The ending had actually been decided long ago.
A body covered in wounds could not, in the end, bear a will that surpassed its limits. His Soul Power had been completely exhausted, like a dried-up riverbed, draining even the last shred of his strength. His vision began to blur, and the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's enormous figure became a wavering double image before his eyes.
In that final moment, Situ Xuan saw the massive dark-gold claw, carrying a sharp gale as it howled toward him and filled his entire field of vision.
There was no fear, no regret—only fighting spirit burning until the very last instant, streaking through his pupils like a meteor.
The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's huge body still stood there. It slowly withdrew the claw that should have smashed the tiny human's head apart. There was none of the expected red and white matter on its talons. Instead, strands of pure spiritual energy rose from where the human "corpse" had vanished, drawn toward it as a hundred rivers returned to the sea, merging into the dark-gold radiance around its body and making it denser and deeper.
It had won, devouring the abundant spiritual energy brought by its prey.
Yet this powerful Soul Beast overlord did not roar to declare its territory and strength, nor did it pound its chest in excitement as it normally would after devouring formidable prey.
It merely lowered its head. Within those cruel eyes appeared a rare trace of... confusion.
It looked at the claw that had just delivered the fatal blow, then at the place where that human had stood for the last time before vanishing into light.
Vast spiritual energy circulated through its body, bringing the tangible sensation of growing stronger.
But at this moment, that sensation brought it none of