"Brother Wu, give it one more push! It's nearly done for!"
Chen Song, longbow in hand, shouted as he loosed another arrow. It struck the Bone Crocodile squarely in a joint, then exploded, sending flesh and blood flying and leaving a gaping wound.
"Right!"
Wu Meng roared. Seizing the instant the Bone Crocodile slowed in pain, he poured out the last of his True Essence. A heavy ocher glow spread over his blade as he brought it down in a ferocious strike!
Squelch!
The blade's radiance bit deep into the Bone Crocodile's neck, nearly severing it.
The Bone Crocodile gave a shrill, agonized cry. Its massive body crashed to the ground, spraying mud everywhere, and its aura rapidly faded.
"We did it!"
Wu Meng leaned on his saber, gulping for air, his face alight with joy.
The battle had taken a heavy toll on him. His True Essence was nearly spent, and fresh wounds covered his body.
Still, they had finally slain the troublesome Bone Crocodile.
Chen Song let out a breath too. He put away his bow and arrows and hurried over with a smile.
"That strike was incredible, Brother Wu!"
"The Bone Crocodile's Demon Core, its hide and bones—they're worth plenty of Spirit Stones. And that's before the Spirit Herb in the cold pool behind it. We didn't risk our lives for nothing."
Wu Meng grinned and was about to answer when, at the very moment his guard relaxed, everything changed!
Chen Song had approached with a smile, but a murky gray layer of True Essence had already gathered in his palm.
The next instant, without warning, Chen Song struck. His palm shot forward with vicious speed and a sharp rush of wind, landing squarely on the unsuspecting Wu Meng's chest.
Bang!
A dull impact rang out.
The