Reincarnated As A Dragon With A Godly Inheritance
Chapter 38: Claws first

Chapter 38: Claws first

The White steel turned and stared at the severed head of their comrade in shock and surprise.

A switch flipped.

As one, they unleashed a storm of red energy, their auras flaring outward in a suffocating wave of fury. The very air pulsed with pressure, trembling beneath the weight of their collective rage rank twos rage.

Taria gasped and dropped to one knee, catching herself with her hand before she hit the ground.

"What’s happening?" she choked out.

Kaedros gritted his teeth. This was bad. The White steel were enraged, beyond reason or restraint and their aura pressure was flashing everywhere.

Vexa stood firmly in front of Rauk, her body positioned like a living shield, hand tight on her sword, dark eyes locked on the threat ahead. But she didn’t try to stop the White steel.

No one did.

Thandor cursed and began gathering his own aura, likely to counter them, when a shrill giggle tore through the air. It was high-pitched and childish... but something about it was wrong, like a beast trying to imitate a child.

The White steel aura vanished.

Not faded, cut off suddenly.

So abruptly.

As if someone had flipped a switch on their power.

Taria exhaled shakily, relieved the crushing weight was gone.

All eyes turned toward the sound.

Standing atop Marr’s half-filled grave was the smaller Maulgigs, the one Han had scolded earlier. It clutched her severed arm, chewing on it lazily. As it sensed their attention, it smiled, showing rows of oversized fangs, and giggled again.

"What the..." Rauk began, his mouth ajar, blue eyes reflecting disbelief.

Vexa tensed. She hadn’t noticed it earlier, but now she did. Whatever this thing was, it wasn’t the same creature they’d dismissed before.

Thandor remained still, watching the White steel.

Han was already moving.

His axe surged with red energy as he stomped toward the small monster, the ground trembling under each step. His team fell in behind him, weapons drawn.

Kaedros blinked. How had he missed it earlier?

Now he could feel it, like the radiating heat of a distant furnace. The little monster’s aura pulsed from afar, distant yet wrong. It was as if it was covered by something.

"What kind of technique does the darker Maulgig use?" he asked aloud.

Thandor frowned. "No idea. They’re incredibly rare."

"Estimate its level if we see one?"

"peak of rank two to rank three, I’ll say." Eldric said, then his eyes widened as realization struck. He followed Kaedros’ gaze to the little Maulgig, and paled. "Han! Don’t, get back here!"

But Han wasn’t listening, his face was covered by hate and anger.

He raised his axe, and a colossal copy of it, made of red energy and easily the size of a house, formed above him. It mirrored his movements as he brought the real axe down with all his strength.

The ground exploded.

Dust and stone erupted into the air, and the force created a deep crater beneath the monster.

Taria squinted through the dust. "That... that killed it, right?"

"No," Kaedros said grimly, stepping backward and pulling Taria with him. "I don’t think so."

As the dust cleared, the little Maulgig was still standing, sunken in the center of the crater, entirely unfazed. It held Han’s energy axe in its left hand, gripping it firmly, without letting go of Marr’s arm in its right.

Marr’s grave had been obliterated.

Han stared. "What..."

He tugged at his axe. Nothing. The monster held it tight.

"You little shit," Han growled, gripping his weapon with both hands and pouring energy into it. The axe’s blade flared deep red where the monster touched it, but the creature didn’t budge.

Han grinned darkly. "Taste my axe blast."

With a roar, he released compressed mana that was the projected axe. The air around the monster’s hand detonated, hurling it backward into a tree with a loud crack.

"You think you can stand against me?" Han snarled, panting.

"Han... you should look," Kest, the assassin, warned.

The little Maulgig stood again.

It didn’t giggle this time. It growled, a low, thrumming sound. Its fur rose like it had been struck by lightning, long claws twitching as it stared at Han.

Then it jumped.

And vanished.

No, it didn’t vanish. It was just that fast.

Kaedros barely tracked it before it reappeared in front of Han, claws aimed straight for his throat.

Clang!

Two daggers intercepted the strike, deflecting it just enough. Kest was suddenly there, blades crossed, deflecting the killing blow. It had been close...too close.

The Maulgig dropped back and tilted its head upward, watching them like a curious predator.

"How did he move so fast?" Taria whispered.

"That was impressive," Kaedros said, truly surprised. He hadn’t even seen Kest move at all.

Which meant that he didn’t.

"A technique common with assassin—Flash Walk," Thandor said with a rare smile. "He can blink anywhere within line of sight. It’s... extremely useful."

Kaedros nodded. Perfect for an assassin.

"You think we’ll just stand by and let you kill our teammates again?" Kest said, flipping his dagger. "Filthy beast."

"Thank you, Kest." Han muttered, wiping a thin trickle of blood from his neck. "At least if I die, it won’t be alone."

Kest rolled his eyes. "That’s what you get for charging in like an idiot. Next time, don’t solo a mystery monster."

Han grunted and hefted his axe again. "We’re killing it."

"We are," Jonna said from behind them.

"Will they be alright?" Rauk whispered.

"They should be," Thandor replied, frowning. "But we don’t know this creature’s type... or its true rank. I hope the White steel are enough."

Vexa’s hand never left her sword, her expression grim.

No. She didn’t think they’d be enough.

Kaedros didn’t think so either. Not just because of the monster in front of them, but because of what he’d been sensing this entire time.

His awareness, still expanded, caught movement in the distance.

Larger Maulgig, like the one Han had killed earlier, were approaching. They were encircling the group.

"We need to prepare too," Kaedros said quietly.

Ahead, the little monster snarled and lunged, it’s fur rustling.

Claws first.