Fighting the Hungry Red Lion

Fire Ridge. Sword Peak Mountain.

The group climbed through the mountain and finally spotted their target.

It was a four-meter lion with lava-colored fur. Currently, it was on the ground, munching on meat.

"According to the Beast Index. Once a Hungry Red Lion had a crown on its head. It hasn't started its evolution yet. It seems we're lucky this time. This lion doesn't have a crown."

Hidden in a bush, five meters away from the lion with a small blue rose in between, the female adventurer with a support role whispered.

One of the three male warriors stared at the ravaged meat with disgust. "That's a human flesh. It seems a warrior from another city came to this place and received the same mission as us but he didn't end well."

"I mean, the Five Ancestor City is literally on the opposite side of this place. This forest acts as a boundary between Five Ancestor City and our Congyun City."

"Yeah, if not for the Green Beast Forest acting as a natural barrier and divider. Maybe the Five Ancestor City and Congyun City would have invaded each other long ago."

The five became quiet at this moment. Things that involve the Five Ancestor City always end up with conflict. Almost everyone in the Five Ancestor City was militant and liked to duel.

The leader of the group took a sharp breath. "Enough of that. Let's focus on the task ahead. The Hungry Red Lions are known to only possess two skills. A passive ability that boosts their agility when they are within hot terrain and an active skill that lets them spit fireballs in their mouth."

The man on the leader's left side nodded. He looked at the faces of his comrades with serious expression and said. "The leader is right. Currently, we're in the Fire Ridge. This is considered a natural habitat for the target so we can expect that it would be agile and hard to hit. As for the fireball, that's a common skill so it's easy to counter."

"Let's go. Kill this bastard and return to the city!"

Following that, in a few moments, the Hungry Red Lion, who had fully eaten its meal, stood up and roared in the distance angrily. Its eyes contained a natural hue similar to the color of a spark.

The aura of bestiality was strong on this one. Suddenly, five figures slowly walked one after another. They didn't say anything to each other and charged at the Hungry Red Lion.

As if provoked, the Lion pounced on them. The lion didn't expect someone to interrupt his joyous after meal. It just finished fighting a human and other similar humans dared to attack it? It must show human beings what it means to be a Hungry Red Lion.

The group didn't know the simple thoughts of the lion. Every animal or beast that has mana in this world has gained meta cognition unique to animals like chimpanzees, dolphins, and Homo-Sapiens on Earth... Meaning, they could think and even recognize themselves in a mirror. Enough to know that they're looking at themselves. This is evidence of a form of high intelligence, unlike animals that only act purely on instincts.

Of course, most of them are only as smart as 5-10-year-old children. Monsters or beasts with intellect comparable to adult humans are those that survive for a long time and are above level 100. They're not cabbages in the market and usually command an army of creatures with lower strength and intelligence than them. Such monsters might even be more cunning than some humans.

At least, one won't even have a chance to see them in the Grand Zhao Kingdom where the Green Beast Forest, Five Ancestor City, and Congyuan City reside. Maybe outside the Grand Zhao Kingdom? Who knows?

"Eat this! Hermit Light Shield!" The shield on the warrior's hand released a blue illusory light that resisted the paw of the lion.

Unfortunately, the momentum, the force, the impact, and the strength behind the paw shattered the Hermit Light Shield. The brave warrior flew out like a broken kite and fell into the hot spring...

"Mike!!!" The leader of the group kicked the anus of the lion, causing it to whimper in retreat.

The warrior who fell into the hot spring stood up with minor burns on his skin. It felt to him as if someone had splashed ten buckets of boiling water on him. It caused him severe pain and shock.

Luckily, most of the heat had been shielded by his equipment and his level was decent enough to resist the heat for a moment.

He stood up and quickly stepped out of the hot spring with a shit-eating grin. Still, his trembling lips made the pain he was currently experiencing apparent. "I didn't expect that fucker to easily destroy the special effect of my shield."

"Heal!"

At this time, a green light rotated like a tornado above the head of the injured warrior and swiftly fused onto him. The burns all around his skin immediately disappeared. Inside him, he felt a rush of gentle energy, it was akin to a full body massage. Very demure and comfortable.

One of the females looked ghostly pale after she cast a support-type spell. It drained at least 1/4 of her mana.

The other support cast another spell towards the three warriors. "Concentrate!"

The three warriors immediately felt the change. The energy in their body flows smoothly. Their thoughts were a lot active.

The Hungry Red Lion opened its mouth. A sudden spike of mana was produced and felt by everyone. A bunch of crimson energy gathered, causing a spark of flame to suddenly appear in the center of its mouth.

With a smug expression, the Hungry Red Lion launched the attack on its enemy... How dare you do such a disgusting attack! Humans are really lowly creatures!

The leader of the group looked at the raging fireball with an ugly expression. He had to admit that the fireball released by the lion was a lot fiercer than the usual ones.

He put on a sword-wielding posture. The blade of his sword lighten up to a green hue. He poured every bit of his mana into the sword, unafraid of the consumption.

"Whirl Slash!"