Bab 39: Hippopotamus Monster

"RUMBLE!"

Before Vlad could even secure a proper stance in the house, the massive Hippopotamus Monster rammed it as well, causing the structure to collapse.

"Dammit!"

Enraged and unable to find a stable surface to use as a base for jumping, Vlad could only fall along with the house. Fortunately, his rapid movements allowed him to avoid being buried under the debris, but he was still far from safe.

He had just reached the ground when the massive maws of the Hippopotamus Monster appeared again, ready to swallow him whole. Despite Vlad's experience as a seasoned soldier, the sight of massive maws opening nearly five meters wide was shocking and terrifying, especially given their surprising speed.

'I would not be able to dodge it.'

Upon realizing his predicament, Vlad's strength surged, and killing intent and rage erupted from his heart as he roared and unleashed all the Force he could muster.

"¡AHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Along with that roar, Vlad used both swords to strike one of the massive fangs of the Hippopotamus Monster, channeling all the strength he could muster to push the gigantic maws away from him.

"¡Boom!"

A small blast of kinetic force occurred the moment the fang and swords, covered in Force, clashed. Vlad's body trembled, and a metallic taste filled his mouth as the collision felt like it would shatter him. However, he clenched his teeth, muscles bulging as he unleashed all the power he could muster.

"¡AHHHHHHHHHHH!"

With that final roar of rage, Vlad managed to redirect those massive maws to the left, but he was also sent flying away due to the impact, crashing into a small house nearby, his body piercing through the stone walls.

Vlad forced himself to remain focused as he struggled to rise from the ground. He wiped the blood from his mouth, and a strange smile appeared on his face.

"I am still not quite capable of facing a Champion Level enemy."

The last time Vlad faced a Champion Level enemy was with the Abyssal Mantis. Back then, the demon had been severely wounded and tired from the combined attack from the angels, Gifted, and Asmael.

On the other hand, Vlad was at his peak, having recently evolved into a Depravita, and his rage was at its peak due to Jormungandr's death. However, now he was exhausted after fighting hundreds of demons and was forced into a direct clash without a proper battle stance, so it was no wonder he ended up in such a bad situation.

Despite the pain and wounds, Vlad did not have the luxury of relaxing as the demons that flooded the streets had noticed his clash and were ready to march into the house.

"THUMP!" "THUMP!"

However, just as Vlad prepared to cut down all those demons, the Hippopotamus Monster began to strike the ground with its massive hooves, killing the demons that were trying to attack him, but it did much more than that.

Vlad's eyes widened as the Hippopotamus Monster began drawing in surrounding water molecules from the moisture in the air, concentrating them to create a dense, swirling current around its body.

These streams of water moved with so much power that they sent all the demons that lunged toward the Hippopotamus Monster flying away. Vlad's eyes narrowed as he saw how the streams of water adopted their true purpose, transforming into jets of water that propelled the Hippopotamus Monster at a surprisingly fast speed!

'That was the key to his speed!'

Vlad's eyes glowed with enlightenment as he finally understood how such a massive beast could be so fast, but he did not have time to ponder that as the goal of the Hippopotamus Monster's charge was no other than the house where he had crashed.

It seemed that the Hippopotamus Monster was set on eating him whole!

Immediately, Vlad attempted to leave the house, but his entire body froze for a second due to the injuries he had received. Before he could regain control, the massive maws of the Hippopotamus Monster were already opening in his direction.

"Dammit!"

Even in a desperate situation, Vlad would not simply lie down and accept his fate. As the massive maws came closer, he raised his swords and prepared one last attack.

"¡BOOM!"

However, just as the Hippopotamus Monster's maws were about to reach the house, a massive figure made of metal clashed with the monster's head, pushing it away.