Chapter 87 Chasing Tiger
Chapter 87 Chasing Tiger
As they thundered through the forest, Rhogan’s hooves crushed everything in their path, trampling over roots and brush with unstoppable force.
Even a pack of monstrous wolves scattered, fleeing in fear.
Iryoku spoke without turning back, his eyes locked on the roaring sounds echoing behind them.
“Reika, we need something to stall him.”
“On it,” she muttered, bringing her hands together. Sparks danced between her fingers as she remained seated on Rhogan’s back, weaving electricity into a glowing ball of lightning.
From his position, Iryoku flicked his harpoon rope. The glowing white cord came alive, snaking toward Reika and wrapping around her waist—holding her steady, allowing her to stand without losing her balance.
“It’s ready,” she said.
“Do it.”
“Lightning Storm!” she shouted, hurling the crackling orb high into the air.
It soared backward—then exploded in a blinding dome of lightning behind them. Thunder roared through the forest as electricity surged across trees and rocks, burning and shattering everything in its radius. The sheer force of the blast sent nearby monsters fleeing in a panic.
Reika dropped back into a seated position, wiping sweat from her brow.
“I hope that did the job…”
But it was too soon to tell.
Another roar tore through the silence.
From the smoldering remnants of the storm, a blur burst forth—a glowing green figure tearing through the lightning as if it were nothing. Lapa, the tiger-man charged ahead, undeterred. In the blink of an eye, Iryoku saw him land, claws slamming into the ground—never once losing momentum.
“This guy is persistent.”
Crack!
Iryoku fired his harpoon straight at the demihuman. The glowing white rope trailed behind as it streaked forward. The tiger-man raised his claw, coated in green energy, and—
BOOM!
A burst of green energy exploded as the harpoon struck—but it was deflected, quickly snapping back to Iryoku’s hand.
Still, the tiger-man kept coming, unharmed.
Iryoku fired again, sending more blasts around their pursuer to keep him at bay. The explosions cracked the forest around them, but it wasn’t enough.
“He’s really strong,” he muttered.
Alessandra looked back, tense.
“Why don’t you use that move you used to kill Hak? End this already!”
Without turning, Iryoku replied,
“If I kill him, who’s left to fight the Dominion bastards?
He’s the only thing keeping the balance. We don’t know if they have anyone strong enough to match that ‘Blessed’ freak.”
Alessandra frowned, thinking—then nodded.
Yumi held little Kima and Kael tightly, her voice calm.
“Don’t worry, kids. Everything will be okay.”
Suddenly, Iryoku cursed.
“Shit! Rhogan—zigzag!” he shouted.
In that instant, the tiger-man launched himself into the air, claws glowing with green energy, aiming to crash down on them.
Iryoku leapt from Rhogan’s back, hurling his harpoon at the charging beast mid-flight. The blade spun toward him, but the tiger-man slashed it aside with one glowing claw—CRASH!—and landed hard, shaking the ground beneath them.
Without missing a beat, Iryoku flipped mid-air, already gripping his recalled harpoon. He slashed downward at the tiger’s head—but the demihuman crossed both claws and blocked the blow, absorbing the strike with a shower of sparks.
In a fraction of a second, Iryoku was already jumping back.
He fired the harpoon toward a distant tree and used the glowing rope to yank himself through the air—landing cleanly on Rhogan’s back once more.
Behind them, the tiger-man roared and resumed his relentless pursuit.
As Iryoku continued clashing from a distance, his harpoon flashing with speed, a flicker of light caught Reika’s attention.
She pulled out the blue return stone, eyes widening.
“Eh? Look!” she gasped. “It’s absorbing the green energy from the tiger-man!”
Everyone turned toward her.
“Then… does he have the Primitivus power too?” Yumi asked, tense.
Reika’s voice quickened with realization.
“Maybe. We’re not sure—but now we know this thing can absorb energy from other creatures too!”
“Great,” Iryoku muttered. “But we still need to shake this guy off.”
He narrowed his eyes, weighing his options—
Then the pressure in the air shifted.
He crouched low, focusing.
A black storm crackled around his blade.
Reika’s breath caught.
“So you really can use Leben…” she whispered.
“Not fully,” Iryoku answered, his voice low.
Then came the shot.
