Scarlet Scale Serpent

"Protect the young lady!"

Gerant was not far behind Inori. He spotted the Beastman in the black cloak as well and hurriedly shouted.

But it was already too late.

This short Beastman was clearly highly skilled at concealment. He had not revealed himself until the very moment he struck.

Like a venomous snake lying in wait for a long time, he suddenly pounced when the opportunity arrived, baring his fangs.

"A Level Eight Warrior cultivating dark-element Battle Qi, specializing in concealment and assassination."

Andres instantly judged the short Beastman's strength. His hand rested at his waist, gripping the hilt of his flexible sword as he hesitated over whether to intervene.

If he used Momentum, he could draw upon the world around him to suppress the short Beastman and hinder his movements. Killing him with a single strike would not be difficult.

But that would undoubtedly expose his strength.

If he frightened Resior into retreating and keeping himself hidden, that would be troublesome.

Still, if he did nothing and allowed Inori to be killed, that would be a pity as well.

Andres wanted Inori's Fire Elemental Lesser God talent too.

"Hmm? It seems I won't need to act."

Andres suddenly noticed something. His eyes lit up, and his hand left the sword hilt.

Inori had her back to the assassin the entire time. Even after Gerant shouted, she did not react. Just as the black dagger was about to strike her, a red blur suddenly shot out from her body and rushed at the short Beastman.

The dagger in the short Beastman's hand was blocked by the red blur. When it struck the red blur, it produced the scraping sound of metal, even throwing off sparks.

The red blur seemed boneless. As the dagger pierced it, it bent around and touched the short Beastman's right hand, which held the dagger.

As if electrocuted, the short Beastman jerked his right hand back and swiftly retreated.

He was an assassin. After failing to land a single blow, he wanted to withdraw, but Gerant had already blocked his path.

"Still trying to run?"

Gerant gripped a greatsword and brought it down with all his strength.

The short Beastman's right hand hung limp at his side. It seemed the touch of the red blur had affected it greatly. He did not choose to block Gerant's strike, instead nimbly dodging aside and running in another direction.

"Clop clop clop!"

Rapid hoofbeats rang out as a snow-white Unicorn charged over, blocking the short Beastman's path. Its golden horn thrust toward him.

The Unicorn was a Level Seven Magical Beast. To deal with it safely, one needed at least the strength of a Level Eight Warrior.

The short Beastman was in poor condition at the moment and could only dodge again. But figures flashed all around him as members of Inori's guard squad surrounded him.

"Gerant, leave him to you." Inori spoke without turning her head.

"Yes, young lady."

Gerant held his greatsword in both hands, facing the short Beastman. At the same time, he commanded the guard squad, "Everyone in the guard squad, work with the young lady's Unicorn and kill him! Andres, you too!"

Andres did not respond. Instead, he looked at the ground behind Inori.

After blocking the assassin's sneak attack, the red blur that had shot out from Inori fell to the ground. It was a snake as thick as an arm, its entire body covered in crimson scales.

"A Level Eight Magical Beast, a Scarlet Scale Serpent!"

Andres recognized the snake.

"Six years ago, Inori only had the Unicorn as a magical beast. She must have subdued this Scarlet Scale Serpent after becoming a Level Eight Warrior. To make a Level Eight Magical Beast submit to her, it seems her strength is no ordinary Peak Level Eight."

Andres suspected that Inori had comprehended a realm as well. He just did not know whether she had reached Treating Heavy as Light, Treating Light as Heavy, or, like him, comprehended Momentum.

"Hiss."

The Scarlet Scale Serpent flicked its tongue and slowly slithered back onto Inori's body.

There was a conspicuous wound on its body, its scales shattered and flesh exposed. It had been injured by the dagger just now, though the wound was not very deep. Magical Beasts had far stronger bodies than humans and Beastmen. Without a difference in realm comprehension, Magical Beasts were almost guaranteed to win against the latter two at the same level.

Andres looked at the short Beastman again.

Surrounded on all sides, he had nowhere left to run. Moreover, after his attack had been blocked by the Scarlet Scale Serpent, his right hand had been bitten by it.

At that moment, his right hand had already turned pitch-black, as though its flesh and bones had necrotized. The blackness was spreading up his arm at a visible rate.

The short Beastman was decisive as well. He took the dagger with his left hand and directly cut off his right arm.

"Attack!"

Seeing this, Gerant felt the time had come and took the lead in attacking the short Beastman. The Unicorn and the other guard squad members attacked as well.

Andres joined them too. However, in order not to alert Resior, he only displayed the strength of a Level Seven Warrior.

Facing their combined assault, the Beastman assassin did not choose to confront them head-on. Instead, he used his agile footwork to circle around Gerant and the others.

But blood continued to pour from his severed right arm. Even though he used Battle Qi to strengthen the muscles around the wound and compress it to stop the bleeding, it only slightly slowed the rate of blood loss.

Dark-element Battle Qi was not light-element Battle Qi. It did not have much healing effect.

If this dragged on, he would undoubtedly be worn down to death.

"Boom!"

Another massive boulder smashed into the city wall with a thunderous crash.

The Beastman army had been attacking the city wall with catapults all along. The sounds of boulders striking the wall had never ceased.

"He's here. Be careful!" Inori's voice reached everyone's ears, her tone more solemn than ever before.

Andres felt something and discovered a massive boulder hurtling toward them. A tall figure stood atop it.

Compared to the other powerfully built Beastmen, his physique was far more balanced. His muscles had the lines of a cheetah—not excessively bulky, yet filled with explosive strength.

His features were sharply defined, carrying a wild and handsome charm. His head was nearly shaved, with only a lock of long hair atop it, tied and hanging behind his head. A Black Battle Saber was strapped to his back.

"He's finally shown himself!" Andres was overjoyed.

The figure standing atop the boulder was Resior, the prince of the Beastmen of the Noah Continent, known as the Mad Blade.

At the moment, the Beastmen were at a disadvantage. Resior clearly intended to turn the battle around by killing Inori.

Six years ago, in the battle between the Oga Kingdom and the Beastmen, Inori had secured victory by killing the Beastmen's commander.

However, the system in Andres's mind showed no reaction at all. Clearly, Resior's talent did not reach Godhood.

"That's fine. As long as I kill him, I can complete Teresa's second Binding Quest and obtain Highgod talent." Andres was already growing impatient.

"Boom!"

With a deafening crash, the massive boulder slammed into the city wall not far from them. Resior, meanwhile, leaped high into the air and descended toward where Inori stood.

"Clang!"

He drew the battle saber from his back and, using the force of his descent, slashed down at Inori!