Sword wound

The Thunder Tiger glared at the four people in front of it and spat out Albert's severed head.

Its mouth twisted into a cruel grin, baring its massive fangs before letting out an earth-shattering roar.

In the next moment, a blinding blue bolt of lightning exploded from its body, as fast as a gust of wind, leaving no time for anyone to react.

Lucius didn't even have a chance to raise his sword. In the blink of an eye, the blue lightning struck, severing his head from his neck.

Blood gushed out like a fountain, staining the pristine snow red as his lifeless body crumpled to the ground.

"Lucius!"

Harley bellowed in rage, his eyes burning with the fire of vengeance.

Without a second thought, he lunged at the Thunder Tiger, gripping his weapon tightly, determined to avenge his fallen comrade.

But the Thunder Tiger didn't even regard him as a threat.

It casually raised its massive front paw.

The sharp claws gleamed coldly, ready to deliver a fatal blow to Harley.

Just as the Thunder Tiger's paw was about to come down, it suddenly felt a sharp pain in its back.

It turned its head in fury, glaring at Khazik behind it.

"Beast! Where do you think you're looking?"

Khazik snarled, swinging his sword once more.

Sensing the danger of these sword strikes, the Thunder Tiger quickly dodged, refusing to take the attack head-on.

A glint of cunning and wariness flickered in its eyes—it could sense the man's resolve. 

This veteran was clearly prepared to stake his life in a desperate fight, using every ounce of strength to kill it.

However, the Thunder Tiger had no desire to engage Khazik in a life-or-death struggle. 

Though the opponent was dangerous, the magic beast had the upper hand. It wasn't about to risk everything against this human.

The Thunder Tiger leaped back, creating distance between them.

Its body traced a graceful arc through the air, landing steadily on the ground.

Blue and white electricity crackled around its body, lightning danced like serpents along its fur, and the air filled with the smell of burning.

Khazik suddenly trembled, a trickle of blood escaping the corner of his mouth.

He gripped the hilt of his sword tightly with one hand and wiped away the blood with the other.

He had overextended himself in this battle, using too much sword energy.

His body had already surpassed its limits, and the internal damage was growing more severe.

At this point, it was only his sheer willpower that kept him standing—his life hanging by a thread.

Harley caught sight of the blood at the corner of Khazik's mouth and felt a jolt of alarm.

"Captain!"

But Khazik merely shook his head slightly, signaling Harley not to worry.

Wiping away the blood with determination, his gaze remained as steely as ever, unwavering.

"This isn't something for you to concern yourself with."

Khazik's voice was hoarse and gravelly.

The Thunder Tiger let out another deafening roar, and bolts of lightning exploded from its body.

Blue and white electricity surged like a violent river toward Khazik and Harley, filling the air with the suffocating sound of crackling energy.

"Watch out!"

Khazik shouted, swinging his sword to deflect some of the lightning strikes.

Harley gritted his teeth, raising his sword to block the relentless onslaught of lightning from all directions.

But the Thunder Tiger's power was overwhelming.

Several bolts of electricity pierced through Harley's defense, striking his body.

"Ahhh—"

Harley screamed in agony.

His body convulsed violently as the lightning coursed through him, like invisible hooks tearing at every nerve in his body.

The searing pain invaded his entire being, and he felt as though the lightning was ripping him apart.

As the electricity surged through him, his skin blackened, smoke rising from his charred flesh.

The smell of burning meat filled the air as his muscles and skin sizzled under the intense heat.

Blood trickled from Harley's mouth, and his eyes stared blankly at the sky. His sword slipped from his hand, falling heavily into the snow.

His breathing became labored and erratic, his chest heaving more and more slowly.

Blood seeped from the charred areas of his body, and he looked like a piece of burnt wood.

With one final, violent tremor, Harley's body stilled. His legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground, stiff and lifeless.

Khazik didn't turn to look at Harley's corpse—he had seen too many comrades fall over the years.

He took a deep breath, suppressing his emotions, gripping his sword tightly as he focused on the Thunder Tiger in front of him.

"Come on."

His voice was low and steady.

With those words, Khazik crouched low and suddenly surged forward, launching himself at the Thunder Tiger like an arrow from a bow.

Snow flew up beneath his feet as he kicked off the ground, wind and snow whirling around him.

His sword, gleaming with powerful sword energy, rang with a sharp, piercing sound as it cut through the air.

This was the final showdown—life or death hanging by a thread.

The Thunder Tiger roared, its body crackling with lightning. The bolts danced wildly across its fur, sizzling in the air with loud, crackling sounds.

It, too, didn't hesitate, charging at Khazik like a bolt of lightning.

The two figures streaked across the snow, closing the distance between them at breakneck speed.

Khazik's eyes were locked on the Thunder Tiger, while the beast's roar echoed with murderous intent.

"Yahh!"

Khazik let out a fierce battle cry, swinging his sword, its edge blazing with powerful sword energy, directly at the Thunder Tiger.

The Thunder Tiger responded with a savage roar, its lightning-clad claws slashing forward.

The sword and lightning collided with a deafening crash, sending out a massive shockwave of energy.

Snow exploded beneath them, scattering in all directions.

This blow would determine life or death.

As Khazik and the Thunder Tiger passed by each other, the air was thick with the stench of blood and the lingering scent of burnt ozone.

Khazik stood silently, his sword still poised in a striking position.

But his body had reached its limit.

In the next moment, his head slid from his neck, blood spraying into the air, staining the snow around him.

His head tumbled to the ground, his eyes still filled with determination, as if he were still watching ahead, fulfilling his final duty.

Khazik's body followed soon after, toppling forward and crashing into the snow, sending a crimson spray of blood across the white ground.

Behind him, the Thunder Tiger let out a low growl.

Seeing Khazik's severed head fall to the ground, it did not stop but continued forward without hesitation.

It knew this human was no longer a threat.

The Thunder Tiger, electricity crackling around its body, resumed its pursuit of the remaining scouts.

Just as it prepared to continue the chase, a sharp pain suddenly shot through its head.

A deep crack split across its skull, and blood gushed out, streaming down its forehead.

The Thunder Tiger let out a howl of pain, its massive body swaying slightly.

The sword wound had cut deep into its head.

Despite the intense pain, the Thunder Tiger's ferocity remained undiminished, unwilling to stop.

The magic beast pressed forward, ignoring the pain in its head as blood dripped onto the snow with each step, leaving a long, red trail behind it.