Not all magical beasts are content to stay within their territories to hunt. After all, a magical beast's hunting ground, no matter how vast, cannot always provide the treasures that aid in their evolution. Therefore, apart from the outskirts of Qihar, where high-level magical beasts are scarce and treasures are even rarer, most beasts tend to remain comfortably in their lairs.
The reason so many high-level, top-tier, and even lord-level magical beasts gather deep within Qihar lies in the environment itself. The Qihar Mountain Range, located in the southern frontier, spans thousands of miles and is filled with perilous peaks and valleys. It is also home to many enchanting locations where elemental energies are vibrant, attracting a multitude of magical beasts to thrive and reproduce. In these remote areas, countless rare and exotic items exist. The competition among magical beasts for these precious resources is brutally fierce. When certain treasures reach maturity, they often cause strange phenomena, drawing powerful magical beasts to fight for them. The intensity of battles among high-level magical beasts can rival that of human wars, and if a lord-level beast joins the fray, the destruction can be catastrophic, devastating the surrounding area for miles.
However, good things are not always available; they have their maturation periods. If a magical beast discovers a treasure that has not yet matured, it may choose to guard it closely, unwilling to consume it immediately while also fearing that other beasts might take it. This behavior contrasts sharply with humans, who tend to seize treasures at first sight, often unable to wait for them to ripen during their explorations.
To seek out these treasures, powerful magical beasts roam throughout the Qihar Mountain Range, often disregarding territorial boundaries. As long as they are not vastly outmatched, they will intrude upon the domains of others and compete for valuable items. Such beasts are the most despised by their kin and are also the most dangerous. One can never predict when they might cross paths, and such encounters often end in bloodshed.
In fact, Fars currently falls into this category of wandering beasts. If he stumbles upon a valuable item, our noble Viscount Fars would not hold back; he would eagerly open his jaws to devour it. If he encounters a weaker magical beast, he would simply flee.
The magical beast rapidly approaching Fars's hiding spot exudes a powerful aura, but it is certain that it is not a top-tier beast. Fars does not feel overly suppressed by its presence, indicating that this beast is not significantly stronger than him. Glancing at Danis, who appears lazy and relaxed on his shoulder, Fars feels a bit helpless. He understands that Danis's noble bloodline makes her a prime target for other magical beasts, as she is a living treasure that can be consumed. For a phoenix, devouring her would greatly enhance the bloodline of any magical beast that struggles to break through its own limitations.
Before him lies a giant python nearly ten meters long. Unlike ordinary pythons, it possesses a single horn that crackles with lightning. This is a Thunderhorn Python, which typically reaches high-level magical beast strength upon maturity. Once it grows over six meters, it enters adulthood, and the horn on its forehead has excellent conductivity for lightning elements, allowing it to cast various lightning-based spells.
The python before Fars has already surpassed ten meters in length, indicating that it has long been trapped at the high-level beast tier. Although it has inherited a trace of the ancient bloodline of the Thunder Dragon, its lineage is too diluted, resulting in the loss of the dual horns characteristic of its ancestors. It is exceedingly rare to find a Thunderhorn Python that can break through to become a top-tier beast; only those with a true, pure bloodline of the Thunder Dragon have that potential.
This means that the strength of this Thunderhorn Python is significantly greater than that of an ordinary high-level beast, but it still falls short of being top-tier. If Danis were to end up in its belly, it might just break through the barrier between high-level and top-tier, becoming a dominant force in the Qihar Mountain Range.
Fars hesitates. Engaging in a battle with this giant python, which has likely lived for many years to grow this large, is fraught with danger. However, it is still daytime, and fleeing is not an option. Although the surroundings are dim, sunlight still penetrates, limiting Fars's movements. Moreover, encountering such a treasure, with a trace of ancient Thunder Dragon bloodline in its veins, is a rare opportunity for Fars. Just as the Thunderhorn Python would benefit from consuming Danis, if she were to devour its soul, it would similarly promote her growth and expedite her development into maturity.
Fortune favors the bold, and Fars decides he cannot let this opportunity slip away; it may be a long time before he finds another. Having spent years as a struggling adventurer, capturing such a magical beast would yield a core nearly on par with a top-tier beast and valuable materials for crafting magical artifacts, enough to make a small team of high-level professionals quite wealthy.
