Chương 32: Chapter 32: Beast Core

The Giant Sabreclaw did not even blink as it witnessed its subordinate's swift demise. Instead, it fixed its gaze on Elan with killing intent, acknowledging the formidable threat he now represented.

Elan and the Giant Sabreclaw stood poised in the clearing, the wind whipping across their bodies as dusk began to envelop the land. The fading light seemed to herald an impending showdown, a countdown to their inevitable confrontation.

The atmosphere crackled with tension, every second intensifying the anticipation of their clash. Nature itself seemed to hold its breath as the two adversaries prepared to engage in a battle that would test the limits of their strength.

"Elan, don't be overconfident. You need to stay laser-focused. One small mistake in your first fight with this beast could be your last," Arion warned.

"You don't need to tell me that; I know what I'm doing," Elan replied, his voice steady.

They continued their intense face-off, with the sun finally dipping below the horizon and casting long shadows across the clearing. In an instant, both adversaries surged forward, their movements a blur of speed and power.

The contrast in their sizes was striking—Elan, agile and determined, against the massive Giant Sabreclaw, towering and formidable like a ten-wheeler truck bearing down on a Volkswagen Beetle.

As they leaped simultaneously, the Sabreclaw soared high into the air, its massive form casting a shadow over Elan. The beast's powerful muscles rippled beneath its fur, propelling it with astonishing force. As it reached the height above Elan's head, the Sabreclaw's right paw swung down in a deadly arc, its claws gleaming ominously and extended in the dim light; each one was half as large and formidable as the Scarlet Reaper.

In Elan's head, Arion shouted, "Shit! It's a 5th stage spiritual beast! Block it! Block it now!"

Elan didn't hesitate. He braced himself and blocked the attack, gritting his teeth against the pain as Sabreclaw's claws connected with a bone-shaking impact. The force of the blow sent him hurtling through the air, his body twisting as he flew. He crashed into the ground 15 meters away, the momentum causing him to roll across the green grass, tearing up chunks of earth. As he finally came to a stop, Elan's muscles burned, and his vision swam.

"Good thing you blocked that, who knows what could have happened?" Arion said, his voice filled with relief.

"Arion, can you clarify the power level of this spiritual beast?" Elan grunted as he slowly stood up, feeling the pain coursing through his body. "Last time you mentioned spiritual beasts, you didn't talk about stages."

Arion responded, "This one is a 5th stage Spiritual Beast. The spiritual beasts you've fought before were much weaker. The three you defeated then were in the 1st and 2nd stages of the Spiritual Beast level. The one you just killed had only recently entered the 1st stage."

"Fuck! You mean to tell me this monster is two levels above me? Great, just fucking great!" Elan exclaimed.

"Yeah!" Arion responded. "But don't worry. You're just as powerful as a 5th-stage Spiritual Beast. Maybe you've forgotten that your cultivation combines both body cultivation and spiritual cultivation. Your body is way tougher than any 3rd-stage body cultivator or spiritual cultivator."

Before Elan could respond to Arion, the Sabreclaw lunged at him with breathtaking speed. The beast moved like a shadow, its massive form slicing through the air with deadly precision.

Elan quickly recalled the sword movements Arion had passed to him during his time in the secluded area. Without missing a beat, Elan sidestepped and spun to his right, narrowly avoiding the powerful swipe of the Sabreclaw's left claws. As the beast's momentum carried it past him, Elan executed a swift, fluid arc with his sword, aiming to cleave through the Sabreclaw's ribs. However, the beast, agile and alert, leaped sideways to its right, narrowly escaping the deadly strike.

When the Sabreclaw landed, it was already facing Elan again. "Damn it!" Elan cursed, frustrated by the missed opportunity.

Arion's voice echoed in his mind, "I thought you'd never use the sword movements I passed. Even without harnessing spiritual energy, these techniques are formidable when paired with a Spiritual Weapon."

Elan didn't care if the techniques were considered ordinary or not. As long as they helped him evade the Sabreclaw's powerful attacks and strike back with precision, that was all that mattered.

Determined to seize the offensive, Elan charged at the Sabreclaw, his sword gleaming in the dim light. The Sabreclaw responded with equal ferocity, lunging forward with its claws extended. Elan ducked beneath a vicious swipe, countering with a swift slash aimed at the beast's flank. The Sabreclaw twisted away, narrowly avoiding the blade, and retaliated with a lightning-fast strike that Elan barely managed to dodge.

The two adversaries continued their intense exchange, attacking and dodging with incredible speed and accuracy. Elan's movements were fluid and calculated, with each strike aimed with deadly intent. The Sabreclaw matched his ferocity, with its powerful limbs and razor-sharp claws posing a constant threat.

Sparks flew as sword and claw collided, lighting up the dark clearing with flashes of brilliance. After nearly a hundred moves, they finally separated. Elan stumbled to the ground, heavily panting, his body aching from the exertion. The Sabreclaw was not faring much better; as it landed near the carcasses of the two dead Cowbulls, blood splattered everywhere. The beast looked at Elan, also panting heavily.

"Elan, you need to end this fast. You might run out of spiritual energy," Arion warned.

