章 31: Chapter 31: Monster Stampede, killing tier 3 Monster

Blood… Crimson-red blood covered my whole being, drenching me from head to toe.

I wasn't disgusted by the blood painting my body; the hot blood belonging to the ferocious monsters was instead like a panacea, slowly calming my mind.

I swung my blade, killing monsters right and left. It was the sensation that made me feel alive and free, like a butterfly fluttering its wings after breaking from the cocoon, ready to fly.

Freedom… It was something that would have become a pipe dream if I hadn't been able to awaken. But here I was, killing the once powerful monsters fueling anybody's nightmares as if they were some random grass with my blade.

I didn't have any idea about the situation around me; my eyes were only focused on my target on the battlefield, those ferocious monsters that were getting hacked by my blade, whimpering in fear and trepidation.

The sound of my blade slashing their bodies and their whimpering noises—it felt like a heavenly tune to my ears, relieving me from all the stress I've bottled up until now. The sensation I felt whenever my blade glided through their bodies, splattering their blood over me, it felt like I was dancing along to the heavenly tune gracing my ears.

My fluid yet chaotic fighting style—it felt like a graceful dance capable of enthralling anybody who looked at me.

It was what I thought, but…

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( Some random adventurer with his monologue after looking at my actions..😑)

What the freaking freak??

Is that Mother Fresker nutcrack??

What the hell is with his smile after every kill??

And, most importantly,

Why Is he freaking strong??

Is that him humming a song?

Oh my! What is he doing now? No…. Why the hell is he licking the blood?

Ugh... Is that heart still beating?

No… Don't do that. That's a monster heart you are trying to get high on.

Oiii… Why are you licking the heart now?

Nooooo…!

Blegh….!

(That adventurer was surely a novice who hadn't been on the battlefield.😊)

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I was looking at the beating heart on my hand not knowing what to do with it.

" Monsters outside surely do have great vitality." I thought before smelling it, trying to find what the monster's Heart smelled like.

"It smelled citrusy, just like some fine-aged booze I had got the chance to indulge in the dwarven village."

And, does it taste godly?

" Nah. It tasted like sht."

Puchi.…

I smashed the beating Heart into a pulp before getting back to my job, killing every monster coming at me. The Nightmare wasn't outside yet as I had not been pushed to the limit requiring the aid from 'Nightmare'. I had an inkling that someone or something was looking at me, targeting me from the side of monsters.

It was my gut feeling and the Insight my ' Rune of Insight' had been providing me. The magical fluctuations around me had started getting lively as if the magical energies in the environment were being excited by something. The stench of blood permeated in the surroundings, their target was me who was killing any monsters that attacked me. I was like a grinding machine, tireless and unpredictable with my blade.

Roar.…

"Here it comes." I thought Before looking at the monster that came in front of me.

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Name: Dire Wolf King

Tier: 3(Elite)

Skill(s): [Kings Claw] [Bloodthirsty Maw] [Rampage] [Alpha Howl]

The Dire Wolf King stands as a formidable ruler, commanding both respect and fear in the heart of the Forest of Grimness. Fear for the king of the jungle is in front of you.

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The Dire Wolf King in front of me was a massive and ferocious beast, towering over its lesser kin. Its fur was a deep, almost black shade, with streaks of dark crimson running along its back. Its eyes glowed with fierce bloodlust, reminding me of the nature of this majestic-looking beast.

Its muscles rippled beneath its dark fur, hinting at the raw strength that was packed in its body. The claws adorning its limbs shone in luster, reflecting two moons that were illuminating the sky. As it let out a thunderous growl, the air seemed to vibrate with its presence, sending a rush of excitement down my spine.

The adrenaline rush I felt looking at the monster in front of me was palpable, I could literally feel my heart beating blood into my body at its maximum capacity. My senses were tingling, hinting at the exciting yet bloody battle that I was going to be partaking in with the Monster in front of me.

Its blazing eyes that demanded terror didn't bother me at the very least, instead, they excited my battle-thirsty heart that longed for such exciting battles filled with adrenaline.

" Haha… Come at me." I taunted the monster before throwing myself toward it, longsword in my hand ready to slice the monster.

Roar…

It roared at me, answering to my taunt, before jumping off the ground and coming at me with full speed. It's bloody maw was reeking with blood. The blood of several adventurers it had munched on before targeting me.

The crushed bones and mangled body parts still stuck in between its sharp canines gave it a Wild charm filled with ferocity and a hint of bloodlust. It was also a reminder of the terror it had caused on the battlefield before coming at me.

It swung its strong limbs adorned with sharp claws while still in the air. I intercepted its attack with my blade, slashing toward the incoming claw and aiming at its ankle.

Shining... Clank…

Crack….

My blade broke at our first clash, rendering me without any weapon. I wasn't given enough time to control myself before it attacked me with its bloody maw, targeting my neck. It was aiming to munch on my head, but I was able to deflect its maw using 'Nightmare,' which was now stuck in its bloodied maw.

