Perfectly, Lucien can zoom the wood puma's actions; he can tell the creature is something he won't best alone. Even the Tama-Artists who lured the beast with herb powder would take a long time to kill it. That being said, he doesn't hesitate to charge forward.
Increasing the clasp on his hammer, he directs the claws toward the wood puma; however, the beast is swift in moving its arms.
As the claws sink into the wood, Lucy somewhat grates his teeth. Careful not to trip, he jumps back, hammer in hand.
The creature growls in his direction, its bloody canine dripping with malevolence. Abandoning its meal, the puma stands on all four legs, rushing toward the red-hair.
Lucien amber eyes contract, stepping back, his left hand grabs his stationary teammate holding a kunai —who happens to be the group of sticks who cursed his mother.
Although a greenhorn in life, Lucy knows from hearing the [Journey of the First Tama-Artist] that people tend to do nothing when someone courageous steps up, crowning them a hero.
This group is a perfect example: they should have attacked the servals, without the need for him to act, not watch. And, he made the plan to attack the puma based on that; the role of the watchers is to be (sacrifices) distractions for him to kill the beast.
"If you want someone to do something for you, get powerful in strength and wealth, to order them around." —First Tama-Artist.
Without hesitation, Lucy throws the blinking man toward the incoming beast. As the man clashes with the beast, Lucien swings the broad surface of his hammer —didn't have time to switch.
BAM!
The Mohwak's head turns into a synthesized mix of flesh and bone, but the beast only managed to stagger backwards. On the other hand, Tsukino face proclivities in disgust.
"Is that the way you treat your teammate?! How can you've no—"
Whoosh!
Her words were caught midway, as an arrow passed next to her nape, piercing the beast's left eye.
—Is he trying to kill me?
Tsukino's face pales in fright, her face contorting more. However, the moment she looks at Shinji placing an arrow onto his bow, the puma roars in her direction, rushing to avenge its eye.
Panicked, she grips her kitanas, strengthening her fortitude. Pushing the fear away, she swings the swords forward, but slices air, as the beast swiftly moves to the side, wide opening its mouth.
—I'm going to die!
Luckily for her, Lucien throws one of their teammates at the puma, before striking it with his hammer.
Wrawll!
The wood puma cried.
The claws of the hammer left a severe wound on its nape. And to add salt to its misfortune, two of Shinji's arrows strike the same place, leaving it staggering for footing —such a wound will kill it in nearly two hours.
—What happen?!
Tsukino blinks: the previous actions were too fast for her to see. That said, one thing is clear: she is covered in the blood of an innocent man.
—To preserve my life, someone had to die, worse as a sacrifice!
A tear escapes her eye.
'Isn't it better if I died?'
—Why did he save me? I didn't ask to be saved?
"Don't be stupid, Tsuki. You can't save anyone when you're dead; the dead can't come back either."
Tsukino snaps her head sideways to look at the source of that lukewarm voice. However, Lucien is already running away from the puma, heading towards an avocado tree that has a hanged chain —as if someone is trying to commit suicide.
—How does he know my name?
On the other hand, the wood puma growls in fury. Despite it's life nearing its end, it's hearing one of the voices of the gods of this world.
Invisible to the eye, the god is like a gust of wind. Thanks to hating the previous Villain Rehabilitator, it's directing the puma towards Lucien, roaring thoughts into the puma's mind:
'Uraya! Uraya munhu iyeye! Uraya! Handisi kuda kumuona arimupenyu!'
—Murder! Murder that person! Murder! I don't want to see him alive!
Losing its mind, the wood puma frantically charges at Lucien. The moment it passes the avocado tree, however, it suddenly finds itself committing suicide, it's head hanging on a chain.
Although the god is forcing the puma to charge forward, the clasp isn't breaking, but tightening. Frustrated, the gust of wind moves to the avocado tree's leaves.
There, the god notices a young man properly hidden.
"Phiri Tento! Ndikakuudza kuti ndichakuuraya, mfana! Hauna zera neni! Ndiri mwari, maYotram! Vanofa sewe vanofanira kundinamata, asi ukaramba! Munguva pfupi ndichauya nemutumbi wangu, kuzokuuraya, sezvo wandikanganisa kuuraya mumwe weVillain Rehabilitator wechipiri!
—Phiri Tento! I told you that I'm going to kill you, young man! You're nothing compared to me! I'm a god, a Yotram! Mortal like you should worship me, but you refused! In a short time, I'll come to you in the flesh to kill you, since you got in my way of killing one of the second Villain Rehabilitator(s)!
Oblivious to the invisible spirit of a god, Ten smirks, gazing at struggling puma.
—Silver Hammer-san catches on fast!
Taking a wazashi he has hidden on the branches, the young man jumps down to finish his plan. The action is precarious, as falling into a volcano naked, but the Villain Rehabilitator said, 'DANGER BUILDS A MAN!'
Descending like a rocket, Tento stabs the profound beast that is about die, killing it on the spot.
Thud.
The young man fell to the side, leaving hot blood entering his mouth. For a frail guy like him, such a move is exhausting.
"Here, I thought you wanted to kill yourself."
Ten chuckles.
—At least someone wants to joke.
Turning his head to look at Lucien, who is standing next to him, he constricts his frons. Surprisingly, Silver Hammer's birthmark is scarlet, in stark contrast with the silver color it was yesterday.
—When my brother's birthmark turns scarlet, he starts to act somewhat different: is this why he talked to me and that girl?
Since Lucien looks like the one to ignore him, Ten keeps his curiosity to himself.
***
Stage 1 profound beasts are basic beast —animals in the reader's world—; stage 2 are an evolution to them with an added traits or features, making them grotesque in appearance.
Knowing such a fact, the mortals didn't hesitate to celebrate their victory... even though, most of them sat and watch, waiting for the first group to die.
Unperturbed by their shamelessness, Shinji takes out his shamisen, composing a tune for everyone to dance and forget the bloodshed that has occurred —it's useless to mourn for those who die in battle.
Seeing this, however, Katsura becomes furious.
—They think this is a party, huh?
The Bushi grabs his whip, walking out of the restaurant with a murderous exterior. Closing in, he cracks the air several times, gaining everyone's attention.
A moment of silence occurs with only blood and heavy breaths in the air. Looking at Lucy and Ten resting on a tree far from him, Katsura's brows knit. Forthwith, his free hand clenches into a fist, but relaxed the second after.
—Those two and the scholar took the profound beast down, yet we lost three of our men to that puma while luring it here.
'Are they strong or lucky?'
—Either way, I need to keep an eye on them. If they turn out to be threats, I need to kill them on the spot.
Placing his thoughts aside, Katsura's addresses the group:
"You will rest and eat for 4 hours. Afterward, you'll go hunt a stage 3 profound beast."
The group's faces sink in dismay. From seeing the wood puma's actions, they, now, know why there is a difference in stages; hunting a stage 3 might be the end of their lives.
However, all they can do is helplessly tremble, and listen.
"If anyone has a problem with my command, step up," katsura cracks his whip at the end of his voice, casting a dominating silence, "One of you should come and get a map before heading out."
Shinji is the one to tail katsura.