"Easier said than done. The Sabreclaw is incredibly fast and tough," Elan replied, breathing hard.

They watched each other warily, each preparing for the next move. Elan gathered all his remaining strength, knowing that if this strike failed, retreat would be his only option. He launched himself at the Sabreclaw, channeling every ounce of power into this final, decisive blow.

Simultaneously, the Sabreclaw made its move, unleashing its full might. As it pushed off to attack, it slipped on the blood from the earlier carnage, causing it to lose balance. Elan seized the opportunity. Without hesitation, he swung his sword, the blade slicing through the air with deadly precision and connecting with the Sabreclaw's left leg, severing it cleanly.

The beast roared in agony as its severed leg landed on the ground, its momentum abruptly halted by the unexpected blow. Elan's eyes blazed with fierce determination, knowing this was his chance to finally bring down the formidable creature.

Without wasting a second, Elan pressed his advantage, determined to end the Sabreclaw once and for all. He swung his sword with all his might, slicing cleanly through the beast's right leg. The Sabreclaw staggered, its balance utterly shattered. Seizing the moment, Elan used the creature's shoulder as a springboard, launching himself high into the air.

As he descended, Elan aimed his sword at the Sabreclaw's neck, shouting, "Off with your head!" The blade struck with unerring precision, slicing through the thick hide and muscle, severing the Sabreclaw's head in a single, fluid motion. The massive head hit the ground with a resounding thud, and the beast's body soon followed, collapsing lifelessly.

Elan landed gracefully, his breath coming in heavy but triumphant gasps. The formidable Sabreclaw was finally defeated, and the clearing fell silent once more, save for the sound of Elan's labored breaths. He stood over the fallen beast, victorious.

"Wow, that Alice in Wonderland reference before you cut the Sabreclaw's head was priceless," Arion commented.

Elan smiled, sighed, and slumped to the ground, still panting heavily. "Finally done. Good thing the Sabreclaw slipped on the Cowbull's blood."

"Quick, retrieve the beast core from the Sabreclaw," Arion urged.

"Huh? What beast core?" Elan asked, confused.

Arion explained, "A beast core is a concentrated form of spiritual energy that forms within powerful beasts. It's usually located near the heart or brain. These cores contain immense power and can be used to enhance your cultivation, craft powerful artifacts, or even as a potent energy source. In the case of this spiritual beast, its beast core is located near the brain. Retrieving the core from this Sabreclaw will be incredibly valuable."

Elan's eyes widened with realization. "Seriously?"

"Yes, now quick, get the beast core and absorb it immediately. It will replenish your spiritual energy and might even help you break through to the 4th stage of the Radiant Body Realm," Arion urged.

Elan quickly got up, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten, and walked toward the head of the Sabreclaw to extract the beast core. As he reached the massive head, he took a deep breath and steeled himself for the task. The sight was gruesome, and the smell of blood and decay was overwhelming.

He carefully used his sword to make an incision near the base of the Sabreclaw's skull, feeling a wave of disgust as he peeled back layers of thick hide and muscle. Blood oozed out, covering his hands and making the task even more challenging. Elan felt bile rise in his throat but forced himself to continue, knowing the importance of the core.

After a few agonizing moments, he finally reached the cavity where the beast core was located. It was nestled near the brain, glowing faintly with a deep, pulsating light. The core was about the size of a marble, small but radiating immense energy. Elan carefully pried it loose, his fingers slick with blood and gore. He held the core up, its radiant energy contrasting starkly with the grisly scene around him.

"This is the beast core? It's so small; I was expecting something bigger," Elan said, surprised.

"Don't underestimate the beast core just because of its size," Arion interjected. "Even though it's small, it contains a highly concentrated amount of spiritual energy. The power within this tiny core is immense and can significantly boost your cultivation. Size doesn't determine its potency; it's the density of the spiritual energy that matters."

Elan nodded, understanding the importance of the core despite its small size.

"How do I absorb this? Do I just touch it and absorb the spiritual energy inside?" Elan asked.

"Uh, you have to swallow it to fully absorb all the spiritual energy. If you just touch it, some energy will leak out, and you won't be able to absorb everything," Arion explained.

Elan's expression shifted to one of disgust upon hearing Arion's words. "You have got to be kidding me. I have to swallow it. That's disgusting."

"Just do it. You won't be chewing it, just swallowing," Arion urged.

"I don't know, Arion. I don't think I can swallow this beast core. Can I cook it first to make it taste better?" Elan suggested.

Hearing Elan's idea of cooking the beast core, Arion couldn't help but burst into laughter. "Are you crazy? Cooking it? Hahaha, just stop being a bitch, Elan, and swallow it," Arion said, trying to provoke Elan into action.

Elan was stunned for a moment by Arion's provocation. He hadn't expected the AI to speak so bluntly, but then again, Arion was sentient now.

"Fine, fine. But if this tastes horrible, I'm blaming you," Elan said. He sat down cross-legged, inhaled deeply, and exhaled slowly. Summoning his courage, he tossed the beast core into his mouth and swallowed it, trying hard not to gag.

Once the core was inside him, Elan began the process of absorbing its energy.