Boom!
A deafening explosion resounded in the forest when the big boulder smashed into the escaping werewolf. A blanket of dust engulfed and covered the entrance of the cave while debris of sharp rocks violently scattered around.
When the Boulder Orc reached the place devastated by its attack, the cloud of dust obscuring the place was slowly fading.
Expecting to see the mangled body of the killer of its tribesmen, the Champion Rank spirit beast saw the crushed and destroyed entrance of the cave, but even a drop of blood of the dark blue werewolf was not there.
The Boulder Orc's red eyes turned redder. Opening its jagged mouth, it released a furious roar!
Rooooooar!
Furiously roaring, the enraged Level 2 beast summoned another Boulder Club and smashed it on the sealed entrance.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
One after another, with anger and ferocity, the Boulder Orc inundated the crushed and blocked entrance with its heavy attacks further devastating it.
However, even after smashing the place with its massive club, the blocked entrance was remained shut by the soil and rocks.
Even if the Boulder Orc had an earth affinity, its level limited its control of spirit particles to only using its abilities. Unfortunately, it did not have the ability to dig a hole in the ground.
The Champion Rank spirit beast continued to roar angrily while smashing its boulder club unceasingly on the cave's entrance.
…
"That green head is really angry. It's not like I know that they're your friends. It was a meeting brought by fate, and I couldn't help but take care of them!"
Even after hearing the maddened roars and the resounding blows of the Level 2 beast outside of the cave, the wolf Yeshua still had the nerve to joke around.
Yeshua was slumped on the ground while breathing hard. He was holding his furry side with his right clawed hand. That last attack left him with some broken bones, but he was thankful that he was still alive.
After evading the hurling boulder with his agile body, Yeshua was able to enter the cave. However, the powerful force of attack destroyed the entrance, and the falling rocks caused by the impact almost crushed him.
Yeshua really did his best to dodge the falling rocks and completely entered the cave. Then, the cave's entrance finally caved in.
"It's attacking the entrance, but the cave-in was more than five meters. Its attacks won't be enough to dig through here," whispered the wolf Yeshua while taking his time to rest.
Then suddenly, the savage attacks stopped and silence filled the dark cave.
"Oh, it realized it can't do anything and already give up? Then…"
However, before Yeshua finished what he was saying, a thunderous explosion blasted the entrance of the cave. It seemed that the Boulder Orc used a special attack!
Boom!
The dark blue werewolf weakly slumping on the ground was violently pushed back by the force of the explosion and crashed his back on the rocky wall.
However, despite coughing up some blood, Yeshua's shock at what happened filled his mind, but before he could pull himself out of his shock, the rocky ceiling of the cave gave in and showered the place with falling rocks!
"That mad beast! You can't enter here, so you want to bury me inside this cave?!"
Though the explosive attack did not completely destroy the sealed entrance, the powerful force of the attack would cause another cave-in that was bigger this time!
Looking at the falling rocks and feeling the shaking ground, the werewolf Yeshua dashed into the dark cave. He did not know how deep or big this cave was, but he could not stay in this part of the cave.
Rocks falling on his head, Yeshua continued to dodge frantically and run quickly into the dark cave.
…
Darkness and silence filled the cave while a silhouette carefully treaded the long tunnel. Yeshua who was already backed into his human form was cautiously sensing his surroundings.
After completely escaping the falling rocks, Yeshua decided to look for an exit. He could not use the entrance he used to enter the cave since it already collapsed completely, so he could only continue to walk deeper into the cave and look for another way out.
Despite the darkness of the cave, Yeshua's senses as an Alterer were enough to discern his surroundings.
After a while, the tunnel ended and brought him to a wider space. It seemed the tunnel was connected to a cavern. Stalactites and stalagmites formed in the cavern and some glowing stones on them were lighting up the place.
"Wow… I actually just ran frantically when the cave was caving in and I didn't know in what directions I was running. I can't believe that the cave is connected to this place," uttered Yeshua with amazement.
Yeshua was really shocked to find a cavern in this place, but even so, Yeshua walked vigilantly while his eyes observed the place.
