V3 Chapter 23

Crackle! Crackle!

Cian’s arm cackled in lightning and a lightning bolt came out from his hand, shooting towards the horrifying monster. However, before it could even hit, the monster suddenly dived down in the ground, digging at an incredible speed, and disappearing.

The lightning bolt exploded, but it only left a large crater on the ground.

“Underground, huh?”

Cian sneered.

“Don’t think you are the only one who can something like that--[Earth Burrow]!” he muttered and his body suddenly started to sink in the ground, as if the ground was a pool of water.

Earth Burrow was a skill that enables him to swim in the ground as if he was on a body of water. An incredible ability for escaping. Though, while this ability was in motion, magic was sealed. Perhaps, it’s because he’s underground or the fact that his entire physical constitution was being changed by this skill…? Well, as for how it works, he actually didn’t know much less, understands.

Trying to make sense of how supernatural powers works is like an elementary student trying to answer the Collatz conjecture. It might look simple, but in actual fact, incredibly, mind-blowingly difficult. Well, in the first place, to question the principles of supernatural powers would be nonsense.

Swimming underground was no walk in the park, either. His movement speed, agility, and flexibility have been reduced significantly as if he was dragging weights attached to his limbs.

“There it is!”

Cian felt a sudden vibration and immediately saw the monster rushing towards him like a mole. It seemed to have seen him as it was charging towards him at an incredible speed. In this state, I am vulnerable! He frowned. However, instead of hurriedly escaping, Cian stood his ground and faced the charging monster.

Without Asceius or Iris, he could now run free.

“Arm of the Titan Ape!” his arm suddenly bulged and expanded.

The cracking sounds echoed throughout the area as his right arm suddenly twitched, and started expanding. The color of his skin changed color, dark-brown, becoming even bigger, muscular, and more so, covered with thick hide. Then suddenly, the blue veins on his face started throbbing.

What’s even more shocking was that one could hear the sound of his muscles stretching and twitching. His arm expanded triple its size and turned into a massive, beast-like arm adorned with sharp claws. It was certainly not an arm of someone like him, much less the size.

It’s as if a monster’s arm was forcefully attached to him. It was completely incompatible with Cian’s figure. However, he completely ignored it, and with a loud roar, he clenched the disfigured arm, and punch upward with all his might.

Booom!!

The charging monster who has just opened its jaw, like a shark that had found its prey, was suddenly met with a rising punch on its jaw. The incredible power beyond the attack caused the monster’s jaw to close, and sent flying upwards.

The impact alone caused a loud explosion that sent the JaggerJaw blasting from the ground.

"Not yet!!"

Cian then chased after it, coming out from the ground.

The black wings spread behind his back, and his figure shot like a lightning bolt, chasing after the monster he had sent flying. His right arm slowly reverted back, though, his brows furrowed in pain. He can never get used to this pain as if every joint in his arm was dislocated.

But this is the price of using this technique.

It’s not a skill, nor some kind of special ability. In fact, it’s almost similar to Werebeast’s innate transformation ability.

The only difference is that it’s not innate, rather, it’s replaced.

Well, not really the normal 'replaced' either.

Using one of the abilities he had usurped from the monster Chimera; [Chimera] ability. He was able to transplant a monster’s body parts to his own so that he could use most of its abilities. He rarely used this ability, because of appearance, but it’s easily one of the strongest abilities in his arsenal.

Just like his [Arm of the Titan Ape], it has all, if not most of the abilities of the Great Titan Ape, which was an A-rank Monster. Herculean Strength that even surpasses that of his all strength-enhanced type skills combined, including Barbarian Strength and such, as well as the bursting impact- a shockwave emitted attack that would blast away everything its fist hit. Well, the A-rank Titan Ape is a monster that could even rival a Basilisk.

In fact, as an A-rank Monster, the Titan Ape is considered stronger than an adult basilisk. Not only it possess incredible strength, but also its hide is harder than most known metal. Even a Manticore or a Basilisk’s fangs could hardly penetrate through it. That’s how hard and strong it is. Because of these abilities, despite its horrible appearance, Cian chooses it to become his right arm.

Cian flew towards the monster that seemed to be struggling in the air as it falls. It seems like, being in the air was a novel experience for it, that it started to flail around. Cian, appeared right below, and with a roundhouse kick, bombarded the monster with a seemly-endless and relentless number of kicks while descending.

Using his skills to buff his strength and physical power, his entire level skyrocketed in instant. However, the monster’s instincts are nothing to laugh at. The moment it felt danger, despite its unstable balance, the sharp bones on its body suddenly shot from all directions, like a deadly defense mechanism. Though, it was even more deadly than a porcupine, due to its, shrapnel grenade-like effect.

Fortunately, Cian’s Eye had already seen it, and he ducked under a barrage of spear-like bone spikes shooting at him.

