Chapter 485: Carnival of Slaughter 5

The first light of dawn crept over the pocket world, painting the twisted forest in hues of amber and gold. Nero rose from his tent, his body refreshed, his mind clear. He performed his morning routine—a series of stretches and breathing exercises that awakened his cores and sharpened his senses. The ambient prana of the pocket world flowed into him, rich and invigorating.

He changed into his black adventure gear, the fabric lightweight and durable, designed for mobility and protection. The dark material hugged his form, blending with the shadows of the forest. He fastened his sword at his hip and rolled his shoulders, feeling the familiar weight settle against him.

Wings of crackling lightning materialized on his back. They were luminous, golden, their edges sharp as blades. He flexed them once, twice, feeling the energy surge through his body. Then he launched himself into the sky, his form shooting upward like a rocket, leaving a trail of golden sparks.

Today, he would use the Law of Lightning and the Law of Earth. He wanted to test his control over both, to refine his techniques in the crucible of combat. His presence detection skill spread outward, a net of awareness that rippled across the landscape. He could feel the monsters below—their prana signatures burning like distant stars. He filtered out the weak ones, seeking a worthy opponent.

And then he found it.

A massive presence, its energy dense and volatile. It was deep within the forest, hidden beneath a canopy of ancient trees. Nero adjusted his course, his wings carrying him toward the source. The terrain below shifted, the forest giving way to rocky hills and jagged cliffs.

The creature emerged from the shadows of a cavern. It was a manticore—a beast of legend, its body a terrifying fusion of lion, tiger, and serpent. Its face was that of a lion, its mane dark and wild, its eyes burning with predatory intelligence. Its body was covered in striped fur, muscles rippling beneath the skin. A long, serpentine tail lashed behind it, its tip dripping with venom. The creature’s power radiated from it like a furnace, its presence equal to that of an A-rank monster. It could control the Law of Wind to a great extent, and its poison was deadly.

The manticore’s eyes locked onto Nero. It opened its mouth, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth, and let out a roar that shook the ground. Its wings—leathery, black, bat-like—spread wide, and it launched itself into the air, meeting him in the sky.

Nero did not hesitate. He entered his Lightning Form.

His dark blue hair elongated, turning golden, shimmering with an ethereal light. His ominous red eyes gained a golden hue, their depths glowing with power. Lightning crackled around his body, a corona of energy that hummed with intensity. His sword appeared in his hand, its edge wreathed in golden sparks.

The sky darkened. Thunder rumbled, and bolts of lightning rained down from the clouds, striking the ground around them. The manticore roared, its wings beating against the storm, and unleashed a blast of wind that tore through the air.

"[Wind Lance.]"

A concentrated vortex of air shot toward Nero, fast and deadly. He moved, his body becoming a streak of golden light, and the lance passed through the space he had occupied. He reappeared above the manticore, his sword descending in a blazing arc.

"[Lightning Strike.]"

The blade connected with the manticore’s wing, and golden sparks exploded. The beast roared, twisting in the air, its serpentine tail whipping toward him. Nero dodged, the tail grazing his shoulder, leaving a trail of venom that sizzled against his gear.

The manticore was fast, its control over wind giving it incredible maneuverability. It twisted and turned, unleashing bursts of wind that pushed Nero back, that disrupted his balance. It fought with savage intelligence, using its tail and claws to press its advantage.

Nero smiled.

He had been worried the fight would be too easy.

He stopped retreating. He planted himself in the air, his wings beating to keep him steady, and met the manticore’s assault head-on. His sword was a blur of motion, each strike precise, each parry effortless. The manticore’s wind attacks were powerful, but Nero was faster, more adaptable.

"[Wind Blade.]"

A crescent of compressed air shot toward him. Nero raised his sword, and a bolt of lightning erupted from the blade, meeting the wind in a brilliant explosion. The shockwave sent them both tumbling through the air, but Nero recovered faster.

He appeared before the manticore, his sword aimed at its heart. The beast’s eyes widened. It tried to summon a wall of wind, but Nero was already inside its guard. His sword pierced its chest, lightning surging through the wound.

The manticore roared in pain, its body convulsing. It was not dead, not yet. It had not finished.

But Nero had proven something. He had broken through its defenses.

He disengaged, his wings carrying him backward. He was smiling now, a faint curve of his lips that spoke of satisfaction, of the joy of the fight. He was toying with the manticore, testing its limits, learning its patterns.

The beast retaliated. It opened its mouth, and a stream of venom shot toward him, accompanied by a burst of wind. Nero twisted, the venom passing inches from his face. He countered with a bolt of lightning that struck the manticore’s tail, the limb convulsing, spewing venom in a random spray.

He saw the opening. The manticore’s control over the Law of Wind wavered, its concentration broken. Nero’s eyes glowed, the golden hue intensifying. He reached out with his will, his special eyes cutting through the fabric of the beast’s power. He severed its connection to the wind.

The manticore’s roar was cut short. It could no longer summon the wind. It was left with only its claws and fangs, its brute strength. It lunged at him, desperate, savage.

Nero met it head-on. His sword clashed against its claws, the impact sending shockwaves through the air. They were evenly matched in strength, their blows sending tremors through the sky. The manticore fought with reckless abandon, but Nero was calm, unhurried.

He parried a claw, dodged a bite, and drove his sword into its flank. It roared, blood spraying, but it did not fall. It lunged again, and again, and again.

Nero felt the rhythm. He had learned it.

He raised his sword, his eyes gleaming with golden light. The manticore charged, its claws extended, its mouth open wide. Nero moved, his body a blur of motion, and his sword traced a perfect arc.

The manticore’s head separated from its body. The beast fell, its body crashing into the forest below, its final roar echoing through the sky. Nero hovered in the air, his wings beating slowly, his sword dripping with ichor.

He had won.

His expression remained impassive, but a genuine smile touched his lips. The fight had been intense, satisfying. He sheathed his sword and descended to the ground, landing beside the fallen manticore.

He looked at his bracelet. The points had increased significantly. But he was not thinking about points. He was thinking about the fight, the thrill of the battle, the joy of pushing himself to his limits.

Fighting is sure fun.