Chapter 49: The Whispering Scream

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Detecting the incoming claw from the Whispering Scream, Riven spun sharply in midair while holding Daniela securely with one hand. He swung his sword upward in a clean arc.

SLASH!

The muting barrier was broken once more as his blade cut cleanly through the Whispering Scream’s claw, slicing the entire arm off in a spray of dark fluid.

"GYAAAAAHHHHH!"

In pure agony and rage, the Whispering Scream roared and released powerful sonic soundwaves that slammed into Riven and Noir, pushing them hard into the ground below.

RUMBLE!

The floor beneath them cracked and split open as a giant crater formed. The immense weight of the sound attack threatened to crush them completely under its pressure.

But...

Riven protected Daniela by placing her safely under his body while he took the full force of the attack. His body constantly seemed to tear apart internally from the vibrations, yet it also healed at the same relentless pace.

"...?"

The Whispering Scream was completely confused. Even with a missing arm and leg, it remained a highly calculative creature. It quickly noticed that Riven was... constantly healing.

No, it was more precise than that. It was as if his own muscles were absorbing all the damage and then releasing the excess energy behind him, forming a thick cloud of steaming mist around his body.

Riven used this mist to his full advantage, completely covering both himself and Daniela inside the dense cloud!

"?!"

The Whispering Scream immediately unleashed its Muting Barrier again. It kicked the wolf aside and then charged toward Riven with a powerful rabbit-like leap.

RUMBLE!

The barrier of sound broke apart out of nowhere the moment it landed.

"?!"

The Whispering Scream felt sharp pain as icy icicles suddenly pierced its remaining leg!

It looked around in confusion and finally spotted a silhouette standing behind it.

"GRYSHI!"

With a sickening smile, it opened its mouth wide and released another devastating scream.

RUMBLE!

BOOOMMM!!!

The ground under the scream exploded outward, sending boulders flying in every direction.

However, what its attack actually struck was only a statue shaped exactly like Riven, forged entirely from ice.

"?!"

As the beast stood confused, a giant sword suddenly stabbed deep into its spine.

Feeling itself paralyzed from the waist down, it collapsed to the ground. Yet its remaining hand still surged with destructive sound waves. A mouth opened on the palm and screamed while its main mouth screamed in the opposite direction, constantly spreading waves of pure destruction.

Riven quickly ran clear of the attacks, spreading purple mist everywhere before using Abyssal Shift to disappear completely. He still carried Daniela safely on his back the entire time.

He reached the Whispering Scream’s back once more. Noir emerged from his shadows and helped him move completely undetected into the Roaming Boss’s own shadow.

His sword gleamed brightly as it absorbed his Aura of Frost, his Poisons, and his Abyssal Shadows all at once. At the same time Riven powered himself up even further. His Tyrant Embodiment and Werewolf Forms stacked together into a chimeric form.

SLAAASH!

"?!"

The Whispering Scream was one second too late to discover Riven’s position. His sword, enhanced by every potent skill he could stack and further empowered by Invisibility Veil for maximum stealth and damage, cleaved the monster’s entire torso cleanly in half.

"Gyyyaaaaeeerrgghhh!"

It let out an agonizing scream as its upper half fell to the ground, bleeding heavily and splattering its guts and other innards across the stone.

Its entire body continued twitching stubbornly, as if it still wanted to live and kill him.

"You’re stubborn. You’ll make some good lunch."

Riven charged his Poisonous Ki into his fist and swung it forward in one single, powerful motion.

Ten Thousand Poison Fang – Venomous Viper Fist.

CRAAASH!

A gigantic purple viper surged out of his poisonous ki aura, hissing loudly as it pierced straight through the Whispering Scream’s chest. The strike tore a massive hole through the creature and finally killed it once and for all.

"Is every strong monster stubborn enough that even cutting them apart doesn’t kill them instantly?" he sighed. "I guess it has to do with their high vitality..."

He looked down at Daniela and quickly injected a special compound toxin into her neck.

BA-DUM!

"Ahhh!"

Her heartbeat suddenly raced at an incredible speed, waking her up instantly.

She looked around in confusion, one hand rising to her forehead as a light headache settled in.

"W-What happened? I... I passed out?"

"Unfortunately, it got you. I guess I should’ve explained the monster’s mechanics more carefully beforehand... It’s my fault this time."

"Ah... my ears! Huh? They’re completely healed."

"I injected a toxin compound into your body that hastens natural recovery in exchange for some stamina. You should eat something soon."

"S-So you won?!"

"Yeah."

"Oh wow..."

Daniela looked at the Whispering Scream’s corpse. Riven had been completely merciless with it.

She walked closer and stared at its creepy face, which was still locked in a wide smile even though the body had already gone completely cold.

"This is so creepy, ew."

"It is a weird one," Riven sighed. "Are you okay though? I’m still worried..."

"I’m fine!" Daniela smiled cutely. "Don’t worry!"

"Okay," Riven sighed and crossed his arms. "Next time, listen carefully to what I’m saying."

Daniela nodded. Then her eyes widened. "Eh? It dropped something!"

"...Really?!"

Riven walked over to the dropped item. Even though Daniela had been unconscious, the girl’s high luck had still blessed him.

[x10,000 Reward Multiplier Activated!]

[Dropped Item [Whispering Scream’s Muting Ring (C Grade)] has been multiplied by x10,000!]

[You have obtained the item [Eternal Silence Ring (SS++ Grade)]]

"?!"

It was a surprisingly amazing item capable of reproducing the Whispering Scream’s signature ability!

It was originally a ring that granted the simple ability to mute a single target for ten seconds. That short silence could cause confusion and, if the target was a magician, leave them completely exposed and vulnerable.

But its evolved form, strengthened through Mammon’s Authority, was even more incredible.

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