Oscel had called the beasts 'Colours'.
Their hearts were said to contain a core that, when fed to the Mouth Of Fruition, would bring colour back to the Elaleom and save it from its curse.
Sona quickly discovered that it was a fitting name.
"PREY."
A distorted voice sounded from atop the hill as the beast caught sight of Sona.
But Sona was frozen in disbelief, staring into the eyes of what lay ahead of him.
The creature was a mixture of a wolf, a human, and a giant.
It stood twice the height of Sona, who was already above average height, and his muscles were easily four times as large.
It stood with a hunched back, and its arms and legs permanently bent, as though eager to use the bladed claws which extended inches long from its fingertips.
The beast was feline, and its body was covered in a thick layer of fur. However, what stood out most was its colour.
At first, the fur was a vibrant red, before slowly switching to orange, then yellow, followed by blue. It was a dizzying sight to see, watching such a disgustingly fearsome beast filter through the colours of the rainbow.
But somehow, that made it even more terrifying.
What in god's name...
The beasts stepped forward, and then again, its heavy thuds vibrated the ground. As it slowly began to close the distance between them.
Somehow, Sona felt frozen. He couldn't move.
Not only from the fear but from the pressure of the beast's power.
It was easy for a boy to have confidence when standing outside of the Doors of Sin.
But once faced with the worlds presented to them, their valour was truly tested.
Before Sona could think any further, the colourful werewolf suddenly raised its muscular arm into the air.
Sona wondered what it was doing. It looked like it was—
WOOSH
A breeze washed through the field, and at the same time, a blast of energy formed in the hand of the creatures, building in power with every passing second.
Sona gripped tight on his sword, snapping to attention as he watched a swirling mass of radiant power clutched in the palms of the beast.
It was like a miniature sun, made from every colour in existence.
"It can't be..." Sona muttered under his breath, as the werewolf slowly began to draw his hand backwards. "Is it going to—"
The creature hurled the ball of energy towards him, travelling through the air rapidly.
It moved too fast to dodge, and its bright light in the colourless world was blinding.
Sona wanted to raise his sword, but it would be useless against such a power. All he managed to do was raise his free hand and shield himself from the blinding lights.
It's over for me...
He squinted his eyes shut, waiting for the approaching death.
But then, as if instinctively, Sona outstretched his left hand, palm facing towards the incoming attack.
It all happened in a second.
The force of colours crashed into his hand, and in an instant, it vanished.
Sona opened his eyes, disbelieving that he was still alive.
But as he spotted the creature still standing there, arm raised into the sky and the colourless ball back in its hand, and now fading from existence, he knew what had happened.
SHROUD OF DISAPPEARANCE
Coat your arm in an essence that causes any attack to disappear upon contact. The attack will return to its original position before ending its motion.
It worked... My skill actually works—
THUD THUD THUD THUD
"PREY!"
Angered, the beast charged forward on all fours, not allowing Sona to relish in his power's success.
The beast was smart. It knew that range would not work, so it decided to close the distance and use its claws. And it reached its destination fast.
Sona backed away, still fearful, but more confident.
His ability had worked!
But now, the beast was only ten meters away and angered.
Sona focused, feeling the essence of his ability flowing through him. He knew what he had to do.
Focus... Focus on its strike and erase it!
The beast got in range, its currently blue form towering over Sona like a boulder.
Its muscular arm drew back and swung forward with speed.
And at the same time, Sona raised his left arm and crossed it over his body like a shield.
The strike, which was aimed at the chest, crashed into the Shroud of Disappearance, and in a split second, time rewinded itself.
In a split second, the beast's arm was sent back to where it was before the motion of the strike had even started. It's wolf face twisted in confusion as drool spilt from its mouth.
But before it could react, Sona swung his blade forward in a diagonal arc and tore a wound into the beast's chest.
"ARHHHH."
The beast cried, as pink blood sprayed from the wound, forcing the creature to stagger backwards four steps.
Sona smiled to himself like a maniac. What he believed to be a unwinnable fight, had quickly become otherwise.
He had drawn the creature's blood...
A few more of those strikes, and maybe, just maybe...
I can save my village.
But the beast had other plans. Sona met its eyes for a moment, and to his surprise, he found something lingering there.
Fear.
Suddenly, the beast turned around and began to gallop off on all fours into the distance.
Sona cursed to himself as he began to sprint after it. "You coward!" He called. "You face a man with powers for the first time, and this is how you behave?"
But the beast didn't listen and was much faster than he was.
In seconds, it had disappeared over the hill and into the distance, leaving Sona with his sword bloodied and his lungs out of breath.
I have to follow... I can let it get away.
Sprinting as fast as he could through the colourless field, he chased the beast and would continue to until he had its heart in his hand.
Luckily, it had left him a trail of pink blood to follow in the colourless land.
In mere moments, Sona Nameless had become the true hunter.