Chapter 32. Return home.
Gavin flashed back to the trail that he was at when he used the key. Somehow the system overrode the rules set in place by Koray for the training dungeon. Maybe it had something to do with Lunaria already changing things that she got rid of that stipulation.
Gavin didn't know how or why, he was just glad to be back. He landed on the ground in a crumpled mess as several messages appeared from the system.
Alert evolution process has begun. User Gavin Johnson will now evolve from an Alpha Shifter into the next stage. Dread Howler has been automatically selected based on the user's actions and fighting style.
Dread Howler. The first of a five-stage evolutionary path. Offered at level ten within the system. You will become the Fear born Alpha, known for your howl that freezes armies. The Hunter's Howl skill will immediately be increased by two levels. The effect has now doubled based on the user's Intimidate points. The Hunter's Howl skill is now level five.
The Overdrive skill will be automatically increased by two levels. The Overdrive skill is now level three. The effect is now increased to sixty minutes in length. The effects of the backlash are now less due to your evolved and experienced body.
You have started on the first path to mastering Necromancy skills. You have gained access to the Soul Sense ability. You can sense the souls of nearby people and corpses that have not moved on, but you cannot command the dead yet.
The Shape Shift ability has now grown to level five. You are able to hold your shift under extreme stress and fatigue.
The passive skill, Elemental Manipulation, is now level four. You are able to use more than one elemental magic at the same time. The cost of each spell decreased even more.
A cascade of messages filled Gavin's mind as he tried to process everything at once. His body burned hot, like someone had poured liquid fire down his veins. He doubled over from the pain as he cried out. His entire body cramped and shook from the forced evolution. Every single muscle in his body tore apart and regenerated, growing longer, thicker, adapting to his increase in physical appearance.
His long slim arms had small, but well-defined muscles. His torso was sharper, fuller, as if his entire body was changing to meet the evolution of the Dread Howler. His mana surged out of his control and exploded out around him with a loud bang!
Nearby trees and bushes were blasted apart to timber as Gavin screamed in pain. It's like someone is tearing my body apart! Gavin cried out mentally. Forget the battle with the Vampire Lord. Forget the impact of the Draconian hammer against his ribs. This was the most intense, brutal pain and anguish he had ever endured.
Thick crimson blades spun around him as he struggled to maintain control of his consciousness. The pain threatened to overwhelm him as he clutched at his sides and screamed in agony. I will not let this consume me! I will not become some monster to be feared and hated! Gavin gritted his teeth as he tried to bear through the transformation.
Alert. Time limit on the Overdrive skill has been reached. You will now feel the backlash effects. Another message broke through to Gavin. Suddenly his mana went even more out of control as the depletion and stamina drain took effect. He crumpled to his knees and threw his head back. He screamed in frustration; his voice echoed through the forest.
The scream quickly turned into a howl that was carried through the wind. Then silence. The last thing Gavin felt was the grass on his face as he collapsed.
* * * Five Minutes Earlier. * * *
"Tessa!" Aria growled low in frustration as Tessa jumped out of her shadow again to scare her. Tessa laughed as she danced away from Aria's playful smack.
"Too slow Aria!" Tessa teased; her anger and embarrassment over Gavin soaking her clothes forgotten. She laughed as she walked over to the cooler and grabbed a drink.
"I hate that Erza taught you magic." Aria grumbled as she sat down in her chair and glared at the brunette.
Lyla walked over, beer in hand as she offered one to Aria. "You know, we acted the same way when we first learned magic. We practiced all the time and annoyed the living hell out of everyone around us for weeks." She chuckled as she took a seat next to Aria.
Aria took the offered beer and popped the top. After a long drink she sighed. "Okay, fine. Use logic and memories against me."
"She will calm down soon enough. But darkness magic is rare, it's pretty cool that she can use it." Lyla responded as she watched Tessa try to practice by controlling the shadows around camp.
Erza chuckled as she walked over to the firepit and grabbed a couple of the nearby logs to throw in. Her head snapped up suddenly as a powerful electrical current ran down her spine.
Without warning her mana exploded out from around her. The wind picked up and the flames in the pit grew in intensity. Vibrant, warm hues of brown energy swirled around the campsite. Aria, Lyla and Tessa even looked up at the sudden display of power.
"What's going on?" Aria's voice demanded as she tried to get closer to Erza. But the mana around her was too thick and strong for Aria to easily walk through. It expanded out around her, until it consumed the entire campsite clearing. Different shades of brown mana washed over the other girls as they watched on with panicked expressions.
When her mana exploded around her, Erza felt a sharp, vicious stab right in her heart. She knew, without anyone saying it, that Gavin was in trouble. She couldn't explain it; it was instinctual through the bond they shared.
Her eyes shone bright brown as she shifted instantly. Snow white fur manifested over her body as her limbs elongated and her tail grew out from her waist. Her body shook and trembled with urgency. She knew only one thing. Her mate needed her.
