Chapter 207: The Lynx’s Revenge
For the next two days, Duane swept the surrounding area, using the Secret Realm Teleportation Gate as his base.
After eliminating over a dozen Mutated Demon Beasts, he finally began to ascend the mountain.
Duane had no idea what the other side of Black Forest Island was like.
Although he had sent Heck and his men to scout, he had yet to receive any results.
Therefore, if he could reach the highest peak, he might be able to use the vantage point to see for himself.
On the first day, a thick mountain mist obscured his vision, preventing him from seeing far into the distance.
However, judging by the areas he passed, the higher he climbed, the more unfamiliar plants he encountered.
On the second day, Duane reached the mountainside and saw two enormous waterfalls nestled between the peaks.
If this were on Earth, they would undoubtedly be a magnificent tourist attraction, but unfortunately, there was no one here to appreciate them.
By the third day, he was approaching the summit.
The trees here had become sparse, leaving only alpine shrubs, grasslands, and exposed rock.
However, Duane spotted a new species here—goats.
These goats were twice the size of any Duane had ever seen!
They had solid muscles and nimble hooves, allowing them to traverse steep terrain and withstand the biting wind and snow.
What caught Duane’s attention most were their horns, which stored Magic Power.
When he got close, the goats could fire beams of light from their horns to attack him.
Unfortunately, their attacks were very weak; a Basic-level Warrior could easily block them with a Shield.
Based on this trait, Duane named them "Demon-Horned Goats" and hunted one to taste its meat.
The meat was slightly gamy but incredibly tender. After eating it, he felt a pleasant warmth spread throughout his body.
If they could be raised in large quantities in the future, they might become a unique specialty of Black Forest Island.
Moreover, the fact that their horns could store Magic Power was a trait that could potentially be exploited in the future.
At noon on the fourth day, Duane arrived at the summit.
A cold wind howled across the summit, where melting snow converged into streams that flowed down the mountainside.
Duane gazed out, the entirety of Black Forest Island stretching out before him.
’To stand at the summit and watch the world shrink below!’
As the thrill subsided, he began to observe the island’s topography.
The Heavenly Mountain Range split Black Forest Island in two.
The side where Duane’s Territory was located made up about two-thirds of the island’s total area.
The other side was smaller, and its terrain appeared to be nothing but mountains all the way to the island’s edge.
By contrast, on his side, Duane had discovered a large plain near Thorn Valley.
Moreover, a river flowing down from the Heavenly Mountains ran right through it.
If this plain could be developed, it would surely become a breadbasket!
Duane had already decided. Once he returned, he would send men to explore it and assess its development potential.
As for the other side of the island, a preliminary survey suggested it only had abundant timber resources.
But given the rugged, treacherous mountains over there, even if Heck and his men found a place to land, transporting the harvested timber would be a nightmare.
In comparison, finding some rare flowers and exotic herbs would be far more valuable.
Duane remained at the summit for a long while, his excitement gradually giving way to calm.
He murmured softly, offering his assessment, "It’s a little small."
For a Baron’s Territory, if Duane developed that plain, its size would be comparable to an Earl’s Territory.
But he had never been content with just being an Island Master. From that perspective, Black Forest Island naturally felt small.
’For now, this place is worth my effort for many years to come. But in the meantime, I can look for opportunities to acquire an exclave within the Kingdom.’
He thought of Lloyd’s map.
’If I could get a Territory on the Flowing Silver Fjord side, that would be perfect!’
That way, he could not only easily connect with the Kingdom but also with the Starfall Islands.
But with no large-scale wars at present, there was no opportunity to win glory and recognition.
Within the Pruck Kingdom, there didn’t seem to be any signs of rebellion either.
Just as Duane was lost in these thoughts, a wolf’s howl shattered the silence.
’High Mountain Wolf?’
Duane frowned and looked north.
He could tell the howl was coming from the valley ahead.
’Probably a pack of wolves hunting Demon-Horned Goats.’
Duane had no intention of interfering, but just then, several more howls echoed through the air.
Unlike the first, these howls were agonizing, like the cries of something under attack.
’A Demon Beast is attacking the pack?’
Duane’s interest was instantly piqued.
A single wolf wasn’t very strong; their power lay in their numbers.
