novelraw Chapter 67: Killing The 6th Rank Dark Leopard Beast!
Chapter 67: Killing The 6th Rank Dark Leopard Beast!
The platform shattered beneath the impact. The leopard twisted at the last moment, avoiding a fatal hit, but its shoulder was crushed downward, bones cracking audibly.
It roared in pain, then darkness erupted outward violently as it used its (Night Devourer) skill.
The entire cavern dimmed as black mist spread everywhere, attempting to blind Old Ni’s vision.
But within Sword Domain, he closed his eyes instead, as every grain of dust in his territory felt like a blade. He sensed the leopard’s heartbeat 3 meters to his left.
Then he stepped and slashed in response.
Slash!
A deep gash opened across the leopard’s flank, black blood splattered the crystals.
The beast snarled in fury as it leapt backward and raised both claws.
Hundreds of shadow spikes materialized in mid-air as it used its (Abyssal Rain) skill. They launched downward like arrows.
Old Ni gritted his teeth and spun his sword rapidly.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
He deflected dozens of them, but several of them still pierced his arm and thigh. Then, he dashed forward through the barrage.
The leopard hadn’t expected that, and they clashed again in close combat.
The Cinderfall Sovereign roared as Inferno Flame traces intensified with each strike, as another cut across the leopard’s ribs, then another one across its neck.
But the beast’s counterattack came like lightning, as claws pierced through Old Ni’s abdomen, even though it was a shallow one.
They then separated with another blow, both breathing heavily now.
They stared at each other one last time, and the leopard gathered all remaining mana into its body, its fur stood upright as darkness condensed around it.
This was its final skill—Eclipse Rush.
Its entire form became a black comet and shot toward Old Ni in a straight line at terrifying speed.
Even with an enhanced agility stat, dodging completely was impossible.
Old Ni inhaled deeply before gathering all of his strength into one motion.
He stepped forward and swung his sword as he used his (Sever the Line) skill.
Swoosh!
For a fraction of a second, everything went silent.
Then, the black comet split into two, and a head flew upward.
The Dark Leopard Beast’s body slid past Old Ni before collapsing to the ground in two separate motions.
Its head rolled across shattered stone, eyes still glowing faintly before dimming completely.
Silence returned to the cave as the Sword Domain faded slowly.
Old Ni stood still, breathing heavily for a few moments.
Then he sheathed his sword. Behind him, the decapitated corpse of the 6th Rank Dark Leopard Beast lay motionless.
He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and informed Ash.
Outside the cave, Ash started to walk slowly inside the cave the moment he heard the notification from the system.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host! You have completed the side mission.]
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining x1 Bloodline Enhancement Chance.]
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining 500,000 Tribal Points!]
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining 5,000,000 System Points!]
"Is it that strong?" Ash raised an eyebrow when he looked at Old Ni’s condition.
"Yeah, if I don’t have the sword domain skill, I’d definitely lose even if we were to have the same strength." Old Ni said with a bitter smile.
Ash nodded his head and shifted his attention to the right, looking at an entrance around 10 meters big that seemed to be connected to another place.
"Just drink the healing potion that I gave you." Ash chuckled lightly, knowing that Old Ni must have been hesitating to drink the healing potion since he probably thought that his injuries weren’t serious anyway.
"I’m fine." Old Ni shook his head.
"No! I gave you that healing potion for a reason, you know. Besides, I still have a lot of them, so you don’t need to be worried about it." Ash said with a serious expression before walking toward the place where the treasures were located.
Old Ni sighed softly, then uncorked the 6th Rank Healing Potion and drank it with one gulp.
Ash’s footsteps echoed faintly as he entered the deeper chamber beyond the 10 meter wide passage.
The air changed as it was no longer the scent of blood and shattered stone from the battle. Instead, it carried something ancient.
The cave opened into a massive subterranean expanse, so wide that even Leon would look small inside it.
But what stunned Ash wasn’t the size.
It was the structure, as the enormous cavern was divided into five separate regions, each partitioned by natural stone walls and shimmering elemental barriers. Even without stepping inside them, Ash could already sense their attributes.
Ash narrowed his eyes slightly.
"This place... It’s a special one."
Old Ni, whose wounds had already been healed thanks to the 6th Rank Healing Potion, stepped beside him.
"The mana density here is ridiculous," Old Ni said quietly. "It feels like each area is nurturing something."
Ash nodded once, then shifted his gaze toward the nearest zone — the Dark Area.
He stepped forward, and the moment he crossed the invisible boundary, the light around him dimmed dramatically.
The temperature dropped, and the sound from the outside world faded. It was as if he had stepped into a realm abandoned by the sun.
The ground beneath his boots was blackened soil that felt unnaturally soft, almost like compressed ash. Jagged dark crystals protruded from the earth at random angles, faint violet light pulsing inside them.
Whispers echoed faintly in the air. It was not loud enough to understand, like murmurs from forgotten souls.
At the center of the area stood a single big tree.
Ash stopped walking. Even with his composed temperament, his eyes flickered with genuine astonishment.
It was twisted unnaturally, its trunk spiraling upward. The bark was charcoal-black, yet it didn’t reflect light as it absorbed it instead. Any glow from the surrounding crystals seemed to bend toward the tree as if being devoured. And hanging from the branches were eleven fruits.