Natsuki went back into the forest and to his relief the talons were still there.
'These felt really strong during the fight, they'll be good material for a weapon if I can afford it.'
He walked over and picked them up, looking in the pouch he realised he didn't have enough space due to all the gold.
Choosing the talons he emptied the gold just enough to let him add the talons.
Leaving once more he felt the earth tremor below him.
'I wonder what that is?'
Brushing it off he continued where he left off and left the forest for a second time.
Natsuki walked for so long that it reached Dusk.
The sun began to rise slowly to its place in the sky.
Casting it's light everywhere and in the distance Natsuki could see the carriage once more.
Next to it laid the dead bodies of adventurers.
He could tell due to their gear, even from a distance the shine of their armour and swords were visible.
And then kneeling down were two balding men in merchant robes.
The bandits were holding knives to their throats ready to slit them.
They numbered five in total, each of them had a dead animals head as a mask.
The biggest one was at the end of the carriage, watching as the rest looted the adventurers and the carriage.
'That's definitely the leader.'
Wearing a wolf's severed head as his mask he easily stood above six foot three inches, muscles visible through the thin fabric of his t-shirt, he had a large lion pelt around his waist and his aura was strong.
'Should I help them? Maybe they'll pay me. It'll make up for all the gold I spilt back in the forest.'
Walking forward since it was an open plain that he was now in and couldn't use anything to hide or conceal himself with.
"Look its another human we can loot."
The leaders deep voice rang out like steel being hammered.
The merchants seeing suddenly felt a little hope that Natsuki saw appear in their eyes as they looked at the stranger.
"Um your human too."
All the bandits gasped like Natsuki had just told him that he slept with his mother.
"Human! Don't associate me with your filthy race!"
Another bandit sneered loud enough that it caught Natsuki's attention even though he was in the carriage.
"But look at him boss, he probably doesn't have anything valuable. His shirtless without shoes."
"Then we'll just beat him for the insult, what do you say boys."
"I say we kill him!"
One shouted loudly.
"I say we sell him as a slave!"
Another one said.
Natsuki's temper began to flare, instantly he activated the skill that enhanced his senses.
'I'll call this one predator," the name felt right in his hand and then he opened his mouth to talk.
"I have a suggestion," Natsuki's voice rang out through their conversation, "why don't I just shut you all up and kill you."
'That's not what I wanted to say.'
Natsuki was confused but took annoyed by the bandits taunts to show it.
"Kill us?" The leader stepped forward now moving closer to Natsuki, "I'd like to see you try pretty boy."
Unsheathing a dagger the leader decided to attack first.
He was fast but not fast enough, Natsuki's danger sense activated tugging at the spot where he was aiming and allowed Natsuki to dodge.
In the same motion he landed an uppercut to the leader but he barely flinched.
'Shit I forgot to circulate my mana.'
Dodging another blow, he moved backwards to give him time.
Beating faster his dragon heart urged his core to circulate the mana, feeling another boost due to the dragon heart he decided to move in.
He was quick agile and lethal, landing a decive strike to the leaders abdomen sending him stumbling back before he could think.
Then it followed by a kick to the jaw sending him into the carriage.
The other bandits looking furious held out their weapons, ready to attack.
They came in coordinated one after the other Natsuki dodged their attacks.
But due to large number he couldn't keep this up for long.
Then one them landed a punch that stung his cheek.
Looking to retain the favour, he kicked the bandit on his knee sending it backwards with a large crunching sound.
"Ahhhh...!"
The bandit cried out falling to the ground.
The other three still not discouraged charged in again.
This time Natsuki ignited fire along his hand down to his elbows.
Then as the first one attacked he placed the flames there, making the steel of his weapon begin to melt.
Running down quickly it burnt the bandits hands making the skin peel off.
The next one decided to swing low to distract Natsuki to land a headbut but when he hit it the sound of his own skull cracking filled his ears.
Finally the last bandit seeing what had happened decided to try and run away.
Not letting that happen Natsuki burnt his feet as he tried to run by sending a stream of fire out of his hand.
The leader recovering stood up.
He looked around seeing his men were defeated in under five minutes made him snap.
