that he might have even been given that beast's soul by someone else. Like the A rank.

A plan formulated in his mind, Kai smiled at the hypocrite.


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