Without a suitable weapon and having yet to learn spells befitting his status as a high-level mage, Fars had used one of his last two high-level scrolls, only to chip away some scales from the giant python, which only served to further anger the already malevolent Thunder Python. Fars dared not linger in the air any longer; the persistent damage from the sunlight was becoming unbearable, and this Thunder Python could cast spells from a distance. If he wasn't careful, he might truly meet his end here today.
As Fars descended like an angel, he was not greeted by a shower of flowers or beautiful maidens throwing themselves at him, but rather by the gaping maw of the furious Thunder Python, wide enough to swallow him whole. Fars wouldn't sit idly by and let it succeed. Without a second thought, he pulled another longsword from his ring and hurled it towards the python's mouth.
The giant python, still unable to fully process the steel's capabilities, instinctively closed its mouth, shaking its head to swat the sword away. This gave Fars a brief moment to evade. He quickly cast a few fireballs to hinder the python's movements and darted into the dense forest to hide.
Though it was called a dense forest, there were still considerable gaps. The python, measuring ten meters in length, was adept at weaving through the trees. However, in its haste to catch up to Fars, it knocked down numerous trees along the way.
Perhaps sensing that Fars was in a precarious state and lacking any advantage, Danys changed her previously relaxed demeanor. She occasionally took to the air to check if the python was gaining on them. As an incredibly noble phoenix, she understood that this was not the time for posturing. To alleviate some of Fars's pressure, she no longer perched on his shoulder but instead flew ahead, using her superior speed to scout the path. Occasionally, she would fire a couple of ice arrows to greet the relentless pursuer.
Even Danys recognized the dire situation Fars was in. The damage from the sunlight had significantly weakened him, and if he couldn't hold out until nightfall, he might not survive. Shaking his head vigorously to dispel such gloomy thoughts, Fars refused to accept that he was cornered. After all, he hadn't been driven to desperation yet. This was merely a high-level magical beast, not even among the top tier, yet it had forced him to exhaust all his means. It seemed that the depths of the Qihar Mountains were still not a place for the unlegendary to roam freely.
However, for the time being, the python couldn't catch up to him. As long as it made any significant movements, the blood within its body would inevitably flow faster. Fars didn't need to see it; he could sense its movements through his perception of blood, allowing him to use his blood control technique to interfere with the python's plans, ensuring they always fell short.
At that moment, Fars thought to himself how wonderful it would be to have a suitable weapon. If only he had a staff to amplify his spellcasting power or a sword capable of breaking through defenses, he would have turned to face the damned python without hesitation.
But all he had left were a few sharp fruit knives and some ineffective longswords. This was a bit too much to ask. The so-called scrap metal on him was something most people couldn't even use. If Fars had the fighting spirit of a high-level swordsman, he might have been able to pierce through the python's defensive scales.
For some reason, Fars felt a moment of disorientation. Danys was no longer flitting about but was instead hovering in front of him. However, her form had changed; she was no longer the ice-blue-feathered phoenix with dark flames but resembled a longsword, waiting for him to grasp it.
This was definitely not an illusion. With a sudden clarity, Fars instinctively reached out to grasp the hilt. He truly held it.
This was an incredibly exquisite great sword, matching Danys's phoenix form in its ice-blue clarity. The seven-foot-long blade and the hilt, large enough for two hands, were even taller than Fars himself. A flame that seemed to originate from an endless abyss burned along the blade. With one hand raised skyward, Fars's magical energy surged into the great sword, and countless snowflakes began to fall around him, mingling with the ancient vampire aura from his bloodline and the might of Danys's phoenix.
The Thunder Python, which had just been relentlessly pursuing Fars, began to feel fear. This creature, though still seemingly weak, radiated an overwhelming pressure. Unwilling to back down, the python channeled all its magical energy into its horn, summoning countless bolts of lightning that coalesced into an enlarged phantom of a python. With another unwilling roar, the lightning-formed python phantom lashed out like a whip towards Fars, who wielded the great sword.
At that moment, Fars, with a clear mind, instinctively poured more magical energy into the frost great sword. With his enhanced magical infusion, the flame on the sword blazed even brighter. Gripping the hilt with both hands, he swung the sword at the approaching python phantom. A crescent arc of mixed black and ice-blue energy shot forth, effortlessly slicing through the phantom. In an instant, the phantom seemed to freeze in mid-air, as if ignited, and then, like a bubble, it dissipated.
The crescent arc continued its relentless path toward the real Thunder Python, which, in despair, charged forward, its horn aimed at the deathly arc.