Then, Yeshua stopped his steps suddenly. From a distance, something caught his attention. It was like a green rock shining with a conspicuous brown glow.
Yeshua carefully neared the place and completely saw a familiar but rare gene herb. He was surprised that he absentmindedly muttered, "A Rockshine Herb!"
After completely seeing the gene herb, Yeshua remembered the information he knew about this herb. He did not know much about this herb, but his father once mentioned this rare herb to him.
Rockshine Herb was an earth affinity gene herb. Though its exterior was made up of stone, it was a gene plant and not a gene mineral. The abundance of earth spirit genes in the gene herb turned its green leaves coarse like a rock. The brown lights shining in the cracks of its green rocky leaves were proof of the richness of earth spirit genes inside it.
Most gene plants had neutral properties. There were also gene plants with definite affinities. Gene pharmacists brought out the potency of these gene herbs by concocting them into gene medicines.
However, there were also rare herbs that when concocted would result in gene medicines with high quality. This Rockshine Herb was one of them. Those with earth affinity Alter Beast would drool over the potion concocted with this gene herb.
If Yeshua could get it, he could sell this Rockshine Herb and he was sure that he would get a lucrative price from it. However, Yeshua did not quickly get close to the gene herb. He remained standing while his eyes darted around searching for something.
Yeshua knew that this kind of rare gene herb was impossible to be left alone. A spirit beast was definitely guarding this gene herb!
"This Rockshine Herb has an earth affinity, so an earth affinity spirit beast is surely guarding it. So, where is it hiding? Or maybe it was not here right now?"
Yeshua prepared himself to transform into his Alter form while vigilantly looking around him when suddenly the stalagmite behind him whipped at his back!
Yeshua felt the coming attack behind him and he hurriedly rolled forward to dodge!
Bang!
The ground where Yeshua was standing before was cracked by the strength of the whipping rock!
Yeshua then saw the stalagmite that slashed at him stayed still on the cracked ground. Then, it slowly moved as it slithered in the stony ground of the cavern. His eyes followed it until it completely disappeared around the stalagmites.
However, from the direction it slithered, Yeshua saw a long shadow arching slowly. The shadow gradually moved as the glowing lights coming from the stones faintly illuminated its long silhouette.
As it completely revealed its body, Yeshua saw gray big rocks that were connected to one another. Then a rocky head with vicious black eyes stared at him.
"So, it's you that was guarding the gene herb? A Rock Python!" With calmness in his voice, Yeshua uttered the name of the glaring rocky snake.
Opening its jagged maw, the Rock Python answered Yeshua with a furious hissing. Someone entered its territory and it was not forgiving to just let the intruder go.
Feeling the anger of the spirit beast, Yeshua said, "Well, if you're guarding that rare gene herb, then I think there is no way we could talk about this peacefully, no? Heh, then let's see if your Level 1 Stage 5 strength can defeat me!"
With a shout expressing his confidence, Yeshua unleashed the Windrage Wolf. Light covered his body while he quickly transformed into a dark blue werewolf.
Though he was confused why a low-level spirit beast was guarding the Rockshine Herb which was a rare gene herb, Yeshua still chose to fight this spirit beast.
Yeshua was confident that with his power, he could win this battle. Though he was only a level 1 stage 4 Alterer, his elite strength allowed him to contend with this Stage 5 Rock Python.
Yeshua did not seek this battle, but the cave tunnel led him here. Since he was already in this place and could not run from this battle, Yeshua just had to face this challenge. Anyway, a rare gene herb would be his reward after the battle.
"Haa… A lot happened since this morning. I fought a group of forest orcs, and then a Champion Rank spirit beast madly pursued me. I was even almost buried in the collapsing cave, and at this moment, I'm facing another battle."
Yeshua could not help but sigh at his unluckiness on this day. However, despite all of this, the young Alterer still faced all his challenges with a brave heart.
As the wind violently swirled around the cavern, Yeshua who transformed into a dark blue werewolf stood bravely against the glaring Rock Python.