C15 The Battle of the Black Tiger

Before Lin Yuan could even brace himself, the big black tiger lunged at him, bringing with it a fierce gust of wind pressure as it swiped its massive claw in his direction. At such a distance, Lin Yuan should have been safely out of reach.

Yet, as Lin Yuan eyed the towering front paw of the big black tiger, a sense of alarm surged within him. In a split-second decision, he trusted his instincts and narrowly evaded the claw that once seemed too far to touch.

A metallic resonance filled the air, as an unseen yet tangible Qi blade burst forth from beneath the tiger's claw, slashing through the space with the speed of lightning, grazing Lin Yuan's sturdy frame.

Scales shattered, flesh and blood scattered, and amidst the crimson spray were flecks of white—fragments of bone sheared off by the Wind Blade.

The Wind Blade continued its relentless path, slicing through two thick trees before finally dissipating, leaving a turbulent wake.

"Damn it!"

Lin Yuan inwardly cursed. His complacency had left him unprepared for the big black tiger's unexpected maneuver. Having gained the Strangulation skill upon reaching Level 3 Vicious Beast status, he should have been wary of other demonic beasts' ace abilities.

In that instant, memories of the Ashen Wild Boar's Trample and the Double-headed Grey Eagle's hurricane flashed through his mind. It dawned on him that Level 3 Demonic Beasts likely harbored their own unique skills.

It was a stroke of luck that he had dodged on instinct; otherwise, the Wind Blade might have cleaved him in two. The big black tiger's striking power was formidable indeed.

But this was no time for relief. As the Wind Blade's echo faded, the big black tiger was already upon him. It raised its paw for another strike, and Lin Yuan, knowing better than to meet it head-on, contorted his body in a desperate attempt to dodge.

In this moment, the big black tiger had forsaken defense for sheer speed. Although Lin Yuan was slightly quicker, his large body now proved a hindrance, making it impossible to fully evade the tiger's assault.

Sharp claws raked across Lin Yuan, leaving three ghastly, gaping wounds from which blood poured freely. Rallying, Lin Yuan lashed back with his tail, striking the big black tiger's head once more.

At that moment, the big black tiger appeared to have lost its mind, possibly under the influence of poison. Its eyes had turned a terrifying shade of blood-red, and from its gaping maw, dark red, tainted blood mixed with unidentifiable fluids dripped, pitting the ground with corrosive holes.

Lin Yuan knew better than to engage further. He parried the big black tiger's onslaught, narrowly evaded another Wind Blade, and turned tail to flee. His strategy was to buy time, waiting for the full effect of his poison to set in.

The big black tiger, however, was not about to let Lin Yuan get away that easily and gave chase.

A fierce battle ensued between the tiger and the serpent, wreaking havoc on the forest. Trees toppled, boulders cracked, and the less fortunate creatures caught in their path—whether by the serpent's tail or the slicing Wind Blades—met their demise.

Amidst the chaos, Lin Yuan's system bombarded him with notifications, and his attribute points surged. But he had no time to pay attention; his focus was solely on the relentless combat. Time lost meaning as he deftly countered the big black tiger's attacks at every turn.

Then, suddenly, the relentless pressure lifted, and the onslaught subsided.

A Wind Blade grazed Lin Yuan's scale armor, but for the first time, it failed to leave a mark.

Lin Yuan turned, fixing the big black tiger with an icy glare.

He knew the tide had turned—victory was within reach.

Lin Yuan's appearance was a ghastly sight; not one scale on his body remained unscathed.

Blood drenched him. Given his size, the loss was significant.

The glow around him faded as the western sky blazed with the glow of a red sunset, casting a beautiful twilight across the heavens.

The big black tiger was faring poorly too. One eye was now sightless, its socket looking as though it had been crushed by a sledgehammer.

The tiger gasped for air, blood and an increasing amount of vile fluid pouring from its nostrils. Lin Yuan understood—the big black tiger was succumbing to the very poison it wielded.

The big black tiger's muscular front limbs were well-defined, rippling with power that seemed to have explosively vanished from its frame.

Unwillingly, the big black tiger let out a roar at Lin Yuan, its mouth bleeding a scarlet mist that diffused into the air, exuding an ineffable savagery and imperiousness.

Lin Yuan kept a vigilant eye on the beast, coiling his body in caution. When he braced for the tiger's charge, he was taken aback as it unexpectedly spun around and bolted into the thick of the forest without a second's pause.

Lin Yuan was momentarily frozen, almost failing to grasp what had happened. Then, a derisive smile crept into his eyes. "Do you think you can get away?"