Chapter 126: Harpy Eagle and Its Tiger Cubs (2)

The tigers were attacking from different directions. The golems blocked their path and forced the group to keep moving. It was exhausting.

Zaid would destroy one golem, and another would appear. He’d kill one tiger, and another would be ready to take its place.

There were just too many of them.

It was completely different from the first floor, where they simply came in large groups or as a full wave all at once. Here, they were leaping out of their burrows and from the trees. Plus, their strength was clearly different.

Tigers are also much more powerful and resilient than those small wolves that were only good for feeding them with their blood.

There were fewer of them, but they were more dangerous.

Erick suffered a deep cut on his shoulder. John was knocked down along with him by a golem’s blow.

Zaid had to step in several times to prevent them from being surrounded.

"John, behind me!" Zaid roared.

John ran and struck a tiger cub that was trying to attack Zaid from behind.

At the same time, Zaid raised his arm and struck a golem that was attacking them head-on.

BOOM!

The impact caused the ground beneath their feet to crack.

But Zaid wasn’t intimidated. He responded with several successive blows, pushing the enormous golem several meters backward, rendering it unable to defend itself and leaving the other tiger cub alone.

Zaid leaped toward it, summoning his daggers once more. The daggers danced around its neck, decapitating it in an instant.

He was too exposed, and a tiger cub attacked him.

’Ha, you’re dreaming.’

Zaid spun around and kicked him in the chest.

The tiger cub was sent flying, but it didn’t die.

"Erick!"

Erick attacked from the side. His sword severed one of its legs. The tiger lost its balance and fell to the ground. Erick seized the opportunity and thrust his sword through its skull.

Zaid had already moved to help John, saving him from being hurt with just a few quick moves.

"They’re really tough," John complained.

Zaid nodded and looked ahead.

There were still many tiger cubs around.

"Isn’t that eagle coming out?"

As if something wanted to answer his question, a different roar suddenly echoed above them.

The cubs scattered.

The air shifted, rippling as if there were enormous fans in front of them. Then a shadow loomed over them.

Zaid looked up.

That shadow was enormous; it had wings—huge wings.

The creature’s body descended from above. With dark feathers, sharp claws, an eagle’s head, and a partially humanoid body, it struck terror into the hearts of those on the ground. Its presence was so overwhelming that even Valia considered it a worthy opponent.

The Harpy Eagle, the dungeon’s boss.

"So you’re finally here," Zaid muttered.

The creature spread its wings and created a gale that swept toward Zaid’s group.

All three were forced to retreat.

"It’s strong!" Erick exclaimed, bracing himself against the ground with his sword.

The eagle let out a sudden screech.

KYA!

The cubs attacked immediately, lunging at the group. The golems followed close behind, causing the ground to tremble with their footsteps.

It was a perfect strategy. The tigers kept the group below busy, while the eagle attacked from above.

Zaid clenched his teeth. "Focus on killing the cubs," he said.

"What about you?" John and Erick asked.

Zaid looked up.

"I’ll take care of that thing."

The eagle dove down immediately, singling out its immediate opponent: Zaid. Its talons lunged for his head.

Zaid leaped to the side.

The ground in front of him exploded.

Zaid used the momentum from the explosion to leap toward it. His fist struck one of its wings just once. With terrifying force, the eagle was sent flying, but Zaid clung to its feathers to fly alongside it.

’Fists for the golems, daggers for you,’ he thought.

His daggers appeared in his hand once more, and he attacked it while they were still in midair.

The eagle plummeted toward the ground, many of its feathers broken.

However, it did not fall to the ground. It flapped its wings, and a massive gust of wind swept through the room.

Zaid crossed his arms, and the overwhelming pressure sent him back to solid ground.

After regaining its composure, the harpy attacked again, but this time it wasn’t a wind or frontal attack. It was an attack with its feathers.

The feathers turned into blades and flew across the room, targeting Zaid.

They were so fast that Zaid didn’t have time to brace himself and was forced to take the sharp blades to his arms and body.

Blood dripped down. Several feathers were embedded in his flesh.

"You’re fast," he said as he pulled out the feathers it had stuck in him.

The creature rose again, flapping its wings.

Zaid looked up and grumbled. "Tsk, you damn nuisance," from so high up, he couldn’t reach it.

Nevertheless, Zaid began running around the room, keeping his eyes fixed upward, while his daggers danced around the pups’ necks.

Their blood began to splatter on him, enraging the harpy. However, it didn’t fall for his provocation so easily.

’Not yet...’

Zaid leaped toward a group of tigers and killed them.

[XP earned.]

[Level up.]

’Almost there...’

Meanwhile...

Erick and John were fighting for their lives.

Several cubs surrounded them. At first, there were three. They fought hard to keep them at bay, but suddenly five cubs began attacking them.

That’s when they really got into trouble.

Erick unleashed all his power, natural abilities, and acquired talents. Whether they were soul talents or spirit talents, he used them all.

He cut one down and slit another’s throat.

John managed to move quickly as well, attacking as fast as he could to activate his talent as many times as necessary.

Suddenly, a golem leaped toward them with a speed that was ridiculous for its size.

"Oh, shit..."

Erick jumped in front of John and blocked the attack.

CLANG!

His legs sank into the ground and his sword screeched.

CRACK!

’Is it going to break?’ Erick looked at his sword and noticed it was already cracked in several places.

"John!" he shouted, calling for help.

John didn’t think twice. He rolled across the ground, dodging the golem’s other punch. But then a second golem appeared in front of them.

Erick couldn’t block any more. He was fighting one golem and pinned to the ground.

And John was just getting up off the ground—he had no momentum.

"John, behind you!" Erick roared.

A tiger cub roared behind John...