Just as he stepped out of the cave, a low sigh sounded behind Leon, like wind through a cavern or an echo of an old dream.
"Must you... hunt it?" Raymond's voice rose again, devoid of his previous agitation and replaced by a sense of exhaustion and helplessness.
Leon paused for a moment and said calmly, "Yes."
A brief silence followed, with only the flickering of the dying blue flames in the air.
Raymond finally lowered his head, looking at the broken effluvium canister in his hand as if watching his years of obsession twisting and crumbling away.
He gave a helpless, bitter laugh and tossed the canister into the fire.
Outside the cave, the effluvium had thinned, and sunlight pierced through the thick mist. High above, the faint silhouette of a hunting hawk soared.
Leon stood at the edge of the valley and looked back at the inconspicuous cave entrance among the cliffs, his gaze darkening.
Although Vaal Hazak was a vital part of the Rotten Vale's ecosystem, the Elder Dragon's behavior had been influenced by human interference, so it had to be dealt with.
He believed the Rotten Vale would find other ways to regulate itself, and perhaps there was more than just one Vaal Hazak.
Leon walked alone into the depths of the Rotten Vale, where an acidic pool churned nearby—
Gurgle! Gurgle!
A massive figure slowly emerged, surrounded by a shroud of effluvium and covered in parasitic fungal spores.
There was no light in those hollow eyes.
A moment later, Vaal Hazak let out a low roar. The ground trembled as spore sacs burst, sending waves of effluvium crashing forward.
—Demon Mode!
Leon rolled to the side without hesitation. He wanted to test the effects of the Health Booster first, so he slammed it into the ground, letting the green mist fill the area.
Vaal Hazak struck first, rearing its massive body high before slamming down with a crushing forward press.
—Boom!!
The ground cracked.
Leon relied on his Rocksteady Mantle to tank the impact, swinging his dual blades across the Elder Dragon's forelegs.
While Vaal Hazak was still recovering from its animation, Leon shifted his weight, closing in on its head and landing three precise stabs.
Blood sprayed!
Vaal Hazak roared, its body shuddering before it suddenly threw its head back—effluvium spewed forth.
Leon rolled to dodge the breath. Just as he was about to counterattack, he heard a low grumble from Vaal Hazak as it began to inhale the surrounding effluvium.
Small monsters nearby collapsed one after another as the dragon absorbed every scrap of effluvium, causing the spore sacs across its body to swell violently.
Next.
Enveloped in a red mist, it entered its "Empowered State."
Though Vaal Hazak was slow, its movements became incredibly difficult to predict. Spores were released in random bursts, and every action carried a lethal threat.
Leon darted and wove through the attacks, slashing the spore sacs near the dragon's feet and triggering explosive bursts of effluvium.
Holding his breath, he closed the distance the moment the effluvium exploded, launching a fierce assault in Demon Mode!
His blades sliced through the underbelly, the junction of the chest and abdomen, and the neck—the soft spots he had just identified. Several precise strikes tore through the rotting scales, drawing dark purple blood and scattering spores.
Vaal Hazak roared in pain and slammed its forelimb down.
—Bang!!!
Leon had anticipated the move. Demon Mode made him more agile; with a light tap of his toe against a stone, he pivoted away, using a Spinning Rising Slash to cut into the forelimb.
Seizing the moment Vaal Hazak flinched from the neck injury, Leon fired his Clutch Claw and pulled himself toward the beast.
Becoming one with his blades, he transformed into a lethal wheel, carving a path from the dragon's head all the way to its tail.
—Slash! Slash! Slash!
Spore sacs ruptured, and Vaal Hazak's head jerked back. It stumbled, crashing into the edge of the acidic pool and kicking up a massive cloud of effluvium as it rolled.
"Roar—" Infuriated, Vaal Hazak completely unleashed its empowered form.
Every spore sac on its body burst simultaneously. Acid and effluvium mixed to form a thick cloud, blurring the entire area and making it difficult to lock onto the target.
Fortunately, Leon had equipped two Miasma Jewels. Knowing Elder Dragons were immune to traps, he used this opening to consume his Hunting Essentials in sequence.
