After Ender's almost fatal slash, the giant tiger's body started to collapse, its huge weight pressing toward him.
Under the falling tiger, Ender felt the sky go dark. He quickly realized the danger and rolled to the side.
Boom
Dust rose as the giant tiger fell heavily to the ground, looking like it was already dead.
Ender, covered in blood, slowly stood up. He watched the fallen tiger carefully. He did not go near it, because there was still 5% life shown above its head.
The ruler of Mt. Colubo was not dead. This clever tiger was pretending to be dead to trick Ender.
"What a smart beast."
He flicked his blade, throwing off the blood. Drops of red splashed in a half-circle across the ground.
Huff…
He breathed heavily. Though they only fought a few rounds, every moment was dangerous. He had used a lot of strength.
His endurance was only 5 points, the same as a normal person. It was not high at all.
In the real world, raising 1 attribute point is harder than climbing the sky. Ender trained hard for three years to raise Strength by 1 point and Agility by 2 points.
But even just these 3 points above normal already let him crush ordinary people. Each attribute point means a huge change in power.
One minute passed. Two minutes. The man and tiger remained motionless. The ruler of Mt. Colubo was still pretending, and Ender did not attack. He needed to recover his strength.
The tiger lying in the blood suddenly opened its one remaining eye. In that eye were despair and unwillingness.
A wild beast showing such feelings was surprising, but not strange. Animals in East Blue often had high intelligence.
In one desert kingdom, there was even a camel that only carried women.
The ruler of Mt. Colubo struggled to stand. Black-red blood ran from its mouth.
Ender, who had recovered a bit, slowly moved forward.
"Grrr…"
A low threatening growl came out. A tiger claw swiped out, testing him.
Ender stepped back, then moved forward again moments later.
He did not choose to fight head-on. Even in this state, the giant tiger could still kill him.
The creatures of this world were too strong. Ender could only stay cautious.
The tiger noticed Ender was stalling for time. It lost all hope. It had met a skilled hunter.
Shaking and barely standing, the ruler of Mt. Colubo let out one final roar. This might be its last roar in the mountains.
Then, dragging its wounded body, it charged at Ender with all its remaining strength. It did not care about Ender's blade or its own broken organs.
Boom.. Boom..
The ground trembled as it rushed.
It wanted a last desperate strike.
But its wounded body could not support it. The muscles in its hind legs were torn. It fell forward while charging, turning its attack into suicide.
Its huge open jaws fell right toward Ender. He was surprised for a moment, but his hands did not slow. He drove Dragon Slayer forward.
The blade pierced the soft mouth, went through bone, and stabbed deep into the brain.
Dragon Slayer was a Rare White weapon, sharper than even some Blue equipment. Its cutting ability could be trusted.
The tiger's eye dimmed. The health bar above its head dropped to nearly zero.
Even stabbed through the brain, it was still not dead. Its life force was shocking.
Then something unexpected happened.
The tiger pushed its head forward, forcing the blade even deeper. But this made Ender's arm move into the range of its jaws.
Snap.
Ender's right arm was bitten.
He felt his arm get pierced, numbness hitting first, then stabbing pain.
Even though his entire arm was growing numb, Ender did not let go of Dragon Slayer.
Cold sweat slid down his face. With his left hand, he pulled out the Worn Flintlock (White).
He pressed the muzzle against the tiger's remaining eye and pulled the trigger.
Bang.
The eye burst.
This was the final blow. The tiger's health bar emptied. Its jaws loosened, and Ender pulled his arm free.
His upper right arm was a bloody mess, but luckily the bones were not broken.
The tiger's body looked badly damaged, but it was only now truly finished.
[You have killed the (Elite Creature) Ruler of Mt. Colubo]
[You gained 3.2% of the World's Source. Total: 8.9%.]
[Your Killing Talent: Soul Devourer is activated. +15 permanent Mana. Current Mana: 91.]
The Reincarnation Paradise message made Ender relax slightly. The ruler was dead.
From blood loss and exhaustion, Ender fell to the ground weakly.
He took out a cigarette and lit it. Smoke drifted into the air.
"Heh… haha…"
Covered in blood, Ender sat on the grass, shoulders shaking. He was addicted to the feeling of fighting on the edge of death.
The winner lives. The loser dies. Brutal, but simple.
He exhaled smoke and looked at the tiger's body.
Above it floated a faint green treasure chest, glowing softly.
Ender forced himself to stand. This was his first time seeing a Green Treasure Chest.
White Treasure Chests could give items like the Dead Wife's Pendant. What would a Green one give?
He felt excited, but this was not the time.
The forest was unsafe. The strong smell of blood could attract other beasts at any moment.
Ender stored the Green Treasure Chest and knocked out all the tiger's teeth. Then he prepared to find water to wash.
But just then, a bush ten meters away made a small sound.
Ender's eyes sharpened. He gripped Dragon Slayer and stared.
"Who's there? Come out!"
If it were a beast, it would react. But the bush went silent.
That meant someone might be hiding.
The heat of the day continued to rise.
(End of Chapter)
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