Chapter 77: Strongest Rupture
Golden light gathered around the Devil’s Eye, Reiji’s expression became solemn.
He didn’t rush in. He had learned his lesson. Against a creature like this, recklessness meant death.
The mana surrounding the Devil’s Eye became increasingly violent. Countless strands of golden light spiraled around its body before converging above its head. The air trembled under the pressure, and even the clouds overhead were pulled into the growing vortex.
Reiji Detect Presence activated on its own.
The surrounding mana was being drained. Not from the forest, from the creature itself.
"So that’s it..." His eyes narrowed.
The stronger the attack the greater the cost.
Without wasting another second, Reiji disappeared.
[Shadow Step.]
He reappeared high above the battlefield before instantly vanishing again.
Another Shadow Step.
His figure flickered unpredictably around the Devil’s Eye, refusing to stay in one place long enough to become an easy target.
The bird didn’t chase him. It remained completely still. Its focus was entirely on completing the skill.
Reiji extended both hands.
[Water Jet.]
Two compressed streams of water shot toward the creature from opposite directions.
The Devil’s Eye casually beat one wing.
BOOM!
The shockwave shattered both attacks before they reached it.
Reiji wasn’t surprised.
Those attacks had only been distractions. He appeared directly beneath the creature.
[Verdant Grow.]
Hundreds of vines erupted from the earth, wrapping around the Devil’s Eye’s legs, wings and tail.
The vines instantly blackened as Demonic Essence flowed into them.
Unlike before, they became far tougher.
The Devil’s Eye struggled.
CRACK!
CRACK!
CRACK!
Dozens of vines snapped apart. Yet more continued climbing.
For the first time since evolving, the monster stopped gathering mana.
Its attention shifted toward escaping.
"...Good."
That was exactly what Reiji wanted.
The gathering sphere of golden mana above the Devil’s Eye immediately became unstable.
The enormous bird shrieked in frustration before violently tearing free from the remaining vines. The golden sphere dispersed into countless particles.
Its ultimate skill had been interrupted.
Without giving it another opportunity, Reiji moved.
Shadow Step carried him onto the creature’s back.
Soul Torture Flame erupted across both of his hands.
The black flames burned hotter than before.
He slammed both palms against the open wound Rupture had created earlier.
[Soul Torture Flame.]
BOOOOOOM!!
The black fire exploded into the creature’s body.
Unlike ordinary flames, these ignored the surface and burrowed deeper, attacking both flesh and soul.
The Devil’s Eye screamed.
Its enormous body twisted violently through the air.
Reiji was thrown away before crashing into the ground.
He rolled several times before forcing himself back onto his feet.
Blood dripped from his mouth.
His arms trembled. Overload was reaching its limit. Every muscle in his body burned. Every breath became more painful than the last.
’I can’t keep this up much longer...’
The Devil’s Eye wasn’t in much better condition.
Its once magnificent golden feathers were stained with blood.
Several scales had been blasted away completely.
One wing hung noticeably lower than the other.
Black Soul Torture Flames continued burning across multiple wounds despite every attempt to extinguish them.
Its breathing had become uneven. Both combatants stared at each other. Neither moved. Neither wanted to make the first mistake.
The silence lasted only a heartbeat.
The Devil’s Eye attacked first.
Its massive wings beat once, creating dozens of crescent-shaped blades of compressed wind that sliced across the battlefield.
Reiji immediately activated Rainfall.
Heavy rain poured from the dark clouds overhead.
The falling water slightly disrupted the wind blades, making their paths less stable.
He slipped between them using Shadow Step, though several still grazed his body.
Fresh blood splashed across the ground.
Ignoring the pain, Reiji rushed forward.
The Devil’s Eye lowered its head and lunged.
This time, instead of dodging completely, Reiji stepped inside its attack.
Hardening covered both arms.
He caught the side of its spear-like neck just long enough to redirect the charge.
BOOOOOOM!!
The Devil’s Eye slammed into the earth instead of hitting him.
The ground exploded.
Before it could recover...
[Rupture.]
BOOM!
Another explosion erupted beneath its neck.
The force drove the monster even deeper into the crater.
Reiji didn’t stop there.
Water Jet struck its exposed eye.
Verdant Grow wrapped around its damaged wing.
Soul Torture Flame spread across its scales.
Rupture detonated once more.
BOOM!
BOOM!!
BOOM!!!
The battlefield echoed with one explosion after another.
