The Animagus: From Hunter to Monster

It wasn't long they entered deep into the cave before they encountered their first challenge. The light that came in through the entrance had faded, and the silence had stretched for what felt like an eternity, broken only by the steady rhythm of their footsteps.

Buji's grip on his short sword remained tense, his eyes scanning for any sign of movement. Although, the environment was dim lighted. Feeling the small bag that was handed over to him by Kirex was going to be a burden, he dropped it by one corner and continued moving with Kirex.

"Stay close, Buji," Kirex muttered without turning his head. "Anything can happen, enemies can appear from anywhere."

As if detecting his words, they were greeted by glinting eyes in the dim light, which emerged from the shadows ahead.

Seeing this, Buji swallowed hard and nodded, his heart racing in his chest. His earlier nervousness hadn't faded, and now, they are faced with another... brrr.

He looked at Kirex who was in his front. His composed demeanor gave him something to hold on to, he was a leader, no doubt. But is he alone enough to handle what might turn out inside that cave.

He didn't even want to think about others. If he were going to rate their strengths, he would leave them at 40 & 60 at most, but for him and Kirex, He would say 10 & 60 or 10 & 70 would do. Of course, Kirex was still a second-year student and is not yet 100% assured to be strong.

Buji was awoken from his thought of fear. The ground beneath them suddenly rumbled faintly. The eyes that glinted at them had suddenly disappeared.

Kirex halted immediately, shifting his spear into a ready stance. Buji clutched onto his sword, searching to and fro with both his eyes and body.

He was afraid.

The rumble grew stronger, accompanied by the sound of scraping and clicking. The sound like claws scratching against stone. From the darkness ahead, two pairs of glowing red eyes emerged.

'First, it was much, now they are just two pairs?'

"What is that?" Buji whispered with a trembling voice.

A low growl answered him from the darkness as two monstrous figures stepped into view. Their forms were grotesque with their bodies made of jagged rock and covered in sharp, stone-like scales. They were massive, each standing as tall as a man, with wings that scraped the walls as they spread open. Their crimson eyes locked onto Buji and Kirex, dripping with bloodlust.

"Stone Bats," Kirex said coolly. "Their wings can cut your head with a flap, stay out of their range."

The creatures screeched in unison. The sound was grating against Buji's ears and sending a wave of nausea through him. Before he could fully process, a cue of flying bats lunged at him with their sharp claws extended.

"Take care of the smaller bats, let me handle the stone bats!" Kirex instructed and dashed with an unknowing speed.

"So fast!" Buji commented.

"You could have done more and better if you were compatible with your rank," Kirex said while running forward, ducking his head away from the troop of bats that flooded past him. "Buji, focus!"

Buji's instinct took over as he threw himself to the side, landing roughly against the cave wall, dodging three bats that whooshed past his head. He was not strong but he had to defeat these trooping bats.

He readied his sword, and immediately, intercepted two bats that flocked to his side with one swing. Slicing them into two pieces.

"What the fuck. This sword is this sharp!"

For a moment, the bats flooded away, allowing Buji to gain composure before they appeared again.

'Seems like they act in unison.'

Kirex shouted again, closing the distance between him and the two stone bats. "Do not lose attention! It's you or them!"

'Is the distance from here to there that far?'

With fluid movements, Kirex closed the distance between himself and the Stone Bats. He spun his spear with precision before launching a series of quick strikes. The first thrust struck the first creature's wing joint, shattering a small section of stone. The bat screeched in anger but Kirex was persistent. He pivoted on his heel and delivered a powerful horizontal slash to a severe part of the creature's wing.

Seeing the fate the other creature had to face in the hands of Kirex, the second Stone Bat lunged some spear-mouthed stones towards Kirex. He flipped his spear so fast that it turned like the blades of a fan, colliding with the stones and sending them shattering away.

Some pierced into the cave falls, and a few went towards Buji's side, but Buji was fast enough to dodge them.

"Hey! Be careful, I'm over here," Buji lamented.

'But this guy fights like a demon…' Buji thought in awe, his breath catching as he watched Kirex's swift moves while he fought.

Buji's admiration was cut short. The flood of bats returned, locking him again. And it seemed they would be spending a longer time. He tightened his grip on his sword and muttered to himself, "Calm down. You can't keep dodging."

Just then, a bat flew past him. This time, he was not fast enough, so, the claws of the bat scratched his forehead and he shouted in pain.

Before any more attacks could come, he managed to stand his ground. Just before impact, he ducked low to dodge the approaching bats. As he came out the other side, he slashed upward with a massive force, his blade cutting through a few bats. Taking them down with his horizontal sword swing.

It seemed the bats were persistent this time. Many others flooded towards Buji, and just in time, Kirex swooped them down with a fan turn of his long spear.

He locked his legs to the ground to stop his sliding. He was bleeding from his left hand. Finally, he stopped next to Buji and had taken down the remaining flying bats.

Ahead, Buji could see the blood-lusting Stone Bats approach with much battle enthusiasm.

"They're tough," Kirex muttered.

Buji didn't know what happened. He guessed Kirex had been hit on his left arm by one of the Stone Bats. And then, one more thing—the Stone Bats.

The wings of one of them which Buji was sure Kirex had cut down before he was attacked by the cue of bats had healed up. Seeing as the creatures steadily closed the distance between them, he muttered.

"Will the others be okay?"

Following was the female articulate voice from before.

[04:00:00 remaining to complete the dungeon raid].