The lycanthrope took the lead and launched an attack. Several lightning orbs floated above the lycanthrope's dark blue fur.
Leonard's hair stood up even though he was a substantial distance from the battlefield. His hair would have been burnt black if the lightning orb had grazed past him even by a little.
Although the orb is just a mass made of lightning energy, lightning energy is still one of the strongest energies in the world. Above all, it—
Before Leonard could even finish thinking, the lycanthrope roared and launched the lightning orbs. Five arcs of lightning flew at the red troll in a spear-like shape.
The arcs of lightning reached their target almost at the same time they were launched. This extreme speed was what made lightning energy the strongest. It boasted a speed that guaranteed almost a hundred percent accuracy as well as fearsome destructive power.
"... Groar."
Body redder than before, the red troll glared at its opponent as if it wasn't hurt despite being hit by a bundle of lightning energy. Perhaps it seemed unharmed due to its innate resilience and ability to defend itself.
The lycanthrope looked back at the red troll with a slightly flustered expression, possibly because the troll's condition was beyond its expectations. Although the two monsters were equal in rank, the lycanthrope had thought that it would be able to land an effective strike even if it could not defeat the red troll in one hit.
Be that as it may, all the lycanthrope did was anger the red troll. The red troll stomped its feet with an angry face, and suddenly, the ground beneath its feet shook, and a dirt clod rose. It was using earth energy. Even though the clod seemed primitive, it contained enormous power. Just like that, a dirt clod that exceeded a few tons was able to move freely.
The lycanthrope's face stiffened, and it sprinted in order to dodge the incoming dirt clod.
Lycanthropes could use both bipedal and quadrupedal locomotion and were known for their agility rather than their strength.
It's fast!
Even Leonard could not help but be astonished by the lycanthrope's movements.
So that's what happens if a beast's unique movements are imbued with lightning energy. The speed alone is a level faster than that of an Apex Realm expert.
Even in the darkness, a glimmering afterglow remained at the places the lycanthrope passed by. The clod of dirt split into several forks and tried to surround the lycanthrope, but it had escaped the encirclement long before it could completely surround it. The lycanthrope instantly closed in on the red troll and revealed its claws.
The red troll raised its arm reflexively, but seven different blood streaks appeared on its upper body, and blood splattered. The lycanthrope was slicing the red troll so quickly that the blood was showing up later than normal. Fortunately, the red troll's hide was so sturdy that the wound was not deep. If it were a human, it would have already been reduced to meat chunks.
What unbelievable regeneration.
Rather than the lycanthrope's speed, Leonard paid attention to the red troll's wound, which had already healed and turned into a scar. Trolls were monsters known for their regenerative powers, but having broken through to the True Demon Tier, the red troll had an even greater regenerative power. It was to the point that even if its limbs were severed, it could regrow them. It was impossible for blood loss and wounds to reduce the red troll's fighting capabilities. Injuring the troll was meaningless unless its vitals, such as the brain and heart, were destroyed.
The lycanthrope pounced at the troll a few times, but it only slightly injured the troll, who only focused on protecting two of its vital points. The troll showed off its huge body and laughed mockingly at the lycanthrope's meaningless attacks. It was an unbearable insult for the wolf, which was proud of being able to kill an enemy in one shot.
The lycanthrope trembled in anger and went on all fours. It rotated the mana overflowing inside it to its maximum. Gradually, a thunderous sound grew louder. Its dark blue fur began to glow brighter, and the glow turned a pale blue. The lycanthrope revealed its sharp fangs, a weapon more powerful than claws for a beast. It intended to gnaw and kill the red troll.
"Grrrr...!"
Perhaps because it sensed danger from the lycanthrope's spirit, the red troll mustered all its power, which it had yet to show. A huge clod of dirt rose from the ground, forming the shape of a fiery beast over the red troll's body. The red troll's true nature was a shaman capable of controlling two mana types: earth and fire.
Leonard was engrossed in the life-and-death battle between the two True Demon Tier monsters, and only afterward did he realize that the red troll and the lycanthrope had moved away from the cave. He could enter without being noticed.
It would be fine to wait for the two to settle their fight, but if either survives in good condition, I won't have another chance like this.
The best situation was for the two monsters to perish together, but that depended completely on luck. From Leonard's point of view, the red troll held the upper hand with a sixty percent chance of defeating the lycanthrope. Moreover, if the troll won, it would be able to heal its wound in less than a few minutes due to its regenerative powers.
There was also the possibility of the troll eating all the spirit herbs in the cave to recover from its wound.
I'm going in.
As soon as he made the decision, Leonard moved on and entered the cave, avoiding the sensory range of the two monsters. Just after a few steps, the sound of the battle shifted further away. This elixir cave probably had a naturally soundproof structure, and there seemed to be a reason for it.
The cave was considerably deep. After he walked a few hundred meters more, he smelled an alluring scent. It was not just one or two different smells, but dozens of scents lingering around. They could have led to a bad stench if mixed, but this place was an exception.
"Ooohh, amazing."
Leonard was impressed when he finally saw the scene of the elixir cave.
The air is completely different compared to the last time I came here.
At that time, many flowers had yet to bloom and the fruits had been unripe, but now, they were almost all fully mature and ripe. Unlike what was expected of slow-witted monsters lacking dexterity, the trolls had arranged the spirit herbs, flowers, grasses, and trees well. The arrangement was excellent, even for ornamental purposes.
Some examples of these spirit herbs included the Fire Spirit Grass, which looked as if its flower petals were actually on fire; the Water Spirit Jade, which had a fruit that looked like a big droplet of water; and the Earth Spirit Block, which looked like an arrowroot full of spiritual energy. The most notable among the spirit herbs was a golden tree that grew thickly in the middle of the cultivated plot.
