Fifteenth Axe: Seventh-Level Magical Beast

On the twentieth day, Lin Yun began venturing deeper into the Magic Beast Mountain Range.

This area was already frequented by sixth-level magical beasts, and the air was thick with their scent. The towering ancient trees grew denser, their crowns blotting out the sky and allowing almost no sunlight to penetrate. The ground had not seen daylight in years, and was covered in a thick layer of rotting leaves that gave off a damp, musty smell.

Bebe crouched on his shoulder, its little nose twitching as it warily surveyed their surroundings. Its senses were even sharper than Lin Yun's, and during their days in the Magic Beast Mountain Range, it had detected hidden threats several times before they appeared.

"Bebe, can you find any signs of a seventh-level magical beast?" Lin Yun asked.

"Chirp!" Bebe leapt off his shoulder and landed on the ground. It pressed its nose to the earth, sniffed, then darted off in one direction.

Lin Yun followed close behind.

They crossed a stretch of dense forest and climbed over a ridge. Suddenly, Bebe stopped. Its body arched, its fur stood on end, and it let out a low hiss—a warning that it had encountered a powerful foe.

Lin Yun immediately released Wind of Perception.

The aura he sensed made his heart tighten. Three hundred meters ahead, a powerful, savage life force was perched atop a massive boulder. Its strength far surpassed that of any magical beast he had encountered before.

Seventh level.

And not an ordinary seventh-level beast.

Lin Yun approached cautiously, and at last saw the source of that aura—

A Black-Striped Leopard.

The black feline magical beast was a full three meters long, its entire body covered in jet-black fur patterned with dark golden markings like flowing magma. Its limbs were thick and powerful, its claws gleaming with a metallic sheen. A long tail swayed slowly behind it, its tip sharp as a spear.

At that moment, it was lying atop a boulder with its eyes half closed, seemingly resting. But Lin Yun knew that a magical beast of this level had extraordinarily keen senses. It might have already noticed him.

Bebe let out an even more urgent hiss from Lin Yun's shoulder, its little paws clutching his collar tightly. It was warning him that this creature was extremely dangerous and he shouldn't act rashly.

Lin Yun took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

The Black-Striped Leopard was a seventh-level Wind Element magical beast renowned for its speed. It could sprint at over a hundred meters per second, its claws could tear through steel, and its tail spear was a deadly ranged weapon. Among the seventh-level beasts in the Magic Beast Mountain Range, it might not be the strongest, but it was undoubtedly one of the hardest to deal with.

But Lin Yun didn't retreat.

He needed this fight. He needed a true battle to the death to touch that barrier.

"Bebe, harass it from the sides and behind. Don't engage it head-on," Lin Yun said quietly. "I'll take the front."

Bebe chirped and leapt off his shoulder, disappearing silently into the bushes.

Lin Yun slowly stood and stepped out from behind the boulder.

The Black-Striped Leopard's eyes snapped open.

They were a pair of icy, ruthless, green vertical pupils, devoid of any emotion. It stared at Lin Yun as if he were an intruder who had trespassed on its territory—a prey foolish enough to challenge it.

"Rrrr—"

A low growl rumbled from the Black-Striped Leopard's throat, echoing through the mountains and forest like muffled thunder. It slowly rose to its feet, its muscles bulging beneath its fur as the dark golden markings seemed to come alive and flow across its black coat.

Lin Yun didn't wait for it to attack first.

He raised his right hand, and a purple Thunder Arrow shot out—

"Thunder Arrow!"

The Black-Striped Leopard didn't even move. It merely tilted its head slightly, and the Thunder Arrow skimmed past its ear before striking the rock behind it, blasting off a shower of fragments.

So fast!

No—it wasn't speed. Its ability to predict danger far surpassed Lin Yun's expectations. It hadn't moved at all, merely judged the Thunder Arrow's trajectory by instinct and made the smallest possible dodge.

Lin Yun's heart sank.

This kind of opponent was far harder to deal with than the magical beasts that simply relied on brute force to withstand attacks.

