Hunting the Scorpion Lion Chieftain

The interior of the canyon was more spacious than he had imagined. Deep within it lay a huge cave entrance, which was likely the entrance to the Scorpion Lions' nest.

Near the cave entrance, several particularly robust Crystallized Scorpion Lions patrolled, the crystals on their bodies gleaming with a metallic luster.

Their auras were clearly a level stronger than those of the ordinary individuals he had encountered before.

Luo Lin patiently observed for most of the day and roughly grasped the patrol patterns of these Elite Scorpion Lions.

There were around six Scorpion Lions, divided into two groups that took turns patrolling the area near the cave entrance.

He did not see the chieftain. It was likely resting inside the cave.

A direct assault was clearly unwise.

Six Elite Scorpion Lions plus an unknown chieftain—he stood no chance in a frontal clash.

He needed a more thorough plan.

Luo Lin recalled the information he had read about Crystallized Scorpion Lion habits.

These magical beasts were sensitive to sound and energy fluctuations, and they particularly detested sharp noises at a certain frequency.

At the same time, although they lived in groups, there were hierarchies and rivalries among them, especially when the chieftain was absent.

A plan gradually took shape in his mind.

He quietly retreated to a safe distance and began making preparations.

Luo Lin took out several crystals he had collected earlier that possessed a degree of resonance, carefully carving their surfaces with a dagger.

Rather than drawing a complete magic array, he used the knowledge from [Basic Rune Identification] to carve several simple rune structures capable of amplifying and directing sounds at a specific frequency.

It was simpler than drawing a complete magic array, but it still required tremendous precision.

Fortunately, the [Efficient Scholar] specialty had brought his control over the strength in his wrist to its peak.

After several hours, he had made three simple Amplifying Rune Crystals.

Next, he prepared several bottles of potion. They were not offensive potions, but ones capable of releasing an aura that imitated a powerful creature.

They were byproducts of his earlier research into energy patterns. Their effects were unstable, but they might create some chaos.

Night fell, and the canyon grew extremely dim. Only the faint glow emanating from the vigilant Scorpion Lions' bodies swayed in the darkness.

Luo Lin began his operation.

Using [Mage Hand], he silently placed two Amplifying Rune Crystals high on the rock walls on either side of the canyon, their positions carefully calculated.

Then he circled around to the other side of the canyon and found a concealed location downwind.

Taking a deep breath, Luo Lin held the last Amplifying Rune Crystal to his mouth, then circulated his mana and produced an incredibly sharp, high-frequency hiss from his throat.

Amplified by the rune crystal, the sound instantly became immensely penetrating, echoing and refracting repeatedly through the canyon.

Screee!

The piercing noise exploded through the silent canyon like demonic sound boring into the ears.

In an instant, the six Elite Scorpion Lions patrolling the canyon all let out agitated, restless roars!

They were clearly severely disturbed by the sudden noise. Growing frantic, they spun in place, raked the ground with their claws, and scraped their crystal shells together with ear-piercing screeches.

The time had come!

Luo Lin immediately hurled the bottles of aura-simulating potion in his hand into the middle of the Scorpion Lion pack.

The bottles shattered, and a strange scent mixed with sulfur, blood, and the oppressive aura of some powerful predator spread through the air.

Already irritated by the noise, the Elite Scorpion Lions were further provoked by the unfamiliar, powerful aura, and their internal hierarchy instantly collapsed.

They roared at one another and warily scrutinized their companions, believing either that an external enemy had invaded or that the companions beside them had undergone some mutation.

Two Scorpion Lions standing closest to each other even began tearing at one another over a tiny provocative gesture.

Chaos was exactly the result Luo Lin wanted.

He ignored the Elite Scorpion Lions caught up in their internal conflict, fixing his gaze tightly on the dark cave entrance.

He was gambling that the Scorpion Lion Chieftain would emerge to investigate the massive commotion outside.

He did not have to wait long.

Accompanied by a low roar filled with pressure, a massive figure slowly emerged from the cave.

It was the Scorpion Lion Chieftain Luo Lin had been waiting for!

This Scorpion Lion Chieftain was far larger than ordinary individuals, nearly the size of two of them combined.

The crystals on its body were no longer chaotic, multifaceted formations, but instead formed layered structures like armor. Its eyes were deep and gleamed with a dark metallic sheen.

The crystal core at its stinger was no longer fist-sized, but as large as a baby's head. The energy glow within was steady and restrained, radiating a pulse that made one's heart tremble.

