Chapter 116: Thorns

 The petite elf, using the complex terrain of the Abyss Training Ground, tangled and dodged around a savage and bloody behemoth—the Blood Lion Demon. She skillfully avoided its powerful pounces and occasionally pulled her longbow to release a silvery white arrow that exploded into the beast's blood-red flesh, leaving deep, bone-exposing wounds.

This was a massive lion covered in crimson fur, with vicious bone spurs protruding from under the dense fur at its joints, shielding vital areas and serving as weapons in close combat.

"Roar!" The Blood Lion roared, a visible wave of sound emanating from its maw, pulverizing nearby stones into dust. Hesel, the elf girl, stumbled slightly on the rugged terrain as she dodged, her figure pausing momentarily.

Seeing this, the lion's massive body, agile uncharacteristically, transformed into a blur of blood as it lunged toward the hillock where Hesel stood. "Boom!" The hillock where Hesel had been standing collapsed, and the Blood Lion Demon lay among the rubble, growling in annoyance.

Foul-smelling saliva dripped from the demon's fangs, corroding the blood-soaked rocks beneath with a sizzling noise. Hesel had already agilely moved away before it reached the hillock.

"Whoosh!" A dazzling silver rainbow shot forth, striking the Blood Lion Demon. "Boom!" The arrow exploded, creating a gory hole through which bones and entrails could be seen, and blood and bone fragments sprayed in the air. Enraged by the pain, the Blood Lion roared furiously, its blood-red eyes burning with fury as it glared at the tiny elf standing not far away.

However, the beast, reeking of blood and a faint smell of sulfur, did not let anger cloud its judgment. Instead of charging blindly, it walked over to a pile of demon corpses, bowed its head, and began to chew and swallow.

Indeed, the Blood Lion Demon was consuming the corpses of demons. Hesel's first arrow had killed countless lower-tier demons, leaving their bodies scattered around. The Blood Lion Demon happened to be a peculiar beast that thrived on consuming other demons.

"Crack!" The sound of bones being crushed echoed from the mouth of the Blood Lion as dark demonic blood dripped from its fangs. As it swallowed, the wounds on its body, which were visibly healing, began to close even faster.

"Evil creature." Watching this, Hesel couldn't hide her disgust and helplessness. The arrows capable of injuring the Blood Lion required time to gather strength and could not be shot at will.

Moreover, the attack that had instantly killed the centaur demon needed even more preparation. Without Muria's protection, preparing such an attack would be suicidal; she would likely be torn to shreds by the Blood Lion before she could finish.

"Roar!" At that moment, the Blood Lion sensed Muria's gaze, which had just dealt with the six-armed snake demon. It glanced warily at Muria, then at Hesel, and began to slowly back away, seeking escape.

"Such a coward." Muria chuckled as he watched the Blood Lion retreat without any intention of stopping it, standing quietly in place.

Meanwhile, Hesel, seizing the moment the Blood Lion's attention was diverted by Muria, quickly drew an unassuming wooden arrow from her spatial bracelet. The arrow, bearing similar runes to her bow, was nocked and drawn as the Blood Lion slowly backed away.

"Roar!" Just as the arrow was aimed at the Blood Lion, the beast reacted, its neck bristling with blood-red mane as it sensed impending doom. It turned its head, its crimson eyes locking onto the elf, and bared its fangs in a roaring charge.

"Pfft!" Blood sprayed as a greenish rainbow light pierced one of the Blood Lion's eyes and burrowed into its skull.

"Aow!" What was a thunderous roar turned into a wail of agony. The Blood Lion's massive body rolled on the ground in pain after being hit by the arrow, its death throes evident even though its head was pierced.

But a horrific scene unfolded as the lion's once robust muscles visibly shrank. The creature's struggle weakened rapidly, and soon it lay motionless.

Its once vivid fur dulled, and the metallic-gleaming, rugged bone spurs quickly turned gray. Something inside the Blood Lion seemed to be devouring its life essence voraciously.

"What is that?" Muria watched, his expression grave as the once powerful beast rapidly decayed into a skeletal form, its life force draining away at an alarming rate.

Then, Muria's question was answered as barbed thorns began to stretch out from the hollow sockets of the Blood Lion's eyes, quickly enveloping its now skeletal remains.

"Crack! Crack!" The sound of bones breaking was chilling as a vibrant thicket of thorns grew wildly at the site of the Blood Lion's fall, consuming the demon's remains completely.

"This..." Seeing such a ferocious and dominant scene, Hesel was stunned, looking bewilderedly at Muria. "I didn't know this would happen when I shot the arrow. It's the first time I've used this kind of arrow..."

"Yes, I know." Muria, transforming into a black-haired, golden-eyed ten-year-old child, stepped through the winds to Hesel's side, observing the still-spreading thorns devouring nearby demon corpses.

"It's all over now." Muria reassured the unsettled elf, sensing that the nature of the arrow's effect had frightened her; its method of attack was not in line with her nature.

"This arrow was given to me a long time ago by the elders, for my protection," Hesel said tearfully, looking at Muria. "I don't want such an evil arrow."

As Hesel began to hand over a dozen similar arrows to Muria, he quickly interjected: "Weapons don't decide good or evil; it's the user who determines that. You used this arrow to kill a demon; does that make you evil?"

"No." Hesel shook her head.

"That settles it then." Muria spread his hands. "Just like that, I've witnessed the power of your elven archery. From now on, you are my archery teacher."

"Cassio, send us back," Muria called out, looking up at the sky.