Sparks of plasma cackled around him, and he started to move at lightning speed. And by allowing electricity to flow inside his entire body, including his mind, his perception was strengthened. Everything around him moves at a slow speed as if time had slow down. Though, if this was done to a normal human, they would have their nerves fried. However, Cian was different.

His entire body was a hundred times or stronger than a human. And with his increasing affinity with Lightning, he was able to do an almost impossible thing- forcefully accelerating his thoughts, along with his perception via lightning current flowing through his body, enhancing the speed in which information was transferred via nerve synapses. This enables his perception and thoughts to increase in speed beyond what is normally capable.

He calls this technique - [Lightning Perception]. One of the skills he created himself. Though [Thought Acceleration] skill is said to exist, but for someone who didn’t have it, what Cian did was nigh impossible.

Still, he was able to replicate the said rare skill because of his modern knowledge, and his understanding of the human body which this world has never known.

Though the burden in the mind is great but using this technique, his mind and senses, at this very moment, process information at such speeds that time appears to have slowed down for him, allowing him to perceive what would normally be moving too fast to see and respond accordingly.

And with the additional support of [Clairvoyance] from his [Night’s Eye], Cian’s dodging rate had almost, surprisingly become near a hundred percent.

With this newfound ability, the shooting bone spikes brushed past him without even touching a strand of his hair. The time around him seemed to have slowed down--Cian even felt as if he entered an unknown realm. Before he knew it, he had already appeared just above the descending JaggerJaw. The monster looks at him in horror.

“I’ll devour you!”

With a dropkick, he sent the monster downward. The JaggerJaw let out a loud painful growl as its body shot towards the ground.

"...So stay still!!”

[Stomp of the Behemoth] Cian descended like a meteor, causing a loud explosion to occur.

Cian flew out from the cloud of dust and dirt that had covered the area. However-

“Tsk, so that’s still not enough?”

His face darkened as he saw the recovering black silhouette reflected on his right eye. He had already used all his strength in that attack, you know. Just how hard was its body to be able to endure all that without breaking?

Leona seemed to be eager to join the battle, but he ordered her to stay away. It was clear to see the difference in power level between these two beasts. If Leona joins the fray, her life would surely be at risk. He didn't nurture her this long to just let her die so easily.

He could hear Leona's purring voice that sounds like begging. But he was unable to care about it anymore.

Roaaaaaarrr!!!

The shockwave of the roar cleared out the blinding dirt cloud, revealing the monster's horrifying figure. Though there were some bleeding wounds on its thick carapace, it was clear that it’s not that deep, or serious. How hard is that carapace?

The enraged monster suddenly opened its mouth, and a blinding light came out from it--

“Damn! To think it could even shoot a beam!”

Cian grumbled in a frustrating manner as he immediately dodged. The column of light seared through the ground and trees in a straight line, disintegrating everything it touched into nothingness. This is not an ordinary flame breathe. In fact, it's more of a solar beam- a highly concentrated flame that can burn anything into ashes.

What a terrifying breath. Cian spread his black wings and hurriedly flew in the air. The monster’s breathe attack chased after him--even though he was a few meters away from it, the heat from that attack already caused him to feel burned. If he was hit by it, he would surely not be able to survive unscathed.

And the fuck is this… even with this commotion, there’s no sign of Asceius or Iris?

What’s going on here?

They should just be near here… just where the hell are they?!

“Tsk, damnit. This is not making things easy, you bastard…!”

Looking at his monstrous enemy, Cian felt somewhat anxious. He’s not an idiot who always thinks that he’s stronger than anything in this world. However, being against a powerful enemy alone, he can’t help but have a feeling of defeat.

There might be people who were fearless of death, but he is not among them. Though he didn’t fear them that well, however, it’s within the nature of a human being, one that is still remaining inside his humanity, to fear death. It’s an instinct.

As he dashed from one tree to another, JaggerJaw’s claws and tail chased after him, and everything he had previously taken shelter behind had been splintered into little pebbles. Every dodge he had made, was like a brush of death, and one wrong move would surely take an incredible amount of his life.

He felt as if the Death God is constantly following him wherever he goes, ready to reap his life the moment an opportunity arises.

Damn it! I can’t believe a mere mindless beast like this is pushing me this far!!

The creature roared once more, seemingly angry that Cian was constantly able to evade its attack, causing it to miss every time.

GRAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH

“Tch, crazy strong fellow aren’t you…”

Cian sighed under his breathe. He watches as the monster’s tail smash had left a deep gash in the ground as if a land mine has just exploded.

Not only was it strong, but it was also incredibly tough, completely blocking his every full-strength attack. This is certainly, gonna be a real pain.