"Gavin." Her word came out in a hushed prayer as she took off running in the last direction she saw him. She let out a full bodied, bone deep yowl. It was something felt by everyone in the clearing as she took off through the trees. The others attempted to follow her.
Erza felt an explosion of mana ahead of her and pushed her legs harder to reach him in time. Is he under attack? Is it those mercenaries again? Thoughts spun through her head as she sprinted through the forest. Leaves and branches snapped against her as she crashed through the foliage.
She pushed through the trail and panic began to take hold of her heart. Where is he? She should have reached him by now. He hadn't even been gone that long.
She rounded a corner, and silence filled the forest for a moment. She saw him, right as he passed out and his face hit the grass. "Gavin!" She cried out as she ran to him. His mana swirled around him, out of control as the crimson blades of energy shredded everything around him.
She focused her mana on her and used it to counter the energy blades that almost seemed to be protecting Gavin. Thick walls of brown mana floated around Erza as she pushed through the storm of energy that was released from Gavin's body.
Her right leg burned as one of the crimson blades managed to get through her defenses and sliced into her white fur. Red blood trickled down her leg as she cried out in pain.
"Gavin, wake up!" Erza screamed out as she gritted her teeth. She continued onward and eventually reached her mate. She noticed right away that something wasn't right. His clothes were torn and falling apart. His body was different as well, but she couldn't take the time to question that.
She knelt on the grass next to him as suddenly the storm that was his mana vanished, and the blades of energy were absorbed back into his body. With the raging chaos gone for the moment the forest seemed to come back to life as cicadas began buzzing once more.
She pulled him into her lap; his head rested against her thigh as she tried to examine his body more thoroughly. "Oh baby, what in the seven hells happened to you." Her whispered words were punctuated by a chocked sob as she cradled his body.
Tears stung her eyes as she held him against her. His breathing was short and uneven as his chest rose and fell. She brushed stray locks of his black curly hair out of his face as she pressed a trembling kiss against his lips.
The others finally managed to catch up, and Aria cursed as she saw the flattened area around Erza and Gavin. "What in the seven hells happened here?" Aria demanded as she rushed to Erza's side to inspect Gavin.
Erza shook her head as she looked at Gavin. "I don't know. I felt this strange sensation, and I just knew something had happened. I can't explain it." Tears flowed freely down her face as she looked at Aria. "We need to get him back to camp."
Aria nodded as she leaned down and together with Lyla helped lift Gavin. They carried him between them while Tessa followed silently. She kept glancing behind to glare at Erza who brought up the rear.
Erza didn't notice the glares from Tessa. She was too lost in thought about the condition Gavin was in. His clothes weren't much more than torn rags at this point. Through the tattered remains, Erza noticed fresh scars all up and down his body, including one that looked suspiciously like a bite mark on his shoulder.
He didn't have those when they went swimming weeks ago. His skin back then was nearly flawless and golden tanned. So how did he acquire all those scars in such a short time?
She chewed on her bottom lip as she continued to walk behind the group. They all walked in a silent march as they focused on bringing him back to camp before they decided what else needed to happen.
***
When they reached camp, a small trickle of blood leaked from Erza's bottom lip as she pulled open the tent she shared with Gavin. Aria and Lyla gently placed him on their bed. Erza quickly pulled off what remained of his shirt and examined his body more closely.
Aside from all the scars on his body, there weren't any obvious injuries that she could notice. Aria brought a bowl of clean water and some bandages into the tent and sat beside Erza.
Erza ignored her while she continued her examination of Gavin until she felt a sting of pain and hissed at Aria. "Knock it off! That stings!"
Aria shrugged Erza's hand away and ignored her protests. "You need to get this wound tended before you get an infection." She gently wiped Erza's thigh with the wet cloth. Erza gritted her teeth as she sighed and let go of her shift. As she glanced down, she noticed just how deep the cut was on her thigh.
"Thanks." Erza's weary voice filled the silence between them as she let Aria clean up the edges of the gash. She pulled out a trauma kit from her bag and got to work stitching the wound close. Erza hissed in pain and fought back the urge to smack Aria.
"Where did you learn to stitch, an infomercial?" Erza snapped at her as the burning sensation in her leg dulled down to a slight throb as Aria stitched the flesh back together.
"Almost. I took a basic first aid course a few months ago and this kit came with passing the class." Aria's soft chuckle annoyed Erza as she rubbed her sore and tender thigh.
"Any idea where he got all the scars?" Aria's voice was soft and worried as she crossed her legs under her.
Erza shook her head. "Those are new. I've never seen a single scar on his body before. It's like he spent years fighting deathmatches or something." Erza replied as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she glanced at Aria.
"Well, with no visible injuries, we can either take him to the hospital back in town or give him a chance to wake up. If he worsens, we can always make the trip back." Aria suggested as she let out a heavy sigh.
"Let's let him rest. We don't even know what to tell the hospital anyway about what caused his condition. If he doesn't wake by morning I'll drive him myself back to the hospital."