The battle continues, Lumi charging the Manavore with lightning speed. Her claws slash at its body, but none of her attacks leave more than a small scratch. Sakyo can only stand by as he sees a side of Lumi he's never seen before.
[Sakyo] Wow, with how she usually acts, I keep forgetting she's still a tiger.
THUD
The ground shakes violently as the Manavore hits the ground once more, trees falling all around it. Lumi leaps back to Sakyo's side.
[Lumi] Rawr (Papa, shiny thing not fighting like animal.)
[Sakyo] Not fighting like an animal? What do you mean?
[Lumi] Rawr. Rawr. (Shiny thing's isn't using instincts. Just running around.)
[Sakyo] (It's not using its instincts? That's not how Lumi's mother was. When she was infected, she fought with only her instincts. Then, there might be a chance.) Lumi, get me as close to it as you can. I need you to attack its legs as hard as you can. I'll aim for its body and knock it on its side. That should give me enough time to absorb its miasma.
They get in position, Sakyo brandishing Uramasa's blade as he get fastened on Lumi's back. The Manavore shakes off the trees that fell on its back, readying itself for another charging attack.
[Sakyo] (I hope I can keep this thing down long enough to get the miasma.)
[Uramasa] (If you'd like, I might offer some assistance.)
[Sakyo] I though this thing wasn't strong enough for your "full power."
[Uramasa] (It's not, but I suppose I should make an effort if we'll be working together from now on. You know the skills I can use, so I'll show you how to use them. How about I let you test out {Auratic Pulse}?)
[Sakyo] Alright, I'll take you up on that offer. What do I need to do?
[Uramasa] (You don't seem to use your aura, so I'll do the work for you just this once. Just slash at it like you practiced in your training.)
[Sakyo] If you knew I was training with you, why didn't you say anything before now you dumb blade?!
[Lumi] Rawr? (Papa, who're you talking to?)
[Sakyo] Don't worry about it. Just run as fast as you can.
Everyone refocuses on the standoff. On one side, the Manavore ready to charge. Its gaping mouth held open, pointing its dagger-like teeth straight ahead. The ground behinds it kicks up as it begins charging.
On the other side, Lumi digs her claws into the ground as deep as she can, feeling every vibration from the Manavore's every stomp. In his hands, Sakyo feels Uramasa draining something from him, but he doesn't recognize what it is.
[Lumi] ROAR! ({Starlight Steps}!)
In a flash of light, Lumi's white fur illuminates like moonlight, leaving behind a trail of stardust particles. Sakyo holds onto her fur for dear life, nearly falling off at the sudden burst in speed.
[Sakyo] Lumi, why don't you tell me you can do these things you do?!
As soon as he regains his balance, he jumps off Lumi's back as she bolts to the side of the Manavore. In one swift motion, she throws her entire weight against its leg, biting down on it as hard as she can. Her teeth dig into its flesh, blood spewing from every pierced point.
[Uramasa] (The darkness if fully charged. Release your aura, now!)
With everything he can muster, Sakyo slashes at the Manavore's body, Uramasa glowing with a faint violet hue.
[Sakyo] {Auratic Pulse}!
One second, the blade hits its mark. A wave of energy burst from it, throwing Sakyo back a few feet as well. The next second, the Manavore is thrown fast and hard against its cave, crumbling the entire thing to dust.
[Sakyo] Woah. Was that really you?
[Uramasa] (Us. I absorbed your aura to power the pulse, though I must admit, its power was far greater than I anticipated.)
[Sakyo] I see, so that was the draining feeling I was getting earlier.
[Uramasa] (You'll be fine. Aura regenerates naturally over time, and unlike mana, you won't feel tired if you run out.)
[Lumi] Rawr! Rawr! (Papa, that was amazing! You're so cool and strong!)
[Sakyo] Thanks, but now's not the time. I've gotta be quick.
Without wasting another second, he runs over to the Manavore. Its once strong frame now looks so weak, buried under the stone rubble of what was once its home. Sakyo places his hand on its head. It tries to shake him away, but it's still too weak from his attack. After using {Miasma Absorption}, Sakyo steps away, but the Manavore doesn't calm down. If anything, it begins thrashing around more violently than before.
[Sakyo] (It must still be scared. Maybe if I...) Manavore, form a temporary pact with me.
It doesn't listen, continuing its erratic thrashing.