The Black-Striped Leopard seemed enraged by the attack. Its body lowered slightly, and then—

It vanished.

No, it hadn't vanished. It was simply moving so fast that Lin Yun's eyes couldn't follow it!

Almost by instinct, Lin Yun cast Wind Guardian and rolled to the side at the same time—

"Riiip!"

Three deep claw marks appeared where he had been standing, gouging furrows half an inch deep into the rocky ground. If he had been half a beat slower, those claws would have torn into him.

Lin Yun scrambled to his feet, his back already soaked with cold sweat.

Too fast. His Wind Guardian couldn't keep up with that speed.

The Black-Striped Leopard landed five meters behind him. Its green vertical pupils stared coldly at him, its long tail swaying slowly behind it. It didn't rush to attack again, as if it were toying with its prey.

Lin Yun clenched his teeth and quickly adjusted his strategy.

He couldn't beat the Black-Striped Leopard in speed. His defenses couldn't withstand its claws in a direct clash either. His only advantage was the variety of his Seven-Element Magic.

He had to restrict its speed.

"Earth Spike!"

Dozens of stone spikes burst up beneath the Black-Striped Leopard's feet. But the beast was even faster. It leapt lightly onto a nearby tree, and every spike missed.

Lin Yun didn't stop. He swept his left hand, and a flash of watery blue light appeared—

"Heavenly Water Curtain!"

The water curtain unfurled in front of him, not to defend but to block the beast's view. At the same time, he formed a Wind Blade in his right hand and slashed toward the canopy where the Black-Striped Leopard stood.

"Wind Blade Slash!"

The canopy was severed and crashed to the ground. But the Black-Striped Leopard had already leapt to another tree as it fell, moving so fast it was despairing to watch.

Lin Yun's heart sank further.

Earth Spike, water curtain, Wind Blade—he had used three elements in quick succession, yet hadn't even touched a hair on the Black-Striped Leopard. Its speed and reflexes far exceeded his expectations.

The Black-Striped Leopard seemed to have grown tired of this game of cat and mouse.

Its body lowered again, and then—

A streak of black lightning flashed past.

Lin Yun barely had time to layer Armor of Light and the Saint Armor of Earth Protection in front of himself before the Black-Striped Leopard's claws were upon him.

"Bang!"

The first layer, Armor of Light, was torn apart like paper. The second, the Saint Armor of Earth Protection, lasted less than half a second before it shattered as well. The claws pierced through his defenses and slammed into his chest.

Blood sprayed.

Lin Yun was sent flying. His back hit a tree, snapping its trunk, which was as thick as a bowl. He crashed to the ground and rolled several times before finally coming to a stop.

A searing pain tore through his chest. Three deep wounds, exposing bone, stretched from his left shoulder to his right ribs, and blood poured from them. If the Saint Armor of Earth Protection hadn't absorbed most of the force, that single blow could have killed him.

"Cough..." Lin Yun coughed up blood and struggled to his feet.

The Black-Striped Leopard stood where he had been, licking the blood from its claws. A cruel satisfaction glinted in its green vertical pupils.

Bebe darted out of the bushes and stood in front of Lin Yun, hissing sharply at the Black-Striped Leopard. Its body arched, its fur stood on end, and its tiny frame radiated a presence completely at odds with its size.

The Black-Striped Leopard's ears twitched, as if it felt somewhat wary of Bebe's aura. But it glanced at Lin Yun's chest wound, then at Bebe's small frame, and ultimately chose to ignore the little creature.

It began to walk slowly toward Lin Yun, each step unhurried.

Gritting his teeth, Lin Yun pressed his left hand against the wound on his chest and cast a Light-Element Healing Spell.

"Mysteries of Healing."

White light flowed over the wound, and the bleeding gradually stopped. But it was too deep to heal in a short time. The intense pain made his awareness grow hazy, but he forced himself to stay conscious.

He couldn't fall.

If he fell, he would really die.

