Chapter 70: A Cunning Beast!
Chapter 70
’Okay. I easily decimated those D ranked beasts like they were nothing. But I’m not sure I can do the same with a C ranked. Am I even strong enough?’ Zen thought as he took a stance, his side still bleeding as he baited his time waiting for the beast to make its first move.
__
CACKLE!
The beast thundered in anger as it rose from its throne of bones, a long spear gripped tightly in its hand while it growled menacingly at Zen. The chamber almost shook from the force of its roar.
Zen exhaled slowly and muttered, "Let’s do this, shall we?"
Without hesitation or warning, the beast blitzed forward with terrifying speed, so fast that Zen’s eyes widened in shock.
’Right. It’s a C rank. Wait! It’s a C rank!’ Zen screamed internally as the beast appeared before him in an instant.
Its spear thrust towards his abdomen, forcing Zen to gulp loudly and leap back just in time. The weapon cut through the air with a loud bang while Zen landed a metre away, heart pounding so violently he thought it might burst.
’Shit! It’s faster than the D ranks I faced just a moment ago,’ Zen thought, his body trembling slightly.
But he had no time to recover. The beast bolted forward again and in less than a second, appeared before him with another vicious swing.
Its spear slashed diagonally through the air.
Zen tried to lean back but the strike was mercilessly fast. The blade grazed his face, leaving a thin red line down his cheek. Pain flared for a split second, but Zen clenched his teeth and retaliated with a desperate swing of his sword.
CLANG!
The goblin blocked with its spear, the impact producing a sharp metallic echo. The sheer force vibrated down Zen’s arms, rattling his grip and making his hands tremble uncontrollably.
’Crap, crap, crap! I was too cocky. Am I going to die here?’ Zen’s mind screamed as he tried to leap away.
But the goblin switched its rhythm. With terrifying precision, it thrust its spear directly toward Zen’s head.
CLANG!
His sword barely intercepted the strike. His eyes widened as the weapon stopped just short of piercing his skull. Cold sweat trickled down his back.
’Luckily, I’m faster now because of my agility stat boost. If this had been my normal speed, I’d already have a hole in my head,’ Zen thought, his arms shaking as he pushed the spear aside. With a burst of determination, he lunged forward, trying to thrust his sword into the goblin’s torso.
But the beast merely sidestepped with ease, its cruel smirk widening. In the next instant, it swung its spear like a cane and slammed it across Zen’s back.
CRACK!
"Argh!" Zen staggered forward, stumbling in pain.
Before he could regain his footing, the goblin’s massive frame blurred again. Its leg shot up in a vicious uppercut kick, smashing into Zen’s jaw and snapping his head back violently.
{-4 HP}
BOUNCE! BOUNCE! BOUNCE!
THUD!
Zen’s body crashed across the chamber floor, bouncing helplessly before skidding to a halt. He twitched weakly, the taste of iron filling his mouth.
But his grip on his sword never loosened. Slowly, painfully, Zen pushed himself up, spitting blood onto the cracked ground. His face was battered and bleeding, especially his forehead, but none of that mattered. What mattered was his side, still gushing blood, forcing him to press against it while hissing in pain.
The goblin, eyes glowing with twisted excitement, didn’t give him any room to breathe. It dashed at him again, spear gleaming with killing intent.
’Sir Tom and Jace once said something... to take down a beast, you don’t act rashly. You don’t charge like a fool. You fight calmly. Calmly, Zen. Stay calm.’
Zen inhaled deeply, his chest rising and falling as his trembling hand tightened around his sword.
The beast appeared in front of him once more, thrusting its spear toward his shoulder.
Zen sidestepped. He wasn’t quite fast enough because the spear tore straight through his sleeve, leaving a gaping rip in his shirt—but his body remained untouched.
In that same heartbeat, Zen retaliated. He twisted his body and slammed a heavy kick into the goblin’s abdomen.
