The Animagus: From Hunter to Monster

Chapter 66 Fight with Lycans: Inevitable Clash

Buji stood with firm legs, his body feeling refueled. He has regained enough strength now. He took a cautious step forward, holding his Aetherfang high to gleam faintly in the dim light.

The Alpha's eyes flickered with faint recognition of Buji, but it still remained still.

"Then shall you have it!" Buji cried out with a battle voice, and dashed forward.

He didn't aim directly to the creature. He had thought to use the stalactites once again, but this time, as a distraction tool. As a means of putting the creature up for action.

He leaped high toward the stalactite, and swinged his Aetherfang in a dubious arc formation. The energy that emanated from the Aetherfang clashed with the stalactite, sending it speeding towards the Lycan.

The Lycan was aware of what was happening. Yet, surprisingly to Buji, it didn't seem to dodge the attack, rather, the stalactite hit it without any effect on its body.

Good enough, the Lycan hadn't moved at the attack from Buji. Better enough, its massive body began to rise slowly to its feet.

"Finally," Buji muttered, preparing himself. "Come on!"

The Alpha let out a low, guttural growl, finally proving it was no human but a beast. Its muscles rippled as it stood at full height.

"Woah!" Buji gasped in awe.

Its body was now massive, very much more towering over the other Lycans he has faced. In his case and in the sight of the creature, he just looked like he was going to be squashes with just a fling of attack from the creature.

'Is this what was meant by "cultivation "? Is that the reason why the Alpha had stayed alerted but static to that spot. I mean, this was not the size when it entered here.'

The Alpha's fur shimmered like silver under the faint light of the dungeon, and its claws gleamed menacingly.

'Then why is it this creature categorized among the monsters, but beasts?'

"Because it possessed only one core," Buji answered his momentary rhetorical question and "swoosh", he dashed forward.

As he ran with unimaginable speed, he flinged his Aetherfang effortlessly in a wide arc, but the Alpha moved with surprising speed, dodging the attack.

"Cool.*

Before Buji knew it, the creature released its own immediate attack, swiping its massive claw towards Buji.

In time, Buji leaped back, barely avoiding a fatal blow from the massive claw.

"If only that claw got my head, what will happen though?" He thought audibly. "It's fast. Too fast."

Buji could feel his heart pounding. Maybe cause of the effort and speed he put in to avoid the creature's unknowing attack. Or was it...fear? It shouldn't be.

Buji's mind suddenly flew to when they fought with those massive bats in the raid dungeon. The creatures acted in impulse and with full strength, attacking them with no mercy. But that was due to a strengthening tool, and he've acquired that.

So, he got to be using it against this creature.

He took to his heels, creating a measurable distance between him and he Alpha Lycan which seemed ready for another round of the fight. It marched in rage, following Buji who was in the run. Buji had a plan.

Buji staggered forward and activated Counter Attacker skill. Before another clash with the beast, the magic staff refueled him again with strength, unexpectedly to Buji. But that was the work of the staff. It had its sense that allowed it to figure out when its current user is in need of it.

However, Buji met the beast head-on, sparks flying as their attacks collided. The sound from the contact collision echoes through the dungeon. The force of their clash sent Buji skidding backward again, but he quickly regained his footing this time.

"Again?" Buji muttered. "This Lycan is really proving to be the Alpha."

"I need to finish this fast," Buji thought, glancing at the remaining stalactites that hung above. It won't necessarily kill the Alpha if he used it, but it was surely going to weaken it before he makes the final move.

He formulated a familiar plan, but this time willt require precise timing and execution. He was going to bait the Alpha and make use of the stalactites again.

"Come on, bug guy," he muttered, running to where the stalactites were. His baiting was successful as the Alpha charged toward him.

Buji positioned himself beneath the largest cluster of stalactites. The Alpha snarled as it advanced closer, its eyes locked onto Buji.

Buji waited until the last possible moment before activating his Jumper skill, leaping high into the air. On the other hand, the Alpha's momentum carried it directly beneath the stalactites.

"Infernal Strike!" Buji shouted, channeling the full power of Aetherfang. A fiery arc of energy shot from the blade, followed by a strengthening flush of waves, striking the stalactites and sending them crashing down onto the Alpha.

The beast roared in pain as the massive rocks crushed it, but it wasn't over yet. The Alpha, bloodied and battered, still looked strengthened enough to take on with the fight. It pushed itself up, its glowing eyes now burning with unyielding fury.

Buji landed disgracefully to the ground, his sword leaving his grip to fly off to a distance far from him. "You're so tough," he said, gathering enough strength to utter the speech. He now lay on the ground, without strength.

The screen hovered before him now, blinking alertively to his eyes.

[HP: 100/2000]

The screen continued to blink alertively.

Buji lost all hope. After all, he was still going to survive. He had used most of his strength and energy to strike with his sword, hoping it'd cause great damage to the Lycan. And it did, but it did not either.

'How come it still managed to move even with the heavy stalactites falling upon it?' Buji thought hopelessly, looking in the directing of the bloodied beast which lunges towards him, spreading his hands out in readiness for what next would happen.

He was going to start all over again. Surviving at the moment only meant that he will restart the raid again.

Another notification materialized before his eyes.

[Time remaining: 00:25:00 counting down!]

'Is it not useless? What's the need for this time notification when I'm about to meet my ends.'

The Alpha was at its momentarily speed, dashing towards Buji. It was going to be its final time to end Buji's life. If only Buji still had enough HP, it might not be the last attack, but then, the Lycan's attacks reduced Buji's HP points by 500 even while Buji was in full strength. What about now?

The beast had approached Buji and now raised its claws, aiming at Buji' neck.

Buji closed his eyes, allowing darkness to engulf him before the real darkness does so.