The Blue Raptor's Claws and Isra's Unyielding Resolve
With a thunderous stomp, the mutated raptor charged forward, its massive claws flashing under the harsh light of the ruined base.
It collided head-on with the full-throttle sprint of Draco, locking him in a fierce clash of raw power and momentum.
The oppressive weight of an oncoming truck hung in the air, heavy and inescapable.
【Knight Order! Protect Lord!】
Imperial Sword Style - Modified Isra Form
3rd Form – Full Moon
A perfectly round moon materialized in the open sky, its luminous curve gleaming like a blade of light.
The raptor’s razor claws slammed straight into the path of the Full Moon’s trajectory.
- [damage] HP
The impact sent sparks flying in every direction, crackling like fireworks across the barren ground.
【Hmph.】
Isra was shoved two full steps backward, a pained grunt escaping her lips.
The blue raptor, however, merely flicked its claws lightly in place as if swatting away a minor annoyance.
Isra was being pushed back head-on?
Ingrid’s sharp gaze locked onto the monster.
【The Boss Is Mine. Clear the Rest of the Monsters in the Meantime.】
📍 Location:Base
🎁 Reward:High-Rank Loot
【Your Ability Might Not Hold!】
📍 Location:Base
🎁 Reward:Battle Experience
【I Swear by My Knightly Honor.】
📍 Location:Base
🎁 Reward:Knight’s Oath
Isra’s words were stone-cold, no trace of playful banter.
【That thing’s breakthrough power is dangerous! If it charges at Lord!】
“I trust Isra.”
The continent’s strongest knight.
No one else could stop that mutated monster.
If it wasn’t Isra…
Who else could face it?
【……Understood.】
“Unleash your full power right there.”
One by one, the raptors stationed at the base began to descend.
Strike while they’re still clustered together.
Maximize the damage.
Solar Eclipse
Flame Breath x20
Wind Cutter x10
Transform – Resolve
Flame essence was sealed inside a swirling wind orb, then unleashed in a single explosive burst.
The concentrated heat ripped through the clustered raptors at the base.
Some raptors exploded instantly at the blast’s epicenter.
The rest suffered severe burns and lacerations.
【Level Up!】
“Kroo-roo!”
Even so, it kept charging.
The monster’s first instinct was to harm humans.
Hunger?
Instinct?
Those came later.
Its priority was hatred toward humans, so pain was simply converted into rage.
“It’s strange… I suppose.”
“Not the judgment of a normal creature.”
“Why?”
I have no idea.
If I knew the hidden secrets behind monster behavior, I’d be a crack analyst instead of a hunter.
Even in the middle of a blue raptor charging straight at me, I could still speak so casually.
【KRRRARAA!!】
[Flame Breath]
It was simply to predict the raptors’ movements, which were designed to tear flesh apart.
Flame roared outward, scorching everything in its path.
“Kroo?”
“Kroo-roo.”
The fan-shaped wave of fire spread like wildfire.
A few raptors instinctively tried to retreat from the overwhelming heat.
【Kroo-roo!】
More raptors poured in from behind.
The front line was swallowed whole by flames.
Those behind suffered the same fate.
Before the real battle even began, over half the raptors were cut down.
“Now it’s the real thing.”
Draco’s breath had run dry.
If the remaining raptors swarmed in, Isra wouldn’t be able to use area attacks either.
One by one.
We had to take them out in sequence.
While Isra held the line, I shouted,
Fireball
A blazing sphere of flame was hurled toward the raptor horde.
It detonated on impact.
Misjudging the hit could damage allies, but—
No need to worry.
The Heavenly Martial Body predicted the raptor’s movements.
The Origin of Magic calculated the exact trajectory of the flame orb.
It landed precisely where I intended.
-[damage] HP
【You’re amazing, Lord!】
See?
I’m doing fine too.
“Kroo-roo!”
“Kroo.”
You can’t pass.
Imperial Sword Style
Isra had modified the Imperial Sword Technique on the spot into an axe swing.
The undead warriors swung their heavy axes, blocking the raptors’ approach.
“Kroo-roo!”
One leaped high into the air.
- [damage] HP
[Axe of Resentment]
With a sickening crunch, the axe carved out a fist-sized chunk of flesh from its thigh.
These monsters were all under the influence of the Heavenly Martial Body too.
Their physical reflexes matched the continent’s best!
Five years of a Necrosmith who couldn’t advance even one rank in E-grade.
This moment was blindingly bright.
【Don’t even think about touching a single strand of Lord’s hair!】
A red blade formed from the fusion of Flame Breath and Wind Cutter, slicing through the air in rapid succession.
“Grrrr!”
In the brief moment between attacks, the Skeleton Mage’s magic interrupted the raptors’ assault flow.
Debuff, attack, defense—three perfect pillars of coordination.
“Krrr.”
Draco was the only one acting alone.
He darted between the raptors, shattering their perfect hunting formation.
Deep scars carved across his body.
If he had been a living creature, he would have bled out long ago.
“Krrrrr!”
His eyes were filled with the same burning hatred.
When the wounds were too severe, he would run back to me and nuzzle my head.
◈ [Property 1]
◈ [Property 2]
[Life Release]
Thirty percent of the stored life force vanished in an instant.
It was fortunate I had filled the ring completely before the base assault.
Even so, the raptors tried to close in with leaps and swift movements.
