"Isn't that…" Nathan gasped in shock.
The alien that came toward him was coming on all four. However, those limbs were similar to those of a human.
It had a rather humanoid body but moved like a beast. It had tentacle-like tails, flapping around. Its head was elongated, which was similar to an image that Nathan had in mind.
Its pale skin made it look like a ghost. At the same time, the veins on the skin felt like they were made of small organisms.
"Goddamn, the appearance is like those aliens in Lovecraft, but those things in its skin looked like it was made of symbiote. That's so cool!" Nathan sucked a cold breath.
However, the alien suddenly leaped toward him. Its speed was quicker than Nathan, but not something he couldn't react to. No, he didn't even need to react.
Fenrir stood on its way and waved its paw.
The alien punched to Fenrir's paw with the same amount of force. The sharp claws pierced through the alien's skin, but the entire force of that punch neutralized Fenrir's power.
Both of them leaped back after sensing each other's power. The alien looked at the wound with its head despite having no eyes.
It licked the wound with its long tongue, and surprisingly, the wound was gradually recovering as if its cells regenerated.
"Damn. This is so badass. I know a bit about lovecraft, but it is actually enhanced with a symbiote life form like what's next… Am I going to fight Cthulhu that has been enhanced by apex form symbiote? This world is so sick. We have mythologies, fantasy creatures, and even aliens." Nathan shuddered both in fear and excitement.
"Oi! Don't talk too much. We have to kill this one first!" Fenrir shouted as he launched himself forward, preparing to engage the alien again.
"I know." Nathan squinted his eyes, remembering the lesson about the alien race.
"The alien race is divided into several categories by their physical ability, shape-shifting ability, regenerative ability, mind and intelligence, as well as Ena manipulation.
"The one you will meet in Tevlan Forest is limited only to proto-class and juvenile class. The proto-class only has minor physical strength enhancement and minor regenerative power. They're moving based on their survival instinct.
"However, the moment you underestimate them, your life will be forfeited.
"The juvenile class is stronger than the proto-class by having a basic shape-shifting ability, moderate strength enhancement, and basic regenerative abilities."
After remembering the information, Nathan started looping around the alien. Even though it was only the proto-class, its physical ability had surpassed that of a normal human.
The Ena inside his body started circulating rapidly, boosting his physical strength.
Fenrir noticed Nathan's movement and waved its tail against the alien.
The alien spread its arms to catch his tail, but it was actually able to sense the Ena Fenrir's tail was emitting. It changed its stance by putting its arms in the front.
The tail shot out a crescent-shaped light, but unlike the wraith that was split into two, it was only enough to reach a third of its arm. And it immediately began regenerating.
However, Fenrir's mission was to stop the alien. During that time, Nathan had reached his position and gathered his Ena in his hands.
With a wave of his hand, the Ena was extended like a claw. Now that he had more Ena to use, the claw actually reached the alien from 5 meters (16 feet) away.
Once again, the alien went beyond Nathan's expectation. It leaned down while its tentacle-like tails grasped the claws. Most of them were cut, but two of them remained intact and managed to stop the Deadly Claw.
"!!!" Nathan widened his eyes in shock. The alien suddenly jumped toward Nathan, shifting his target to the easier one.
Nathan blocked the incoming punch with both arms, but it wasn't enough. He got pushed back and fell on his butt.
"What are you doing, Brat?" Why are you performing worse?!" Fenrir shouted as he chased after the alien. The latter rushed to Nathan, taking advantage of his fall to bite his neck with those sharp teeth.
"Yep. Disgusting!" Nathan commented after seeing the slimy drool coming out of its mouth. He kicked the alien's jaw from below, causing the alien's body to arch.
After that, Fenrir slashed the alien from the back with his tail.
The alien let out a screeching sound as if it were wailing in pain. Unfortunately for the alien, Fenrir showed no mercy and let out a burst of Ena from its mouth. "Waaf!"
The burst hit the wound and widened it before launching the alien to the tree.
Nathan got back on his feet and used the Deadly Claw from above, cutting its head into four and splashing the blood in all directions.
"Sorry. I was a little too excited earlier. I'm a big fan, you know." Nathan apologized. Fortunately, all students had learned the basic strengthening during the first week, so he wasn't injured after receiving that attack. Still, it didn't change the fact that a single mistake could be fatal, so Nathan had to apologize.
"As long as you know that. I'm going to get angry if you still play around next time. Remember, your life's on the line." Fenrir harrumphed. "Besides, don't use your Ena too recklessly."
"I know. It's just… I can't trust them if they have died or not unless I cut their head or sever their neck. That's the only way to confirm that an alien has died. They might be faking it otherwise." Nathan shrugged, showing that he recovered right after and tried to do the same thing.
"Still, the alien is stronger than I originally thought. I can defeat it by myself. No, even that boy who summons a wraith could do it too. It's just one will be the limit. Probably a fourth of your class will have a hard time even fighting one of them," assessed Fenrir while looking at the corpse.
"Yeah…" Nathan replied nonchalantly as if he didn't care about his assessment, his eyes staring at the alien's chest.
"Those cores you swallowed weeks ago…" Fenrir abruptly stopped as Nathan pinched his mouth again, indirectly telling him not to continue the disgusting explanation.
"How about you eat it, Fenrir? This is the original way for you to get stronger without the Soul Contract."
"My summoner is better because he can absorb it more efficiently."
"I'm fine. This is just a test."
"No, no. It's only right for the summoner to get it."
Both of them had their eyebrows twitched. Nathan said with a disgusted face, "You gouge it out, and we'll clean it later. I'll have to sacrifice myself, I guess."