His attack, defense, and health were all significantly boosted.
Vaal Hazak locked onto Leon again, unleashing an even more violent breath of effluvium.
Leon dodged to the side and charged in, unleashing a Blade Dance.
The blades crossed in a frantic whirlwind of steel.
Bone became visible on Vaal Hazak's forelimbs.
At that moment, the unexpected happened.
Vaal Hazak took advantage of Leon's recovery frames to execute a side-tackle!
Leon realized the danger, but it was too late to retreat.
Boom!!!
Leon was sent flying several meters, slamming hard against the cave wall. He spat out blood, his ears ringing incessantly.
Effluvium erosion began to spread, draining Leon's health.
—Hiss.
Without giving him a moment to breathe, Vaal Hazak slowly closed in.
Leon forced himself up from the ground, the blood on his lips still wet, but his eyes were filled with determination.
He quickly pulled a Potion from his Spatial Ring and gulped it down, recovering his health in the final seconds before the dragon reached him. Then, he fired his Clutch Claw, hooking it firmly into the shattered scales on Vaal Hazak's chest.
As the dragon's forward lunge missed, Leon pulled himself in, using the momentum to leap onto its back.
The cold light of his dual blades flashed again.
—Heavenly Blade Dance!
His blades moved like the wind, tearing through the flesh shrouded in death. He carved down the length of its spine, his edges bringing a storm of blood and gore.
Vaal Hazak howled in agony, thrashing against the walls in an attempt to throw the hunter off.
But Leon was prepared. He landed a heavy strike on its neck, used the recoil to spring into the air, and flipped back to the ground. Almost instantly, he lunged forward again.
He had spotted the fatal weakness—
The spore sacs were gathering energy again, preparing for another effluvium burst. If he didn't destroy them now, the dragon would enter its empowered state again!
Leon's gaze turned cold as he gripped his blades. He sprinted forward, staying low to the ground like a phantom.
—Spinning Rising Slash Finisher!
In an instant, Leon's blades descended like flashes of light, striking the spore sac on the right shoulder.
—Boom!
Under the high-frequency strikes, the spore sac exploded, tearing a massive hole in Vaal Hazak's upper body.
Thick mist swirled.
Vaal Hazak let out a piercing scream, staggering backward.
Leon pressed the advantage, kicking off the ground and exhausting his remaining stamina.
He charged his blades and unleashed another cross-cut.
—Blade Dance!
Part breaks followed one after another. The light of his blades wove through the air, shattering rotten bone, cutting through the effluvium, and piercing the dragon's hide.
The final blow—
Leon split Vaal Hazak's skull wide open.
—Thud!
The massive Vaal Hazak crashed to the ground, the entire valley seemingly mourning its fall.
The heavy, pale red effluvium gradually dissipated as sunlight filtered into the valley, illuminating Leon's blood-stained figure.
He knelt on one knee, gasping for air.
—Hunt Successful.
[Target Slain: Vaal Hazak (High Rank)]
[Ding! Trait Triggered—Lone Wolf]
[Experience Gained: 6000]
[Level: Lv. 26]
[Experience: 131,000 / 155,000]
[Obtained Bonus Materials: Elder Dragon Bone x2, Elder Dragon Blood x2, Mysterious Feystone x4, Warped Feystone x2, Sullied Streamstone x4, Vaal Hazak Gem x2, Deceased Scale x2, Deceased Scale x2, Vaal Hazak Tail x2, Vaal Hazak Membrane x4, Vaal Hazak Fang+ x4, Vaal Hazak Talon x4, Vaal Hazak Carapace x4, Vaal Hazak Wing x4]
[Main Quest Completed: Defeat Vaal Hazak]
[Rewards: Vaal Hazak Alpha Set, Expert Jewel x2, Attack Jewel x2]
[Quest Updated]
[Main Quest: Defeat Malzeno]
Description: To prevent the monsters in the Elder's Recess from being affected by the Qurio, please defeat Malzeno as soon as possible.
Quest Rewards: Malzeno Set, Fair Wind Charm x1, Dash/Expert Jewel x2, Dash/Attack Jewel x2, Dash/Handicraft Jewel x2.
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