(Third Person POV)
Enhanced speed.
Enhanced agility.
Enhanced strength and sense.
That is what Mael obtained after absorbing the Okuri's entire being. With the use of his Distorted Subjugation, he was able to siphon the Yokai into himself, taking its powers for himself. If it were not for this, Mael would be incapable of taking on the onslaught of the remaining pack.
And that is what he was doing, to his surprise.
He slammed the butt of the spear against the head of one of the Okuri, sending it flying as he dodged another one, kicking it with his foot.
"Tch....!" He said as another latched onto his shoulder, digging its fangs into him, "A-Agghh!!!"
He thrust his spear at an incoming one, stabbing into its flesh and causing it to yelp in pain. He then flung himself to the side, shaking off the wolf from him. Without wasting a moment, he stood up and rushed at it, stabbing it with his spear right on its hind leg, causing it to let out a pained howl.
Within the next few seconds, Mael was attacked by all of the wolves, getting bit in the leg and arm, but he ignored the pain and managed to stab each of them at least once. He stepped away, limping slightly as he spat on the ground.
Mael was gritting his teeth, feeling pain all over his body, "Dammit...." He said, "If it weren't for the power I took from the first one, these would've ripped me apart by now."
The wolves circled him, sensing the sudden threat Mael posed. He was holding his spear, wobbling slightly but composing himself almost immediately.
An Okuri lunged at him, only for Mael to impale it with a vicious thrust of his spear, a pained howl filling the air. The moment this happened, the others rushed in, pouncing onto Mael.
Mael pulled the spear out of the wolf and dodged the incoming attackers, watching as the wolf collapsed to the ground. He slammed several with the butt of the spear, only for a single one to tackle him into the ground.
He felt its fangs digging into his collarbone, pain coursing through his body, "Shit....!" He said, "This fucking....."
His spear had dropped to the ground, but Mael grabbed the throat of the wolf and squeezed it. To his surprise, the squeeze was strong enough to crush its throat. The wolf yelped out in pain as Mael kept a firm grip on it, releasing the hold it had on him.
Mael gritted his teeth, "Here goes....." He said, "Another one...."
"Distorted Subjugation"
The other Okuri stopped and watched as the one that was atop Mael became twisted and mangled, being siphoned into Mael's body. Mael's body suddenly healed itself of its wounds as he gasped for air, feeling a rush of energy.
He go to his feet, seeing the others staring him down and growling.
He panted, "O-Okay...." He said, picking up his spear, "Here we go....."
He looked at the wolves, seeing the one he had stabbed was bleeding out.
"I got a bit of a power boost, but I was still outnumbered..." He said as his spear disappeared, "These things are not weak at all, a single one is dangerous."
Two of them lunged at him, but Mael dodged away with surprising speed. He landed several meters away, looking at them.
"Arcus"
He summoned his bow, pulling back on the string almost right away. In a split-second, he fired off a single arrow that flew right at one of the wolves, striking it right in its head. As this happened, he was blindsided by one. He was taken off guard by its maw, clutching onto his shoulder, but he shook it off almost immediately.
He then swung his bow, striking it in the side of the head, a pained yelp being heard. He then fired an arrow at its head point-blank, blood spraying out as he jumped away to avoid the other Okuri.
He waited for them to lunge at him, and when they did, he rushed past them, turning around and firing two arrows. The arrows hit a wolf, causing it to collapse on the ground as it yelped out in pain.
Mael then grabbed one of the wolves he had taken down, activating his Subjugation almost immediately. The remaining Okuri watched as he did this, the body of the wolf being siphoned into him as his body was filled with a mixture of pain and euphoria.
"A-Ahhh....." He said as he stumbled back, having fully taken in the Okuri into himself, "A-Alright...."
"Come on and die...."
*********************
"We have to make sure that fool isn't dead!" a Villager said as others were carrying wooden poles, "If he activates the Curse once again, we'll be in deep trouble!!"
They reached the spot where they had left Mael, having returned the injured woman to their village. As they reached the clearing, they saw that Mael was sitting down at the center, blood surrounding him as he was panting.
His body was covered in sweat and was trembling; his eyes were half-closed.
"W-What....?" one of the men said, "What the hell happened....?!"
Mael noticed them, "Y-You..." He said, "You came back...."
The men did not dare to take a step forward. "What did you do?" One of them said, "Where are the Okuri???"
Mael tried to stand, his legs were wobbling, "Even if I took the strength of one, another seven was still a tough fight." He said, "They could've killed me if it weren't for my ability.....you guys were right to show fear."
The men looked around, seeing that there was no sign of the Okuri. Something told them that Mael had killed them all, but there was no sign of the Curse activating. They didn't know what to think or feel at that exact moment.
"D-Did you kill them?" one of them asked
Mael nodded, "Something like that...." He said, "But none appeared after I did so. I was waiting for them, but I guess that didn't happen."
"What are you....?" A man asked, "What the fuck are you?!"
"I...." Mael said, his face covered in sweat, "I'm just a man.....that's all...."
"You're not a man if you killed eight Okuri!" He exclaimed, "And with eyes like those, you're a walking Omen!!"
"Maybe I am...." Mael said, "But what's done is done....."
"You are all safe."