The Astral Dogma

Escaping to an open field, Pacey quickly regained his footing, his heart pounding with adrenaline. His opponent, Marielle, was hot on his heels, determined to land a decisive blow. Pacey knew he had to think fast and react even faster if he wanted to survive this encounter.

As Marielle closed in, her leg shot up in a powerful axe kick, aimed right at Pacey's head. The force behind the kick was immense, and Pacey had only a split second to react. Instinctively, he ducked, feeling the rush of air as Marielle's foot passed just inches above his head.

Using the momentum from his dodge, Pacey spun around, his eyes locked on Marielle. Before she could recover, he launched himself forward, throwing a swift punch towards her midsection. However, Marielle was no ordinary opponent. With lightning-fast reflexes, she blocked Pacey's attack with her forearm, countering with a devastating elbow strike.

Pacey managed to deflect the blow at the last moment, but the impact still sent him stumbling backward. He desperately tried to regain his balance, his mind racing to come up with a new strategy. Marielle was a formidable fighter, but he knew her weakness.

She's fast..but I'm faster"

Pacey's attacks were a blur, his movements synchronized with the howling wind. Each strike was a masterpiece, a display of both finesse and raw power. Marielle, though strong, found herself struggling to match the breathtaking speed of her adversary. The air crackled with energy as the two clashed in a flurry of strikes and dodges.

As Marielle countered with her own formidable techniques, the landscape around them transformed into a canvas of chaos.

Although they're the same size marielle wasn't as fast.

Pacey's agility and quick reflexes allowed him to effortlessly evade Marielle's attacks. He weaved through her punches and kicks with precision, his movements leaving behind only afterimages. 

Marielle's frustration grew as she struggled to keep up with his speed.

But Marielle was not one to back down easily. With a deep breath, she focused her ether and tapped into her strength. Channeling her power, she unleashed a devastating blow, aimed directly at Pacey's vulnerable spot.

Pacey, however, was prepared. He anticipated her move and swiftly sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the strike. As Marielle's attack missed, Pacey seized the opportunity to counter with a lightning-fast combination of strikes.

Marielle's eyes widened as she barely managed to block Pacey's onslaught. She could feel the immense force behind each blow, threatening to overwhelm her. But she refused to yield. 

Gritting her teeth, she summoned her resolve and pushed back against Pacey's relentless assault.

The battle raged on, each combatant pushing themselves to their limits. Pacey's speed continued to give him the upper hand, but Marielle's determination refused to waver. She analyzed Pacey's movements, searching for any opening she could exploit.

In response to Marielle's snap, a swarm of D-rank horned wasps emerged from the depths of the nearby forest. Pacey, undeterred, smirked in the face of the incoming challenge.

"What's the matter, feel like giving up?" Pacey taunted.

Marielle, however, retained her composure, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Nah, I just have preferences on hunting," she retorted, her voice unwavering.

With a swift wave of her hand and a pointed gesture toward Pacey, the horned wasps descended upon him in a coordinated assault. Pacey, surrounded by the buzzing swarm, maintained his focus, the winds around him responding to his unspoken commands.

The battle took an unexpected turn as Pacey seamlessly manipulated the air currents, creating a protective barrier that shielded him from the stinging onslaught. The wasps, unable to penetrate his defenses, buzzed angrily around their elusive target.

Marielle observed with a hint of surprise, realizing that Pacey's control over the wind extended beyond offense. Undeterred, she adjusted her strategy, commanding the horned wasps to regroup and attack from different angles.

Witnessing Marielle's hesitation, the thought of surrender lingered in her mind like a haunting specter. However, echoes of the mysterious man's words from that fateful night resounded in her head, fueling her vigor.

"Hell no! I ain't gonna give up!" she declared, her resolve piercing through the forest's silence. Swiftly, she retraced her steps, returning to the heart of the ominous woods

"She says one thing and does the other," Pacey remarked, amused, as he pursued her through the dense foliage. 

Pacey found himself standing where he once defeated the formidable Medusa. To his astonishment, Marielle stood beside the fallen monster, seizing its writhing snakes. With primal instinct, she sank her teeth into its neck, tearing off chunks of its flesh.