The moment it appeared, the six Elite Scorpion Lions that had been fighting immediately quieted down, lowering their bodies and letting out submissive whimpers.

The Scorpion Lion Chieftain's cold eyes swept over the chaotic scene and immediately locked onto the general direction from which the noise and strange scent had come.

It was exactly where Luo Lin was hiding!

It clearly possessed greater intelligence and was not as easily misled as ordinary Scorpion Lions.

It let out an enraged roar. Its thick hind legs kicked violently against the ground, and its massive body displayed a speed utterly disproportionate to its size as it charged toward Luo Lin's hiding place like golden lightning.

The six Elite Scorpion Lions followed close behind.

Luo Lin's heart tightened. He knew the plan had gone off course; the chieftain's intelligence and reaction speed had surpassed his expectations.

Without hesitation, he turned and ran toward the retreat route he had planned in advance.

It was a narrow, steep slope littered with loose rocks, unfavorable terrain for the Scorpion Lions' enormous bodies.

As he sprinted, he continuously fired [Acid Spray] behind him. He was not trying to deal damage, but to hinder pursuit by spraying acid across the path and creating slick, corrosive patches.

The Scorpion Lion Chieftain was incredibly fast and easily avoided most of the acid. Even when a few droplets landed on its crystal armor, they left only faint white marks and could barely break through its defenses.

The distance between it and Luo Lin rapidly narrowed.

Luo Lin could even smell the hot breath behind him, mixed with a rank, bloody stench.

He knew they were far too close, but he was also about to reach his destination.

He suddenly rushed into the narrow slope.

Almost at the same moment, the Scorpion Lion Chieftain reached the entrance to the slope. It tried to squeeze inside, but the crystal armor around its shoulders caught against the rock walls, producing a teeth-grating scraping sound.

Now!

A fierce glint flashed through Luo Lin's eyes as the [Lesser Elemental Shield] scroll he had been clutching in his hand activated instantly!

Bzzzz!

A translucent energy shield rippling with an earthy yellow glow appeared behind him, barely blocking the Scorpion Lion Chieftain's furious claw swipe as it struggled against the rocks.

Boom!

The claw struck the elemental shield with a dull thunderous crash. The shield shuddered violently, its glow instantly dimming by more than half, but it successfully blocked the fatal blow.

Borrowing the force of the impact, Luo Lin lunged several steps forward and swiftly turned around.

This narrow terrain was his only chance!

He stopped running and instead turned to face the Scorpion Lion Chieftain, which was temporarily stuck at the slope entrance and roaring in fury.

Luo Lin thrust out both hands. Rather than seeking coverage, [Acid Spray] was highly compressed with mana, condensing into two slender yet darker rays of acid, nearly ink-green in color.

He fired them at the Scorpion Lion Chieftain's slightly opened mouth as it struggled, and at its cold eyes.

This was Luo Lin's deeper understanding and application of [Acid Spray], sacrificing range and distance in pursuit of extreme penetration and corrosiveness.

Pfft!

Pfft!

The Scorpion Lion Chieftain clearly had not expected this tiny human to dare fight back, much less that the acid would be so tricky and dangerous.

The acid that shot into its mouth instantly caused it immense pain.

Although the acid aimed at its eyes was mostly blocked when it shut them in time, it still corroded the crystals on its eyelids, making it unleash an ear-splitting howl of agony.

It struggled madly, rocks raining down around it as it seemed about to break free.

Luo Lin did not hesitate in the slightest. He threw all his remaining mana into his next attack in a desperate gamble.

This time, he aimed at the small gap between the Scorpion Lion Chieftain's neck and chest, exposed as it raised its head to roar—a gap not fully covered by its layered crystals.

The ink-green ray of acid shot into that gap with the precision of a venomous snake!

Sizzle—

This sound was completely different. It was the sound of flesh being violently corroded!

The Scorpion Lion Chieftain's roar stopped abruptly, turning into a pained whine. Its massive body began convulsing violently, and the force of its struggles instantly weakened.

Luo Lin panted heavily. His mana was nearly exhausted, and his mind was overcome by a wave of weakness.

But he did not dare relax, keeping his eyes fixed on his opponent.

The Scorpion Lion Chieftain's struggles grew weaker and weaker. Finally, its enormous body remained wedged at the cave entrance, no longer moving.

The glow of the crystals on its body rapidly dimmed.