Leon finished changing his gear. He slotted two Miasma Jewels into the sockets of Enduring Surrender, the familiar sound of light metal clicking echoing through the workshop.
He stepped out and double-checked his equipment setup once more.
[EQUIPMENT: Enduring Surrender, Kirin Horn Alpha, Kirin Jacket Alpha, Kirin Longarms Alpha, Kirin Hoop Alpha, Kirin Leg Guards Alpha]
[EQUIPMENT SKILLS: Free Elem/Ammo Up Lv.3, Thunder Resistance Lv.2, Marathon Runner Lv.3, Divine Blessing Lv.3, Thunder Attack Lv.3, Effluvia Resistance Lv.2, Blight Resistance Lv.1]
While not completely immune to the effluvium, it was enough for Leon to endure most battles within the Rotten Vale.
He sheathed his weapons on his back, ensuring his potion vials and satchel were securely fastened at his waist. After a final count of his supplies, he headed straight for the quest counter.
Since a major mission was scheduled for three days later, he decided not to take Dumpling along on this trip.
The sunlight was bright and piercing, yet it felt exceptionally fleeting.
Leaving the base was like entering an entirely different world.
At dusk.
Leon stood at the edge of the Rotten Vale, gazing up at the gray-purple sky perpetually shrouded in dark clouds.
The air was thick with the stench of decay mixed with effluvium. Below a distant cliff, an Odogaron could be seen dragging a carcass in its jaws, its figure flickering in and out of the haze.
This place was unlike any other ecosystem; the stench of death permeated every inch of the soil.
Leon pulled up his scarf slightly to cover his nose and mouth, his footsteps landing softly as he stepped into this malicious region.
"This really isn't pleasant..." Leon frowned, feeling a slight tightness in his chest. Even with the Miasma Jewels equipped, his body still felt a faint sense of oppression.
Compared to his last visit, the concentration of the effluvium had clearly increased.
Along the way, Leon saw many heart-wrenching sights: herds of Aptonoth collapsed in the red mist, their bodies shriveled as if their life force had been drained, and the corpses of Raphinos stripped bare, exposing gray-white bone.
Passing a pile of bones, Leon paused. He spotted a metal fragment on the ground, its shape regular and etched with fine forge marks.
He knelt to inspect it closely, confirming his suspicion. "Is this a hunter's equipment?"
Just as he was about to stand up, a sudden chill ran down his spine.
*Crackle! Snap!*
His expression shifted instantly, his instincts taking over as he rolled toward his front left.
In the next instant.
A dark shadow pounced from the mist!
An Odogaron!
Dark red all over, its body was lean but packed with explosive muscle. Its crimson eyes glowed with bloodlust, and its sharp front claws tore through the air, gouging a massive crater where Leon had stood just moments before.
"It was lying in wait here..." Leon stood up quickly, Enduring Surrender clearing its sheaths with a sharp *ching* as he dropped into a combat stance.
—Demon Mode!
The Odogaron opened its horrific maw, letting out a piercing low growl as it raised its claws.
—Front claw swipe!
"Left side!" A sharp light flickered in Leon's eyes. He anticipated the move, sliding back as the blood-colored claw swept past his face, whipping up a gust of effluvial wind.
Before Leon could counter, the Odogaron suddenly lowered its center of gravity.
—Hind leg leap!
"Damn, its attack frequency is too high..." Leon gritted his teeth, rolling again to clear the area.
BOOM!!
The Odogaron landed heavily, sending out a shockwave of effluvium that sent bleached bones flying for meters in every direction.
Unable to dodge completely, Leon barely managed to raise his blades to block, but the force still pushed him back two steps.
He narrowed his eyes, catching the brief moment the Odogaron hung in the air after landing, and unleashed a rushing sweep.
—Demon Flurry Rush!
Red-and-black lightning unique to the dragon element crackled in the air as his twin blades slashed deeply into the Odogaron's hind leg.
With a sharp *crack*, the Odogaron stumbled and was forced to hop back, leaving behind scorched dragon-element gashes.
Leon didn't stop. He pivoted and attacked again, refusing to let the Odogaron regain its rhythm.
However.
The wounded Odogaron didn't retreat. Instead, the killing intent in its eyes intensified. Like a mad dog, it lunged once more!
It leapt into the air, claws and teeth bared, its pouncing speed so fast it was nearly a blur.
"Come on then." Leon's gaze turned cold. He crossed his twin blades in front of his chest and lowered his weight.
Timing it perfectly, he shifted half a step and slashed out just as the Odogaron closed in.
—Demon Reverse Slash!
The twin blades transformed into a red-and-black thunderbolt, carving a precise arc that severed the Odogaron's path. Leon flashed past the monster's side, trailing a strike across its neck.
The creature's claws grazed Leon's right shoulder, but fortunately, the Divine Blessing effect triggered, mitigating the damage.
The Odogaron rolled upon landing, letting out a furious roar as it turned to continue the pursuit.
"Is it insane? Those consecutive pounces are too fast!" Leon gritted his teeth, his heart starting to race.
The Odogaron was different from other monsters; it seemed born to fight, devoid of fear or hesitation.
Just as Leon was about to make his next read, the Odogaron didn't lunge.
It lowered its head to bite into a tattered carcass and flung it violently.
The corpse flew straight at Leon!
Leon rolled frantically, narrowly avoiding the projectile.
But at that exact moment, the Odogaron crouched low to build power.
—High-speed charge!
Crash!
The Odogaron charged in a straight line with terrifying speed. Leon tried to dodge, only to realize the ground beneath him had collapsed, robbing him of his footing.
"Oh no!" There was no time to think. Leon could only force his body to twist, crossing his arms to raise his blades—
BANG!!!
The Odogaron's claws slammed into the twin blades. The massive force sent Leon flying, crashing hard into a pile of bones behind him.
"Urgh... cough!"
Leon groaned, picking himself up. Through his blurred vision, he locked onto the monster.
Divine Blessing triggered again!
Divine Blessing and Marathon Runner were the two strongest skills of the Kirin set. Besides reducing stamina consumption, they could also lower the damage taken from monsters. Though he sacrificed quite a bit of attack power, Leon could compensate for it with his Strength stat.
The Odogaron approached step by step, its killing intent thickening.
Leon took a deep breath and pulled a vial from his belt.
Gulp—
He downed the Hunting Essentials in one go. Strength flooded his body as his attack, defense, and health were bolstered.
"Alright... let's keep going." Leon stared down at his twin blades. Black and red dragon energy was faintly beginning to pool.
Roaring, the Odogaron charged again!
This time, Leon completely mastered the Odogaron's attack rhythm, dodging and counter-attacking with perfect timing.
He gave the beast no more openings.
In less than five minutes, the Odogaron was at its last breath.
—Hunt Complete.
[TARGET SLAIN: Odogaron (High Rank)]
[DING! TRAIT TRIGGERED: Lone Wolf]
[EXP GAINED: 3000]
[LEVEL: Lv.26]
[EXP: 128,000 / 155,000]
[BONUS MATERIALS ACQUIRED: Hard Monster Bone x2, Odogaron Plate x2, Odogaron Gem x2, Odogaron Fang+ x2, Nourishing Extract x2, Odogaron Scale+ x4, Odogaron Claw+ x4, Odogaron Hardclaw x4]
[Author's Note : If you're loving the story, a power_stone, review or comment means the world!
Want 40+ chapters ahead right now? Check my author profile or novel description for Patreon.]