"She's... wild," Pacey uttered, a mixture of awe and surprise coloring his words as he observed Marielle's unexpected ferocity.

surge of power enveloped Marielle, an ethereal burst emanating from within her. Scales materialized, encasing her skin, while her once-flowing hair transformed into a writhing mass of snakes. Sharp claws extended from her hands, revealing a manifestation of newfound strength.

"What is this power?! A hax?" Pacey exclaimed, perplexed by the extraordinary display unfolding before him. As he examined her closely, a realization dawned upon him.

"The ability from before must be the hax; this must be something else...talent," he mused, acknowledging that Marielle's formidable capabilities extended beyond the realm of of a b rank hunter

.

With her new transformation, Marielle unleashed a surge of energy, bursting through the swarm of horned wasps with ease. Snakes lashed out, striking down the insects with deadly precision. The ground trembled beneath her as she charged towards Pacey with a renewed sense of purpose.

Pacey, caught off guard by Marielle's sudden transformation, quickly composed himself. He readied his stance, prepared to face this new, transformed marielle head-on. The clash between them intensified, each strike echoing with the force of her extraordinary abilities.

Despite Pacey's best efforts, Marielle's newfound power and talent proved to be too overwhelming. Her strength surpassed his own, and her speed left him struggling to keep up. Each strike she delivered was precise and devastating, leaving Pacey on the defensive.

Marielle's eyes burned with determination as she pressed her advantage. She anticipated Pacey's every move, countering his attacks effortlessly. Her superior speed allowed her to dodge and evade his desperate attempts to land a hit.

As the battle raged on, Pacey's frustration grew. He realized that he was outmatched, unable to match Marielle's incredible prowess. But even in the face of defeat, he refused to give up.

Gathering his remaining strength, Pacey made one last attempt to turn the tide. With a burst of wind, he created a powerful gust that momentarily disrupted Marielle's movements. Seizing the opportunity, he launched a barrage of strikes, hoping to catch her off guard.

But Marielle, ever vigilant, reacted quickly. She dodged his attacks effortlessly, her movements fluid and ruthless. With a swift counter, she delivered a final, crushing blow that sent Pacey crashing to the 

ground.

"You were actually pretty strong," Marielle said, her voice laced with a mix of admiration and determination. "Sorry, but I need to win this for my country."

She walked up to Pacey, who lay on the grassy field, his body battered and bruised. With a sense of urgency, she searched his pockets, hoping to find the crystals she believed he possessed. 

However, her search yielded no results.

"WHERE ARE YOUR CRYSTALS!?" Marielle demanded, her frustration boiling over.

Angered by Pacey's perceived defiance, Marielle's grip tightened on his tail, dragging him closer to her.

 Cassidy, clicked his tongue disapprovingly.

"She shouldn't do that," Cassidy muttered, his tone filled with concern. 

"He absolutely hates it when people touch his tail, nevertheless grab it like that."

Meanwhile, Jia, a watching intense battle, closed her eyes, unable to bear witness to the escalating violence.

Back in the grassy field, Marielle relentlessly pounded Pacey with one punch after another, the force of each blow growing increasingly intense. Blood trickled down Pacey's face as he struggled to withstand the onslaught.

"WHERE IS IT!?" Marielle yelled, her voice filled with desperation.

A burst of wind sliced through the air, carrying with it a primal energy that seemed to emanate from the very core of Pacey. His fur bristled, sharp and untamed, as it extended fiercely across his body, blending seamlessly with his razor-sharp claws. There was a feral glint in his eyes, rendering him almost unrecognizable, for he seemed to have shed his humanity in this blistering moment.

A cold growl rumbled deep within Pacey's throat as he lunged forward, his target fixed on Marielle. The attack came without warning, swift and brutal, leaving her with little time to react. She barely managed to raise her arms in a desperate attempt to block the onslaught, but the force of the impact knocked her off balance, causing her to stagger backwards.

