Chapter 56: Dark Thorn

Elias looked around for a way to continue toward the shimmering barrier without having to deal with the beast, but after examining the surrounding forest and the crumbled city wall, he realized that there was no safe route.

The trees were too densely packed on one side, while the broken wall offered too little cover on the other, and moving from his current position would almost certainly reveal him.

’Why does this have to happen to me?’

He glanced toward the beast again and silently decided to give it a name.

’Dark Thorn.’

Dark Thorn let out another low growl, and its head suddenly twisted toward Elias’s direction.

Elias immediately pressed himself against the tree trunk, holding his breath while his hand remained wrapped around Lastbane’s hilt.

’Please go away.’

He prayed silently, but the beast took another step toward him.

Its massive paws pressed into the earth as it slowly searched the area, and after taking another few steps, it stopped and raised its head.

Dark Thorn sniffed the air again.

Elias’s expression became increasingly grim.

The creature’s crimson eyes suddenly focused directly on the tree against which he was standing.

A deep growl escaped its throat.

Then it roared.

"ROAAAR!"

The sound shook the surrounding branches, causing leaves to fall from the trees.

Elias winced as a murderous killing intent washed over him.

’It found me.’

There was no point hiding anymore.

’That size and such great senses... it really is physically gifted.’

Elias took a deep breath before drawing Lastbane from its sheath.

Shing!

The silver blade reflected the gloomy light beneath the forest canopy.

Dark Thorn lowered its body.

Its muscles tightened beneath its black leather-like skin, and its crimson eyes remained fixed upon Elias.

Then it lunged.

"Fast!"

Elias barely had time to raise Lastbane before Dark Thorn’s enormous claw crashed toward him.

He immediately activated Tyrannical Giant’s Immovable Stance.

The earth beneath his feet suddenly became incredibly firm as earth mana surged upward from beneath the soil, spiraling around his body like a massive invisible current.

[The host is facing a Warrior!]

Elias’s eyes widened.

Relief washed through his mind.

’A Warrior?’

That was considerably better than the Exalted-level monster he had feared.

The next instant, Dark Thorn reached him.

Boom!

Its claws crashed against the swirling earth mana surrounding Elias, but instead of tearing through his defense, the force was stopped completely.

Dark Thorn’s enormous jaw slammed into the same barrier.

The impact sent the beast stumbling backward, its paws digging several long trenches into the soil.

Elias’s eyes immediately sharpened.

’Now!’

He shifted his stance and sprinted forward.

Dark Thorn shook its head violently, clearly disoriented from the impact, but Elias had already reached its side.

He swung Lastbane sideways.

The silver blade cut through the creature’s flesh with startling ease.

Slash!

A long wound opened from beneath its front limb and extended toward its rear leg, spraying dark red blood across the grass.

Dark Thorn screamed.

"ROAAH!"

It staggered sideways as blood poured from the deep wound.

Elias blinked as he looked at the injured beast before lowering his gaze toward Lastbane.

’That was... ridiculously easy.’

He had expected its leather-like skin to provide considerable resistance, yet Lastbane had passed through it almost as if he were cutting ordinary cloth.

A grin slowly appeared on his face.

’This sword is incredible.’

Dark Thorn’s eyes suddenly became filled with rage.

It turned around and swung one of its massive claws toward Elias.

Whoosh!

Elias stepped backward.

The claw passed directly in front of his face and struck the tree beside him.

BOOM!

The trunk exploded apart, sending splinters flying through the air.

Elias’s eyes widened.

’It’s strong.’

He ducked beneath another swipe before twisting his body and stepping around the beast.

Dark Thorn turned with him, its jaws snapping shut where his head had been only moments earlier.

Elias swung upward.

Slash!

Another wound opened across its shoulder.

Blood sprayed onto the ground.

Dark Thorn roared and spun around, sweeping its thick tail toward Elias.

Elias jumped.

The flat tail passed beneath his feet before smashing into the surrounding vegetation, crushing several bushes and snapping a young tree in half.

While still airborne, Elias twisted his body and brought Lastbane downward.

Slash!

The blade carved through the beast’s back.

Dark red blood splattered across the ground, and Dark Thorn staggered forward with a pained roar.

Elias landed several meters away.

He stared at the blood dripping from Lastbane before smiling.

’It really is sharp.’

Dark Thorn charged again.

Its paws hammered the ground as it accelerated, and the force of its movement scattered dirt and dead leaves behind it.

Elias remained calm.

When the beast reached him, he shifted sideways.

Its jaws snapped shut on empty air.

Elias immediately retaliated with a horizontal slash.

Slash!

The blade cut through its cheek, leaving a deep gash that ran toward its jaw.

Blood poured down the beast’s face.

Dark Thorn screamed and clawed wildly.

Elias stepped backward.

One claw missed his chest by a few centimeters, while another tore through the air above his shoulder.

He continued retreating, dodging every attack while studying the beast’s movements.

’It is strong, but its attacks are predictable.’

Dark Thorn lunged again and he sidestepped.

The beast’s body passed beside him.

He turned and slashed its hind leg.

Slash!

The leg buckled.

Dark Thorn stumbled and crashed into the earth, sending dirt flying.

Before it could rise, Elias stepped forward and drove Lastbane across its side.

Slash!

Another deep wound appeared.

The beast’s blood stained the grass beneath it.

Dark Thorn struggled back onto its feet, breathing heavily as blood dripped from its wounds.

Its blood-red eyes remained fixed on Elias.

Elias tightened his grip around Lastbane.

’Let’s end this.’

Dark Thorn roared and charged one final time.

Elias waited.

The beast opened its jaws and raised both claws, intending to tear him apart.

At the final moment, Elias stepped aside.

Dark Thorn’s body passed him.

Elias pivoted on his heel and raised Lastbane above his head.

His muscles tightened as he swung.

"Die."

Slash!

The silver blade descended through the beast’s neck.

For an instant, everything became still.

Then Dark Thorn’s head separated from its body.

Blood erupted from the severed neck like a sinister fountain and splashed across the ground as the enormous body staggered forward before collapsing heavily among the grass and broken branches.

THUD!

Elias stood beside the corpse, his breathing slightly heavier as he stared at the fallen beast.

After several seconds, he looked down at Lastbane.

The silver blade remained almost completely clean despite the blood covering the ground.

Elias smiled.

"You’re really something."