An ordinary Level 4 or Level 5 Demon Beast wouldn’t dare to harass a pack of over a dozen wolves, especially if its leader was a Level 3 Demon Beast.
For a Demon Beast to dare attack a wolf pack, it was clearly something out of the ordinary.
Duane slung his saber over his back, grabbed his staff, and quickly ran toward the source of the sounds.
Soon, from the cover of some rocks in a mountain ravine, he got a clear view of the scene.
The first thing he saw was a Giant Lynx, two meters tall at the shoulder and a full three meters long.
Its muscles were knotted like steel, its claws as long as blades. Its cold eyes, combined with a silver-black coat marked with dark gold Magic Patterns, gave it an incredibly cruel and bloodthirsty appearance.
The Giant Lynx currently held a wolf’s corpse in its jaws. At its feet, dozens more wolves lay in pools of their own blood.
These wolves were no simple prey themselves.
They were about two meters long, and the roaring alpha wolf was an impressive three meters long!
Duane was secretly astonished.
’The cave behind the pack must be their den. Is this lynx attacking them at the entrance all by itself?’
This was clearly not a hunt for food.
If it were just trying to fill its stomach, the wolves already on the ground were more than enough for several meals.
It looked more like it was here for revenge.
GRRROWL!
The Giant Lynx glanced in Duane’s direction, its cold eyes filled with a potent warning.
’I’ve been spotted?’
Duane’s heart skipped a beat. The creature’s gaze sent a chill of danger down his spine.
’This Lynx’s power is probably on par with that Black Bear.’
He remained motionless, continuing to observe from behind the rock.
Just then, the battle between them erupted once more.
The giant wolves used pack tactics, swarming forward in an attempt to overwhelm and repel their enemy with sheer numbers.
Duane noticed Magic Power surging around the wolves’ claws. A single swipe could unleash a dazzling arc of light that tore gashes in solid rock.
The alpha wolf in particular could burst forward with speed comparable to an Earth Tier Warrior.
But the Lynx was even more astonishing.
It moved like a phantom, flickering in and out of view. With each precisely dodged attack, it would counter with a pounce that crippled its target before its jaws locked precisely onto the wolf’s throat.
As time went on, the number of fallen wolves steadily grew. One, two, three...
After five or six minutes, the wails of the wolf pack began to fade.
Finally, the alpha wolf’s skull was shattered by the Lynx’s massive paw. Blood splattered across the rocks in a grisly display.
Before the den, only the Lynx remained, standing proudly amidst a pile of corpses. It threw back its head and let out a triumphant cry, releasing all its pent-up fury and elation, as if it had just claimed a great vengeance.
Duane held his breath, weighing his options.
’This Lynx is definitely at Level 6, but it’s exhausted a lot of stamina and has taken some injuries. This is my chance!’
The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
Duane gripped his Big Ring Saber. He opened with the Snake Fang Assault, an ability from his Celestial Python Bloodline, and his speed instantly quintupled, striking as fast as lightning!
But at that exact moment, the dark gold Magic Patterns on the Lynx’s body erupted with intense light.
With a roar, it transformed into a silver-black bolt of lightning and vanished from its spot.
BOOM!
Duane’s attack struck empty air, the immense energy blasting apart the surrounding rocks.
But the attack had completely missed!
’It’s that fast?’
His expression flickered as he looked toward the Lynx.
The creature shot Duane one last, cold glance before turning, leaping away, and disappearing among the cliffs in a few bounds.
Duane froze for a moment, then gave a wry smile. ’Was that thing confident, or what?’
The Lynx had discovered Duane long ago, yet it still chose to annihilate the wolf pack. That was enough to prove it had been confident in its ability to escape.
’Just now, when the Magic Patterns on its body lit up, its speed surged. That must be its special ability.’
This was an exceptionally rare and powerful Demon Beast. ’If I get the chance in the future, I have to take it down.’
’Even though I couldn’t stop it, this wasn’t a total loss.’
Duane looked at the ground littered with the corpses of High Mountain Wolves. Demon Cores, Wolf Hides—all of it was precious resources.
Just as he was about to start collecting them, a howling sound came from within the cave.
Duane tensed and immediately took a defensive stance.
But after hearing a few more yelps, he was surprised.
’That sounds like... whimpering. Don’t tell me there are still cubs alive in the den?’