It wasn't just golden on the outside; it was also radiating a golden light all by itself.
I remember being taught about low-grade and mid-grade spirit herbs, but... I don't recognize this tree. It is either at least a high-grade spirit herb or rare enough that the Cardenas family did not include it in their teachings.
If it was a high-grade spirit herb, anyone in the External Force Tier would covet it. After all, it couldn't be exchanged even with a thousand mid-grade mana stones. Even Leonard would desire it because it would let him improve his mana cultivation level at any time. To strengthen the five elements' elemental power, spirit herbs and elixirs were more effective than mana stones.
The problem is that I don't even know how to harvest the useful parts from this tree. The size is too big to fit into the subspace pouch. Let's look for things I can take with me first.
Leonard didn't know when the fight between the two monsters would end, so it would be foolish to keep wasting time. He gathered the spirit herbs, fruits, and roots scattered throughout the plot of land and put them into his subspace pouch. He was filled with joy as he picked them; they amounted to at least dozens of mid-grade mana stones.
The tears and blood of the trolls, who worked hard to cultivate and take care of the plot, were none of his concern. The elixir cave was devastated in less than a few minutes, leaving only one tree standing in the center.
I'll have to find out more about that tree. Rather than doing something I will regret by touching it ignorantly, it will be better to come back later and harvest the useful parts, even if it is troublesome.
After finishing what he came for, Leonard tried to leave the cave, but he suddenly felt that something was out of place.
"... Thinking about it, it's kind of weird."
The existence of the elixir cave itself was strange. So many spirit herbs were being cultivated, but he could not feel the energy from the outside at all. Leonard scanned the cave in detail.
Perhaps...
He discovered the hidden secret. A substance that prevented the flow of energy from flowing properly was smeared on the cave's walls and ceiling.
Leonard unleashed energy at the wall as a test, and it bounced off rather than dig into it, leaving not even a single scratch. He nodded at the results of his test. Rather than intensifying the bounced energy, the substance seemed to disperse the condensed energy.
The trolls cultivated the spirit herbs in this cave probably because they understood its distinct characteristics.
If it's this place... I can secretly break through to the External Force Tier.
At the end of the day, the pillar of light that appeared when breaking through to the Eternal Force Tier was just a surge of overflowing energy, so this cave would be able to block it.
If only I could turn away the trolls' attention, then there wouldn't be a better place than here.
Trolls were monsters who dominated the Forest of Bones, and even those at the Fledgling Demon Tier were powerful. They would die if they were beheaded with sword energy, but if they blocked it with their arms, they would be able to survive for a few seconds. If they stalled for time that way, Leonard would be dead once several of those red trolls came to reinforce them.
As long as the tree, which could be considered the heart of the elixir cave, remained, the trolls' vigilance would only become tighter. There was no way they would lower their guard.
This won't be easy.
No matter what he did, there were some risks involved. The things he would gain would be in proportion to the things he would lose. It was a very difficult problem for him, as he was familiar with fights to the death but not choices with profit and loss.
However, there was no need for Leonard to make a choice.
"Groarrrr...!"
Suddenly, a troll appeared behind him and glared at him savagely. Due to the nature of the cave that blocked off energy and noise, Leonard hadn't noticed the troll approach.
Blaming himself for being careless, Leonard glanced at the troll. It was in a mess due to the fight it just had. Leonard did not know whether the lycanthrope was dead or if it had given up its objective and fled. However, fighting the weakened troll was worth a try.
"Its regenerative powers can't keep up."
Unlike before, the red troll could no longer regenerate its wounds, and its bones were still showing. This was proof that the lycanthrope had inflicted many injuries and that a troll's regenerative power was not limitless. Leonard was able to see through the parts that others could not by applying the incompatibility concept of the Five Elements.
Lightning originates from wood, and the red troll's regenerative powers are based on the earth element. Wood overcomes earth by binding it together with the roots of trees and drawing sustenance from the soil. It may not have been a big deal if only the troll's skin was wounded, but the troll can't easily regenerate a wound that reached its bones.
The Azure Dragon of the East, one of the Four Symbols, was often misunderstood to be of the water element due to its blue color, but it was actually of the wood element. It was an existence that dominated rain, clouds, wind, and lightning. It was also involved in the weather and the vegetation of plants. Perhaps that was why the energy of the wood element had a connection with the water element, allowing both to do various things.
Furthermore, lightning energy cannot drive out fire energy, which is considered to be the opposite element.
It was possible to block it, but it was impossible to drive it out. In order to expel the lightning energy that penetrated deeply into its body, the troll had to either lure the lightning energy with water energy and then discharge it from the body or disperse the lightning energy itself with gold energy. Either method was impossible for the red troll.
Five Elements Sword Qi
Lightning Blade
A black water sword energy instantly materialized, and as the Lightning Blade devoured it, it transformed into a blue sword energy that shone more intensely. Water nurtures wood, meaning wood would only be able to live in the presence of water. Leonard was increasing the power of the sword energy by using the principle of the generating interactions of the Five Elements.
An electric current flowed faintly from the tip of Leonard's sword. The red troll's eyes widened at the appearance of a power similar to that of the lycanthrope it had fought. The wounds carved on its body throbbed, and for a brief moment, the red troll staggered. Nevertheless, it overcame its hesitation and roared.
"Groarrrrr!!"
A standoff between a True Demon Tier troll and an apprentice knight in the Tenth Degree Body Refining Tier. It was the beginning of a fight with an obvious ending in anyone's eyes.