CHAPTER 29: A TRANSCENDENT RANK CROCODILE — HUGE CRISIS (1)

Cassian’s gaze swept across the battlefield for a moment, then he said as he vanished. "Let’s clean this up."

As a thunderous crack resounded, Cassian appeared right in front of the first Epic-ranked beast that Nyxrael fought and set aside as he went to get the last kill on the Legendary Rank Bear.

Noticing Cassian’s presence, the bear swung its arms, crushing the air with brute strength. Cassian didn’t evade the attack and met the strike with a single swing instead.

Boom!

His sword tore through its defense and split its chest open. The bear staggered, roaring in pain as Cassian’s blade left a deep gash from shoulder to hip.

Before it could recover, Nyxrael appeared above it in an instant and swung his sword that was covered in violet-black fire.

Swoosh!

A crescent of violet-black fire burst out, cleaving through the bear’s neck instantly. The head fell on the ground with a thud.

Without exchanging any words, they instantly moved to the next target.

The second target was a thunder wolf that was crackling with blue lightning. Three Platinum Knights were already fighting it, their swords flashing under the storm of electricity.

Cassian charged through the lightning without hesitation as his aura repelled the energy.

The knights leapt back just as Cassian’s blade glowed in golden brilliance. Then, he stepped forward once as he used the Fifth Move.

He slashed his sword horizontally, shattering the wolf’s barrier of lightning, and with a spin, he thrust his sword through its ribs.

The wolf howled, but before it could release a counterattack, Nyxrael appeared from behind. This time, he didn’t use his skill as he thrust his blade directly into the wound Cassian made and twisted.

The wolf convulsed once, letting out a low shriek before collapsing on the ground with a heavy thud.

Subsequently, they moved to the next target. It was a massive rhino covered in crystal armor, holding its ground against Halden. Sparks flew as the sword met the crystal armor again and again.

Cassian appeared beside him instantly. "Step aside."

Halden retreated instinctively. Cassian raised his sword and brought it down in a vertical arc, crushing the ground with sheer force as it broke the rhino’s crystal armor like it was nothing.

Nyxrael appeared at that moment and leapt onto its back, then slashed his sword twice. Two clean strikes made the beast’s legs buckle before Nyxrael thrust his sword into its skull.

One after another, they advanced through the battlefield. The next target was a fire lion with crimson marks across its body.

Cassian created a golden barrier with a single sweep of his blade to block the lion’s fire breath before counterattacking with a thrust that pierced its chest. Nyxrael spun in from the side, slicing through the lion’s flaming mane and severing its neck.

The fifth beast was a serpent of stone. Cassian broke its defense with a devastating kick that shattered its scales before cutting through its body from head to tail. Nyxrael followed up by driving his sword downward into the serpent’s skull to finish it cleanly.

The next one was a wind-element tiger, its movements blurring into streaks. However, he didn’t give chase.

Instead, he waited for the right moment and then vanished as he used his Flash Step skill. He then reappeared above, driving his sword down from the air. The tiger tried to dodge, but it was too late as the golden sword light pierced through its spine.

Nyxrael spun, slashing a crescent slash across its throat.

By now, the ground was filled with corpses of Epic-ranked beasts. The scent of blood filled the forest air.

Then, to the next beast, it was a silver deer that emitted blinding light. Two Platinum Knights were struggling against it.

Cassian appeared behind the deer and pressed his sword forward, stabbing through its body. Nyxrael jumped up, performing a downward slash that split its body in half from behind.

The next one was a scaled gorilla. Cassian used his left hand this time as he slashed a powerful uppercut slash that cleaved through the beast’s arm. Before it could regenerate, Nyxrael appeared and cut diagonally across its body, leaving a burning violet-black flame.

The ninth beast was a huge boar that charged fearlessly like a storm. Cassian didn’t dodge as he met it head-on. His sword glowed fiercely, and as he advanced, the ground cracked beneath his feet.

Every step forced the boar to falter until Cassian struck upward, cleaving through its tusk and almost splitting its head in two. Nyxrael dashed in and struck the final blow through its neck.

...

After the death of every beast, the battlefield fell silent once more. The once lush forest had turned into a graveyard of 13 Epic-ranked beasts and a Legendary-ranked bear.

Cassian sheathed his blade slowly. He then faced the Platinum Knights with a calm expression. "You all stay here and guard this area. We’ll move forward a bit since James is still completing his awakening, and we mustn’t disturb him."

"Yes, Duke!" The knights responded in unison.

Cassian nodded before turning to Nyxrael, Gareth, Halden, and Corvin. "Let’s go."

They moved swiftly through the forest, the air gradually thickening with mana. After a minute of travel, the trees gave way to an open plain—wide, barren, and flat, stretching under the darkening sky.

From the far horizon a shadow detached itself from the heat-hazed line, a silhouette that made the ground tremor with each movement. It advanced like a fortress with armor-like scales, a maw that could swallow carriages whole, and a tail that gouged trenches with a single sweep.

A Transcendent Rank Tyran Crocodile appeared, its skin glittered like obsidian, and its eyes were like coals. Behind it lumbered three massive Legendary beasts as one, radiating an almost unbearable pressure, and more than a dozen Epics trailed behind them.

Cassian planted his feet on the earth and stepped forward with a calm expression. Then, he spoke with a firm expression as if there was nothing in the world that could shake his confidence. "You better go back if you value your life. Once you make a move, I will summon someone who will end your pitiful life."