Battle Between Two Powerful Beasts
A faint unease rose in Finn's chest the moment he felt the terrifying aura of not one, but two Sixth Grade Vicious Beasts. It was the first time in his life he had sensed such ferocious, overwhelming power—and the realization that there were two of them made his heart pound harder.
Judging by the deep tremors rippling through the ground, he could tell they weren't far. If his instincts were correct, the two beasts were already locked in combat.
'But why? What could they be fighting over?'
Finn clenched his fist. He hesitated, unsure if it was wise to draw near the battlefield. Charging into a clash between two such monsters was reckless to the point of suicide. He was just a 5th Level Profound Rank. If either beast discovered him, there would be no escape.
He gritted his teeth and murmured, voice low but resolute.
"If I don't have the courage to face danger, how will I ever stand at the summit of this world?"
This was an opportunity—no, a trial—that the heavens had presented him. If he could witness the battle between two sixth-grade vicious beasts, he might glean insights no manual could ever teach. He wanted to see for himself what drove these kings among monsters to clash.
Could they be fighting over some precious treasure? Or was it simply a primal dispute over territory? Either way, he needed to know.
Of course, he had no particular interest in any treasure they might be fighting over. Strength was what he lacked, not resources. Compared to what Kurt had once possessed, Finn's stores were modest, but they were more than enough for now.
He had no intention of becoming greedy. He believed with unshakable conviction that one day, he would ascend to greater heights with his own hands, honed through real battles.
After a moment's thought, Finn took a deep breath—and leaped. His figure blurred and vanished like a phantom. As he sped toward the source of the tremendous auras, he reached into his interspatial ring and retrieved a small, unassuming ring that gleamed coldly in the moonlight.
[Concealing Ring +13]
Effect: Conceals and alters the bearer's aura
Armament Grade: Rare
Quality: Top-tier
He slipped it onto his finger. With its upgrades, it was no longer just a Top-tier Rare Armament; its potency rivaled that of a Mid-tier Excellent Armament.
As the ring settled against his skin, the oppressive trace of his presence melted away. With measured, silent steps, Finn advanced toward the heart of the conflict—calm, but vigilant, every nerve taut with caution.
--
A clearing had been blasted open in the vast forest, the entire landscape reduced to chaos. Scorched trees lay in ashen heaps. The earth itself was riddled with craters and deep, jagged fissures.
Hovering high in the air were two colossal beasts, locked in a silent standoff. One resembled a towering ape, its six massive arms flexing with murderous tension. The other was a golden lion with enormous burning wings unfurled behind its hulking frame.
Their bodies were already marred by wounds—proof the battle had raged long before Finn arrived.
Hidden among the tall grass, Finn crouched, breath caught in his throat as he beheld the spectacle. His eyes shimmered with awe.
He shifted his focus to the giant ape. The moment he took in its white fur, its six enormous arms, and those scarlet eyes, realization dawned, and he exhaled a long breath.
The Six-Armed Ape King.
This was the same monster whose underlings he had killed the day before. His hunch had been right all along—this creature was a Sixth Grade Vicious Beast.
Suppressing his excitement, Finn turned his gaze to the ape's opponent—and again, his heart gave a startled lurch.
The Winged Golden Lion King.
Another Sixth Grade Vicious Beast!
His mind spun. He had never imagined he would one day witness two such apex predators facing off in person.
But what could have driven them to this point?
He was lost in thought when something extraordinary shattered the hush.
"You filthy ape! What right do you have to trespass into my territory?! If you don't turn back now, don't blame me for tearing you apart!"
The massive lion's voice boomed like rolling thunder.
Finn's jaw dropped. For a moment, he forgot even to breathe.
'It can talk…!'
He had read that some vicious beasts developed speech, but to hear it himself—it felt surreal.
'Do all Sixth Grade Vicious Beasts have this power?'
"Hah!" the ape jeered, flexing all six of its arms. "You oversized cat—how many years have you stolen the benefits of the Dragon-Breath Grass? I've come to claim what should be mine!"
'Dragon-Breath Grass…?'
Finn's eyes sharpened. He knew the plant by reputation—a Rank 8 medicinal herb of immense potency, particularly for beasts. Consuming it was powerful enough, but simply training one's energy beside it could produce miraculous effects.
It was no wonder these monsters were fighting to the death.
Though the Dragon-Breath Grass would be priceless to most Adventurers, Finn felt no greed toward it. Instead, he found himself more captivated by the clash itself.
He was about to return his attention to the two beasts when he noticed a large cave not far from where he hid. Narrowing his eyes, he reached out with his perception, carefully probing its depths.
A few seconds later, surprise flashed across his face—followed by a gleam of delight.
Two faint life auras—hidden inside.
Finn lifted his gaze back to the sky, lips curling into a secretive smile.
"…I really am blessed with good fortune."
--
"Do you truly think I'll let you walk away?!" the golden lion roared, its wings igniting into blazing arcs of fire.
With a thunderous bellow, the ape met the charge head-on.
When their strikes collided, a furious whirlwind erupted, tearing trees out by the roots and tossing them through the air like kindling.
Flames poured from the lion's maw, engulfing the ape's enormous frame. Before the inferno could consume it, a barrier of raging silver energy coalesced, shielding the ape's body.
ROAR!
The lion lunged again, claws slamming against the energy shield.
A spiderweb of cracks spread across the barrier—then it shattered, the impact blasting the ape back until it crashed to the ground, carving a deep scar into the earth.
The ape clambered up, fury smoldering in its crimson eyes. Four of its hands came together, compressing a brilliant sphere of silver light. Raw killing intent pulsed from it in waves.
Seeing this, the lion bared its fangs. Golden energy gathered in its throat, swirling into a lethal projectile.
