BXBX NOVEL Chapter 288 285: Dealing with the beast in the cave!
Chapter 288 285: Dealing with the beast in the cave!
While its secrets were locked away for now, Val knew that when the fateful moment arrived, this mirror would assist him immensely, providing him the guidance and knowledge he needed to destroy the lesser dimension.
Oliver, meanwhile, tried to process what had just unfolded before him. The tree, which had seemed so ordinary and innocuous, had in reality been a formidable adversary. The realization was jolting, and he felt a chill run down his spine, causing his lips to tremble in disbelief.
Seeing his friend\'s distress, Val reached out, placing a comforting hand on Oliver\'s shoulder in a reassuring gesture, silently conveying that everything was alright.
"Cheer up," Val advised with a hint of warmth in his voice, "The danger has passed. It\'s already been dealt with."
Silently, Oliver nodded in response.
"How did you notice it? I didn\'t sense it at all," Oliver asked as they continued their journey.
"It\'s thanks to my heavenly eye skill. On top of what I\'ve already told you about this ability, it also lets me pierce through any deception as well, laying the truth bare to my eyes. The Dryad was using a powerful illusion to mask her true appearance and blend in with the surroundings to prey on unsuspecting passersby, but my skill allowed me to see her as she truly was," Val, with a hint of pride in his voice, explained to Oliver.
Oliver\'s eyes widened in admiration. The world of wizardry was vast and diverse, but he had never encountered or even heard tales of a wizard whose innate technique was so versatile and strong, akin to a jack of all trades. Val\'s was the first.
While the innate techniques of some wizards were so weak they could be considered negligible, he thought that Val\'s innate technique was almost on par with a mid-rank wizard\'s runes.
In fact, it surpassed that.
However, Val had kept a majority of its effects concealed from Oliver because he didn\'t want to create a possibility where the vast reservoir of power he possessed could be brought to light or estimated by friends or foes alike.
Thus, Oliver was oblivious to the true magnificence of his innate technique and was unable to accurately gauge its worth.
"We\'re finally here."
After traversing for a while through the dense forest, they were greeted by the sight of a cavernous entrance, which resembled the wide-open mouth of a cave. It looked as though they were about to be swallowed by the gaping jaws of some ancient, monstrous beast. Inside, the cave was cloaked in an impenetrable blanket of darkness. Even the gentle light cascading from the moon, which shone brightly in the sky of the lesser dimension, struggled to illuminate it.
"Is it safe to step inside?" Oliver said.
"Wait, let me check," Val replied.
For Oliver, gazing into the cave was like staring into an enigmatic void. Its depths and contents were hidden from his vision, so it was like a complete mystery.
However, the opposite could be said in Val\'s case.
As he had extraordinary traits that gifted his eyes the power to not only see through the thickest darkness but also see past obstacles, the inside of the cave was as clear as day.
Every detail within the cave was distinctly visible to him.
The cave wasn\'t vast or sprawling nor too small. It was the size of an average cave, and it was almost entirely devoid of life with only one beast currently inhabiting it.
It was a very colossal beast that bore a striking resemblance to a tiger. However, its massive frame and its pair of grand, powerful wings, set it apart from an actual tiger. The winged tiger was at least 12 feet tall, with a wingspan that stretched a good 20 feet from one tip to the other, its form a blend of majesty and menace.
The last time Val laid his eyes on the cave, it was devoid of any inhabitants. There was no such beast inhabiting it. It must\'ve chosen the cave as its new lair during their journey. It was quite unlucky as a single wrong decision might end up costing it its life.
Val didn\'t know a thing about this thing and he thought it rather wise to understand it a little before confronting it.
Thus, he invoked the detect spell while looking at it.
A system notification popped up instantly.
[System Notification: Man-Eating Winged Tiger Beast Detected - Level 50. This beast possesses a range of skills that make it a formidable opponent. \'Life-preserving shield\' grants a magical shield to the vital parts of its body such as its neck, head, and so on. \'Shadow Pounce\' allows it to move rapidly, almost becoming invisible in low light, catching its prey off guard. \'Roaring Tremor\' is another skill where it can harness the power of its roar to create a seismic shockwave, disorienting its adversaries. Cautionary Note: This beast has a unique trait. When its hp drop below 30%, it will enter a state of rampage. In this state, all its stats double, enhancing its combat abilities for a short duration. Current Stats - HP: 150, STR: 45, AGI: 55, Stamina: 60, Reflexes: 45.]