Though, not only fear but Cian felt something else as well. Something he had not felt for quite a while. Thump! Thump! His heart throbbing madly and was beating very fast. And before he knew it, a smile went on his lips as anticipation, excitement filled his veins once more.

This desperate battle…

“I had always dreamed of fighting and eating a dragon. But to think even a lesser dragon like this is this much of a problem…well, of course, for someone like me who has always been a lifetime record of victories and no defeat, to think I would be cornered like this by a mere beast, isn’t too impressive. Enough of this. If I have only one chance in a thousand, that makes it a rare chance, doesn’t it? So, I will surely savor your deliciousness, you goddamn beast!”

Cian’s appearance suddenly changed. His hair turned ashy-grey in color, and his eyes became different from colors; blue and red. A curved horn appeared at the side of his head, along with a pair of bat-like wings and a slender tail with the tip that looked like a trident. With the additional pair of black flame wings, he now possesses two pairs of wings that moved and flapped at the same time. His flying speed became faster than even a bullet.

I can’t hold back anymore…!

Cian growled in frustration. The monster was proven harder than he had imagined. Though he can avoid its attacks, the monster’s tough defense and powerful attacks are not something he could ignore. He feared he would not be able to keep up and would surrender in the end.

With his improved speed and power, Cian avoided the bone spears that were shot towards him, much easier than before. His hand opened, and a fiery ball of fire appeared. With a slight touch of lightning sparks around it, the ball of fire’s flying speed was doubled, along with its power.

Though the monster was able to avoid it, the moment it hit the ground, it exploded. It yelped in pain. The impact alone knocked it painfully, that it let out a loud, painful growl. Still, nonetheless, it had not received any fatal wounds from that explosion. And worse, those shallow wounds slowly closed, and eventually healed soon after, making it even more troublesome for him.

Though, my poison blood seemed to be doing much more damage than I thought…

Cian concluded as he saw the wounds healing at a much slower speed than before, as well, as the painful roars it was making. However, the poison it had ingested seemed to be cured as well… is that even possible?

I’m quite confident about to toxicity of my blood, coupled with the [Inhibit Regeneration Poison] and [Epidemic Poison] that made the poison in my blood worse. But to think it could still recover after a few minutes, just what kind of poison resistance does this monster have?

And what incredible regeneration ability. It's a monster that is a bad match up for me, huh.

JaggerJaw. An Earth-Dragon. They are called the personification of death in legends.

Though there is no surviving information about them still existed in the current era, but I guess they do deserve the title.

A monster said to be comparable to that of a Chimera. Now that I think about it, perhaps it's true, the legend saying that the blood of the JaggerJaw is a high class, and rare ingredients in making high-level Health Potions, and that it can also strengthen one’s physique when drank.

If this monster is capable of such an incredible high-level healing factor, then perhaps, that legend is not just a rumor at all.

ROOOOAAARR!!

The moment the JaggerJaw came out from the ground, its mouth once again opened, shooting that horrifying column of light. Cian disappeared and then reappeared just beside the monster. On his hand, was a large, two-meter tall, greatsword, black in color.

With a loud roar, he swung it towards the JaggerJaw with all his strength.

Baaaang!

A metallic noise rang out, as the sword embedded itself on the monster’s body. However, he felt his arms go numb.

“Tsk!” he hurriedly jumps away, as the tail of the monster swept over him.

Despite having dozens of skills, against a monster of this caliber, it’s still not enough. Skills are just mere tricks for them. In the first place, Cian doesn’t have that many offensive-type skills. Worst, his magic level is also not that high as well. This the reason why despite having numerous skills in his arsenal, his offensive power is actually not that high.

Increasing his Magical Power, as well as Obtaining more offensive-focus skills should be his goal in this ruins. As long as he can obtain a powerful skill that can substitute the loss of his [Vector Body], this trip would surely not be in vain.

The monster, spotting movement on its side, spat out a column fire, unlike the light from before. Though, less scary compared to the disintegrating light, the flames still posed that much of a threat. Cian, feeling the heat despite his high resistance, immediately flew away, and disappeared.

The monster hovered at the spot where it had last seen Cian. Then, it let out a loud roar, and blew another puff of flame, and watched as the plants and trees burned into ashes. The monster, if possess a mind, should be thinking, ‘I’ll burn ‘em all, including that pesky little demon. I’ll turn this whole damned forest into a sea of flames and watch everything burned to nothingness!’

Cian’s demonic face turned dark. Leona appeared just beside the monster using an instant-teleportation skill. It’s the new ability she got after draining many monsters throughout their journey inside the Ruins of the Gods: [Flash Movement]. She then released wind blades, catching its attention.

