Chapter 49

Lukas steadied himself as the lions began climbing once more. With his mana nearly depleted, it would be blade against claw from here.

Gripping his saber tightly, Lukas allowed the first beast to pull itself onto the pillar before lunging forward in a flurry of steel. His aura-enhanced blade could cut through flesh and bone with barely any resistance. Of course, the long steel nails were an exception. Sparks flew everywhere as its claw and his saber met each other. The wound was too shallow to kill it. Gritting his teeth, he used the first strike to repel it before the situation got worse. The lion lost its balance and fell down from the pillar. He didn't have the luxury to take a breath. Parrying the claws of the second lion, Lukas spun low and severed its tendons with a well-placed slash. Now immobilized, he finished it off with a dagger-like thrust to the neck.

"Four more to go," Lukas muttered.

Lukas pushed the fallen lion's body aside and lunged downwards, meeting the third beast as it started to climb over the pillar's base. Its claws locked together briefly in a screech of metal before Lukas overpowered it with his aura-enhanced strength. With the lion off-balance, he delivered a two-handed overhead slash that split its skull open.

Before the body had even hit the ground, Lukas spun to deflect the fourth lion's swiping paw. This one was faster than the others, darting in and out with feints and jabs as it looked for an opening. Lukas gave no ground, parrying each strike calmly yet firmly as his exhaustion grew.

Eventually, the lion grew overconfident, leaving itself open for the briefest moment. It was all Lukas needed. He flowed inside its guard and rammed his saber hilt-deep into its gut before wrenching it free in a spray of gore.

Two remained. Lukas took a moment to catch his breath, assessing his opponents. The lion crouched low, clearly the more cautious of the two. But the sixth paced agitatedly, its fur standing on end - no doubt feeling the pressure as its pack dwindled.

As if Lukas would give it a chance, especially the other one which was heavily injured from the drill explosion before. He quickly used all of his mana, conjuring a force dome on his left hand and gripping the saber firmly in his right hand, before he lunged forward.

Lukas lunged forward, the force dome leading the way to shield against claws while his saber aimed true. The lion roared a challenge, leaping to meet his attack. Claws scraped harmlessly off the mana dome as Lukas slid beneath the beast, his enhanced blade slicing a wound along its underbelly.

"Tch, it was too shallow," Lukas muttered before rushing towards one of the other lion which was struggling to stand up, seeing the chance.

He used the first form of the Azur edge. The diagonal slash hit directly at the lion's eyes, putting a deep cut.Proofreaded text:

The lion roared in agony as Lukas' slash opened a gruesome wound across its face, blinding it. Thrashing wildly, the blinded beast swung its claws with reckless abandon. Lukas dodged the flailing limbs narrowly, then lunged inside the lion's defenses once more.

With a practiced twist of his wrist, Lukas spun his blade to find the back of the lion's skull. His enchanted steel parted flesh and bone with ease, and with a twist of his hand, beheaded the lion completely. The blood of the lion sprayed his whole face and body.

Panting, Lukas turned to the last opponent. This cautious lion watched him warily, a new sense of fear in its eyes now that it was alone. Lukas slowly circled, keeping his guard up. Though injured, this beast was still dangerous.

Suddenly, the pillar shook, loosened stones falling into the chasm below. The earlier battle must have weakened the structure more than Lukas realized. He stole a glance down, gauging the drop. No safe landing down there, that was for certain.

His distraction cost him dearly. The lion attacked in that instant, barreling into Lukas with its full weight. Claws raked his armor as he went tumbling across the unstable ground. Lukas grappled fiercely, managing to roll on top with his saber at the lion's throat.

But the pillar shuddered again, a massive crack appearing under the base forms. Lukas had no time left. With a grim expression, he ended the lion's life, then pushed himself wearily to his feet. The pillar was collapsing - he had to escape, and fast!

But unfortunately, he was already tired and his vision was not clear because of the blood of that lion. And as he was about to cross the danger zone, he fell down because of a rock, and the pillar directly smashed down on his head.

[Dead]

Lukas' mind started spinning as he struggled to open his eyes. His surroundings changed; he found himself at the waiting zone of the tower, a space surrounded by purple mist.

Lukas took a few seconds to realize what had just happened, and fell down on his butt, dismissing the soul gear on him.

[Master, good?]

A voice rang out from Aurora. Lukas nodded his head. He felt frustrated. He stood up, sighing and clenching his hands.

"I'm still weak," he muttered before exiting out of the tower. He wasn't that worried or so for not getting the rewards from the fourteenth floor.

He felt frustrated. He was still quick. He's growing faster, but it wasn't enough.

[To be continued...]