Chapter 52
The battle was far from over.
Blaze and his team locked eyes with the leaders of the Aurora Bandits.
This wasn't like the fodder they had just wiped out—this was real danger.
The first two leaders were at the late stages of the Alkan Phase, while the bald-headed brute is at the 2nd stage of the Alkyl Phase, an entire realm above them.
Blaze clenched his fists, feeling the heat of battle ignite his blood. Volt stood beside him, lightning crackling across his sword.
Lucas, however, wasted no time.
"You are fucking ugly."
His fist smashed into the ugly leader's face, sending the man rocketing backward, tearing through stone buildings as dust and rubble exploded into the air.
Kaito sighed dramatically before following after him.
"Man, can't you at least wait for the fight to start properly?"
Lucas just glared at him.
Kaito got the message and shut up.
The young bandit leader with the green scythe pointed at Nephis.
"Let's take this elsewhere."
Nephis said nothing, but with a graceful movement, she leaped onto her white tiger. Akira followed without hesitation.
They rode off, following the man, leaving Blaze and Volt standing before the bald brute, who stepped forward, his feet cracking the ground.
A system notification flashed.
[New Quest Received: Defeat the Metahuman Aurora Leader]
Rewards: 1000 CP, One Instant Level-Up
Blaze raised an eyebrow.
"Wait, system, why are you being so generous?"
No reply.
Blaze sighed. "Never mind."
The bald brute pounded his massive, red gauntlets together, a shockwave of raw power bursting from his body.
"You ready to die?" he sneered.
Blaze cracked his knuckles and said. "Not yet, thanks "
Elsewhere, the ugly leader crashed into the ground, forming a massive crater.
Lucas landed smoothly nearby, glaring down at him.
Kaito strolled up behind him, hands in his pockets. "Hey, you should really slow down."
Lucas shot him a glare.
Kaito instantly shut up.
From inside the crater, a bone-chilling cackle echoed.
"Keh keh keh keh..."
The ugly leader rose, his body surging with power as his energy spiked to the 7th stage of the Alkan Phase.
He grinned maniacally, cracking his neck as he examined his two opponents.
"How amusing," he sneered. "One brat at the 3rd stage of Alkan, and another barely at the 4th stage of Collection? This isn't a fight—it's a slaughter."
Lucas's eyes flashed with fury. "Let's see you talk after I rip your throat out."
With a burst of speed, he lunged forward, his claws glowing with wild energy.
But the ugly leader laughed, his arms morphing into massive, serrated praying mantis blades.
CLANG!
Their attacks collided in a shower of sparks and pure killing intent.
On another battlefield, the blue-haired leader eyed Nephis and Akira.
The air between them was thick with tension.
Then, he smiled sweetly.
"You two are quite pretty," he said. "Wanna be my concubines?"
Silence.
Then—
"Dumbass." (Nephis)
"Moronic peacock." (Akira)
"Brain-dead slime." (Nephis)
"Egoistic pig." (Akira)
A vein popped on his forehead.
"That hurt." He frowned, running a hand through his hair. "I treasure my face, you know."
Still smiling, he unraveled his massive green scythe, the blade humming with power.
Nephis's eyes widened.
"That's a level 4 enchanted weapon."
"Indeed." The man grinned proudly, spinning the scythe in a flurry of wind.
"Now, allow me to show you its power—Wind Scythe Slash!"
He swung the weapon, unleashing a bladed hurricane of wind.
Nephis quickly countered with her own Wind Blade.
BOOM!
The two attacks collided—and Nephis was sent skidding across the ground, a deep cut forming on her arm.
She stood up, wincing slightly.
"That scythe enhances his wind spells tremendously."
She was at the 5th stage of the Alkan Phase, while he was at the 7th. If it weren't for that weapon, she believes she could win.
But with it?
This was going to be a challenge.
Back at lucas side.
The battle had turned into a one-sided bloodbath—and not in Lucas's favor.
The mantis-armed bandit leader grinned savagely as his bladed limbs tore into Lucas again and again, each slash drawing fresh lines of crimson across his opponent's body.
Lucas growled, clenching his fists, his sharp nails digging into his palm.
He had landed hits of his own, but none that mattered. The bastard was faster, stronger, and his praying mantis limbs were practically designed for tearing flesh apart.
Off to the side, Kaito sighed, shaking his head.
"Man… that looks painful."
Lucas, blood dripping from multiple wounds, turned his glare toward Kaito.
It was the kind of glare that said: I will kill you the moment this fight is over.
Kaito just shrugged.
"Hey, I'm just saying."
Lucas ignored him, his muscles tensing as he charged forward again, activating Beast Lunge.
His claws gleamed with lethal intent as he lunged straight for the mantis-man's throat.
But just as his attack was about to land—
SHRRRK!
The mantis-man twisted at the last second, his blades moving like a blur.
Lucas's eyes widened as multiple deep slashes ripped across his body.
And then—
CRACK!
A devastating kick slammed into his ribs, sending him rocketing into the ground.
BOOOOM!
The impact sent a shockwave tearing through the battlefield, creating a massive crater in the earth.
Dust and rubble exploded into the air, momentarily obscuring everything.
For several seconds, silence fell.
Then, the mantis-man threw his head back and laughed.
"Keh keh keh keh! That was fun!"
He cracked his neck, looking at his blood-covered blades with satisfaction before turning his gaze toward Kaito.
"You're next, brat."
But Kaito didn't move.
Didn't even flinch.
Instead, he just... shook his head.
"I pity you."
The mantis-man's smirk faltered slightly.
"…What?"
A low, guttural growl rumbled from the massive crater behind him.
The mantis-man's body stiffened.
Slowly, he turned his head—
Just in time to see Lucas rise from the pit.
But this wasn't the same Lucas as before.
His pupils had shrunk into razor-thin slits, glowing with a feral yellow light.
His muscles expanded, thick brown fur sprouting along his arms, shoulders, and body.
His teeth elongated into sharp fangs, and his claws—
They tripled in length, gleaming like the blades of a predator ready to tear through its prey.
A heavy, primal aura crashed over the battlefield, suffocating—domineering.
Kaito smirked and lazily gestured toward Lucas.
"You wanna know why I pity you?"
The mantis-man couldn't respond.
His instincts were screaming at him to run.
But his body—wouldn't move.
Kaito's smirk widened.
"Because you're about to witness the power of a Warrior Beast."
Lucas let out a deep, guttural snarl, his entire presence exuding raw, unstoppable rage.
The mantis-man's cocky grin shattered.
His hands trembled.
For the first time in years—
He felt fear.
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Stay tuned for the next chapter: The Warrior Beast's Might!