The Inner Odyssey-Chapter 174 - 174: Vile Vermin

Alden cursed.
A dark expression marred his face.
The crimson light in his sole eye seemed to ripple, reflecting his inner turmoil. Up until this point, things had been progressing rather steadily. The Provisional Paladin Squad were set to eventually overpower and conquer the horde of Force-Devouring Leopards.
All they needed was some more time.
However, fate seemed to have had other plans.
Suppressing his unease, the Keeper's Apprentice stared intently at the Defiled Djinn… as if wishing to burn its ghastly visage into his mind.
After its ascension - or rather, descent further into corruption - the leopard's frame had undergone a change. Its claws had become deadlier, glinting sharply in the low light. Its maw, which was already terrifying, gained even more sharpness, resembling a veritable sea of razor-sharp spikes each capable of piercing and ripping the most durable reinforced armour to shreds.
Those were not the most alarming changes, however.
The most prominent transformations occurred to the abomination's eyes, muscles, and aura.
Before, the Defiled had piercing yellow slits. Now, they had gained a slightly darker hue, flickering with wisps of something terrible, something so abhorrently wrong that Alden felt as if his very existence would be irrevocably tainted if he came into contact with that energy.
Of course, he knew what that vile energy was.
'Miasma.'
Alden had no idea how abominations descended into the next Rank, but the sight was definitely an unnerving one. It was as if an unfathomable entity had taken control of the leopard, opening the gates of an equally unfathomable power and granting the corrupted creature its most ardent wish.
Alden tried not to shiver.
The other changes which had gripped the Force-Devouring Leopard included stronger, more powerful muscle that could completely shatter the ground in a single stomp, and an aura so sinister that Alden felt dread coil like a venomous snake in his gut.
The white-haired young man straightened his posture and spread his mana sense, conveniently ignoring the bead of cold sweat which slid down his neck. As the Defiled Djinn's muscles bunched in preparation for a terrible lunge, Alden noticed some of the Expert Stonewardens gravitating in his direction.
"STAY BACK!"
An instinctive shout escaped him.
The Stonewardens hesitated, lingering for a fraction of a heartbeat. Then, they begrudgingly accepted his command, wearing deep frowns. The slight scorn in their gazes signalled their displeasure and dissatisfaction greater than any words could.
Just as Alden registered that, all the hair on his body stood on end and Morrigan's Art screamed. Golden threads burst to life in his vision, but the abomination was already upon him, its speed significantly swifter than before.
Alden cursed.
He willed himself to teleport, shifting just in time to evade the Force-Devouring Leopard by a hair's breadth. The Keeper's Apprentice materialised again on a thin branch, breathless from the close call.
He pierced the abomination with a glare, wondering how in the Asterons he could defeat an enemy that nullified all his attacks. Worse still, now that the Force-Devouring Leopard had transformed into a Djinn, its annoying ability had doubtless received an upgrade.
What that enhancement looked like, though, Alden did not know.
…He wasn't very keen to find out, either.
'I need to keep my distance. But, at the same time, I also need to deal with it before any of the others get hurt. Ugh… What a headache.'
Alden's mind spun, scrambling to formulate a plan against such a tricky foe.
He ignored the leopard's bloodthirsty gaze.
However, very soon, Alden's neck snapped in its direction, his features turning grim with urgency. For down below, the air surrounding the Djinn appeared to shimmer. Then, a massive suction force erupted within the Forest of Ash, swallowing flakes of ash and even the pale, withered bark of numerous trees.
Alden swayed, losing his sense of balance. In the process, he also lost control of his limbs.
The Keeper's Apprentice hurtled towards the leopard, unable to put up any resistance.
Alden gritted his teeth and instinctively detonated a burst of mana within his body. This allowed him a brief window to move. Now, rather than falling awkwardly towards the abomination, Alden shot through the air, face-first, like a comet, his hand outstretched.
Layer upon layer of abyssal energy coated his hand, the dark power fighting both against the dry, scorching air, and the invisible but lethal suction force. Suppressing his brief incredulity over the Djinn's enhanced power, Alden's sole eye gleamed as its maw burst open in a flash.
Releasing an internal roar, the young man slammed into the Force-Devouring Leopard.
Alden's insides shook, a trickle of blood spilling from his lips.
However, it was worth it, for at the last moment his mana had surged, exploding with terrible force. The result was Alden's successful escape from the suction force.
However, in return, he had received more damage to his insides.
Alden gritted his teeth.
He gripped the abomination's muzzle for dear life, hanging from it like a sheer cliff. The leopard snarled, attempting to dislodge him. Alden's decay hissed, waging war against its defenses.
The leopard's fur and hide began to crumble, prompting an agonised roar.
Unfortunately for him, it would take more than simple contact to kill the abomination on the spot. Although Alden's Magic Class was very strong, its effectiveness had decreased slightly, simply because he was up against a much stronger, more durable foe.
Taking advantage of its briefly agitated state, the white-haired young man formed a dark lance and thrust it with his other hand. Imbued with [Haste], the stygian weapon cut the air, heading swiftly for the leopard's eye.
For a heartbeat, Alden thought he had struck true.
However, at the last possible moment, the dark lance shattered, torn apart by near-invisible waves of force.
The young man's eye narrowed.
Just then, he felt the abomination buckle.
Alden relinquished his hold on the creature and kicked against it, using his well-earned chance to create some distance between him and the Defiled. Rolling on the ground to cushion his fall, he immediately shot up, wiping the trickle of blood leaking from his lips with his sleeve.
As he locked gazes with the Djinn, the corner of Alden's lips pulled up into a smirk.
'You vile vermin... I will make you regret ever being born.'