Aetherios System [Slow Build OP MC, Isekai LitRPG/Cultivation] Chapter 44: Chapter 40: Scramble

Read chapter 44 of Aetherios System [Slow Build OP MC, Isekai LitRPG/Cultivation] by TTReynolds on NovelPedia.

Chapter 40: Scramble Chapter 40: Scramble Alex froze mid step as he looked back at the tiny army of beasts scavenging in front of him. Forty beady eyes stared back, round and glassy, as well as unnervingly intelligent . Twenty forest badgers gazed at him. Smaller ones mostly, but five of the larger badger warriors also ate the bodies of their larger siblings. They all chattered in unison, tails twitching. Their muzzles were slathered with blood and gore, turning almost the entirety of the fur on their heads dark red. Then, like a switch had flipped, they surged toward him. “Shit.” Alex moved. He dove sideways as a pair of badgers lunged for his ankles, claws slashing through the space he’d occupied a breath before. He hit the dirt, rolled, and came up hard with a straight jab that he threw at the snout of the nearest badger. Bone crunched beneath his fist. The creature yelped and went tumbling, but three more took its place. “ That’s a rude way to treat your friend, fleshy-boy. More coming on your right though, watch out.” The rock’s voice echoed in his mind as he fought. “I’m a little busy.” Alex retorted, ducking under a snapping jaw. He twisted low, sweeping a leg out. Two badgers toppled in a flurry of fur and startled squeals. He planted a hand in the dirt, pushed backward into a crouch, and dashed sideways into the underbrush. All of the badgers seemed to give chase. Sharp claws tore through roots and fallen leaves as they pursued him like a pack of bloodthirsty land-piranhas. Alex didn’t run straight. Instead he started moving in a zigzag. He vaulted over a root, planted a boot on a boulder and launched himself off it. He made it much higher than he thought he would, his improved stats really making the difference for him. “ Right behind you, now!” Alex didn’t waste time to think and just reacted. He spun mid-air, driving a foot down into a badger which had leapt after him. His boot landed on its spine as the beast lunged upward. He felt, and heard, the resulting crack of bone as his kick broke the beast’s spine. The system notification, confirming his kill and experience gain, flickered across his vision and he mentally swiped it away in reflex. The badger collapsed in a broken heap while Alex landed on his feet in a crouch. Two more badgers skidded to a halt in surprise just a couple feet away. Alex didn’t hesitate. He shot forward, fists flying... His movements were sharp, and brutally efficient. He didn’t have magic anymore. No spells, at least not with his core now shattered. That reduced his possible combat power. Alex was certain a well timed [Flare] spell would cook the majority of these damned badges in one fell swoop. But he did have a body forged through three refinements and one agonizingly permanent upgrade from his [Aether Attuned Body] ability. Alex wasn’t just strong and fast, he was cresting into areas beyond humans back on earth. And as he fought the badgers bare-fisted, it showed. Two more corpses sat on the grass within a few more seconds. Alex dashed back as he saw another threat approaching. It was a warrior-class badger, angrier than the others, and the size of a damn bear from earth. It emerged from the foliage with a snarl, its eyes locked onto Alex. “Okay fucker,” Alex raised his bloodied fists. “Let’s rock.” “Hey, that’s my line!” The badger roared and charged. Alex feinted left, then threw himself right just as the brute’s claws slashed through the space where his chest had been. A tree exploded behind him, bark torn off the tree in large chunks. He stumbled, caught himself, then surged forward to slam a fist into the warrior’s side. Thwoomp ! It felt like punching a meat wall. His fist impacting a few inches deep and withdrawing with a squelch. The beast huffed loudly and cringed backward from Alex’s blow, but it didn’t loose the fight in its eyes. Alex could probably just slowly beat it to death if he kept punching, the internal damage would stack up, but he didn’t have the time for that. “