Chapter 20: The Feral Blood Cult Ambush & The Wolf Envoy!
The Rock Crocodile roared, charging forward like a black hurricane made of muscle and stone.
However, the panic and fear it expected to see on Alex's face did not appear. What greeted its beastly vision was a gaze as cold as the abyss, staring at it not as a threat, but as a dead object walking.
This sudden, chilling gaze made the beast's heart tighten. Instinctively, it let out a furious roar to mask its hesitation, raising its giant, rock-encrusted palm high and slamming it down viciously toward Alex, intending to crush the human into a pile of meat paste.
Alex looked cold and stern. The Death Scythe in his hands emitted a ghostly black glow. "You think a few rocks can trap me? Keep dreaming!"
With a violent swing of his arm, the Death Scythe carried a force of utter destruction, forcibly slicing through the massive rock pillars the crocodile had summoned earlier.
Stone fragments flew everywhere; the hard rock was instantly turned to dust.
Following closely, Alex swung the scythe again.
The light of the demonic scythe traced a bizarre, dark arc in the air, slashing precisely at the leaping front claw.
With a crisp crack, the Rock Crocodile's front claw—harder than steel—was sliced in two!
The giant crocodile let out an earth-shaking scream of agony. Its massive body lost balance and crashed heavily to the ground, causing the earth to tremble and dust to billow.
There was no pity in Alex's eyes. He raised the Death Scythe high, the red gem in the hilt glowing ominously. "Die!"
The scythe pierced ruthlessly into the Rock Crocodile's tough hide, which usually repelled swords and bullets alike.
Alex exerted force violently, his muscles tensing. The Rock Crocodile's massive body was sliced cleanly in half from the neck down.
Blood sprayed out like a curtain of red rain, splattering onto the Death Scythe, making it look even more terrifying and ferocious.
[Host killed Tier 1, Rank 7 Rock Crocodile. Slaughter Points +80.]
Alex panted slightly, wiping a speck of blood from his cheek. He stored the Rock Crocodile's corpse in his Storage Ring and nodded with satisfaction.
"Tier 1, Rank 7 beast... nothing special. Not worth fearing!"
In close combat, the Death Scythe in his hands was like the Grim Reaper's blade, invincible. In ranged combat, the combination of Shadow Claw and Abyssal Swamp was seamless.
Who would dare to provoke him easily?
Alex took out an Origin Recovery Potion, downed it in one gulp, then sat down slowly on a flat rock. He closed his eyes and began to recover a bit of Origin Energy.
Meanwhile, hidden in the dense canopy of a tree in the distance.
Zane scratched his head, watching the scene unfold. "Why did this kid run to such a dangerous zone to hunt beasts? Does he have a death wish? And... did he just one-shot a Rock Crocodile?"
A flash of jealousy appeared in Vargo's eyes. He scoffed, his voice low. "He just got lucky. The beast was probably already injured or old. Look at him sitting there, completely unguarded. What a stupid S-Rank Prodigy. I really don't know how someone so dumb awakened an S-Rank Ability."
As he spoke, the fire of jealousy in his heart burned even brighter. Why did the heavens bless an orphan with S-Rank power while he had to fuse with beast blood just to get stronger?
"It's fine. Later, Brother Vargo, you can personally slap him a few times and teach him a good lesson," Zane chimed in from the side, eager to please.
"Hmph, you don't need to tell me." A fierce light flashed in Vargo's eyes. He activated his ability, and a faint green light surged around him. "Ability: Gale Speed!"
His figure became agile. Gripping a jagged dagger, he moved with light steps, sneaking toward Alex for a surprise attack.
At this moment, Alex was resting with his eyes closed, immersed in recovering his Origin Energy.
Suddenly, the faint, rhythmic sound of leaves being stepped on entered his ears. It was subtle, masked by the wind, but Alex's perception had been sharpened by the System.
He snapped his eyes open, a cold glint flashing within them.
An enemy!
Almost in the same instant, he summoned the Death Scythe. A black light flashed through the air as he swung it behind him without looking.
Clang!
The crisp sound of weapons colliding rang out. Vargo's dagger clashed with Alex's Death Scythe, sparks flying everywhere.
"You actually reacted?"
A flash of surprise appeared in Vargo's eyes. He hadn't expected Alex's reaction speed to be so fast, especially while meditating.
Alex stood up, looking at Vargo, who had ambushed him, and frowned. He hadn't provoked anyone; why did this guy attack him for no reason?
No honor whatsoever!
Thinking of this, Alex activated the scan function.
[Name: Vargo] [Faction: Elite Member of the Feral Blood Cult] [Ability: D-Rank—Gale Speed!] [Realm: Tier 1, Rank 7] [Bone Tempering: 3rd Round] [Note: Fused with Gale Wolf essence blood. Speed increases significantly when activating Semi-Beast State. Killing grants 120 Slaughter Points.]
Looking at the information on the panel, Alex understood instantly.
So it's these animals from the Feral Blood Cult!
Seeing the 120 Slaughter Points reward, Alex decided immediately: This guy is walking experience points!
"Alex," Vargo sneered, recovering from his shock. "I'll give you two choices: Kneel and beg for mercy before you die, or just die straight away!"
Alex raised an eyebrow, amused. "Me die? I'd actually like to ask how you want to die!"