While the creature\'s stats and abilities made it a formidable adversary, Val was undeterred. His extensive experience and skillset gave him the confidence that he would not only confront this beast but also swiftly dispatch it.
Turning his gaze to Oliver, who was likely unaware of the magnitude of the threat inside, Val advised, "There\'s a formidable level 50 beast lurking inside the cave. I intend to confront it head on and neutralize the threat. For your safety, I\'d recommend waiting outside the cave until the situation is resolved."
Hearing the level of the beast, Oliver immediately realized the gravity of the situation. He understood his current capabilities and knew that he stood no chance in such a confrontation. Engaging in a battle with a beast of that magnitude, he wouldn\'t be of any assistance to Val. On the contrary, he might end up being a liability, potentially hindering Val\'s efforts. Given these considerations, the most logical and safe course of action was to heed Val\'s advice. Recognizing this, he nodded in agreement with Val, signaling his understanding and compliance. Oliver then said, "Sure, I will."
"Good, I will be back in a minute," Val declared with a determined and confident tone, taking a deep breath before he stepped into the shadowy mouth of the cave.
He had stepped only one foot inside the cave when the winged tiger sensed his presence.
Roar!
The beast, feeling its territory threatened, responded with a roar so powerful it echoed throughout the cave\'s vast chambers and burst out of its entrance, causing the person standing outside to feel thoroughly shaken.
But for the person whom the roar was intended for, he was completely undeterred.
Yes, Val\'s resolve to kill the winged tiger remained unshaken. He moved forward, seemingly impervious to the beast\'s intimidation tactics. Each step he took, longer and more deliberate than the last, was a testament to his unwavering courage and focus. To an onlooker, it would seem as if Val hadn\'t heard the beast\'s roar at all, such was his level of concentration. Well, actually, he had already taken proper precautions against the beast\'s Roaring Tremor skill, and inserted earplugs made of soul power into his ears. Thus, the roar of the tiger that could leave his enemies disoriented didn\'t work on him.
The winged tiger, perhaps not used to being ignored or defied in its domain, grew increasingly agitated. A subtle twitch in its powerful muscles, a brief curl of its limb, gave away its next move. With an agility that was far too surprising for its size, it lunged towards Val.
Whoosh!
It sounded like the fabric of reality was being torn apart as its sharp claws shot forward. They appeared to be razor-sharp instruments of death, looking more than capable of tearing through the most resilient of armor, and they were going straight for his chest.
Every split second counted as the beast\'s razor-sharp claws, aiming with deadly precision, threatened to sink into Val\'s flesh and wreak havoc. Their lethal tips were merely an instant away from realizing their grim purpose when Val, with unparalleled speed, managed to bring his sword between them and swiftly activated the Crimson Slash skill.
This resulted in a fierce arc of blood-red energy emanating from the blade.
The power it radiated was undeniably more potent than the tiger\'s formidable claws, allowing it to effortlessly shatter them into pieces. It then continued its trajectory, cutting deep into the beast\'s resilient hide. A painful laceration was the result, causing blood to gush profusely.
Thud! Kuagh!
The mighty creature, overwhelmed by the unexpected assault, collapsed to the ground, its agonized moans echoing throughout the cavern.
As the blood flowed freely, pooling and coalescing beneath the wounded creature, Val knew he was on a ticking clock. With each drop of blood lost, the beast\'s life force waned, inching it closer to a dangerous state of rampage.
Understanding the peril that awaited should the beast enter its berserk mode, Val wasted no time. Demonstrating remarkable agility, he leaped onto the creature\'s head, positioning himself for a decisive strike. With grace and deadly precision, he swung his sword, Voidslayer, in a fluid arc. The blade effortlessly bypassed the beast\'s magical defenses, finding its mark on the creature\'s vulnerable neck.
Puchi!
A torrent of blood erupted, cascading and splashing onto Val\'s determined face as, with a final, resolute slash, he effectively beheaded the monstrous winged tiger.