Chapter 13: A True Monster
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Riven chased after the escaping monsters, leaping high into the air and stomping one of them with his full weight. At the same time he manifested a massive Ice Tomahawk and sent it flying at full strength toward the last fleeing werewolf.
With Heavy Weapon Master enhancing his mastery over all heavy weapons, the Ice Tomahawk’s speed and attack power rose dramatically. It crushed the werewolf’s head and split it apart while frost exploded outward and covered the rest of its body.
"Are there any more? Daniela!"
He took a step forward and moved as quickly as he could. Cold winds began to gather around him as he reached her side and found her completely fine, finishing off the last remaining monsters.
"Riven! That was amazing...! You killed them all!"
"..."
Riven did not answer. He stayed close behind her and carefully scanned the surrounding darkness.
He could still feel it. There were more presences hiding nearby.
"Careful!"
He leaped toward her, shocking her completely as he pushed her out of the way and rolled across the cave floor. Two Cave Panthers appeared out of the darkness and nearly beheaded her.
"Two?! I already killed two more..." he muttered while wrapping his arms around Daniela to shield her.
"Eugh... R-Riven, you’re too... strong... my bones!" she cried out.
"Sorry." He released her and quickly summoned a pair of Ice Axes, noticing yet another pair of Cave Panthers emerging behind them. "Four! No, wait...!"
His eyes widened as a fifth creature appeared on a higher elevation, gazing down at them with sharp gold-red eyes.
"Assassin Panther!"
Riven and Daniela spoke the name at the same time. A chill ran down both of their spines as the ferocious creature, ranked D++ in power, stared at them with pure hunger.
Assassin Panthers were the natural evolution of the Cave Panthers. They were even deadlier and faster, capable of sneaking behind their foes with greater ease. Their greatest ability lay in the power to control and command the weaker Cave Panthers, unifying them into a coordinated group. What would normally be lonely predators became a powerful pack that could move through the shadows and attack together.
"One of them must have sneaked down from the second floor, but how?!" Daniela asked in disbelief.
She did not know the answer, but monsters that ate enough humans could evolve into stronger forms.
"None of that," Riven shook his head. "It seems a lot of people have been dying here. One of those cats got plenty to eat until it became stuffed and evolved."
"E-Evolved?!" She asked, still shocked. "That’s a thing?"
"Of course it is," Riven sighed. "Though research on it has been kept secret from the public for some reason... courtesy of my blasted family."
"GRYAAAOORR!"
The Assassin Panther roared ferociously. It was twice the size of a regular Cave Panther. Its four remaining lackeys charged at once and vanished from sight.
"We don’t know where they’ll hit!" Daniela panicked.
"Use Clowny Charm, now!"
"Eh?!"
"Trust me!"
Daniela clenched her teeth and activated her skill once more.
Bright light surged around them, and the shadows that had been surrounding the area disappeared for a brief moment.
In that single second the four panthers reappeared, all of them flanking the pair.
"Got you."
Riven’s Abyssal Fist activated. The skill had already reached Level 2 during the earlier battles, and a secondary characteristic began to awaken.
Shadows.
Darkness surged from his hands and formed into additional tentacles. The tentacles vanished almost as quickly as they appeared, yet they were strong enough to bind two panthers behind him, lift them into the air, and smash them against the others at blinding speed.
CRAAASH!
"?!"
The Assassin Panther, a smart predator that had hunted dozens of hunters before, was left speechless as it watched its four subordinates fall so easily.
Or rather, not completely.
Black auras surged from the injured panthers, empowered by their Alpha. Even while bleeding and suffering from several broken bones, they charged again.
However, they were much slower now. Riven greeted them with his Ice Axes, which were empowered by Heavy Weapon Master. He unleashed a dual horizontal slash followed by a vertical slash, creating a cross-shaped wave of cutting azure and dark mana.
SLAAASH!
Unable to avoid the attack in time, the giant felines were instantly bisected by the sharp, cold weapons. Their body pieces, still bleeding and twitching, splattered across the cave floor.
"..."
Riven sighed in relief. His breathing was heavy as he looked up at the stronger monster that continued to gaze at him from above.
"Daniela, again."
"But..."
"We can’t let that thing run away, can we?"
Daniela swallowed hard and activated Clowny Charm once more.
Bright lights appeared around her. Even a D++ Rank monster was drawn to them. The Assassin Panther’s face, which had previously shown a hint of fear and the consideration of running, twisted into that of a berserk, ferocious beast.
"GRAAOORR!"
It rampaged forward. Black lightning surged from its body as it reached Riven and slammed its claws against his axes. An explosion of frost and dark lightning erupted. His weapons were instantly destroyed, and a deep slash cut across his face, covering his eyes with blood.
"Tsk!"
He refused to lose his cool. He quickly wrapped the beast in a powerful bear hug and forced it to the ground.
The Panther went mad with anger. It hissed, slashed at his back, and bit his neck repeatedly while struggling to break free.
But he did not give up.
More Mana and even Ki began flowing through his muscles and Meridians. His entire body grew larger and more massive.
"Hmph...!"
"Gryyyyaaaarrrrr!"
The beast let out one final cry. A loud, deafening crack followed immediately after.
CRACK.
The massive creature’s entire body went limp. Its eyes rolled back.
It was dead.
"W-Woah..."
Daniela remained on the floor, completely shocked by what she had just witnessed.
A single man had wrestled something twice the size of a lion and killed it by crushing its bones with the strongest bear hug she had ever seen.
This was pure insanity.
Blood covered his body, and several deep slashes ran across his back.
Yet those wounds slowly recovered on their own.
Even the ugly wound across his face disappeared over time. The bleeding had already stopped.
Riven looked down at his own hands and the incredible strength they now carried.
"I... have really become a monster," he sighed quietly. "I have to be careful not to harm Elisa..."
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