–woosh
Zysera's figure dashed forward with her sword hanging low and her tail on the same level, making her movements look heavy and laborious. But in the next instant,
-slash
Her blade rose sharply into the air, and her body flipped with momentum, bringing a heavy blow down on Malvorrak's massive figure.
The key to fighting a wild beast like Malvorrak wasn't to just charge in. It was about striking at his weak points, but also using enough force to break through his defenses.
This was the essence of the Lizardman Weight Style: swift and precise attacks driven by the heavy force of the lizardman tail behind each blow.
The force of her strike fell like a meteor, aiming to cleave Malvorrak's head in a single swing.
She wanted to end it quickly.
—clang
But the attack was stopped midway by Malvorrak's arm, raised to meet her blade in a direct clash.
Zysera didn't falter. The moment the attack was blocked, she used her tail to whip her body in another direction, building momentum mid-air and striking again.
—clang
—clang
—clang
She repeated the process, each time increasing the strength of her strikes. The Lizardman Weight Style was known for its versatility and its power to break through the toughest defenses.
This style made Zysera a force to be reckoned with, even among elite lizardmen. But despite her efforts, she couldn't pierce Malvorrak's scales.
"Something's changed..." A bead of sweat rolled down her forehead as she tried to understand what was happening. The last time they fought, it had taken five strikes to break through his scales.
Now, after twelve hits, she hadn't even scratched him. Something was definitely different… but what?
For a monster hunter, going in blind was dangerous. But this time, she wasn't in the dark—she knew this beast. She'd fought him before. Yet, somehow, he had changed.
It was troubling.
As Zysera hesitated for a moment, a sudden wind gusted in front of her, casting a massive shadow over her. She had only a split second to react before—
—Woom
A beastly claw swiped down with terrifying force, aiming to split her in two.
The sheer strength of the strike made her knees buckle. She was lifted off the ground and slammed into the mountainside beside her.
Boom!
She crashed into the rock, leaving a small crater in her shape. A second later, she coughed up blood as she struggled to free herself from the impact zone.
It was so sudden—she hadn't even seen it coming.
"Filthy mixed-blooded Terragor..." Zysera wiped the blood from her mouth, struggling to stand upright. Her vision blurred from the impact, but her grip on her sword remained firm.
She was a lizardman, and to her kind, species like the Terragor were pets—creatures to be kept for comfort. She had treated Malvorrak like a stray mixed-blooded cat. But if he wanted to be recognized as a real threat...
She would oblige.
"Innate Skill: Splendor Enforcement." Zysera raised her sword and activated her innate skill. Her claws lit up with a radiant white glow, enveloping her sword in a brilliant light.
Higher creatures' innate skills were far more versatile and refined than those of wild beasts. These skills weren't static; they could be honed, shaped, and used in countless ways.
This was something Malvorrak had never faced before. One strike with this could end him.
"Die." Zysera blasted forward, now moving with grace and deadly intent, her vigor burning bright.
But midway—
"You will die." Malvorrak's voice rumbled, stopping Zysera in her tracks for a brief moment.
It was the first time she had ever heard a Terragor speak. She had seen the letter that was supposedly from him, but had assumed it was the work of the smaller lizard. Malvorrak was nothing more than a wild beast.
But hearing him speak now threw her off balance. It was only a second's distraction, but it was all Malvorrak needed.
**Water Streamer.**
A stream of concentrated water formed out of thin air, rushing toward Zysera in an instant.
"Shit!" She cursed as the unexpected attack came at her. Her mind couldn't comprehend it fast enough to react, but her instincts kicked in.
Barely in time, she blocked the attack with her sword, falling back at the last possible moment.
But her reprieve was brief. Malvorrak rushed at her again, giving her no chance to recover.
Clang
Clang
Clang
She blocked his strikes with all her might, but with her footing lost, she was forced into a defensive stance, each hit pushing her further back.
Malvorrak's claws tore through her leather armor, slashed at her tendons, and shattered the vertebrae in her tail as she tried to shield herself. He was utterly overwhelming her.
"This can't be happening..." Planting her sword into the ground, Zysera leaned on it to hold herself up, staring at Malvorrak's looming figure with growing dread.
If Malvorrak had let her use her innate skill, the fight might have gone differently. But the fact that he'd been smart enough to prevent her from gaining the upper hand meant this was no longer the Malvorrak she knew.
A wild beast driven by rage was dangerous enough. But now he had wisdom? This was a different kind of threat.
"You've lost. By right, your flesh is mine." Malvorrak's voice rumbled as he raised his head, towering over her. The rules of the underground were clear.
To lose was to be devoured.
"I know." Zysera clenched her teeth. Malvorrak had systematically broken her every defense. There was no escape. Death was her only option.
"But I won't kill you. This isn't mercy—this is a warning. Stay away from my mountain, or next time, I will kill you." Malvorrak's words were cold and final.
If not for Cious's warnings about the consequences of killing a settlement chief, he would have devoured her here and now.
"Ah?" Zysera blinked in shock at his words. When had Malvorrak, the wild beast, learned the concept of mercy?
But Malvorrak ignored her surprise, turning toward the wagon instead.
Sighing heavily, he began tearing open the bags, spilling gold, silver, and other treasures onto the ground.
These were the proceeds from Qarc's tax collection, but Malvorrak seemed uninterested in the wealth. He was searching for something.
—bum…greeeee
Soon enough, a small leathery green bag tumbled out with the gold coins, and from it spilled a trail of tiny crystal orbs.
Baby beast cores.
It was an odd sight, even to Zysera. Beast cores this size were rare.
It took extremely rare creatures to produce cores at such a young age. Where had Malvorrak found something so valuable?
But Cious was more shocked than Zysera. He quickly recognized what these cores were.
"Those are Terragor cores," Cious muttered under his breath.
There were rumors of Malvorrak being a brother-eater—a beast that had consumed its own kin. It was said he had eaten his brothers to survive the harsh environment of Yi Mountain.
These cores belonged to his brothers. They were precious to him.