Although I was able to deflect its maw, the claw coming from the flank scratched my shoulder, spurting blood in the process. The three bone-deep cuts from its talon were painful, but they didn't stop me from punching at its maw with my bare hands.

I exchanged several rounds of punches with the monster, but its fur was too durable for my punches to cause it to roar in pain, let alone injure it. Instead, my hands were bleeding, filled with blisters that burst open whenever they made contact with the monster. Its talons had left several bloody wounds on my body, tearing the long coat into shreds wherever its claw touched. My body was already in tatters, but the monster in front of me was still in perfect condition; not even its fur had been damaged by my punches.

this was the battle I longed for, the battle where even my life was at risk. Both me and the wolf in front of me were wild, battling chaotically as if there were no other monsters or adventurers around us. My eyes shone bright with excitement as the battle progressed, the pain from several injuries fueling my bloodlust, but the wolf started to get frustrated for its attacks became even more frenzied and filled with every ounce of power it could exert from its humongous body.

The battle had reached a stalemate, with neither of us able to land a killing blow. I was covered in blood from head to toe, panting as I gasped for air. The monster in front of me remained in perfect shape, but the ragged breathing I heard coming from it told me about the toll it was taking, exerting every ounce of strength in its body.

I was waiting for one opportunity.

I was waiting for it to bleed.

I was trying to make it bleed out using the Nightmare still stuck in its maw. Although my strength was in the ranks belonging to Elites, the monster in front of me was even more fearsome, with its physique honed into perfection while surviving in the forest and battling to see the next day. Its speed was overwhelming me.

I could match with it in terms of strength but other attributes, it had firmly suppressed me.

This was also the reason the monsters in the wild were best to understand your abilities as every monster from the wild had almost equally developed attributes, unlike us humans who could rank up by increasing a single attribute specializing on the given attribute.

This made their growth far more time-consuming but gave them an edge when battling their human counterparts. As for humans, the aura they materialize after reaching 'Elite' rank gave them with the ability to hold their ground against these powerful monsters.

The one with the best control over their 'Aura' and the ability to perfectly counter the attacks from the monster would be victorious otherwise they become the delicious meal filled with protein for the monsters they were battling with.

I had the ability to perfectly counter the attacks from the monster in front of me, but dealing with the suppression of attributes caused by the fake 'Aural' I had been materializing was a challenge. And I had a way to deal with such a challenge.

Blood... I just had to make it bleed for once which would activate the 'Rune of Blood' that was going to be my trump card against the monster I was battling with.

Come here....

Roar....

I threw myself in front of the monster that still had its jaw open, looking at me with a hint of fear. Its once bright eyes were now dim, the once powerful and swift attacks were getting slower as the time went by.

But, I was still the same, with excitement in my eyes. I might have been in the worst condition because of the bloody wounds that were adorning my body. They didn't, by the slightest reduce the excitement and the bloodlust I was showing, instead they were fueling me, making me fierce and swift as the time went by.

I reached my right hand which also had the ring adorning it, towards its open jaw that still had 'Nightmare' stuck inside it. I thrust the sharp blade on it, aiming to bleed it out. And I was successful in my endeavor, a small tear appeared on its jaw, activating the rune inscribed on my being.

As soon as I saw the blood on its jaw, my whole body tensed with a sense of foreboding so I swiftly willed the activation of 'Rune of poison' and 'Rune of Confusion' inscribed on the Nightmare before yanking my hand out of the monster's jaw.

Snap….

Crunch….

Looking at my hand without three fingers attached to it, I was even more excited. The monster in front of me started to whimper in pain for Nightmare had pierced its jaw, its sharp edge sticking out of its flesh spraying a fountain of hot blood over my being.

Looking at the bloody scenery in front of me, I felt like it was the most beautiful art I had ever seen, filled with bloody serenity.

"Now" I shouted as I willed the 'Rune of Blood' to show its wonder. And the rune was wonderful indeed, as I was able to sense the blood inside its body flowing to my will.

With a dark grin, I decided to end its life. I focused my will, overloading its brain with a surge of blood that burst through its fragile veins like violent rivers. The wolf convulsed in agony, its once fierce eyes slowly dimming as time passed by.

But that wasn't enough. I stopped the wound on its jaw from clotting, ensuring a slow and excruciating death. It was bleeding in liters, its crimson blood staining the ground beneath its humongous body.

I marveled with wonder looking at the fountain of blood splattering in front of me, a miniature pool made purely up of crimson blood was being formed where it now lay motionless.

It was still alive, its breathing laborious. I could see its life slowly fading away.

Roar.....

After about five more minutes did it die. I looked at its lifeless body, all the excitement I had about battling the monster got vaporized into a puff.....

"Was I a foolish person to battle with the monster that suppressed me in every attribute?"

Yes, I was.