The strike landed with a solid crack, sending the beast skidding several feet across the floor, dust and broken bones scattering in its wake.
Zen winced, clutching his side tighter. "I’m not going down that easily."
Crouching down slightly, Zen fixed his gaze on the beast, his breath slow and heavy. Then, with a sharp bang against the stone floor, he bolted forward like a predator.
He leapt into the air and swung his sword in a powerful arc, unleashing the weapon’s active skill.
CLASH!
The goblin reacted instantly, swinging its spear to intercept. The two forces collided, the goblin’s strike clashing with Zen’s invisible attack, scattering sparks and raw energy.
’So its perception is that high?’ Zen wondered as his attack dissipated into shimmering light. But he didn’t falter. He was already upon the beast, sword raised high as he brought it down in a savage vertical slash.
The goblin’s eyes widened in shock. It had no time to retreat, only to hastily raise its spear overhead.
CLANG!
The deafening crash of steel echoed through the chamber as Zen’s sword struck the weapon. His teeth clenched, arms straining under the recoil. Then, in a sudden motion, he tossed his sword into the air.
The blade dissolved into motes of shimmering light.
Before the goblin could even comprehend what was happening, Zen’s hands clamped tightly around the hoisted spear. Muscles tensed, veins bulging, he heaved forward with explosive strength, performing a forward flip while dragging the weapon with him.
The goblin was ripped off its footing, yanked violently into the air.
With a grunt, Zen swung it like someone dusting off a heavy cloth, flipping it overhead before slamming it down into the ground with monstrous force.
BOOOM!
The beast crashed into the stone floor, the impact cracking the ground as it coughed out a mouthful of thick black blood.
But Zen didn’t stop. His eyes burned with determination as he leapt into the air again, twisting his body to drive both feet straight into the beast’s chest.
The goblin rolled away just in time.
CRASH!
Zen’s feet smashed into the stone, shattering it and leaving behind a deep crater. Dust and shards of rock exploded outward.
Two metres away, the goblin staggered to its feet, blood dripping from its mouth as it glared at Zen. Its chest rose and fell rapidly, but its grin returned, feral and cruel.
Zen, panting hard, raised his hand. A shimmer of light gathered in his palm, reforming his sword into his grip with a faint hum. He tried to advance, but a sharp, tearing pain jolted through him.
"Arghh!" He winced, clutching his side as blood seeped through his fingers. His body screamed in protest, but his eyes burned with fire.
The goblin noticed. Its grin stretched wider, hunger and delight flashing in its eyes as it watched Zen fight against his own failing body.
’Pain is nothing to me,’ Zen roared in his mind. ’I have dealt with pain, lived with pain, dined with pain, and bathed in pain. This is nothing compared to the torment I’ve endured in this accursed world! I will not fall here. I will kill this damned beast!’
With a flash of movement, Zen charged. His sword sliced horizontally in a burst of strength.
The goblin met him head-on, its grin widening even further as it raised its spear to absorb the blow.
CLANG!
The weapons clashed, sparks flying. In the same instant, the goblin planted its foot into Zen’s abdomen.
"Ughhh!"
The strike launched Zen backwards, skidding across the floor.
"Curse you!" he spat, forcing himself forward again, pain and fury carrying him. But the beast was quicker.
In a blur, it appeared before him. Its spear lunged forward, precise and merciless.
TWCK!
Zen’s eyes widened in horror as the world froze around him. A warm gush of blood filled his mouth, which he immediately coughed out in a thick spray. Slowly, shakily, his gaze lowered.
The goblin’s spear was buried deep in his already injured side, piercing through and erupting out his back.
{-10 HP}
{41/65 HP left}
"Shit..." Zen muttered weakly, his voice trembling.
The goblin’s grin widened as it twisted the spear viciously inside him. Zen’s scream was cut short as more blood poured from his lips, his vision flickering in and out. His knees weakened, the chamber spinning as the cold grip of blood loss began to drown him.