He still had cards he hadn't played. He had plenty of magic power left at the peak of level six. In their earlier exchanges, he had used low-level spells to test and wear down his opponent, but now there was no need to hold back.

Lin Yun took a deep breath. His magic power surged through him like boiling magma.

The Black-Striped Leopard was only ten meters away.

Lin Yun abruptly raised his head, and seven-colored light flashed in his eyes.

"Earth Crack!"

He pressed both hands to the ground and poured Earth Element magic power into it. The ground beneath the Black-Striped Leopard suddenly split open, a bottomless fissure opening like the maw of a giant beast, ready to swallow it whole.

The Black-Striped Leopard yelped and leapt sharply to the side. But this time, it was a fraction slower than before. Earth Crack covered too wide an area, forcing it to jump with all its might.

Lin Yun seized that brief opening—

"Gravity Spell!"

An advanced Earth Element spell—Gravity Spell.

It was the most advanced Earth Element spell he had learned from Doehring. It could increase gravity several times over within a certain area. The Black-Striped Leopard had just landed when its body suddenly sank, its four limbs bending noticeably.

The effect lasted less than a second, but that was enough.

"Thunder Chain!"

A purple Thunder Chain shot from Lin Yun's hand and wrapped around the Black-Striped Leopard's hind leg. Electricity ravaged its body, and the beast let out a pained roar.

But it was still a seventh-level magical beast. The Thunder Chain held it for less than two seconds before it broke free. Wisps of smoke rose from its black fur, but the ferocity in its eyes burned even brighter.

The Black-Striped Leopard roared and charged wildly at Lin Yun, ignoring its injured hind leg.

Lin Yun didn't retreat.

Against an opponent this fast, retreating meant death. Only meeting its attack with one of his own gave him a chance to survive.

"Water Dragon Bullet!"

A water dragon surged from his hand and slammed into the Black-Striped Leopard. The beast was knocked off course, but its claws still raked across Lin Yun's right arm, tearing away flesh.

Lin Yun grunted. His right arm fell limp, blood dripping from his fingers.

But he didn't stop.

He formed a Light Element spell with his left hand—

"Spear of Light!"

The light spear shot out. Unable to push off while airborne, the Black-Striped Leopard was struck in the flank. White light burst across its body, scorching a large patch of black fur and dimming its dark golden markings.

The Black-Striped Leopard crashed to the ground and rolled twice before struggling to its feet. A charred wound marked its flank, and its hind leg trembled slightly. The damage from the Thunder Chain had drastically reduced its speed.

But it didn't run.

The pride of a seventh-level magical beast wouldn't let it flee from a Level 6 Mage.

The Black-Striped Leopard let out a low growl. The dark golden markings across its body suddenly blazed like molten magma. Its speed surged, faster and more ferocious than before—

"Roar!"

Lin Yun knew this was its final burst.

He took a deep breath and summoned all the magic power he had left. The seven kinds of magic power surged through him, like seven different rivers merging into a single torrent.

This was something he had never tried before—casting Seven-Element Magic in combination.

"Earth Binding!"

The ground beneath the Black-Striped Leopard softened and turned into a bog, trapping its limbs.

"Wind Shackles!"

Invisible cords of wind wrapped around its body and tightened.

"Water Cage!"

Water elements gathered into a huge sphere and enclosed the Black-Striped Leopard.

All three binding spells took effect at once, restricting the Black-Striped Leopard's movements to the utmost. But it was still a seventh-level magical beast. It struggled frantically, and Earth Binding began to crack, Wind Shackles began to snap, and Water Cage started to waver.

Gritting his teeth, Lin Yun used his right hand—the one that wasn't injured—to form his final spell.

Not Lightning Element, not Light Element, but the Fire Element he seldom used in battle.

"Fire Dragon Technique!"

A fire dragon surged from his hand, baring its fangs and claws as it lunged at the trapped Black-Striped Leopard. Its temperature was so high that even the air warped in the heat.

The Black-Striped Leopard roared in despair and strained to break free of all its restraints, but it was too late.