Regaining her footing, Marielle could feel the adrenaline coursing through her veins, the sheer determination to defend herself surging within. As Pacey prepared to strike again, she braced herself, her senses acutely attuned to the imminent threat. The wind whirled around his body, swirling with untamed power, and with an agile movement, he lunged at her once more.

This time, however, Marielle was prepared. She had taken the split second granted ,As Pacey's claws came dangerously close, she skillfully evaded, parrying his attack with a deftness that surprised even herself.

Their eyes locked in a heated gaze, a silent struggle of primal forces colliding. Marielle, now fully in control of her own destiny, stood her ground, a formidable opponent for the relentless Pacey. With each passing second, her confidence grew, her determination bolstered by the knowledge that she possessed the strength to prevail.

In the beast realm, beastmen were divided into three categories based on their appearance. The first generation had a more primal look, with jagged teeth, fierce eyes, and wild, untamed hair. The second generation looked more humanoid, with subtle beast-like features such as pointed ears or a tail. And then there were the rare third generation beastmen, like Pacey, who possessed the ability to transform back into their more primitive form, gaining immense power but sometimes losing control of their original demeanor.

It wasn't until later in his life that he discovered the truth about his heritage - he was a third generation beastman.

It bothered Pacey that he had never been able to tap into this power. He had trained relentlessly, pushing himself to the limits, but nothing seemed to work. He would stare at his reflection, his dark eyes searching for the hidden power within, but all he saw was a human-like face staring back at him.

But now he's achieved the it.

 Unique racial talent: Primal

The clash continued, each blow resonating through the forest. Trees shook and leaves fell as Pacey and Marielle unleashed their power upon each other.

With every strike, Pacey's arms were surrounded by fierce gusts of wind, amplifying the impact of his attacks. The wind currents tore at Marielle's scales, chipping them away bit by bit. Yet, Marielle's scales proved resilient, barely giving way to Pacey's relentless assault.

Marielle, not to be outdone, utilized her superior strength. She gathered her energy and unleashed a powerful swipe of her claws, leaving a deep gash on Pacey's shoulder. The pain stung, but Pacey remained determined and pushed forward.

The battle grew more intense, causing devastation to the surrounding forest. Trees were uprooted and boulders were shattered as the two adversaries clashed. The ground trembled beneath their feet, and the echo of their battle filled the air.

Despite the heavy damage inflicted upon him, Pacey remained swift. His agility and speed allowed him to evade some of Marielle's fiercest attacks. He retaliated with renewed resolve, channeling all his energy into his strikes.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Pacey's relentless onslaught took its toll. Marielle's scales began to crack, and the strength behind her blows faltered. It became clear that Pacey's perseverance and speed were beginning to overpower her.

With one final surge of power, Pacey released a devastating whirlwind that engulfed Marielle, causing her to stagger backward. The forest around them trembled, the ground cracking beneath their feet. The sheer destructive force of the battle reached its climax.

Exhausted and wounded, Pacey barely stood on his feet. Sweat dripped from his brow as he struggled to catch his breath. In one last effort, he mustered all his strength and delivered a final blow to Marielle, causing her to collapse onto the forest floor.

As Marielle's resistance weakened, a flicker of concern flashed in her eyes as paceys primal form wore off. Pacey seized the opportunity to speak, his voice filled with fatigue. "During this fight, I sensed something was wrong with you. Whatever it is, I promise my guild can help.."

Marielle's eyes flickered with a mix of surprise and curiosity. A small, satisfactory smile formed on her lips as she considered Pacey's offer. But before she could respond exhaustion finally took its toll on Pacey. His knees buckled, his body gave in to the overwhelming strain and he finally He collapsed onto the forest floor falling unconsciousness.

As the fight finally subsided, Pacey succumbed to his injuries and collapsed beside Marielle. Despite his victory, his body had reached its limit, and he slipped into unconsciousness.

…

"Mr.Blackburn I'm sorry to interrupt but the investigation on Le-" a man appeared behind Cole said

"Cant you see this is getting to the good part tell me above it later" said Cole as his eyes were glued on the screen 

"I see I apologize" the man disappeared