Chapter 86: The Gravehorn Reaper Has Arrived (part 2)

Chapter 86: Chapter 86: The Gravehorn Reaper Has Arrived (part 2)

Suldun stared at the monster for several seconds before slowly tightening his grip around his sword.

"This thing is a problem."

His expression had become much more serious than before. Although he could feel from the fluctuations of energy that the monster was only Level 20, Suldun knew that levels did not tell the entire story.

This was a mini boss, after all. Its physical abilities, skills, regeneration, and combat instincts were clearly superior to those of an ordinary Level 20 monster.

"And it’s an undead monster too."

Suldun’s eyes narrowed.

"The most annoying kind of monster to fight."

He had encountered undead monsters many times during his years as an adventurer. They did not feel pain the same way living creatures did, they could continue fighting after suffering injuries that would cripple ordinary monsters, and some possessed regeneration abilities that made prolonged battles extremely troublesome.

The Gravehorn Reaper appeared to possess all of those advantages, while the death energy surrounding it gave it another source of strength.

Suldun exhaled slowly.

"I don’t have time to drag this out."

The Gravehorn Reaper suddenly stomped one of its massive hooves.

Boom!

The ground cracked beneath it.

A violent shockwave spread outward, tearing through the dead grass and throwing loose stones into the air. Suldun immediately jumped backward, but the shockwave followed him, forcing him to twist his body in midair before landing several meters away.

"So that’s one of its abilities."

The Gravehorn Reaper did not give him time to think.

It charged.

The enormous undead beast moved far faster than something of its size should have been able to move. Its horns were aimed directly at Suldun, and the death energy surrounding them condensed into a dark aura that made the air itself feel heavy.

Suldun’s eyes sharpened.

"Flame Edge."

Crimson flames erupted around his sword.

He did not retreat.

Instead, he stepped forward.

The Gravehorn Reaper swung its head violently, attempting to impale him with its horns. Suldun slipped between the two enormous weapons at the last possible moment, his body passing dangerously close to the monster’s skull.

His flaming sword struck upward.

Slash!

The blade cut across the Gravehorn Reaper’s neck.

Black blood sprayed into the air. But the wound began closing almost immediately.

Suldun landed behind the monster and turned around.

"As expected."

The Gravehorn Reaper roared.

Its body twisted unnaturally fast before one of its hind legs slammed toward Suldun.

Suldun raised his sword.

Bang!

The impact sent him sliding backward across the ground.

He dug his boots into the earth and stopped himself.

His arms trembled slightly from the force.

"That’s strong."

The Gravehorn Reaper charged again.

This time, Suldun waited.

At the last moment, he moved to the side and struck the monster’s front leg. His flaming blade cut through the thick undead flesh and damaged the bone underneath.

The Gravehorn Reaper stumbled from the damage to its front leg, but before it could regain its balance, Suldun was already moving. He understood that allowing the undead beast to recover would only make the battle more troublesome.

The wound across its leg was already beginning to close, dark death energy gathering around the damaged flesh and bones as its regeneration started repairing the injury.

"So it really can regenerate that quickly."

Suldun’s expression hardened. He had no intention of letting the battle become a war of attrition. If he allowed the Gravehorn Reaper to continuously recover while it attacked him, even a victory would consume far more of his strength than necessary.

He had already used one of his skills, and he still had four more. There was no reason to hold back now.

The Gravehorn Reaper suddenly raised its head and released a terrifying roar.

"ROOOOAR!"

A wave of death energy exploded from its body.

Suldun immediately felt the pressure descend upon him. His muscles became slightly heavier, and for a brief moment, his thoughts were clouded by an instinctive sense of fear. The ability was clearly designed to weaken an opponent before the undead beast attacked.

Suldun gritted his teeth.

"You have mental attack too."

He took a deep breath and steadied himself. The Gravehorn Reaper charged once again.

Its enormous hooves smashed into the earth with every step, while its black horns pointed directly toward Suldun. The death energy surrounding its body became even denser as it accelerated, turning the charge into something that could easily crush an ordinary Level 20 adventurer.

Suldun did not move.

The distance between them rapidly disappeared.

Then, at the final moment, Suldun’s body erupted with flames.

"[Burning Body]."

Crimson fire suddenly covered his entire body.

The flames did not burn him. Instead, they wrapped around his muscles like a second layer of armor, increasing his physical strength, speed, and reaction ability. His presence changed instantly.

The Gravehorn Reaper’s charge reached him.

Suldun just stepped aside. The enormous horns passed within inches of his body.

But this time, his movement was much faster.

He appeared beside the Gravehorn Reaper almost instantly.

"[Flame Edge]."

The flames around his sword intensified.

Suldun swung.

Slash!

The blade tore through the monster’s side, cutting deeply into its body and breaking several ribs.

The Gravehorn Reaper staggered.

Suldun did not give it a chance to recover.

The undead beast twisted its enormous body and attempted to crush him with its rear leg, but Suldun jumped backward and avoided the attack. He landed several meters away, his eyes fixed on the dark purple flame burning inside the monster’s empty chest.

His eyes narrowed.

"That’s the source of its death energy."

He had figured it out.

The monster’s regeneration was not unlimited. As long as that strange flame remained, it could continue drawing upon the death energy surrounding it.

Suldun lowered his sword.

The flames around his body became even more intense.

"I only need one more attack."

The Gravehorn Reaper roared and charged again.

This time, Suldun charged toward it.

The two collided in the middle of the dead forest.

The Gravehorn Reaper lowered its horns and attempted to tear him apart, but Suldun suddenly disappeared from its path. Using the increased speed granted by Burning Body, he slipped past the monster’s horns and jumped onto its side.

The Gravehorn Reaper violently shook its body.

Suldun held his balance for only a moment before jumping away.

He landed directly in front of the undead beast.

The Gravehorn Reaper opened its jaws and released another roar.

Suldun raised his sword.

"[Inferno Slash]."