The Devil’s Eye finally managed to break free, beating its wings with enough force to send Reiji skidding backward.
Both of them were breathing heavily now. Reiji wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
His vision blurred for a moment.
The backlash from Overload was becoming increasingly severe.
His muscles twitched uncontrollably.
Even Blood Rage couldn’t suppress the growing fatigue forever.
The Devil’s Eye seemed to realize the same thing.
It understood that if the battle dragged on, the human’s body would eventually collapse on its own.
Its eight crimson eyes narrowed.
The monster slowly rose into the air again.
Golden mana began gathering around its body once more.
This time it wasn’t above its head.
Every feather on its body started glowing. Thousands of them.
Each one radiated enough mana to make Reiji’s instincts scream.
His grip tightened.
"...This one won’t be easy."
Then, without warning, every glowing feather lifted away from the Devil’s Eye’s body.
They hovered silently in the air.
Each one pointed directly at Reiji.
The entire sky turned gold.
Reiji slowly exhaled. There was nowhere left to run.
Reiji slowly exhaled. There was nowhere left to run.
The countless golden feathers hanging in the sky trembled before shooting toward him all at once.
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
The heavens seemed to rain death.
Reiji’s crimson eyes sharpened.
He didn’t retreat. He charged.
[Shadow Step.]
His figure vanished just before the first volley reached him.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The feathers buried themselves into the earth, erupting into violent explosions that tore apart everything within dozens of meters. Ancient trees collapsed one after another as the forest shook relentlessly.
Reiji reappeared beside the Devil’s Eye.
[Soul Torture Flame.]
Black flames erupted from his palm.
The Devil’s Eye twisted its body and barely avoided a direct hit, but the flames still latched onto its already battered wing.
*SKREEEEEE!*
The monster screamed and retaliated with a swipe of its claws.
CLANG!
Reiji crossed his arms.
[Hardening.]
The claws smashed into him, sending him skidding backward across the ground. His boots carved deep trenches through the earth before he forced himself to stop.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
His arms throbbed painfully.
Even with Hardening and Demonic Essence, the impact wasn’t something he could completely ignore.
The Devil’s Eye spread its four wings once more.
Another volley of glowing feathers formed around it.
"...Not giving me a break, huh?"
Reiji smiled bitterly. His body screamed in protest.
Overload had nearly reached its limit. Blood Rage was fading.
His mana was rapidly draining. This had to end now. He inhaled deeply.
Rain continued pouring across the battlefield.
The heavy mist concealed his movements for only a fraction of a second but a fraction was all he needed.
[Rainfall.]
The mist thickened.
[Verdant Grow.]
Hundreds of vines erupted from beneath the soaked earth, wrapping around the Devil’s Eye’s legs, tail, and damaged wing.
The monster roared and immediately struggled free.
But it was too late.
[Shadow Step.]
Reiji disappeared.
The Devil’s Eye’s eight crimson eyes searched frantically.
But nothing.
Then a voice echoed from directly beneath it.
"...Got you."
The Devil’s Eye instinctively looked down.
Reiji was already there.
His right hand was engulfed in black Soul Torture Flame while Demonic Essence surged wildly around his arm.
The open wound on the creature’s chest –the one he had been targeting throughout the battle – was directly in front of him.
He placed his palm against it.
"...Rupture."
For a brief second everything became silent.
Then a loud explosion rang out throughout the entire forest.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
A deafening explosion erupted from inside the Devil’s Eye’s body.
The shockwave tore through the forest. Its chest burst open from within.
Black flames erupted through countless cracks in its body as blood rained from the sky.
The creature let out one final, agonizing shriek.
*SKRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!*
Its enormous body convulsed violently. The golden light within its eyes faded.
Its wings lost all strength. Slowly...
The Devil’s Eye fell.
BOOOOOOM!!
The gigantic corpse crashed into the earth, shaking the entire forbidden territory.
Silence followed.
Only the sound of falling rain remained.
Reiji stood several meters away, breathing heavily.
Blood dripped from his fingertips.
His vision blurred.
The effects of Overload vanished as the monster was killed.
An overwhelming wave of exhaustion slammed into him.
His knees nearly gave out, but he forced himself to remain standing.
A familiar notification finally appeared.
Ding!
[Host has killed a B-Rank Devil’s Eye!]
[+80 EXP]
Ding!
[Monster Core Harvested.]
[Would the Host like to absorb the Monster Core?]
Before Reiji could reply his vision went black and he collapsed on he ground.
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