With a dull thud, the python was violently knocked away, its vital horn severed. However, it did not die instantly; it was left severely wounded. Fars then lunged forward, raising the great sword high, its unstoppable momentum piercing through the python's skull. This time, the python did not struggle but was swiftly robbed of its life. Strangely, its body began to shrivel, as if drained of blood, and the familiar sensation from his soul began to stir again.
Yet, as Fars withdrew the great sword, the continuous flow of the python's blood energy returned to him, revealing that it was Danys's transformed great sword that had drained the python dry, consuming even its soul.
The battle was over, and the great sword reverted to Danys's usual languid form, leaving Fars feeling somewhat dazed.
The ability of spirit pets to transform into weapons and armor was not unheard of in Elras; such creatures were known as Illusion Beasts. Their origins were akin to magical beasts, but ancient masters, in their brilliance, had sought to enable melee fighters who could not use magic to harness magical power indirectly. Through modification and domestication of high-level magical beasts, they successfully created these unique beings. Illusion Beasts bore no outward difference from ordinary magical beasts, even sharing similar strength and appearance. If an Illusion Beast was derived from a griffin, its descendants would also be griffins. Compared to magical beasts, their defining trait was their ease of taming; once they reached a certain level of growth, they could communicate with their masters. Additionally, ancient masters infused them with certain components that allowed them to transform into weapons, armor, and other items to aid in battle.
However, the birth rate of Illusion Beasts was significantly lower than that of magical beasts—by nearly tenfold—making them rare among humans. After the Nesser era, chaos ensued, and Illusion Beasts scattered, mingling with magical beasts. Aside from a few ancient families that retained unique Illusion Beast lineages, the most one could find in the world were low-tier Illusion Beasts developed by human mages in recent millennia, which were more valued for their aesthetic appeal than practical use. Families with complete and unique Illusion Beast lineages would not share their secrets with contemporary mages, which explained why Fars had never encountered even a low-tier Illusion Beast in his past life. The pair of disciples he had defeated clearly did not belong to those ancient families, although the young man from the Macas royal family was indeed recorded as having a high-level Illusion Beast lineage derived from a Thunderwing Eagle. As for why he lacked one, Fars could only speculate—it might have been due to status, lineage, or talent not being sufficient to warrant such a precious creature.
The Illusion Beast resources controlled by ancient noble families were not something others could weave into existence. However, Illusion Beasts that had escaped during the chaotic times still existed. Although they had mixed bloodlines with other magical beasts, there remained a chance that, if fortunate, one could awaken an Illusion Beast from the eggs of magical beasts hunted in the wild.
Danys's successful transformation into a great sword undeniably indicated that she possessed the bloodline of an Illusion Beast, further explaining why Fars was able to hatch her. Although Fars was no longer a "normal" human, his body had indeed been human in life, and there was no indication that vampires could not possess Illusion Beasts. Typically, the hatching of an Illusion Beast required the blood of its master to awaken it, rather than that of its parents, who lacked the ability to do so. This distinction made it easy to differentiate between Illusion Beast eggs and magical beast eggs; the egg that could not hatch in a magical beast's lair was likely one with Illusion Beast characteristics.
An Ice Phoenix Illusion Beast, one that had mutated to possess soul-devouring abilities—Fars found the world to be quite wondrous. The ancient master who discovered Danys likely never anticipated that she would harbor the bloodline of an Illusion Beast, leading to his various hatching methods being incorrect.
Yet questions arose. Fars had not performed the so-called blood-dripping hatching ritual; he had merely held her to hatch her. However, he was unwilling to delve deeper into such matters. Danys was his, and their connection was enough. He felt a sense of destiny with Danys.
Finally, Fars accepted the notion of a fateful connection.
The Thunder Python, teetering on the brink of being a high-level magical beast, was indeed a treasure trove. Not to mention the valuable horn that could be used to create excellent magical devices or the fist-sized purple magic core radiating destructive thunder power, even the blood energy it possessed was overwhelming for Fars to digest. The surging blood energy filled him with a sense of strength, providing an immensely comforting sensation.
In contrast, Danys's situation was far more precarious. Perhaps due to her first transformation occurring in her infancy, she was fortunate that Fars's magical power was sufficient. Since he infused his magic during her attacks, she did not exhibit any worse symptoms. Moreover, after absorbing the Thunder Python's soul, she showed signs of growth. However, her mental state genuinely concerned Fars.
Hastily, he dealt with the python's corpse, stripping it of its scales, leaving behind its hollowed-out body. Its flesh seemed to have withered, a sight far more horrifying than when Fars drained blood himself. While he could only drain the flowing blood of magical beasts, the great sword formed from Danys had thoroughly extracted all the blood from the python's flesh, resulting in this gruesome scene.