The fire dragon slammed into it and exploded, engulfing it in a blazing inferno.

The flames died down.

The Black-Striped Leopard lay on the ground, its body charred black and its dark golden markings completely dimmed, their former brilliance gone. Its chest rose and fell faintly as it struggled for its last breaths, but it could no longer stand.

Lin Yun stood where he was, panting heavily.

Three deep wounds exposed bone in his chest, a long gash split open his right arm, and his whole body was covered in blood. His magic power was nearly exhausted, and he could barely stay on his feet.

But he had won.

At the peak of level six, he had defeated a seventh-level magical beast.

Bebe leapt down from a nearby tree and perched on the Black-Striped Leopard's head. It chirped twice and patted the beast's head with its little paw, confirming that it was truly dead. Then it darted back to Lin Yun's shoulder, nuzzled his cheek, and let out a gentle cry.

Lin Yun gave a wry smile and reached up to pat Bebe's head.

"I almost didn't make it out of here," he murmured.

He sank to the ground and leaned against a tree, panting heavily. The wound in his chest still throbbed, and he could no longer raise his right arm. He rummaged through his pack for a healing potion and poured it over the wound. White foam bubbled up, and he sucked in a breath as pain flared through him.

But he didn't dare stop.

This was still the depths of the Magic Beast Mountain Range, and the smell of blood would soon attract other magical beasts. He had to recover some strength as quickly as possible and get away.

Lin Yun closed his eyes and entered a meditative state. His magic power slowly recovered, like water flowing once more into a dried-up riverbed. Bebe crouched on his shoulder, keeping a wary eye on their surroundings as it guarded him.

Half an hour later, Lin Yun opened his eyes. His magic power had recovered to less than thirty percent, but it would have to do. He struggled to his feet, walked over to the Black-Striped Leopard's corpse, and extracted its Magic Crystal.

The seventh-level Magic Crystal was about the size of a fist, pitch black, with dark golden markings flowing faintly within. It was the most valuable trophy he had ever obtained.

"Let's go, Bebe." Lin Yun put the Magic Crystal away and turned toward the outskirts of the mountain range.

Bebe chirped and followed him.

Three days later, Lin Yun returned to a safe cave on the outskirts of the Magic Beast Mountain Range.

During those three days, he had recovered from his injuries and replenished his magic power while traveling. With the Light Element's healing spell and healing potions, the wounds on his chest had scabbed over, and he could move his right arm again.

But he didn't hurry back to the academy.

What he had gained from that battle wasn't just a seventh-level Magic Crystal. He had also gained a whole new understanding of magic.

Against the Black-Striped Leopard, he hadn't been fast enough or strong enough defensively, and no single spell could threaten it. But Seven Element Rotation and combined spellcasting had given him a chance to win.

Earth Element spells restricted movement, Water and Wind Element spells supported his control, Lightning and Light Element spells served as his main attacks, and Fire Element spells dealt the finishing blow. Each of the seven elements had its role. Using the right spell at the right moment was the key to unleashing their greatest power.

That was the point of mastering all seven elements.

It wasn't about raising all seven to the same level, but about choosing the right combination of spells for each battle.

Lin Yun sat cross-legged in the cave, closed his eyes, and reflected on every detail of the battle. His Spiritual Energy slowly grew, his magic power gradually condensed, and a crack seemed to have appeared in that invisible barrier.

"I'm so close," he murmured.

Bebe was curled up beside him, its little body rising and falling as it slept deeply. It had been exhausted too. During every battle these past few days, it had guarded Lin Yun from the shadows, ready to step in at any moment.

Lin Yun opened his eyes and looked at the moonlight outside the cave, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

He had won against a seventh-level magical beast.

But he knew this was only the beginning. Deeper in the Magic Beast Mountain Range, there were eighth- and ninth-level beasts, and even magical beasts in the Saint Realm. He still had a long way to go.

But that could wait.

For now, he needed to heal, consolidate what he had learned from this battle, and then—break through to level seven.