Jaune

Originally it had possessed seven heads, but I'd cut that down to four—still, its core remained intact and the remaining heads were still functional. I knew from experience that it would be smart to end it quickly.

I considered it for a long moment before taking a breath. My MP had recovered greatly and though its progress was slow, my improving Poison Resistance was letting my HP make headway as well. I'd need to switch to a stronger poison soon, but I left it be for now, exhaling slowly.

"This was something I'd intended to wield against Cinder if things went awry," I mused aloud before sighing. "But they went significantly more awry then I'd expected, so…I guess I'll test this out on you instead."

By raising White Tiger of the West to level 99, you have gained the skill 'Bai Hu, the White Tiger of the West.'

Bai Hu, the White Tiger of the West (Active) LV1 EXP: 0.00% HP: 10000 MP: 10000
The personification of the White Tiger's Legend, born from a lifetime of study, refinement, and struggle; the ultimate technique of Bai Hu, the White Tiger of the West, shares his name for it was the product of his life as the King of Beasts. As its predecessor focused on the power of division, born from the separation and cooperation between body and soul, the power of this skill is one of reunification—of halves brought together to create a yet greater whole.
The skills 'Bai Hu's Tread,' 'Claws of the Bai Hu,' and 'Bai Hu's Five Hundred Years' are activated at no additional cost.
The skills 'Jaws of the Bai Hu,' 'Bai Hu's Lunge,' and 'Bai Hu's Roar' may freely enhance applicable actions at no additional cost.
Quadruple the effectiveness of all skills activated in such a fashion.
HP and MP may be spent interchangeably for all skills besides Bai Hu, the White Tiger of the West.
Additional 10000 HP used per 10 seconds.
Additional 10000 MP used per 10 seconds.

At once, my restored HP dropped once more, falling in an instant to below one percent to fuel my new technique. My Aura raged around me, expanding quickly into Bai Hu's shape, my other self rising around me with vicious brilliance and overlapping my body. The light from its form continued to rise until it lost all transparency, hiding my body completely within it—and then, began to shrink. The same energy I'd expelled seemed to compress, flowing back within me, but through a somehow different path. It didn't refill what had been emptied, but instead connected what had always been separate, forging new pathways through carefully guided power. Perhaps because of my altered nature, the effects stood out to me, but I felt my body, already an unusual amalgam of flesh and soul, alter and shift at the change in power. My Chakra's reacted, lighting up visibly on Bai Hu's receding form before fading along side it, until only I remained.

My body shook once, white light literally flowing through my veins and shining through my skin. I could feel it gathering around my eyes, burning outwards through the windows of the soul, but it settled in me at the same time, taking root. I could feel it with the beat of my heart, pulsing to a slightly different beat but very much there. I could feel myself changing with each passing moment, my mortal frame altering just to contain the power I'd gathered within it even as I finished what had been started long ago.

You've received the title 'Bai Hu, the White Tiger of the West.'

Title 'Bai Hu, the White Tiger of the West' has been equipped. This title may not be unequipped while the skill 'Bai Hu, the White Tiger of the West' remains activated.

Bai Hu, the White Tiger of the West
By following in his footsteps and reaching the pinnacle of his art, you have earned your crown and taken your place as the new king! By mastering his final technique, you have grasped the legend of the White Tiger and earned the right to carry it forward into the future! With this, your place has been decided—you are the White Tiger of the West, king of all beasts!
200% increase the damage of White Tiger techniques.
200% increase to the defense granted by White Tiger techniques.
75% decrease in the cost of White Tiger techniques.
Status: White Tiger's Star [Max]

The changes to my body were relatively slight, perhaps because of how much had already changed. I'd come a long way since Tukson's office and I'd grown in more ways than one. After the relative years of training, taking on the White Tiger's titles hardly seemed to age me any longer—and perhaps it was as the newest one had said; I'd followed this story through it it's end and all that was left for me to do now was to create a new one. Jian Bing stayed almost entirely the same.

What mattered wasn't the physical aspect. Not anymore.

I took a deep breath and silently gave my thanks to the one who'd left all of these things behind for me. As always, I'd be sure to put them to good use.

"Goodbye," I told the Hydra, feeling the glow in my veins recede—or rather, distribute. And then I moved.

Right, down, up, left, followed by a quick step forward—that was how I tore the Hydra apart. I put all the speed I could afford at present, which was still a great deal. With Acceleration maxed, Bai Hu's skills enhanced, and everything else I had, I moved with blinding, merciless speed. With the Yellow Road, I traced a path that took me through the Hydra's body five times, tearing through its remaining heads as I went and then piercing straight through its chest like a bullet to carve my way through the central core. The sound of each head exploding trailed far, far behind me, flesh seeming to disintegrate in my wake even as it was boiled away. My still incandescent claws flashed five times and the Hydra's mangled body fell to the earth.

Even so, I didn't hesitate to turn, hand outstretched and glowing as I went. White light flooded back into my veins and flowed across my body to gather in my right hand—and I made sure it stayed down with a quick flash of light.

Your level has increased by one! Your level has increased by one! Your level has increased by one!

Only when the alerts appeared did I exhale and relax, letting the power I'd been holding onto go.