Feng Chen's body went still as the roar reverberated through the forest. The ground trembled beneath his feet, leaves shook from the trees, and even the air itself seemed to shudder in response.
His Yin and Yang Aura flickered for a brief moment under the pressure, a feat that should have been impossible for any beast he'd encountered so far.
"What in the hell could make a noise like that?" he muttered, scanning his surroundings, his grip tightening on the hilts of his blades. The answer, as always, was quick to arrive in the form of the system's ever-helpful window.
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System Notification:-
Beast Detected: Thunderquake Lion
Cultivation Level: Peak Nascent Soul Realm
Description: This massive lion possesses the power of thunder and lightning, its roar capable of shaking the heavens and causing mountains to crumble. It is a master of storm energy, reigning over this region for centuries.
Most cultivators who encounter this beast meet an untimely, crispy death. Yay for you!
------
Feng Chen's face blanched at the notification. Nascent Soul Realm? And not just any Nascent Soul Realm, but Peak? That was no ordinary opponent. It was a walking, roaring death sentence.
Before he could even react, another system notification appeared, practically glowing in anticipation.
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System Notification:-
I would like to thank all known gods, celestial beings, and every force of the universe for giving Host the privilege to fight such a beast. Prepare for an exciting spectacle of what we like to call...
"Death by Lion!"
-----
Feng Chen's left eye twitched in annoyance. .
"System, if we survive this, I'm going to find a way to delete you."
The system, naturally, ignored him.
Feng Chen glanced in the direction the roar had come from. He was no fool. Running was the smartest option. He had no intention of engaging a Peak Nascent Soul Realm Thunderquake Lion. His lips curled into a grin as he whispered to himself,
"Time to run away."
As he turned to flee, another window popped up, halting him in his tracks.
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System Notification:-
Choice Mission Initiated:-
- Kill the Thunderquake Lion.
- Die.
(Note: Any attempts to run away, hide, or otherwise avoid this challenge will result in instant death. The system will personally make sure of it.)
-----
Feng Chen's face froze, and his grin disappeared instantly.
"What? No running?"
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System Notification:-
You heard me. No running! You're either going to slay the lion or become its next meal. Either way, it'll be fun to watch!
-----
The system's mocking laughter echoed through Feng Chen's mind. He wanted to yell, to curse the system for its twisted sense of humor, but instead, he only sighed and let out a resigned chuckle.
"Alright, alright, let's do this," he muttered. He wasn't going to waste his time arguing. There was no way out of this mess. But if the system thought he would face death without a fight, it had another thing coming.
With a deep breath, Feng Chen activated his Yin and Yang Divine Body, his aura expanding outward. His white hair fluttered in the sudden surge of energy, and his half-dark, half-glowing appearance made him look like an avenging deity preparing for war. He gripped the Demon's Vile and the Abyssal Devourer Blade tightly in his hands, their demonic energies coursing through his veins.
The sound of heavy footsteps approached, shaking the ground beneath him with each step. The trees groaned and swayed as the Thunderquake Lion emerged from the shadows, towering over the landscape like a living storm.
Its fur sparked with electricity, crackling with energy as it stared at Feng Chen with glowing golden eyes. The air around the beast vibrated with power, the pressure alone threatening to crush Feng Chen before the fight even began.
"Alright, kitty," Feng Chen muttered, his pulse quickening.
"Let's see what you've got."
Without another moment's hesitation, Feng Chen launched himself forward, his speed amplified by bursts of Yang Qi. He aimed his first strike at the lion's neck, hoping to sever the beast's throat before it could react.
His blade connected with the lion's fur, but to his horror, it felt as if he had struck a wall of solid iron. The blade bounced off harmlessly, barely leaving a scratch on the Thunderquake Lion's hide.
The lion growled, its eyes narrowing. With a swift motion, it swung one of its massive paws at Feng Chen. The paw connected with his chest, sending him flying backward with enough force to shatter trees in his path. He tumbled through the air, his body slamming into the ground with bone-rattling force.
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System Notification:-
Well, that went about as expected. Are you even trying, Host? Because from this angle, it looks like you're just getting swatted around.
-----
Feng Chen groaned as he pulled himself out of the crater his body had created on impact. Blood dripped from his mouth, and his muscles screamed in pain. He could feel several broken bones shifting under his skin, but he ignored the agony and forced himself to stand.
"Just... shut up…" he muttered weakly.
The lion was already charging toward him again, the earth trembling beneath its massive paws. Lightning sparked from its mane, crackling in the air as it prepared another attack. Feng Chen's vision blurred as he tried to focus, but his body was nearing its limit.
"Alright, time for round two," Feng Chen said through gritted teeth, pushing past the pain. He infused Yin Qi into the Abyssal Devourer Blade, dark energy swirling around the weapon. With another surge of speed, he dashed forward to meet the beast head-on.
This time, when the lion swung its paw, Feng Chen ducked beneath the blow and slashed at its legs. His blade made contact, drawing blood for the first time. It wasn't much, but it was a start. The lion let out an enraged roar, but Feng Chen was already on the move again, dodging and weaving around the beast's attacks.
He leaped into the air, swinging the Demon's Vile downward in a powerful arc. The blade cut through the lion's thick fur and bit into its flesh, sending sparks of lightning flying in all directions. The lion roared in fury and swatted at him again, but this time Feng Chen managed to dodge the attack by a hair's breadth.
His body ached, and his Yin and Yang Divine Body was nearing its time limit. He had to finish this soon or he'd be in real trouble. Summoning the last of his strength, Feng Chen infused both blades with Yin and Yang Qi and charged at the lion one final time.
The two clashed in the center of the clearing, lightning and dark energy exploding around them. Feng Chen's blades bit into the lion's hide repeatedly, leaving deep gashes, but the beast was far from defeated. The lion swung its paw with terrifying speed, catching Feng Chen off guard and slamming him into the ground once more.
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System Notification:-
Host has been thoroughly stomped. Please reconsider your life choices.
-----
Feng Chen coughed up blood, his vision darkening as he lay there, his body broken and bleeding. The lion loomed over him, its golden eyes glowing with malice. This was it. There was no way he could survive another hit.
But then, something strange happened. The sky darkened, and the first droplets of rain began to fall. Within seconds, the storm intensified, rain pouring down in sheets and lightning flashing across the sky. The Thunderquake Lion paused for a moment, its fur bristling with electricity as the storm raged around them.
Feng Chen struggled to his feet, his clothes soaked through, and his white hair plastered to his face. The rainwater mixed with the blood that dripped from his wounds, pooling at his feet. His body trembled, every muscle screaming in agony, but he refused to back down. Not now.
"Alright, big guy," Feng Chen muttered, his voice barely above a whisper,
"let's finish this."
The lion growled, its eyes narrowing as it prepared for another attack. Feng Chen took a deep breath and channeled the last remnants of his energy into his blades. His Yin and Yang Aura flared to life, the dark and light energies swirling around him in a fierce vortex.
The two combatants stared at each other for a moment, both drenched in the rain, the storm raging above them. Then, with a roar that echoed through the forest, the lion lunged forward, its massive body moving with surprising speed. Feng Chen grinned through the pain and charged to meet it head-on.
The two forces collided in a flash of light and sound, lightning and energy exploding around them. The ground shook as their final clash reverberated through the clearing, but neither was willing to back down.
Feng Chen's blades slashed at the lion's flesh, cutting deeper than before, but the beast was relentless. It knocked him aside with a powerful swipe of its paw, sending him tumbling across the ground once more. He gasped for breath, barely able to move, but he forced himself to stand, his eyes burning with determination.
"I'm not... done yet..." Feng Chen muttered...