Chapter 642 Victory
Erik cautiously advanced towards the fallen Crombo, the crunch of leaves and twigs under his boots piercing the forest's eerie silence. The creature, even in death, was a grotesque testament to the wild's unforgiving nature.
Its massive form sprawled across the forest floor, uprooted vegetation crushed beneath its weight. The scaly hide, which had once shimmered with a dangerous allure, now lay lifeless.
Its once fearsome claws, sharp as razors, were now still. Their deadly dance ended. The reptilian eyes, which had glinted with predatory intent, were now glazed over in the finality of death.
The silence around the creature was oppressive, the forest holding its breath in the battle's aftermath. Even in death, the Crombo commanded respect and fear - a monstrosity that had once been the terror of the forest.
The giant lay sprawled on the ground like a grotesque sculpture. Its lizard-like skin, a patchwork of scales and fur, was dirty with the beast's own blood. The long, razor-sharp claws on its frontal arms were still menacing, even in their lifeless state.
Its gecko-like head was still pouring blood, and the rows of sharp teeth that filled its gaping mouth still had bits and pieces of Lomalins' meat. Its reptilian eyes were now dull, the light in them extinguished.
Erik stood there, staring at the lifeless Crombo, its once-menacing form now just a hulking corpse. "A few years ago, I would've been the prey, not the predator," he muttered to himself.
His voice trembled, not with fear, but with a newfound realization. "I've become strong enough to carve out my own place in this world."
He had faced the Crombo, a creature of nightmares, and emerged victorious. It was as if he had crossed an invisible threshold, stepping into his life's new, uncharted territory.
Two years ago, he would have sold his soul to get the power he now held. He made his bullies pay and was building an empire. However, there were still many things he wanted to do.
Mainly finding out the truth about Uncle Benjamin, the Crystal Cross Gang, and the biological supercomputer.
Erik unsheathed his blade, taking a deep breath to steady his shaking hands. The steel glinted in the dappled sunlight, a stark contrast to the dark scales of the Crombo.
He carved out one of the creature's eyes with surgical precision; the blade slicing through the tough membrane easily. A viscous fluid oozed out, but Erik was unfazed.
He reached into the empty eye socket, his fingers searching for the skull. Finding a weak point, he used his blade to crack it open.
The sound that ensued was harsh and unsettling, a grating intrusion that seemed to echo through the silent forest. It was the sound of violation, of penetrating the creature's once invincible form, but it was a necessary transgression.
Erik moved with calculated precision, his fingers navigating the complex maze of the Crombo's skull. His hand, steady despite the gruesome task, delved into the creature's brain cavity. The forest seemed to hold its breath as he reached for the prize - the beast's brain crystal.
The bead-like crystal was cold and slick against his fingers. It pulsed with a strange energy, a last reminder of the power that had once lived within the Crombo.
With a firm grip, Erik extracted it from the creature's head, his action marking the final chapter in the life of the monstrous predator.
Erik closed his eyes for a moment. "Rest in peace," he whispered to the fallen Crombo, sheathing his blade and tucking the brain crystal safely into a pouch.
He wasn't done, though, as he stood over the fallen Crombo, his gaze drawn to the dark blood oozing from its ears, mouth, and eyes. It was a grim tableau, yet something primal within him stirred.
With a sense of purpose, he pushed his fingers into the thick, warm blood; they trembled slightly as he did so. It clung to his skin like a second layer, dark and viscous.
Lifting his blood-coated fingers to his lips, he hesitated for just a moment. Then, with a deep breath, he sucked the blood off his fingers. The taste was metallic, tinged with the wild, untamed essence of the creature.
Erik felt indescribably connected to the beast as the blood flowed over his tongue and down his throat.
For a fleeting moment, Erik allowed his eyes to fall shut, immersing himself fully in the experience. The sensation was raw, an unfiltered connection to the primal laws of nature.
The cool touch of the brain crystal in his hand, the lingering scent of the battle, the taste of victory on his lips - they all coalesced into a powerful wave of emotion that washed over him.
[CROMBO'S DNA GAINED. STARTING THE ANALYSIS.]
[ANALYSIS COMPLETE.]
[200 DNA POINTS ARE REQUIRED TO EXTRACT THE DNA. 500 TO GET IT WITHOUT INCURRING PAIN AND LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS. 1000 DNA POINTS USED TO ABSORB INSTANTLY THE THAID'S DNA.]