The JaggerJaw turned towards the Manticore, its jaws wide, ready to catch the annoying beast and swallow it whole. However, at this moment, when Leona used its [Flash Movement], what replaced her was the figure of Cian who held a long spear. Red blood flow through its shaft and blade. But the moment a drop fell on the ground, unexpectedly, the ground catered, sizzling in smoke, as if corroding the earth.

The Monster's claws came hurling at him at an incredible speed. Cian who was charging its attack remained unmoved. Seeing this, the monster became even more enthusiastic. However, when it opened its jaw, revealing its horrifying set of fierce fangs, something flickered within his clothes.

And before the monster could understand what had happened, a long tail whipped against its head, knocking it back. The impact was so strong that it was sent crashing along a number of trees.

"Hiss,"

A giant snake appeared, coiling around Cian, its pair of red eyes glaring at the monster. Letting out a hiss, the large snake shrank again, and with its now small body coiled around Cian's neck. At this moment, Cian had already finished charging its attack.

Cian smirked, as he saw the recovered Monster opening its mouth in anger. It was once again trying to fire its deadly breath.

But that's what I'm expecting!!

“You’re hungry? Then, try eating this!!”

Cian clenched his fist, fire and lightning covered the spear, hot enough that the shaft started to melt. However, before it would melt completely, he throws it on the monster’s open jaw, before hurriedly jumping away.

He grinned evilly, as he saw the spear entered the JaggerJaw’s maw, meeting the about to be released Fire Breathe, and BOOOOOM!! it exploded.

Fire and Lightning could be seen assaulting the entire area.

Gyaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!

Due to the powerful explosion, the monster crashed against the empty ground. However, followed a moment after, was an incredible howl of pain.

The fire inside the monster’s gullet melted the spear completely, and the hot lead, mixed with his poisoned blood spilled down directly to its throat and began to corrode and scorch its entrails.

Screaming with pain, writhing in the ground, threshing, the monster shot countless sharp bones in all direction and even attempted to burn everything that was in its mouth with its horrifying breath of light, but the poisonous, and hot lead had already entered its esophagus, scorching its organs, perhaps, even its liver, lungs, and even intestines, if it has one.

Cian was ecstatic. However, the moment the monster’s red, raging, and furious eyes, found him, it let out a roar, and Cian hurriedly flew away--very fast, for the monster hurriedly close. It actually recovered and is now chasing after him like an enraged beast. It was berserk!

It's still not enough?!!

On the ground, the monster bulldozed everything in its path, be it boulders or incredibly large trees. Belching smoke, the monster spat out the remaining spear, which was now less than half of its real form, then, it let out a raging breath of light, an incredible solar beam, that chased after him, trying to burn him where he flew.

Once again, Leona appeared. She came out from the bushes, and swung down her claws, shearing off the monster’s tail. Black blood gushed out. The monster let out a painful howl, causing it to direct the beam of light upwards, completely missing its target. Then, it turned behind, but Leona is already nowhere in sight. It once again let out a roar, deeply frustrated.

Cian looked at the angry monster, trashing everything around it into pieces. Even that attack didn’t do much. However, it was completely obvious that the poison it ingested is still doing its work, as the wounds, Leona left on its tail have yet to completely recover.

Its healing factor is starting to slow down--this might be my chance.

“Bring it on! I’ll defeat you with all I’ve got, and eat you!!”

Cian roared with all his spirit. A black spear slowly formed from his hands. He gave the long spear in his hand a twirl. He jumped in the air, wanting to reach higher, and lightning channeled through his arm, and into the black spear.

The JaggerJaw turned at him, and with a loud roar once again expanded its throat. Its breath once again coming. Cian narrowed his eyes, but suddenly, Leona appeared once again. She flapped her huge translucent wings and released large wind blades as she started to close the distance, wanting to attract the monster’s attention to herself.

Then, an intense fight occurred. Power and size, Leona was certainly inferior.

Leona and the JaggerJaw .started to wrestle around, though even with her [Golden Body] it was obvious that even the Manticore was being pushed back. Still, the collision between both sides caused the entire forest to reverberate with the sounds of fierce metal clashes as each and every attack both beasts made: Wind blades or bone spikes, that were released from each other destroyed everything they hit.

Cian charged right through in. In his hand, the black spear channeled the power of Ice, seemly becoming a Spear of Ice. [Imagis Realis] is an incredible conductor of magic. And with its added penetration power, it makes all magic become deadlier than they already are. And when he clenched his hold on it, electric sparks run through it, causing it to radiate a bluish, golden light.

“Ice Lightning Spear!”

…and he throws it.

Leona, already knowing what Cian was doing hurriedly blinked out of her former location, and magically appearing a few meters away.

The spear made out of ice cut through the air like a lightning bolt, scorching the air, and emitting out a burning stench.

With its incredible speed, the JaggerJaw was unable to avoid it and was hit, causing an incredibly loud explosion that caused even the entire forest to shake.

… …