The two beasts unleashed their attacks simultaneously.
Finn's eyes widened, and he threw up a barrier of soulforce around himself just before the collision.
BANG!!
A cataclysmic explosion erupted, the blast wave flattening everything in a hundred-meter radius. Trees disintegrated to ash.
Even with his defenses, Finn's entire body quivered under the shockwave. He swallowed hard, unable to tear his gaze away.
'This… this is true power…'
He clenched his fists, eyes smoldering with determination.
"If I had strength like that… maybe I'd finally have a chance to avenge everything that was stolen from me."
Yet despite the envy he could have felt, all he held in his heart was admiration. He knew that someday, he too would ascend beyond Profound Rank. If he truly meant to protect those he loved, he could never stop here.
The lion let out a guttural snarl.
"Will you insist on fighting to the death, you wretched ape?!"
The ape glared back, voice hoarse but defiant.
"If one of us must die… then it will be you!"
With that final roar, the golden lion lunged. The ape met it with a flurry of strikes, every blow shaking the world itself.
And though he was exhausted, Finn could not help but smile faintly.
'This battle is nearly at its end.'
ROAR!
Once more, the two monsters bellowed as they collided in midair. Violent winds howled outward from their clash, and the very earth itself shook and cracked beneath the surging force.
Fierce energy wrapped around their massive bodies as they struck each other again. The golden body of the lion blazed like a living flame, while savage waves of power erupted from the enormous ape.
The ape found itself increasingly strained. The lion's offense and defense were simply too overwhelming to match head-on. Desperation twisted through the ape's bloodlust. With no choice left, it resolved to sacrifice its own blood essence.
This was the very origin of its life force, something it never wished to use—yet if it refrained now, it would certainly die by the claws of the lion it despised above all else.
As soon as the blood essence ignited inside its body, its already fearsome aura grew even more terrifying. Its six arms thickened and stretched, each bulging with power, while a suffocating pressure spilled from its flesh. Its eyes glowed a deeper, bloodier red as a roar thundered from its throat.
"You've gone mad!" the lion shouted, its eyes wide with disbelief as it bared its fangs.
The ape glared back, its voice hoarse with fury. "Hmph! If you hadn't been so greedy, we'd never have reached this point! So what if I sacrifice my blood essence?! I'll recover it—once I take your Dragon-Breath Grass!"
Silver energy burst across the ape's enormous frame. In the blink of an eye, it lunged for the lion.
Caught off guard by the sudden surge of strength, the lion was too slow to defend itself. A colossal fist struck its side with bone-crushing force, hurling its massive body through the air.
The lion crashed to the ground but managed to stagger back to its feet. A creeping numbness spread through its limbs. With a guttural growl, it opened its jaws, revealing huge, glistening fangs. A sphere of energy condensed between its jaws—and it unleashed the blast straight at the charging ape.
The ape snarled and threw up all six of its monstrous arms to shield itself.
BOOM!
A deafening explosion rocked the valley. Dense smoke billowed across the battlefield, obscuring everything from sight.
The lion crouched low, tense and watchful as it stared into the thick haze.
A moment later, a massive hand shot out of the smoke and clamped around the lion's throat.
"I've already sacrificed ten percent of my blood essence. If I still can't kill you—then I'm nothing but trash," the ape growled, its voice low and seething as it tightened its grip.
It raised its other arm high, energy crackling around its clenched fist. But just as it prepared to smash the lion's skull, its eyes snapped wide. A new threat was racing toward it—too swift to dodge.
Seven Heavy Sword Art, First Skill: Heavenly Slash!
A blinding arc of power carved through the air. The ape barely had time to register the attack before it struck. The blade raked across its arm, slicing open a deep, gaping wound. Blood sprayed in a vivid arc.
The ape's face twisted, its rage boiling over. Though the attack hadn't crippled it, someone had dared to interfere—someone who would pay dearly.
"Who dares strike me from the shadows?!" the ape roared, its voice echoing like a clap of thunder.
A figure emerged from the drifting smoke—a young man wearing a fearless smile. It was Finn, stepping forward without the slightest hesitation.
"A human?!" the ape barked in disbelief.
In that instant, its attention wavered from its true enemy. It never saw the massive claw until it was too late.
With a wet, rending sound, the lion's talon pierced the ape's chest, cleaving straight through the protective energy that had once shielded it.
The ape's grip slackened. It dropped the lion as its gaze slowly fell—and saw what the claw held.
A huge heart, still pulsing.
Hatred and fury swirled in the ape's eyes—not for the lion, but for Finn, the wretched human who had appeared out of nowhere.
Victory had been within its grasp—until this boy ruined everything.
Its body collapsed to the ground. Within seconds, the great beast lay dead, staring lifelessly up at the sky. Little by little, its enormous form began to shrink, returning to a more ordinary size.
"It would have been far more troublesome if you survived," Finn said calmly as he walked up to the ape's corpse. A faint smile tugged at his lips. "Besides…I won't let you steal something so important from me."
He nudged the ape's body with his boot, inspecting it carefully. Once he was sure it was truly dead, he let out a long breath of relief.
"Human! What is it you want?!" the great lion roared, its voice hoarse. "Are you here to steal my Dragon-Breath Grass as well?!"
Its strength exhausted, the lion shrank further, its body dwindling to the size of a normal lion. It lay sprawled on the earth, too weak to rise.
Finn turned his gaze on the beast and gave a wide, unhurried smile. He opened his mouth and spoke in a calm, clear voice.
"To be honest…I couldn't care less about your precious grass," he said, raising his hand to point into the dark mouth of the cave behind the lion. "What I want—is something else hidden in there."