Chapter 77: Time for Sonya to Calm His Dragon Down
Both Cain and the lion moved at the same time.
The first exchange came from the right as the lion’s flaming paw descended toward him.
Cain stepped closer and struck the inside of the forelimb with his sword.
Shhk!
Blood sprayed and the lion stumbled as the attack was redirected.
It recovered almost instantly and opened its jaws.
Fire burned inside its mouth again.
Cain did not allow another fireball as he immediately made his move.
His foot struck the ground and he appeared beside its head.
The lion twisted toward him as its claws swept across.
Cain blocked the incoming attack.
Crack!
The faint damage running through his sword spread farther.
Cain clicked his tongue.
"Just hold together a little longer."
The lion lunged again.
Cain increased the input of Ruin Dragon Force into his body and the sword more.
The next movement ended the battle as he stepped past the burning claws and swung across its neck.
Shhk!
The fire surrounding the lion flickered when its head separated from its body.
The massive body continued forward before falling heavily onto the grass.
The flames then disappeared.
Cain remained still for several seconds, his gaze fell toward his sword as he noticed several thin cracks now crossed the blade.
The sword had survived, but barely.
The notification from the system appeared in front of him again.
[Ding! You have killed the Level 50 1st Echelon Flamecrest Lion.]
[Ding! You have obtained Strength +8, Agility +2, and Physique +3.]
[Ding! You have obtained 35,000 System Points.]
Cain released a slow breath as he looked at the corpse.
"This lion was truly ridiculous."
Cain had never truly been in danger from the start, but the difference between this lion and most of the other 1st Echelon creatures he had killed was enormous.
And it was still only 1st Echelon.
Cain could not help thinking about the creature waiting inside the western public park.
The designated 2nd Echelon zombie.
He had no idea what kind of mutation it possessed or even how high its level would be.
Let alone knowing how strong it possessed.
That was precisely why Cain now felt that he should prepare more, since this fight reminded him that there were countless possibilities and he truly needed to prepare things thoroughly.
Cain looked at his damaged sword.
’I really hope that bastard isn’t this monstrous compared to others in its own Echelon.’
If the zombie was the 2nd Echelon equivalent of this Flamecrest Lion, he was confident that he wouldn’t be able to kill it, at least not without grinding it to its death by playing dirty.
Still, worrying about it would accomplish nothing.
He crouched beside the dead lions.
One Core after another entered his Inventory.
Then a familiar cyan glow appeared beside the largest corpse.
Cain immediately looked over.
His earlier concern instantly disappeared when he saw the item.
"Another one?"
A Cyan Orb rested within the grass.
Cain picked it up and crushed it without hesitation.
Cyan light gathered in front of him, then a sword slowly appeared.
Its sheath was black with dark crimson patterns running along the surface. The handle was wrapped in rough black material that felt secure beneath Cain’s fingers.
He drew the blade slightly.
The metal possessed a faint reddish sheen.
More importantly, Cain could immediately tell from the structure that it was far more durable than his current weapon.
[Crimson Fang Sword - Epic-rank]
[Strength +40]
[Agility +20]
[Physique +30]
[Beastfang Edge: Greatly increases cutting power against natural armor, dense flesh, and reinforced bodies.]
[Energy Conductor: Greatly improves the stability and efficiency of energy channeled through the blade, allowing the weapon to endure far greater reinforcement without suffering damage.]
Cain stared at the final effect.
Then he looked at the cracked sword in his other hand.
His smile widened.
"Perfect timing."
He had already been worried that his current sword would break before the fight against the designated 2nd Echelon zombie.
After the battle with the Flamecrest Lion, he doubted it could survive many more serious clashes.
Fortunately, this solved the problem.
Let alone the fact that it has an energy conductor, which basically suits his current situation where he could only pour the Ruin Dragon Force to the sword.
Cain couldn’t ask for more as he immediately sheathed the cracked sword and stored it inside the inventory.
The new sword replaced it at his waist.
He was about to test how well it handled Ruin Dragon Force when hurried footsteps approached.
"Cain!"
Sonya came out from behind the trees.
Her attention was not on the dead lions as she immediately walked around Cain and inspected him from head to toe.
"Are you hurt?"
"I’m fine."
"You were covered in fire!"
Sonya touched his arm.
The skin there had already healed.
Her expression became confused.
"I saw this get burned."
"It did."
She looked up at him with a confused expression.
"Then how is it already fine?"
"Well, I have an extremely strong Talent." Cain shrugged.
Sonya stared at his arm again before moving closer.
Her hands checked the burned sections of his clothing as though she expected to discover an injury hidden underneath.
Cain allowed her to continue.
Then a familiar sound echoed inside his mind.
[Ding!]
Cain’s eyes shifted as a translucent screen appeared.
[Eligible Investment Target detected.]
[Sonya now possesses sufficiently high Favorability toward the Host.]
Cain froze for half a second.
Then his eyes lit up.
’Already?’
He looked toward Sonya, who was still inspecting his damaged clothes.
The top portion of his shirt had been badly burned during the fireball explosion, leaving part of his chest exposed around the armor.
Sonya leaned closer as she checked whether any burns remained near the edge.
Cain’s gaze naturally lowered.
The angle gave him a very clear view of her cleavage, making his body react before his mind bothered interfering.
Sonya eventually noticed as her eyes moved downward, then back toward Cain.
A meaningful smile slowly appeared on her face.
Cain looked at her without embarrassment.
Sonya licked her lips lightly.
"Well..."
She stepped closer.
"It looks like it’s time for me to help you again."