Transcending Dreams

B2 - Chapter 90

The massive, tiger-sized rabbit didnt know how it died.

A sickening squelch echoed in the enclosed platform as Williams fist crushed the Sky Hare Emperors skull.

[+4538 XP]

He noticed the eyes of the other rabbits starting to turn from blue to blood red. They were eager to start their feasting.

Before they had the chance to even twitch toward the dead body, William pulled his kill into the spatial stone and threw the corpse at the spirit beast egg. Just in time, too, when a Sky Hare Emperor swiped at where the corpse used to be.

He felt another coming at him from behind and retreated to the other side of the platform in alarm. The rabbits had gone through a drastic change that made them nearly unrecognizable.

He had already noticed the color change of their eyes. Everything else hit him with shock. The blood spatter on his body caused the change, with every single Sky Hare Emperor staring right at him with ravenous eyes.

William had seen a similar change in the Garden with the weaker Sky Hares, but this was to a greater extent.

The Sky Hare Emperors had previously looked like normal rabbitswith white fluffy fur, short stubby paws, and an overall harmless lookexcept super-sized.

The change put them on the other extreme.

Their soft, fluffy coats bristled and darkened, casting a shadow over their previously gentle appearance. Sharp, elongated claws emerged from their dainty paws. They glinted with every move, prepared to slice through flesh with little effort. Even their previously adorable whiskers stiffened, pointing aggressively forward as their once rounded and benign faces elongated into snarling muzzles.

The bared, razor-sharp teeth completed the change to show the true nature of the Sky Hare Emperors. They were dangerous, suicidal monsters.

Williams eyes scanned the murderous rabbits to get an exact count for the first time.

Nine of them. Not an insurmountable number, but it would be a difficult fight since they were no longer passive like at the start.

Before they could move, he used [Observe] to determine the difference between their attributes and his. He fully expected The Sky Hare Emperors' Agility to be higher than his, but still hold an advantage with the other attributes.

[Observe not available on automatons]

William's mind blanked, and he wasnt able to process the system message in time. One of the Sky Hare Emperors jumped at him with a screeching snarl.

The Elemental Gauntlet stretched tightly around his fist as he shot forward to meet it mid-jump, eyes intently tracking the speed of the attacking Sky Hare Emperors limbs. It was well within his capabilities.

Williams eyes widened when the claws on the rabbits paws extended drastically. He barely shifted his body to avoid getting skewered. Having diminished control since he was in the air did not help.

Thankfully, it wouldnt be needed. That was the only thing the Sky Hare Emperor could do before he reached its body.

William didnt bat an eye when his palm caused the rabbit to explode in a shower of blood and guts. He quickly pulled most of the remains into the spatial stone before landing with the bottom part of the Sky Hare Emperor still in his hands.

[+4538 XP]

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The others had made their move, but it wasnt to lunge at him. They were too busy fighting with each other for the chance to get a taste of their killed brethren to be in any danger.

He kept an eye on them as he retreated back to the other side of the platform. He glanced at the bloody, torn-off part of the rabbit he just killed and wondered how this was considered an automaton.

It was all flesh and blood. And they had the same behaviors as a regular Sky Hare, with a rabid desire to consume corpses.

William shoved that thought away when he noticed the Sky Hare Emperors realized they were making no progress getting to the flesh in his hands by fighting each other.

He waited until a few of them separated from the group to make a few hops toward him. That was enough for him to make a move.

William flung the flesh in his hand as hard as he could to the side. Before it could hit the wall and spatter into a bloody mess, the Sky Hare Emperors jumped after it, as he expected. He followed suit.

William had moved the instant there were no eyes on him. Every single Sky Hare Emperor had their entire focus on the ripped flesh flying in the air. Some were just a bit separated from the pact.

Those were the ones he targeted.

William had the advantage of being the first mover, or he would have never caught the trailing Sky Hare Emperors by surprise. They were in the motion of the start of a jump when his palms pierced their sides, reaching a thick bone in each one.

He ignored their pained screeches, more worried about the fact his palms hadnt bisected their bodies and killed them instantly. The transformation was more than just for looks. It seemed to boost their physical makeup.

William clenched his hands around the bonesthey were ridgedand released a loud grunt through clenched teeth as he yanked with all his strength. His only goal was to cause as much damage as possible on the way out to make it easier to kill them.

Both Sky Hare Emperors let out ear-shattering squeals before suddenly falling silent.

To Williams surprise, he saw the system flash blue twice. It indicated that the beastsautomatonswere dead.

[+4538 XP] x2

[Level Up! | 10 Stat Points Added]

He shoved the alerts aside.

The two whole, bleeding corpses were much more attractive targets for the remaining Sky Hare Emperorsat least for the five who lost the race to the flesh he threw to distract them.

A lone Sky Hare Emperor was at the back, ripping into its prize as it eyed him greedily for the possibility of more.

William pulled one corpse into the spatial stone to feed the egg while leaving one out to use as another distraction. He hadnt forgotten that the voice had said there would be a surprise after five rounds.

The Sky Hare Emperors were the first round. He assumed that each subsequent round would involve more formidable beastsautomatonswhatever they were.

Williams goal was to use as little of his Spiritual Energy as possible with the Sky Hare Emperors and reserve it for where it was truly needed.

His eyes widened in surprise when they lunged him without warning, at a speed that made it dangerous to try and avoid while lugging around the heavy corpse. He made the quick decision to leave it behind.

He doubted anything he would face in the following rounds would be single-minded enough to ignore him in favor of something like eating.

William jumped high in the air, still in the same spot, above the corpse. He made the correct assumption that none of the Sky Hare Emperors would bother with him and instead fight over the corpse.

He watched them with ill intent as he reached the peak of his jump.

Two of the Sky Hare Emperors had their teeth sunk into the corpse, and three of them were struggling to do the same.

William noticed that those three were a little hobbled with their movements. They were injured significantly more compared to the others.

His legs lit up from his Qi, reinforcing them for the coming impact. He would have immediately gained their attention if this was any other spirit beastautomaton. Once again, he thanked the Sky Hare Emperors for being stupidly single-minded, even in the face of certain death.

William let himself rocket down to the platform like a meteor, pulverizing a Sky Hare Emperor as he slammed into its back and split it messily in half.

[+3025 XP]

He was only able to pull one half of the corpse into the spatial stone, the other flying out of reach. The remaining two Sky Hare Emperors immediately rushed after it, giving up on the whole corpse being fought over by their stronger brethren.

William knew he couldnt stop both from escaping his reach, but one was doable. His blood-covered hands shot forward to grab the hind leg of one of the Sky Hare Emperors, heaving it back to him before swinging it over his head and slamming its body onto the platform.

Its head smacked off the metaldazing it slightlyenough for William to jump onto his body and piece his palms through it, leaving fatal wounds before quickly reaching its neck and snapping the head with a vicious twist.

[+3025 XP]

William pulled the corpse into the spatial stone instantly before lunging at the nearest Sky Hare Emperor to continue the massacre.