With the Heavenly Martial Body, I never allowed them to approach.
One by one, I whittled them down.
【Kroo-roo!】
Nearly a hundred raptors had fallen.
Finally, it was time for Isra to join the fray…
【Huft.】
With a thud, Isra’s left arm hit the ground.
She barely managed to grasp her sword, but the bone armor was shattered, wounds covering every inch.
【I managed to hold on somehow, but I couldn’t claim the spoils.】
“Kroo-roo.”
Her yellow eyes, torn open, stared directly at me.
I felt a strange sense of deja vu.
It had to be my imagination.
“Kroo-roo!”
The blue raptor ignored the broken Isra and charged straight at me.
* * *
“Kroo-roo.”
One undead warrior leaped onto another’s shoulder.
Its larger frame made it easier to jump over.
But the axe would catch it mid-leap.
Like the many raptors before it.
“Kroo-roo!”
Pang!
The undead warrior was flung backward by the force of impact.
It didn’t last even one second against the frontal collision.
“Krrr!”
“Kroo-roo!”
Draco leaped forward with sharp teeth bared.
The blue raptor crouched low to dodge, then whipped its long tail across Draco’s belly.
The blow wasn’t lethal, but it sent the dragon tumbling far into the air.
Spinning in mid-air, Draco corrected his course and dove toward the rear.
Undead warriors standing in front formed a pincer.
In that split second,
Beast Roar – Innate Skill
Roar
I used the reserved debuff skill.
Fear was not applied, but the All-Stat Reduction took effect.
The blue raptor, now slightly slower, tried to react normally but failed to adapt and moved a split second late.
Puck!
Tzgerong!
Whirl!
The blue raptor took the full force of the attack head-on.
Its eyes still burned with hatred.
[Skull Break]
Crack!
Draco’s jaws clamped around the undead warrior’s head, bones shattering with a loud, satisfying crunch.
【One hit, and it’s gone.】
[Tail Whip]
Wham!
His agile tail lashed out like a whip, slamming two undead warriors away.
They weren’t destroyed like when bitten.
They weren’t even meant to be broken.
Their eyes had been fixed on me the entire time.
【Beast, how dare you look at Lord!】
Wind Cutter x10
Transform – Bind
The wind cutters twisted into a net-like web, ensnaring the blue raptor.
【1.5 seconds!】
The structure of the killing spell had been altered to bind limbs instead of simply damaging.
The duration was short, but the mana cost was worth it.
“Everyone retreat.”
I rearranged the mana in secrecy and created an illusion.
“Fireball!”
The orb launched at the blue raptor exploded with a thunderous boom.
Undead took indirect damage too.
No choice—coordinating with hunters meant I couldn’t avoid it.
It was fine.
Undead could be repaired after the battle.
【Death Space】
I recovered the fallen Isra as well.
Life force from the ring was poured into her.
【I’m sorry, my lord.】
“It’s fine. You did enough.”
The ring’s energy drained rapidly.
The body was in a state that would be a miracle if it hadn’t been destroyed.
Recovery would take time.
“Kroo-roo-roo!”
The blue raptor burst through the thick smoke, its roar full of fury.
It had taken hits from Isra’s wounds, coordinated damage right after the Roar, and a direct Fireball.
Yet it was still standing.
“Krrr!”
Draco rushed in from behind and left a massive gash across its back.
The blue raptor whipped its tail to fling him off, then leaped again.
Stubborn as ever.
It knew exactly who to target.
“Grrrrr.”
[Ice Bolt]
Its purpose was to push with physical force, not raw damage.
The blue raptor merely flinched slightly after being hit by the ice shards.
“Kroo-roo.”
“Kroo.”
Undead warriors who had retreated from the blast radius returned to block the path.
Tzgerong!
The axe sliced through flesh and buried itself in the torso.
The monster didn’t stop, swinging its shoulder side to side to shove the undead away.
As one fell, the line thinned, creating an opening.
In an instant, it dove through the gap.
Its distance to me was now zero.
“Kroo-roo!”
The curved claw slashed through the air, aiming straight for the crown of my head.
If I stood still, a gaping hole would appear in my skull.
“Kroo-roo.”
The undead warrior behind me pulled the axe out of his own body.
The blue raptor was pulled back slightly.
【Danger!】
【Lord!】
Still inside the attack range.
Using the Heavenly Martial Body to read the situation,
Standing still meant long scratches across my face.
Swish—
I drew the spare bone sword from my side.
I had anticipated this.
I could retreat.
But if I stepped back now, I’d give the blue raptor another chance.
Counterattack—
create an opening and end this once and for all.
The five years I had spent as a hunter had taught me that much.
The Heavenly Martial Body confirmed it.
Imperial Sword Style
1st Form
Clang!
“Ugh.”
My hand felt heavy.
Even after channeling all my strength into the swing, the blade only veered slightly.
“Enough.”
My goal was simply to push it back.
The claw grazed past my face, razor-sharp and close enough to draw blood.
【How dare you target Lord!!】
Physical Enhancement → Mana Release → Aura (Incomplete)
Imperial Sword Style - Modified Isra Form
8th Form — Flash Slash
Isra poured out the last of her mana, creating a single streak of light that became a sword.
Even with only one arm, the blade was powerful enough to pierce the raptor’s chest.
“Kroo-roo…”
[Level Up!]