The Thunderhorn Python does not waste time with Fars. Before he can emerge from his hiding spot, bolts of lightning strike down upon him, catching him off guard and forcing him into a flurry of movement. Being confined by the terrain and passively taking hits is not Fars's style. He raises a magical shield to absorb the lightning strikes, which, like holy light to dark creatures, depletes his energy significantly.
Now that he has emerged, Fars can rely on his agility to dodge the python's lightning attacks. Continuing to hold up the magical shield feels excessive given his ample mana. The Thunderhorn Python, however, does not rely solely on spells; prolonged use of its innate abilities also drains its energy. The enemy has been forced out, and the massive creature charges at Fars in a zigzag pattern like a bolt of lightning.
Fortunately, Fars is quick on his feet and manages to evade the attack. However, the ancient tree behind him, large enough for three people to embrace, is not so lucky. With a creaking sound, it snaps and crashes down, sending clouds of dust into the air.
Fars retaliates with a quick slash at the giant python, but his strength is insufficient. Even with the sharpness of his dagger, he fails to breach the python's defenses, leaving only a white mark. Close combat is not suitable for someone like Fars, who has only recently become a viscount. He quickly distances himself from the turning python and switches to a longsword embedded with several gemstones from his ring. This ornate sword, crafted by a pair of "young talents," is indeed made from quality materials, but its design sacrifices the swordfighter's agility for aesthetics. Once a promising young noble mage, Fars also possessed such a decorative sword. He had even practiced swordsmanship for a few days to appear more noble.
Although wielding such a sword in this battle may not prove particularly effective, Fars lacks a suitable staff among his spoils. The only mid-level mage he had slain was a poor soul, much like his former self, who had not possessed a decent staff. However, being empty-handed leaves Fars feeling vulnerable; the longsword can at least serve as a weapon to block the python's attacks when necessary.
The sight of this seemingly weak human repeatedly surviving its lightning strikes and charges infuriates the Thunderhorn Python, which considers itself a semi-dominant creature. Danis's apparent indifference only adds to the python's humiliation, as it struggles to advance due to its bloodline limitations.
After several rounds of pursuit and evasion, Fars, unable to exert his full strength during the day, is knocked back a few times. Fortunately, his reflexes allow him to absorb much of the impact, resulting in only minor injuries. However, the longsword proves less fortunate, as the python's horn snaps it in two. Without a weapon, Fars decides against drawing another longsword, recognizing that even a fine iron sword could fetch several hundred gold coins. As a high-level mage, it would be hard for anyone to believe that he killed a Thunderhorn Python with a mere longsword.
Currently lacking high-level spells, Fars must rely on evading the giant python while using spells that are ineffective against it. His shadow arrows fail to penetrate the python's scales, and while ice arrows also lack sufficient power, they do have a slowing effect that hampers the python's movements.
Continuing in this manner will drain Fars's stamina. Planning to make the Thunderhorn Python his dinner, he holds tightly to a meteor shower spell scroll, ready to unleash it at the right moment. While a single high-level spell may not kill it, the meteor shower could shatter the python's scales, allowing Fars's smaller attacks to inflict damage.
Unable to tolerate Fars's slippery maneuvers any longer, the python raises its head and roars angrily, gathering bolts of lightning around its horn. This time, the lightning does not strike directly at Fars but flows along the horn to envelop the entire python. Empowered by the lightning, the python's body glows with a terrifying purple light, and the explosive energy ignites the surrounding trees. It seems that the addition of lightning enhances the python's agility, rendering Fars's magical arrows ineffective and negating the slowing effect of his ice spells.
Feeling the pressure, Fars quickly spreads his shadow wings, risking exposure to the sun as he takes to the air, narrowly avoiding the python's frenzied assault. Enduring the pain in his wings, Fars tears open the meteor shower scroll he had prepared. The sunlight is still a challenge for him to withstand, especially since his wings, exposed to the light, suffer damage much faster than the covered parts of his body. Even with a significant amount of dark energy to mend the wounds, it cannot keep up with the damage he incurs.
The meteor shower indeed lives up to its reputation as a high-level spell, creating a magnificent spectacle as it rains down fireballs upon the Thunderhorn Python.
This extensive barrage does not last long, and as Fars surveys the charred python before him, he cannot muster a smile.
He had underestimated its defensive capabilities. The earlier lightning enhancement allowed the fireballs to break through the lightning barrier before striking its scales, resulting in only minor damage. The charred exterior is merely superficial; the crucial point is that it has not sustained serious injuries. Even after the meteor shower, Fars can still feel the python's overwhelming fury. This fiery rain has ignited its wrath completely.