Chapter 383: Core Hunting

Violet had learnt that she was truly enjoying utilising her void threads in conjunction with her void manipulation to create temporary weapons for her fists.

After doing so for the first time against that wooden panther she had been experimenting with how else she could utilise it.

With care and attention she could use these threads to basically create anything, she could even make the creation semi permanent if she imbued the item with both her domain and a significant amount of mana.

It was a curious thing and Violet spent quite some time between fights practicing creating various objects.

Whilst simple things like the spike on her fist was quite simple to create, she could create a variety of objects.

The process was both simple yet quite challenging. She had to 'weave' the threads, focusing her attention to the hair thin strands of void, accurately controlling each individual thread to weave together into whatever form she so desired.

For now she could only make solid objects, a simple shield or plate, she even had a go at creating a sword for her to use. However, she found that she didn't really like using a sword, it just felt wrong for whatever reason.

Violet much preferred to use her fists or claws if she had to get up close to her foes. Naturally she would prefer to entirely stay back and simply kill whatever foe she faced off against with her magics.

Saddly as she and her prey advanced in strength staying at a distance no longer became a viable strategy.

Beings of tier 5 and above were all powerful, one could not simply advance into tier 5 without skill and determination. As a result of that fact most beings had several methods or skills to rapidly close in go whatever for they were facing off against.

Be that a sudden burst of speed or some form of teleportation like her blink or Luna's void step.

At earlier tiers it was unusual for beasts and enlightened alike to have such skills, yet now it seemed like every other creature she fought against had some kind of movement ability.

Going back to her experiments with creating actual items with her void threads though.

Violet had come up with a number of templates that she was interested in refining for easier use at a later time. These would primarily be utilised when in her humanoid form as they focused around fighting with fists instead of her claws that she had in her beast form.

They went from simple gloves that would protect her hands and enable her to more easily handle void conjured items, to a refined version of the void spike she had previously used.

It was a interesting skill and something that she was sure would take quite a long time for her to gain true mastery over, still for now it was a helpful aid in combat and utility.

Her musings were interrupted when she sensed a somewhat familiar presence off to one side, Violet's curiosity peeked and she quickly made her way over towards the presence.

Soon she was able to make out the being that she sensed, a smile forming on her lips.

In the small clearing before her rested a creature that resembled a deer, or a buck she supposed given its antlers. Yet this was no beast of flesh and blood but one of similar makeup to the wooden panther.

Its hooves were solid bark, its antlers twisted bark whilst its body consisted of interwoven roots and vines.

It was the correct size for a normal deer, yet held the presence that marked it as a tier 4 beast, no domain to indicate that it had reached tier 5 however.

Yet by seeing this creature Violet began to understand what separated this zone from the previous ones.

Where in the first 3 zones the only life forms were the other participants of the trial, here in this 4th zone, new seeming artificial life was being presented to block their path and provide foes for them to defeat and grow from.

It was a welcome addition for Violet, particularly after the couple of days she spent wandering in bored near silence in the stone maze.

So now that she had discovered that the jungle guardian from before was not a outlier but in fact a seeming feature of this zone Violet was looking forward to discovering what else she would encounter.

With that in mind she summoned her magics and unleashed a barrage of bolts and spears at the unsuspecting deer guardian. ℯ

It reacted quickly for a tier 4 being, its form melting into the nearby vegetation and reappeared some distance away as her attacks sailed harmlessly past its new position.

The guardian locked gaze with Violet, its emerald orbs pulsing with contained power. Then it opened its maw and unleashed a call, it sounded like creaking bark and rustling leaves, only it was not a physical sound but a spiritual one.

The wave of etherial sound rushing out into the surrounding jungle. Violet paused for a moment, wondering what purpose that call had.

Shrugging and figuring she would find that out later on she focused back on the fight at hand.

Violet blinked out of existence, reappearing besides the deer as she pushed forwards whilst void threads formed around her fist, sharp protrusions jutting out atop each knuckle.

The deer tried to meld back into the nearby vegetation, yet a void rune flashed underneath it whilst Violet's domain pulsed. The nearby vegetation ceased to exist as it was consumed by the void, the nothingness of the void denying the reality of all it did not allow.

That allowed Violet's fist to impact with the neck of the wooden guardian. Its entire neck rupturing from the force of the impact, sticky sap erupted in all directions, any heading for Violet being consumed by her void domain.

The now headless guardian did not seem all too bothered by the lack of its head as it spun around and tried to kick towards Violet. Sadly it was not fast enough and Violet easily summoned several void shields that blocked the powerful double kick aimed at her stomach.

At the same time Violet rotated around the guardian, several runes flashing into reality as chains of nothingness wrapped around the legs of the creature. That allowed several spears to impact the body of the guardian and explode away much of its body.

In the process a resounding crack rang out as the core burried within its torso cracked. The remaining plant matter sloughing off into a sticky sap covered pile.

Violet grinned, somewhat satisfied with the fight, yet finding that battling against tier 4 creatures was just a touch too easy for the current her.

A moment after that thought formed however, and slapped her open palm against her forehead as she muttered. "I just had to think it didn't I."

Then Violet slowly turned around as she looked about into the shaded jungle. At first she saw nothing, yet soon emerald orbs revealed themselves, first only 2 then 6 then over a dozen sets of emerald eyes.

Violet let out a sigh as she gazed at the ever increasing amount of jungle guardians materialising all around her.

She finally realised what that peculiar call the deer made at the start of their fight was meant for. It was a call for reinforcements.

Still, Violet was soon grinning as her magics surged. It was going to be a fun day.