[23250 DNA POINTS DETECTED. STARTING EXTRACTION?]
"Absorb it instantly."
[BLOOD ABSORBED. DNA STORING PROCEDURE STARTED. PLEASE WAIT.]
[PROCEDURE COMPLETE.]
After absorbing the Crombo's DNA, Erik felt a warmth spread through his veins, as if a new energy was coursing through him.
It was invigorating, like a shot of adrenaline, but deeper, more primal. He felt as if he had tapped into a wellspring of power, a connection to the raw, untamed mana of the creature he had just defeated.
The blood was just meant to be absorbed to make the body able to get the brain crystal power, but he knew that the true prize lay in the brain crystal.
He looked down at the fallen beast, its lifeless form a stark reminder of the brutal realities of this world. "There's still much to do," he murmured to himself, his eyes narrowing doggedly.
The young man then thought about the brain crystal he had carefully tucked away in his pouch. With a sense of solemnity, he took it out and held it up to the light one last time.
Taking a deep breath, he placed the crystal in his mouth. The texture was smooth, and the crystal still pulsated as if it still held the life force of the creature it came from; the mana was still there. As he swallowed, Erik felt the crystal slide down his throat.
For a moment, he stood still, his eyes closed. He could almost feel the crystal going into his stomach and becoming a part of him.
[CROMBO'S BRAIN CRYSTAL GAINED. STARTING THE ANALYSIS.]
[ANALYSIS COMPLETE.]
[200 DNA POINTS ARE REQUIRED TO EXTRACT THE POWER. 500 TO GET IT WITHOUT INCURRING PAIN AND LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS. 1000 DNA POINTS USED TO ABSORB INSTANTLY THE THAID'S POWER.]
[22250 DNA POINTS DETECTED. EXTRACTION IS POSSIBLE; WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?]
<Absorb it instantly again. The sooner, the better. >
[UNDERSTOOD. STARTING PROCEDURE. PLEASE WAIT.]
[PROCEDURE COMPLETE.]
Erik felt a surge of energy ripple through him as if the very essence of the Crombo was now fueling his own life force.
Erik, still standing amidst the fallen leaves and broken branches surrounding the lifeless Crombo, fished out his phone from his pocket.
His fingers, smeared with the remnants of the battle, traced the familiar pattern on his device, unlocking it. His heart was still pounding from the adrenaline rush, but his hand was steady as he dialed Thorne's number.
The phone rang, its tone a sharp contrast to the otherwise quiet forest. After a few heartbeats, the grizzled voice of Thorne, Erik's guild's porter team leader, crackled through the speaker. The sound was a comforting reminder of civilization in the wild.
"Thorne here," he growled, his voice bearing the weight of countless battles and experiences.
"What's the situation?"
Erik took a moment to gather his thoughts before responding. He glanced at the Crombo's massive form sprawled out on the forest floor, its once vibrant eyes now dull in death.
"It's done," Erik finally said, his voice echoing through the silent forest. "The Crombo is dead."
There was a pause on the other end, a moment of silence to acknowledge Erik's feat. The young man could almost picture Thorne's grizzled face softening into a rare smile of approval.
"Good job, kid," Thorne finally replied, his voice gruff but not devoid of warmth. "You've done well."
Erik couldn't help but feel a surge of pride at those words. He looked down at his hands, still stained with the Crombo's blood, and felt a twinge of satisfaction.
"I need you and the team to come pick up the body," Erik continued, his gaze lingering on the fallen beast. "It's quite a sight."
"Roger that," Thorne responded, and Erik could hear the roaring of an engine in the background. The old man was likely already coming to pick up the beast's body. "We'll be there as soon as we can."
Erik nodded, even though he knew Thorne couldn't see him. "Thanks, Thorne," he said sincerely. "I'll wait here."
"Stay safe, kid," Thorne replied, before ending the call.
As Erik pocketed his phone, he took one last look at the fallen Crombo. He felt a strange mix of exhaustion and satisfaction - a testament to his hard-fought victory.
He knew that he would have to wait for Thorne and his team to arrive, but he didn't mind. For now, he was content to sit amidst the quiet forest, accompanied by the silent form of his defeated foe.
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