Contracting the Blood-Eyed Mane Lion

After assigning Asolun his task, Matthews charged forward.

In theory, the safest thing for Matthews to do in a situation like this was to stand guard right in front of the boulder. But he was still at his peak condition. As he kept wearing down the Blood-Eyed Mane Lion, his body would naturally metabolize and make him drowsy. That would only send him further down a slippery slope.

Matthews had no idea how long the lion had been following them. Naturally, he had no way to estimate its condition, so he could only choose to strike first while he was still at his peak.

"Boom—"

The Blood-Eyed Mane Lion easily blocked the swing of Cold Light in Matthews's right hand with its right paw. The impact of their simple exchange created a shock wave no weaker than a grenade blast.

Matthews retreated more than ten meters after that one strike. By then, he had roughly estimated the Blood-Eyed Mane Lion's strength. Luckily, it wasn't a Saint Realm magical beast, but a Level Nine Magical Beast at the peak, just as he had suspected.

Once lions reached adulthood, they left their prides. Blood-Eyed Mane Lions became Saint Realm magical beasts when they reached adulthood. This one clearly fit the pattern of being nearly grown but not yet having started a family.

The Blood-Eyed Mane Lion already had a territory, which meant it would become a Saint Realm magical beast in a few years. After that, it would join the competition for female Blood-Eyed Mane Lions. Once it had started a family, Matthews figured he might have to face several Level Nine Blood-Eyed Mane Lions!

This was also an opportunity. Matthews had reached the peak of the Eighth-level Warrior stage, and he could use the pressure of this Level Nine Magical Beast at its peak to try to break through to Level Nine.

"Again!"

Matthews charged forward once more, using Heavy as Light and Light as Heavy in turn with Cold Light and Shadow Blade. As Matthews fought the peak Level Nine Magical Beast, the Blood-Eyed Mane Lion, Asolun continued casting Ice Magic, trying to freeze its paws and restrict its movements.

Although Matthews had comprehended Heavy as Light and Light as Heavy, his Level Eight Battle Qi and physical capabilities held him back. He was still at a disadvantage against a Level Nine Magical Beast at its peak. The Blood-Eyed Mane Lion's heavy blows left his chest feeling tight.

"How's it coming along?"

"Boss, almost ready!"

Hearing Asolun's voice, Matthews had no choice but to swing Cold Light and meet the Blood-Eyed Mane Lion's attack again. He hadn't been fighting as if his life depended on it, so Shadow Blade, held in his left hand to defend and seize chances to strike, hadn't done much damage to the lion. It had only scratched its hide a little.

"Ice Seal of a Thousand Miles!"

Following the same approach he had used when killing the Level Nine beginner Black Snake, Asolun cast his freezing spell on the Blood-Eyed Mane Lion again. Matthews seized the opportunity and sprang toward the lion in a few quick steps.

Just as Matthews swung his blade down, he saw the mockery on his target's face.

"Not good!"

Matthews couldn't stop his swing in time. The Blood-Eyed Mane Lion broke free of the ice and dodged, while Matthews held Shadow Blade across his chest to defend himself. Even so, the lion struck him with a single paw and sent him flying.

Seeing its mocking expression, Matthews could only curse his bad luck.

"This guy knew to hide its strength. It must have been toying with him earlier!"

Matthews spat out a mouthful of blood. Only then did he realize that the Blood-Eyed Mane Lion had also comprehended something similar to Heavy as Light. That last blow had felt much like the principle behind his own earlier attacks.

"Boss, are you all right?"

"We're in trouble. This thing is beyond us right now!"

The Blood-Eyed Mane Lion felt it had toyed with them long enough. Considering the weather, it didn't want to fight its target in the rain, so it unleashed its full power, intending to finish the fight!

By then, Matthews had been pushed completely onto the defensive. His understanding of the technique was about the same as the lion's, but the lion's Battle Qi was far stronger.

After a prolonged fight, another mistake sent Matthews flying.

Seeing that Matthews had nearly lost the ability to move, Asolun had no choice but to enlarge himself and block the Blood-Eyed Mane Lion's attack.

"Boom—"

As a Seventh-Level Magical Beast, Asolun was no match for a peak Level Nine Magical Beast. After just one blow, he was sent flying even farther than Matthews!

"Rumble—"

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning tore through the sky, illuminating the dark ground. It also lit up something in Matthews's heart. In his previous life, he had watched anime from Japan.

In The Legend of Otsutsuki Kurotan Saving His Mother, Erzhuzi had used a move against his older brother. He had used his own energy to connect with the thunderclouds in the sky. Matthews had never tried anything like that before, but now, in such a desperate situation, he could only risk it!

Back when he was still an ordinary mortal, Matthews had been struck by lightning and survived. Now, he was an Eighth-level Warrior. The lightning in the Coiling Dragon World might be stronger than in his previous world, but he could only give it a try.

Matthews raised the Cold Light Blade in his right hand, following the flickering electricity along the blade.

"Rumble—"

As thunder roared, the Lightning Element at Matthews's blade touched the bolt of lightning. The electricity coursed through his entire body. The solid ball of lightning in his dantian absorbed most of the lightning that entered him.

"Ha ha ha ha! I am lightning, and I am thunder!"

As Matthews's wild laughter rang out, the Blood-Eyed Mane Lion stared at him. Matthews's hair stood on end, as though he held the might of the heavens in his hands.

The lion roared and gathered all its strength for an attack.

"Ha ha ha! Have you ever heard of an attack that comes crashing down from the sky?"

"Kirin—"

A lightning Kirin, carrying the might of the heavens, roared as it charged toward the Blood-Eyed Mane Lion.

"Boom—"

After the strike, Matthews leaned on his blade and walked over to the Blood-Eyed Mane Lion, intending to finish it off.

"Huh, you're pretty tough. You actually survived an attack of that caliber!"

The Blood-Eyed Mane Lion had completely lost its ability to fight. When it saw Matthews approaching, it didn't even have the strength to get up.

"Heh heh, I know you want to live. You've got decent potential, so I'll make an exception and take you as my contracted magical beast."

This fight had shown Matthews that although he had Asolun, a Tengshe magical beast, Asolun was only Level Seven and could offer him limited help. The Blood-Eyed Mane Lion was a peak Level Nine Magical Beast. Having it fight alongside him under a Master-Servant Contract would be no bad deal.

With that, he drew on the magic power within him and formed a Master-Servant Contract magic array.

Only after contracting the Level Nine Magical Beast did Matthews feel at ease enough to check on Asolun's injuries.

Matthews carried the unconscious, injured Asolun beneath the boulder, then went back to the pit where the Blood-Eyed Mane Lion lay.