Letting out a growl like an actual upset wolf, he began to grow in size, his muscle ripped his shirt to threads and the bottom pelt he was wearing fell down revealing a small cloth wrapped around him to gird his loins.
Fur then began to cover his bare the skin, the mask fell off revealing the man's face.
But it was shortly replaced as he grew fangs and his eyes changed to those of a wolves, glowing red in colour.
Claws shot out replacing his nails and he stood now at least seven foot on both feet and looked more like a wolf than a man wearing a mask now.
The merchants seeing this fainted on the spot.
'He's a werewolf an actual werewolf like in books and stuff.'
"I'm going to kill you!"
"You know a believe you a little bit more now, I don't know why though."
Clearly irritated by the taunt the wolf huffed it chest and released a loud echoing bark that sent shockwaves at Natsuki.
Rolling out of the way he dodged them but looking up the beast was now right in front of him.
It stomped on his abdomen sending him stumbling back before ramming him with it's shoulders into the carriage.
The door fell with him.
Pushing it off he managed to dodge the next attack due to his combination of skills now working on overtime to try and help him as much as possible.
Finally pulling out the sword he took– he made a stance.
Watching the beast attentively now.
His eyes followed all its movements closely.
Then it made the first move and launched forward with an attempt to punch him across the face.
But it was actually a feint.
Using the distraction, it planted its foot on the ground and flipped over him and then landing it twisted and ripped through his back's skin.
Turning to slash it again it jumped over his sword and then kicked him across the face.
He stumbled back feeling his jaw swelling and slightly dislocated.
Smiling he fixes his jaw back into place and it makes a loud satisfying pop sound.
Spitting out blood he looks the werewolf straight in the eyes and began spinning the sword round and round.
"I could do this all day puppy boy, come at me again."
This time his eyes began to slowly gleam, then the purple of his iris moves out covering the entire white part of his eyes and even his pupils weren't visible anymore.
Then they glowed a bright dangerous purple.
His aura was now deadly strong and the smell of his strength invaded the werewolf's nose.
Shocked the werewolf stared in awe for a few seconds before regaining it's composure and charging at him again.
'Too slow boy, your trainer should have taught you better.'
Seeing his movements had slowed down due to his sudden increase in speed.
Natsuki reacted faster and sliced the werewolfs hand off.
Then following up he cut it's ligament joint in his right leg and smashed the hilt of his sword into it's gut making the werewolf fall and bow on one knee.
It let out a loud painful groan as it fell.
The cut Natsuki made was so precise that blood didn't even explode out of it but just stayed trickled at the top.
"Awe, is the little doggy down already. It was just becoming fun."
Natsuki licked his lips and looked at the werewolf kneeling down and bleeding.
Walking up to it he lifted its head to look at him.
"Your finished little puppy."
Angry and desperate it looked him dead in the eyes without fear and released the claws in his non-severed hand.
Trying again to slash him, Natsuki dodged with ease while letting go of its face and then slashing the same spot on the other leg.
With both legs going limp it stayed there defenless but still in the motion and approaching to the front Natsuki slashed off it's other hand.
It fell forward feeling helpless and dizzy due to the pain and loss of blood from it's severed hands.
It detransformed from it's werewolf form back into human form and then Natsuki pulled of the mask and lifted its face once again.
Showing him the surroundings and how all his men were defeated.
"Remember this, so next time you think of looting off this route, you'll remember how badly a human beat your ass."
"Huh," it sneered, "your too weak to finish me off, seems your all talk but no..."
He was interrupted by the blood that had built up in his throat because Natsuki had driven his sword into his neck.
"Never call me weak!"
Looking around now he remembered all their comments and slowly the colour turned to a darker and more ominous shade of purple.
It's glow filled the area even though the sun was out.
One by one he made sure he had killed them.
Then finally satisfied the glow disappeared.
Feeling weaker he began to feel dizzy for a bit but then recovered.
Seeing the massacre before him he froze recalling what happened and his actions shocked him.
'I...I ...I killed actual people, this can't be real.'
His body became completely numb, the power left his legs making him fall to the ground in a loud painful thud and then he shook violently.
The entities voice then rang out cold and direct.
"Well done mortal, you've taken your first steps to true power. Now eat them!"