Chapter 15: Mana’s Return and the Berserker’s Stand

This has to be a joke! A lie! Absolute nonsense!

Mana? Mana!

To Votila’s utter astonishment, he sensed mana emanating from the creature.

Since his rebirth, Votila had been stripped of the immense mana he once commanded as a proud dragon. The magic that had once flowed with a mere thought, as natural as moving a limb, had vanished alongside it.

He was now a black cat, capable of only a few instinctive combat techniques and a rudimentary eye art.

Indeed, the loss of his mana, the very magic he had relied on for survival, remained the black cat’s deepest regret. Over the past month, he had exhausted every conceivable method, yet failed to reclaim his lost power.

It was precisely for this reason that Votila was utterly shaken to perceive mana from such a detestable creature.

Even from Mulee Hua, Votila had never detected any trace of mana.

Without mana, Mulee Hua had been unable to become a true spellcaster.

The monster before him had shown no prior indication of mana, yet now, after enduring a savage beating from the muscular brute of a dog, it was undeniably radiating magical energy.

This development completely defied Votila’s expectations, stretching far beyond the limits of his comprehension.

What’s more, as the “slime” rapidly writhed, the mana fluctuations intensified, and Votila watched, mesmerized, as the amorphous mass slowly began to reclaim its original form.

The multicolored “slime”‘s exterior quickly hardened, growing brittle and parched.

This desiccated surface then rapidly cracked and flaked away with every movement, revealing vibrant, pulsing flesh beneath.

The tender flesh writhed slowly, gradually sprouting clusters of coarse black hair.

In a mere dozen seconds, perhaps only a few tens, the monster had completely regenerated its previous form.

Only its color had shifted, transforming from red to an ominous black.

“Roar!”

A guttural roar ripped through the air, and as the sound waves propagated, Votila sensed an even greater power emanating from the monster than before.

It was alive again! The monster had miraculously revived!

Despite the immense force of the assault, despite being reduced to such a state, it had not only survived but returned.

It wasn’t merely alive; it had become even more powerful!

This had to be a joke! Even cheating didn’t work like this; not even a true dragon possessed such a ludicrous ability.

Votila felt an overwhelming urge to unleash a torrent of curses.

“So that’s how it is…” Mulee Hua murmured, her gaze fixed on the monstrous form. “The autonomous construct’s second forbidden release also includes hyper-regeneration.”

“How very… characteristic of certain families.”

“Woff?” Gasla tilted his massive head, his expression one of utter bewilderment as he gazed at his master.

Mulee Hua gently stroked Gasla’s soft fur. “Your current strength has reached its absolute peak, my dear,” she explained.

“Should we attempt to push it any further, I cannot guarantee the stability of your internal mechanisms. Instantaneous self-destruction becomes a distinct possibility.”

“Woof!” Gasla let out a whimper, a tremor running through his massive frame at her words.

Just then, the monster lunged forward, its heavy footsteps causing the very earth to shudder with each powerful stride.

‘Hey! I say, you two, why are you both so utterly calm?’ the black cat wildly gesticulated from Mulee Hua’s shoulder.

‘That thing is charging! It’s charging right at us!’

“Gasla! Tiger Stance!”

As if by some unspoken connection, the muscular brute of a dog surged forward the instant its master’s command left her lips.

The two colossal beasts collided in an instant, reminiscent of two super-heavyweight sumo wrestlers.

The moment the monster lunged, Gasla intercepted it, wrapping his powerful arms tightly around its waist.

Yet, the regenerated monster had indeed grown stronger. It ceaselessly pounded Gasla’s back, tearing at his thick layers of fur.

In mere moments, Gasla found himself forced into a steady retreat under the monster’s relentless pressure.

“Gasla! Back suplex!”

“Woof!” Gasla roared, his grip tightening around the monster’s waist.

With a sudden thrust of his hind legs and a surge of power from his core, he managed to hoist the monstrous creature clear off the ground.

Gasla lifted the monster high, pushed it forcefully backward, and then slammed it down with brutal force.

The monster’s head crashed heavily onto the earth.

Had it been an ordinary creature, that impact alone would have surely shattered its neck.

*Thwack!* Mud splattered in every direction.

The monster thrashed, desperately trying to right itself, but Gasla had no intention of allowing it to rise so easily.

He seized it once more, pinning it back to the ground, and then, raising his massive right paw, began to deliver a relentless barrage of blows.

“This is proving to be quite troublesome…” Mulee Hua mused, a faint frown creasing her brow. “Gasla’s strength is inferior to this construct’s, and his stamina is rapidly approaching its limit.”

‘Did that mean defeat was imminent?’ Votila felt a wave of profound dejection wash over him.

Mulee Hua gently stroked the black cat’s head, offering him a strained smile. “Come, let’s put some distance between us,” she urged.

With that, Mulee Hua gripped the small black box and broke into a swift run, heading deep into the forest.

From behind them, the guttural roars of battling beasts echoed through the air.

As if to underscore Mulee Hua’s bleak assessment, the monster, previously ensnared by Gasla, violently broke free of its bonds and launched a fierce counterattack.

The two colossal beasts became a tangled blur of motion, pummeling each other, tearing with razor-sharp claws, and snapping with vicious fangs.

Fur flew in chaotic drifts, and crimson streaks appeared across Gasla’s body. Yet, like a true berserker, he showed no trace of retreat, even when faced with insurmountable odds.