Challenging the Lizard Beast

 Most sane person would have not to challenge a beast in its lair, namely because it is likely the strongest there. Most sane people will not challenge being much stronger than them either, because it is akin to suicide.

 However, Ryker, despite being sane, decided to do both, mostly he wanted to challenge himself with a life-and-death battle against a much stronger being. His previous fight against a 6th Stage Genesis Source expert isn't a good way to review his strength, mostly because the expert in question only recently, during that time that is, reached the 6th Stage and had just stabilized his cultivation.

 Meaning, in terms of strength, he is likely the weakest 6th Stage Genesis Source in existence. Consequently, he was also injured, albeit slightly due to some problem during his cultivation, though this was orchestrated by the higher-ups of Mariz Barony to weaken the man.

 So, it means his victory against the 6th Stage Genesis Source expert could be considered a fluke. However, the creature in front of him is a bonafide 7th Stage Genesis Source beast. Its strength, while didn't reach the peak of the 7th Stage, it still comes close to it.

 With all of it said the creature in front of him would be a good measure of how powerful he is and whether he could defeat even more powerful beings. However, before he could challenge the lizard beast, he needed to make sure to create some escape route.

 After all, if he is defeated, at least he could escape and fight another day. So, he decided to wait a bit. Besides, the lizard beast seemed content staying in one place. It probably took some time to absorb things it had brought back up.

-x-

 After making all the necessary preparations, he began to walk towards the beast. His presence was hidden, he walked until he got close enough to touch its hide. He then used a spear and stabbed the lizard beast at one of the spots where the stony exteriors were not present.

 Roaring in pain at the attack, the creature trashed around, almost hitting Ryker if not for his insane reflexes. Still, the gust created by the creature's movement almost sent him flying. 

 When he was able to stand his ground, he looked at the creature and watched as the lizard beast began to look around, clearly searching for its attacker. With blood pouring out of the wound began to slow down, showing the creature had begun to heal.

 While it was still searching for the intruder, Ryker walked close to it once again before stabbing the lizard beast's underbelly, making it roar in rage and pain. The lizard beast instinctively falls on its belly, almost flattening Ryker if he didn't roll away.

 Now already injured twice, the lizard beast began to stop playing around. It roared at the ceiling of the cave before the ground, walls, and ceiling shook. Ryker tried to prepare himself but even when he was calmed what happened next continued to surprise him.

 The entire cavern began to twist and turn, almost like it was water instead of earth. With the earth sometimes forming spikes while others began to gap open, it became a very dangerous environment, with no way out for him.

 At least, it should be if not for him reaching the Elementary Understanding of Law of Earth. He put his hand on the ground, his very own earth qi headed towards wherever the earth shifted. Not long after, the change caused by the lizard beast's attack began to shift back to normal. 

 However, this resulted in him being found by the lizard beast as his skill in using technique while under concealment is not the best. The lizard beast, having set its eyes on its attacker roared at the intruder.

 Realizing his concealment was already blown, he looked at the lizard beast before having to avoid the rock it threw at him. The lizard beast continued to create or lift boulders before chucking them at Ryker, who was able to avoid the attack with ease.

 However, the lizard beast, despite being a wild beast is still an experienced creature, already forming a plan to take down the pesky intruder. As Ryker began to move closer to one of the walls, avoiding the lizard's largely ineffective attack, one of the walls let out a torrent of spikes, almost piercing him and turning him into a skewer.

 He narrowly avoided the attack, his eyes looking at the lizard with trepidation. He quickly put the lizard beast in one of the most dangerous creatures he could handle. Of course, that is for now, that is.

 It then turned into an exchange of attack, most of it belonged to the lizard best as Ryker decided to focus on conserving his power when needed. Still, the stalemate would keep in going if he didn't try anything else. 

 Thankfully the creature clearly didn't want to leave the cave, or it would have escaped already. From the look of things, the creature likely wanted to absorb the resources it found before roaming into the wilderness again.

 However, he didn't plan on letting the creature do just that. He began to make more aggressive moves, unleashing sword slashes toward the lizard beast. Roaring in frustration, the lizard beast formed a barrier around its body, blocking the attack with ease.

 Not deterred by the beast's superb defense, Ryker began to skirt around the beast, taking cheap shot after cheap shot. Even though the beast is powerful and has an even more powerful defense, it still needs to form a qi barrier as his attack, infused with his sword qi, is more than enough to pierce its skin if it didn't form any defense.

 This resulted in the creature being Ryker's training dummy as it could only defend itself without being able to make any move to counterattack. Getting more and more frustrated by the current situation, the lizard beast let out a small growl before a thick something appeared around it.

 Not knowing what is happening, Ryker quickly gets away from the creature, unsure of its intention. He watched carefully as the creature seemed to gather the earth qi around it. While Ryker didn't know what the creature was planning, one thing was for sure, it would result in bad things happening to him.

Not wanting to let the beast have the initiative, Ryker prepared his strongest attack. 

 "Deathly Flame Sword!" a powerful sword strike enhanced by both death and flame qi descended towards the lizard beast, who remained still. When the attack hit the barrier, it cracked before shattering it to pieces.

 However, the attack dissipated when it landed. But the fact it was able to break it was good news for him, who took the chance to head towards the lizard beast. However, the creature opened its eyes at the very moment before the ground around it erupted and the rocks in the mine began to shift once more.

 Caught off guard by the situation, it took all of his skill to avoid most of the rocks, along with some defensive technique to block whatever he could not avoid.