His gaze turned ruthless. He gripped the Death Scythe tightly and slashed straight at Vargo.
Vargo instinctively blocked with his dagger.
Crack!
With a crisp sound, the D-Rank dagger shattered instantly, breaking into two useless pieces of scrap metal.
"Impossible? My D-Rank Combat Weapon shattered in one hit... What grade is your weapon?"
Vargo stumbled back a few steps, creating distance between him and Alex, his face pale.
Only then did he realize the aura Alex revealed was...
Tier 1, Rank 5?!
His pupils constricted instantly, his heart filled with shock.
Tier 1, Rank 5??
It's only been two days! How could he cultivate so quickly?
"Trash weapon. And you want to compare it to my Spirit Weapon? Ridiculous."
Dark elements flashed in Alex's hand.
"Abyssal Swamp!"
A pool of black sludge instantly formed beneath Vargo's feet, trapping him firmly. The swamp was like a black abyss, suctioning his legs and rendering Vargo immobile.
Alex gripped the Death Scythe in his right hand and walked toward Vargo step by step. Every footfall seemed to stomp on Vargo's heart.
A cold killing intent radiated from him, like the Grim Reaper descending to harvest a soul.
"Zane! Stop hiding! Help me!" Seeing the situation turn bad, Vargo shouted loudly, his composure gone.
"Die!!"
Zane charged out from the bushes behind Alex, his broadsword slashing toward Alex's neck.
Red blood aura wrapped around his body; clearly, he had already activated his ability.
However, Alex seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. He didn't even turn around, simply raising the handle of the scythe to block.
Clang!
The broadsword clashed with the adamant handle of the scythe.
Immediately after, before Zane could react, a Proficient-level Shadow Claw appeared in the sky and smashed down viciously.
Boom!
Zane only had time to let out a scream before being smashed into a bloody mess by the massive claw of darkness. He didn't even have time to activate his Semi-Beast form before collapsing to the ground, twitching once before going still.
[Host killed Tier 1, Rank 5 Feral Blood Cultist. Slaughter Points +50.]
"Zane!!" Vargo's pupils dilated, his eyes filled with rage and despair. He looked at Alex, trembling. "Why did you kill him? What right do you have to kill him!"
His eyes burned with fury. His hands instantly transformed into wolf claws, and black wolf fur sprouted on his arms. A wolf tail also appeared behind him.
Clearly, he had activated his Semi-Beast State, his body radiating a berserk, animalistic aura.
Alex looked at him like he was an idiot. "If I don't kill him, should I wait for him to kill me? Are you retarded?"
"You killed him, so you must die! Taste my Semi-Beast State!"
Vargo exerted force with his legs, breaking free from the Abyssal Swamp's bindings through sheer brute force.
His speed was even faster than before, his figure drifting like a ghost, agile and elusive. The wolf claws carried a sharp wind as they stabbed directly toward Alex's throat.
Alex chuckled lightly. "Just in time to test my new skill on you!"
"Eroding Dark Bat Strike!"
Dark elements flickered madly in Alex's eyes. In his hand, he quickly condensed a giant bat made of pure dark energy.
Immediately after, the dark element bat spread its wings and flew out, splitting in mid-air into countless, endless shadow bats the size of butterflies!
Screech! Screech!
As soon as they flew out, they swept toward Vargo like a black storm, attacking him frenziedly.
Vargo swung his wolf claws wildly, trying to disperse the shadow bats.
However, the bats were intangible shadows! After dispersing, they immediately re-condensed into new ones!!
"What the hell is this!!" Vargo was filled with panic.
The shadow fangs growing from the bats gnawed at him, bypassing his defense and corroding his flesh!
"Argh!! It burns!!"
In seconds, his body was a bloody mess, covered in shocking wounds where the darkness had eaten away his flesh.
"Don't underestimate the Dark Element!"
Using the last bit of his Origin Energy, Alex used a Shadow Claw to smash the weakened Vargo directly into a deep pit.
The Eroding Dark Bat Strike also ended and vanished at this moment. Maintaining the attack of the swarm required a massive amount of Origin Energy support.
This move is strong, but it consumes too much energy, Alex noted. I need to find a way to increase my reserves.
In the pit, Vargo was barely breathing. His Semi-Beast form had receded, leaving him broken and human again.
He looked up at Alex, who stood over him with the scythe raised. The arrogance was gone, replaced by the pathetic fear of a dying man.
"Don't... don't kill me..." Vargo coughed up a mouthful of blood. "I can work for you! I'll be your dog! Your slave!"
Alex looked down at him coldly. "I don't need a dog. But I do need answers. Who sent you?"
Vargo's eyes darted around rapidly. No one sent me... we just saw you...
But looking at the murderous intent in Alex's eyes, he knew "no one" wasn't the right answer. He needed a scapegoat to prove his value!
So, he gritted his teeth. "It was the Special Envoy! It was the Wolf Envoy who sent me!!"
Alex silently noted this name, a trace of killing intent flashing in his eyes.
Wolf Envoy... sounds like a big fish.
Alex lowered the scythe slightly, the blade resting against Vargo's throat. "The Wolf Envoy, huh? He must be hiding somewhere close to coordinate attacks."
Vargo nodded frantically, thinking he saw a chance to live.
Alex leaned in, his voice dangerously low. "So, tell me..."