System: [Notice: Manavore does not wish to form a pact. Would you like to dominate it into one?]
[Sakyo] Dominate?
System: [Answer: A pact of domination cannot be refused so long as you are stronger than the contracted target.]
[Sakyo] Alright, just this once.
System: [Notice: Pact of Domination successful.]
[Manavore] ...o away! Get away from me, human! I will not be your puppet!
[Sakyo] Calm down, I'm not going to hurt you.
[Manavore] As if I'd believe you! First you humans invade my home and inject that weird black sludge into me, and now you destroy my home just to take it back! I know you're with those white coats!
[Sakyo] (So, it is the same people as with Lumi's mom.) I'm not with them. I just want to talk.
[Manavore] Forget it, you're just trying to use me like they did!
[Lumi] (Growl) Rawr! (Listen to Papa when he's talking, shiny thing!)
The Manavore flinches at Lumi's aggressive tone, still feeling the sting from where her teeth pierced his leg.
[Manavore] Grrr, fine, I'll listen to what you have to say.
[Sakyo] First, I want to know what happened to you. How did you come into contact with miasma?
[Manavore] Miasma? You mean that black sludge? All I know is those white coated humans injected me with it while I was sleeping. When I awoke, I had no control over my own body.
[Sakyo] So they were trying to experiment with you too, but how did you escape them?
[Manavore] They tried using magic chains to hold me, but I absorbed their mana. They ran off after that.
[Sakyo] Then they're probably gonna come back for you. I doubt they'd let something as rare as you go for too long.
[Manavore] I refuse to allow those humans to use me as their tool.
[Sakyo] You may not have a choice. If they come back for you, they're probably gonna bring something stronger to subdue you. If that happens, no one in the village will be safe.
[Manavore] ...I will admit, you are different from those white coated humans, but why do you possess the same... what did you call it, miasma?
[Sakyo] I've fought one of their experiments before, and I have the ability to absorb the miasma that infects others.
[Manavore] I've answered your questions, so now you answer mine. What are you? I've never felt power like your last attack before. I couldn't absorb it, so I know it wasn't a magic item. And if you use such power so naturally, I doubt you're truly human.
[Sakyo] Uramasa is a unique sword, and that power you felt is called aura. It's different from magic, but I'm not entirely sure how. Also, I am human, at least as far as I know.
[Manavore] I see, so your power extends even beyond your own understanding. No wonder it felt so chilling.
The Manavore tries to stand up, but its body is still too weak from the previous battle.
[Sakyo] You're still hurt, you shouldn't move too much.
[Manavore] And whose fault do you think it is for why I'm so injured?
[Sakyo] ...Sorry.
[Manavore] It's fine, I was the one who attacked you first. I will be fine, the mana circulating through me will heal my wounds. I should be fully healed in a few days.
[Sakyo] Just curious, I know you absorb mana, but how does that work exactly? And how do you grow those mana stones on your back?
[Manavore] My body absorbs the mana in the surrounding environment. What I need to survive circulates through my body, while the excess is expelled from my back as these stones.
[Sakyo] If that's the case, I might be able to speed up your recovery.
[Manavore] Is that really possible?
[Sakyo] Just stay still.
He kneels next to the Manavore's body, hovering his hand over its bloodied wounds.
[Sakyo] (As good a time as any to test how my mana trainings been going. Use {Mana Manipulation} to change the flow of its mana. I just need a segment, make sure not to change the main channel too heavily. Next, compress it just thin enough to match a strand of hair. Make it thick enough to give it a physical form, but not too thick as to damage his vitals. Finally, sew it around the wounds, stitching them closed.)
[Manavore] How are you doing that?
[Sakyo] Quiet. (Stay focused. One wrong move and I could explode the wound to twice its size.)
Every second feels like hours of intense concentration. Sakyo barely moves as he patches up the Manavore's every wound.
[Sakyo] (Phew) That should do it.
[Manavore] Remarkable. I've never seen such control over mana before.
[Sakyo] You should be able to walk now, but still take it easy. I closed your wounds, but I couldn't replace any of the blood you lost.
With a slight struggle, the Manavore slowly stands up once more.
[Manavore] Worry not, human. This is more than satisfactory, but what will become of me now? My home is destroyed, and those white coated humans may return soon.
[Sakyo] If they do, we'll need to be ready. For now, I'll take you back to the village. I need to make lots of preparations.