A wall abruptly stood up.
Huff...
The rumbling breath unique to wild beasts sounded across the square, making the surroundings seem deathly still. The Demon Beast's heavy paws trod on the paving stones, and on Chu Tiannan's heart.
Huff...
The enormous beast's head was not far in front of Chu Tiannan. He inwardly groaned. No wonder there aren't any beasts around. There's a monster this big here.
The dark shape had a long, narrow muzzle, its inverted-V mouth lined with uneven fangs. Four enormous teeth resembled giant blades flashing with cold light. Foul-smelling saliva dripped onto the ground, making a piercing hiss.
At that very moment, the moon broke through the dark clouds and cast down its clear light.
The dark shape was instantly exposed beneath the moonlight...
Chu Tiannan's heart leaped. He tightened his grip on the dark-gold longsword and swallowed, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
This was-a senior beast soldier, a Blood-Eyed Demon Wolf!
Against junior beast soldiers, he could still take advantage of his weapon. Now his opponent was two ranks higher. How could he possibly win?
Perhaps... it hasn't noticed me?
The demon wolf's gaze shifted as it slowly paced past where Chu Tiannan stood.
Whew-
He let out a breath of relief.
The demon wolf turned, then suddenly kicked off with its hind legs and launched itself at him!
This beast actually knows how to use tricks!!
Sweat poured off Chu Tiannan. He immediately rolled, and the long, narrow wolf jaws snapped violently shut beside him. A foul stench assailed his nose.
With no time to think, Chu Tiannan raised the Heaven-Deriving Sword almost instinctively... and stabbed viciously at the wolf's eye!
Squelch.
The strike landed, and the demon wolf let out an earth-shaking roar. It was utterly enraged, its breathing growing rapid.
An enormous wolf claw instantly tore through the air toward him!
The Heaven-Deriving Sword was still stuck in the demon wolf's eye socket, and he could not pull it free at all. The claw was coming so fast that it had already become a blur in midair. He could not dodge it.
"Heaven-Deriving Sword! Devour!!"
At the moment between life and death, Chu Tiannan shouted. Though the Heaven-Deriving Sword seemed to struggle, it still blazed with golden light, and the wolf's claw paused for a moment.
But that was enough!
Chu Tiannan sprang to his feet with a kip-up, immediately seizing the chance to use the momentum and pull out the Heaven-Deriving Sword.
The Heaven-Deriving Sword seemed affected by being forcibly activated, its color dimming somewhat.
Gravely wounded, the demon wolf staggered, followed by extreme fury. Cloudy saliva from its mouth mingled with the black blood from its wound and dripped to the ground, making a heart-shaking sizzle. In its extreme rage, the demon wolf let out a howl.
Awooo.
It raised its forepaws and lunged viciously to bite him. Its movements were far swifter than before, already becoming almost impossible to make out.
At that critical instant, Chu Tiannan suddenly perceived the trajectory of the demon wolf's movements. He was somewhat surprised himself, not having expected his soul strength to have reached such a level. But even seeing it clearly could not change his fate of being pounced on and bitten, because... he simply could not react in time!
Those enormous, foul-smelling jaws came at him!!
Boom!
After a tremendous crash, everything fell silent again.
The demon wolf's body had completely covered Chu Tiannan. Whether Chu Tiannan was alive or dead was unknown.
A long time passed...
"This thing... really is heavy..."
Chu Tiannan struggled out from beneath the demon wolf, inwardly thankful that he had picked up the martial artist's sniper rifle. Only then did he throw away the sniper rifle in his hand and pick up the Heaven-Deriving Sword.
"Devour."
The demon wolf's body instantly vanished without a trace.
"Reaching intermediate martial artist means it wasn't a loss, but I never expected advancing to be this difficult..." He glanced at the battlefield again. Knowing he should not linger here, he swiftly sprinted toward the distant highway.
That black-clad figure, carrying bloody wind and rain in its wake, quickly disappeared into the long mountain road.