The harpoon surged forward—not the full weapon, but just the tip—wrapped in a tiny, condensed core of black energy. It howled through the air like a missile, the force behind it focused into a single point that distorted the space around it.
“Infinity Edge!” Iryoku roared.
CRACK!
The very air split open as the blade tore forward, streaking straight toward the tiger-man.
Just before impact, the Lapa roared and lunged to the side. The blade barely missed—slicing a deep gash across his arm as it passed, tearing easily through his green energy coating.
He landed hard, eyes blazing, clutching his bleeding arm.
Across the clearing, he locked eyes with Iryoku.
The harpoon’s glowing white rope snapped taut—FWIP!—returning the blade to Iryoku’s hand like a loyal beast.
They stared each other down. Warrior to warrior.
Iryoku raised two fingers to his eyes, then pointed at the demihuman in a silent warning.
A moment passed.
The tiger-man let out a low growl, then slowly backed away.
Without another word, he turned and vanished into the forest shadows, retreating in the direction he came from.
“Fuu… he gave up,” Iryoku muttered, finally relaxing. His breathing was deep and heavy after exerting so much energy.
He turned back toward the others and dropped into a seated position behind Alessandra, his hands slipping casually around her waist.
“Ehh?! W-What are you doing…?!” Alessandra squeaked, tensing as she felt his body press against her back.
Yumi and Reika both turned toward them in unison, curious and wide-eyed.
Iryoku lazily grinned.
“Don’t get your hopes up, bimbo,” he said, leaning forward slightly as they continued riding on Rhogan’s back.
“I’m just seathing normally.”
Alessandra’s face turned bright red. She stiffened in embarrassment.
For the first time in a long while, she pouted—her cheeks puffing out like a squirrel.
Even little Kima and Kael turned from the front to glance at her with innocent curiosity.
Flustered, Alessandra slapped both her cheeks, trying to calm herself.
What’s happening to me…? her mind raced.
Isn’t this guy already with the girls? He did say “both,” but… how can that be? That’s… deviant…
She barely turned her face to the side, sneaking a glance behind her.
Her eyes met his—his serious, lazy glare staring right back at her.
"Ahh."
She quickly turned to the front again, red in the face.
Trying to control her breathing and shift the topic, she finally spoke.
“…That tiger-man…” she began.
The others looked at her immediately, giving their full attention.
“I think… he’s the one who made my memories disappear.”
“What?” Yumi asked, tilting her head slightly.
Alessandra continued, voice steady but low.
“The last thing I remember before waking up in the Dominion church… I was running. Several demihumans were chasing me. Then that tiger-man appeared. He punched me—and everything went black. When I woke up… I was already at the church.”
Reika frowned, thoughtful.
“Then your memory loss might’ve been from head trauma?”
Alessandra nodded silently.
But before anyone could respond—
A deep, chilling aura washed over the group.
“WHY didn’t you say that before?!” Iryoku suddenly shouted, his voice erupting like a thunderclap.
Alessandra jumped, spinning to face him. His expression was twisted in fury—brows furrowed, teeth clenched.
“If I’d known that—! I would’ve killed that damn tiger on the spot. I would’ve dissected him!”
His voice dropped, cold and chilling.
Even the children tensed, trembling slightly at the sheer intensity in his tone.
Yumi quickly turned to him, frowning.
“Iryoku, stop it! You’re scaring them… Why do you always have to overreact like this? You really do have a temper problem…”
Her voice was soft but firm, clearly reprimanding him.
Reika chimed in as well.
“You criticized Sensei for being hot-headed, but you’re the one who’s always flying into a rage. You really need to learn how to control yourself.”
Iryoku’s expression shifted as both girls scolded him. His anger faded, replaced by a lazy, unapologetic smirk.
“I know. I’m fully aware of who I am, and I don’t deny it.”
He shrugged.
“I’m someone who doesn’t bottle up his feelings or expressions. If I do, I’ll die. Simple as that.”
He grinned proudly, like that was somehow admirable.
Alessandra turned her head, eyeing him with disbelief.
“I think you’re crazy.”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
His grin widened as he leaned in closer, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin lightly on her shoulder—his whole body pressed against her back.
Alessandra shuddered slightly at the sudden contact—but she held firm, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction.