Chapter 74 — The Ruin Stonefang
The Ruin Stonefang roared.
Blue energy surged through the cracks in its armor as it lowered its body.
Lyanna immediately moved away from its injured leg.
"That wound is slowing it down!"
Caelan nodded.
"Then we focus on the right side."
Orin tightened his grip on his shield.
"I’ll keep it facing me."
Azrael raised Astraeus.
"Don’t attack blindly."
The Stonefang suddenly charged.
BOOM!
Orin planted his feet.
The beast slammed into his shield.
The impact sent a shockwave through the chamber.
Orin’s knees bent.
"Heavy!"
Seraphina immediately raised her staff.
"Genesis Bloom!"
Golden flowers spread beneath his feet.
A warm aura surrounded his body.
His strength increased.
Orin pushed back.
The Stonefang’s enormous body shifted slightly.
"Now!"
Caelan moved.
His silver spear shot forward.
CLANG!
The spear struck the beast’s exposed joint.
The Stonefang howled.
Lyanna appeared behind it.
Her dagger flashed toward the same injury.
Slash!
Another cut opened.
The creature swung its tail violently.
Lyanna barely ducked.
The stone-covered tail smashed into the wall.
BOOM!
Fragments of rock fell from above.
Azrael immediately looked upward.
"Careful!"
The chamber was becoming unstable.
The crystals on the central platform glowed brighter.
Seraphina noticed them too.
"If the battle continues like this, the entire chamber might collapse."
Azrael nodded.
"Then we finish it quickly."
The Stonefang suddenly opened its mouth.
Blue energy gathered between its jaws.
Caelan’s expression changed.
"Move!"
A beam of blue energy exploded across the chamber.
BOOOOM!
Everyone scattered.
The attack tore through the stone floor.
Orin raised his shield.
The remaining force pushed him backward.
Azrael spread one Eclipse Wing.
The wing twisted his body through the air.
The beam passed beneath him.
He landed on the wall for an instant before pushing away.
His eyes remained fixed on the Stonefang.
The beast’s right leg was trembling.
It was losing strength.
"One more attack."
Lyanna understood.
"Where?"
"Same joint."
Caelan nodded.
"We’ll create an opening."
Orin stepped forward again.
"Leave it to me."
The Stonefang charged.
Orin didn’t retreat.
He raised his shield.
"Come!"
BOOM!
The collision shook the chamber.
Orin’s feet slid backward.
But this time, he held his ground.
The beast pushed harder.
Its injured leg buckled slightly.
"Now!"
Caelan thrust his spear.
Lyanna attacked from behind.
Seraphina released a wave of golden energy.
"Genesis Spear!"
A golden spear formed in the air.
It shot toward the beast’s injured joint.
Three attacks struck at once.
BOOM!
The Stonefang’s armor shattered.
Its right leg collapsed.
The enormous beast fell onto one knee.
Azrael moved.
He didn’t rush directly toward its head.
Instead, he stepped to the side.
One step.
Two.
Three.
He watched the beast’s movements.
Its remaining strength was concentrated in its left side.
The creature swung its head toward him.
Azrael ducked.
The crystal horn passed above him.
He stepped inside its attack range.
Astraeus flashed.
Slash!
A black line appeared across the Stonefang’s chest.
The beast froze.
Azrael’s eyes narrowed.
"Oblivion Judgment."
Dark energy entered the wound.
The Stonefang’s regeneration stopped.
Its body began breaking apart into particles of blue light.
The creature released one final roar.
Then—
BOOM!
Its enormous body collapsed.
Silence filled the chamber.
The System appeared.
[Monster Defeated]
Ruin Stonefang eliminated.
Contribution Rewards Calculated.
Experience Granted.
Energy Crystals Obtained.
Rare Monster Core Obtained.
Golden light surrounded the five members.
Azrael felt energy flow through his body.
His level increased slightly.
Seraphina smiled.
"We did it."
Orin lowered his shield.
"That was much harder than I expected."
Caelan looked at the remains of the Stonefang.
"We fought well."
Lyanna nodded.
"We also nearly destroyed the ruin."
Everyone looked toward the cracks spreading across the walls.
Azrael sighed.
"That’s a problem."
A loud crack echoed.
CRACK!
Everyone immediately looked upward.
A piece of the ceiling fell.
Orin raised his shield and blocked it.
BOOM!
"Definitely a problem."
Azrael looked toward the exit.
"Everyone out."
They quickly moved through the corridor.
Behind them, the ruin continued shaking.
They reached the entrance just as part of the roof collapsed.
BOOOOM!
A massive cloud of dust erupted.
The five stood outside.
Lyanna coughed.
"So much for exploring the whole thing."
Azrael looked at the ruined entrance.
"We still gained something."
He held up the monster core.
Caelan nodded.
"And the crystals."
Seraphina smiled.
"Plus experience."
Orin laughed.
"Not a bad first day."
Azrael looked toward the forest.
The sun had moved considerably since they entered the ruin.
"We should make camp."
Lyanna nodded.
"I’ll find a safe location."
She disappeared between the trees.
The others began collecting what they had obtained.
A few minutes later, Lyanna returned.
"I found a clearing nearby."
"Good."
They followed her.
The clearing was surrounded by large trees and had a small stream running through it.
Orin gathered wood while Seraphina prepared food.
Caelan sat beside the stream, cleaning his spear.
Azrael remained slightly away from the others.
He looked at the monster core in his hand.
It contained a strange energy.
Not purely elemental.
Not purely physical.
Something different.
The System appeared.
[Rare Monster Core]
Source: Ruin Stonefang
Primary Properties:
Strength Enhancement
Earth Affinity
Physical Reinforcement
Usage: Absorption / Crafting / Exchange
Azrael considered it.
He could absorb it.
But he didn’t know whether doing so would be useful.
"Later."
He placed it inside his storage ring.
Seraphina called from the camp.
"Azrael!"
He looked over.
"Come eat."
Azrael smiled.
"I’m coming."
For the first time since entering the Outer Territory, the team sat together without fighting.
They discussed the day’s events.
Lyanna talked about the creatures she had sensed.
Orin proudly explained how he had blocked the Stonefang’s charge.
Caelan corrected him several times.
Seraphina laughed.
Azrael simply listened.
The Academy had taught them how to become stronger.
The Outer Territory was teaching them something different.
How to rely on one another.
After dinner, they divided the night watch.
Lyanna took the first shift.
Azrael volunteered for the second.
The others gradually fell asleep.
The forest became quiet.
Azrael sat beside the stream, watching the moonlight reflect across the water.
His first day outside the Academy had been successful.
They had gained resources.
Defeated a rare monster.
Discovered an unexplored ruin.
And, most importantly...
His team had worked together.
Azrael smiled.
Tomorrow, they would continue deeper into the Outer Territory.