Chapter 76: King of the Zoo — [Flamecrest Lion | Level 50]
Cain lowered Sonya from his back.
"Behind that tree."
Sonya looked toward the approaching animals.
"What about you?"
"I’ll be fine."
Sonya did not waste time arguing as she immediately ran toward one of the thicker trees near the edge of the enclosure.
Cain unsheathed his sword, then poured the Ruin Dragon Force into his body and sword.
The Level 43 lion reached him first.
Its huge body launched from the ground.
Cain stepped inside its leap and swung his sword sideways.
Shhk!
The lion passed beside him headless, blood sprayed across the dry grass.
Cain had already turned toward the next creature.
The Level 42 lion approached from his left, swinging its paw toward his ribs.
Cain moved slightly beyond the claws before reversing his sword.
The blade crossed the exposed neck.
Another head fell.
The final lion hesitated before opening its jaw as it rushed forward.
Cain stepped directly toward it, stabbing his sword upward as the lion lunged toward him.
Shhk!
The edge passed through the underside of its neck and exited near the back of its skull.
Cain then pulled the blade free.
The massive body collapsed beside him.
At the same time, notifications from the system appeared before his eyes.
[Ding! You have killed the Level 43 1st Echelon Evolved Lion.]
[Ding! You have obtained Strength +5, Agility +1, and Physique +2.]
[Ding! You have obtained 21,000 System Points.]
[Ding! You have killed the Level 42 1st Echelon Evolved Lion.]
[Ding! You have obtained Strength +4, Agility +1, and Physique +2.]
[Ding! You have obtained 20,000 System Points.]
[Ding! You have killed the Level 41 1st Echelon Evolved Lion.]
[Ding! You have obtained Strength +3, Agility +1, and Physique +1.]
[Ding! You have obtained 20,000 System Points.]
Cain dismissed the notifications immediately as his attention focused on the enormous lion that had stood up.
Its eyes moved across the three corpses, then it looked at Cain in anger.
"ROOOAR!"
The roar shook the surrounding enclosure.
Sonya covered one ear from behind the tree.
Cain tightened his grip on the sword.
The flame-shaped mark on the lion’s forehead suddenly brightened.
Fire erupted across its mane.
Cain’s eyes narrowed when he saw the flames spread along its body without burning the fur.
The creature’s claws became covered in bright orange fire.
Its tail ignited from base to tip.
"So that’s what caused those burn marks."
The lion opened its mouth, a small flame appeared between its jaws before expanding rapidly.
Cain’s expression changed.
"Sonya!"
She looked toward him.
"Get farther away!"
Sonya immediately moved.
The fire inside the lion’s mouth condensed into a bright sphere, then it was released as it headed toward Cain.
Boom!
A blazing fireball crossed the enclosure.
Cain could have moved or could even cut through the attack, but the problem was what happened afterward.
Sonya was still too close.
So, if the fire scattered across the surrounding area, she could be caught in it.
Cain sheathed his sword for an instant.
Ruin Dragon Force surged through his body, then a much denser concentration gathered around his right fist.
The fireball reached him.
Cain punched it head on.
BOOM!
His fist entered the center of the flame.
The concentrated Ruin energy collided directly with the supernatural fire.
For a fraction of a second, the two forces resisted each other, then the fireball exploded.
Flames swallowed Cain.
"Cain!"
Sonya’s frightened shout came from farther away.
Fire spread across the grass.
Then Cain emerged through it.
The skin covering his fist had been burned badly. Several portions of his exposed forearm were red and blackened from the heat.
His clothes had suffered even worse as the front of his shirt was partially burned away, though the new armor beneath had protected most of his body.
Cain looked down at his right hand.
It was truly painful, but it did not last long as the Undying God Body immediately responded.
Mana flowed toward the burned body without Cain needing to think about it.
The blackened skin began peeling away and healthy flesh regenerated underneath.
Within moments, the worst burns had already disappeared.
Cain smiled in satisfaction as this was the first time he had ever tasted such ungodly regeneration.
The Flamecrest Lion did not give him time to admire the recovery as it charged through the remaining flames.
Cain sensed it approaching.
The burning claws swept toward his head.
He drew his sword and raised it, attempting to block the incoming attack.
Clang!
The claw struck the blade, fire scattered from the collision.
Cain’s arm shifted downward.
The lion landed and attacked again almost immediately as its other paw swept toward his body.
Cain moved aside.
The claws passed close enough for the heat to wash across his clothes.
Cain answered with a slash toward its ribs, but the lion twisted its body in time.
Though, his sword cut through the outer layer of fire before leaving a wound across its side.
The Flamecrest Lion roared.
Instead of retreating, it attacked with greater aggression.
Cain’s expression became serious.
The strength behind that claw had been much greater than what the armored rhino possessed.
Not only that as the lion was faster and its reactions were better as well.
’So this is what the king of the jungle’s strength is like.’
Cain had already suspected evolved animals were naturally stronger than zombies at similar Levels.
This lion confirmed it beyond doubt considering how strong it was compared to other animals he had ever met.
’No wonder no other animals were seen in the zoo.’
The Flamecrest Lion lowered its body.
Its muscles tightened.
Cain increased the amount of Ruin Dragon Force circulating through him as he didn’t want to drag the fight for too long.
A faint discomfort finally appeared inside his muscles.
Cain almost smiled when he felt it.
After obtaining the Undying God Body, he had been able to push Ruin Dragon Force much harder before his body began protesting.
Even now, the discomfort was barely noticeable.