The bugs weren’t crying out, but they were doing their best to get past me. I stood still and watched as a strange faceless man in a luxurious red robe that I would think a vampire would be wearing.

[Be careful. This creature is volatile, and if it loses control, it will go berserk and become much more potent. Don’t let it get that far, or you won’t be able to beat the creature in this state!] Libra told me like the smooth-faced man with a mouth full of sharp teeth stalked toward me.

Those chompers looked like they could do a lot of damage, so I had better keep my hands out of his mouth. I was stuck at a bit of a disadvantage here.

I had no weapons, my pack was left back in the cavern, but it didn’t look like the creature had any either. Though, with the confidence that the creature was walking with, I could assume that it had no need for any.

‘Anything I should know about this thing before I start trying to fight it?’

[It has no special powers other than its Omni sight that allows it to see from every angle simultaneously because of its personalities. Outside of the rings, they are influential Mental Magic users.] Libra explained.

‘Then what does that mean for us inside here?’

[ Like you, they lose all magical power, and it is converted into physical power. That is the trade-off to live in the rings, but it is not bad considering that it can dramatically improve your body like it has for you.] Libra told me, and I looked down at my own blue and black tiger-striped skin.

I did feel stronger, but it was hard to tell the difference without hitting something. There was no point in thinking about this; I just needed to do what I did best and kick the shit of this thing before it could lose its mind.

“Why do you resist us?”

“Why must you defy our will?”

“Who are you?”

“We are inevitable!”

The voices called out at the same time, but I was able to hear them all clearly. Whatever this thing was, talking to it was not the right idea; it already sounded bat shit crazy.

The SkinWalker started moving forward, and I put my hands up, getting myself into a boxing stance. I could feel it watching me, and its two hands came up into a strange position with one palm forward and the other face-up.

I wasn’t sure what he was doing, but I clenched my fist and advanced. The moment he was in range, I tried a short left jab to test the reaction, but the hand with the palm forward snapped into my inside elbow.

I tried to counter with a right hook, but my elbow was slapped up, and then both of his hands slammed into my chest. I was pushed back almost five feet from the strike, but I was able to keep my balance.

That was frustrating. The creature could read me like an open book, and I could tell that it was just playing with me.

[I told you, they can see everywhere, and they are very good at predicting movement. They have thousands of years of memories to pull from for experience that stretches farther than just these bugs!] Libra warned me, and I narrowed my eyes at the creature.

[Be careful. This thing isn’t like the other things you have fought. Those movements were smooth and fluid, so you need to watch out. This creature is obviously very skilled and almost as deadly as the Dread Dragon.] Harold told me, and I started to circle the creature.

“You are like us.”

“You are more than one.”

“Join us!”

“We are inevitable!”

The distorted voices snarled out of Carnage’s mouth, and then it shifted to a killer smile of sharp teeth. It turned with me, and the creature seemed to follow all of my movements, but it did not attack me.

I could see no way to get through the defense, and running wasn’t going to do me any good. I dashed forward, feinting a right hook, striking with my left foot at Carnage’s knee, but the creature jumped in the air.

This was my plan, but before I could strike forward, I was kicked in the face, and my body was lifted off the ground.

I was tossed through the air with my head spinning from the blow, and then I smashed into the corner of a hexagon. Before I could fully register the pain in my side, reality shifted, and I was tossed into a dark hole.

“What are you doing?” A grump male voice asked me, but I ignored the strange red beetle and got up off the ground.

I turned around to the only light that was a dim grey light. I put my hand to my chin as I opened and closed my mouth.

That had hurt, but the creature had already seen me move my arm to punch it right after I had forced it to jump. The Omni-vision thing was going to be a severe problem, or I would have to get faster.

I walked forward slowly, and both the other two were staying quiet. That meant neither had helpful anything to help me in my fight.

I walked forward, taking deep, controlled breaths as I did, and went back through the gate I had been kicked through. My side didn’t take much damage because I was transported into this hole, but I might not be so lucky next time.

I stepped up to walk through the gate, and I proceeded to walk forward. The moment I touched the smooth grey surface, I was on the other side.

Carnage was on the other side, waiting for me.

“You are soft!”

“He is weak!”

“We shall devour all you are and have ever been!”

“We are inevitable!”