Chapter 44: Let’s See Your Resolve To Live

Reon was far from satisfied after severing both arms of the Shadow Claw Bear. A grim desire smoldered within him, urging him to tear the beast apart piece by piece until it could no longer move.

But he knew he couldn't afford to draw this fight out any longer. If a more formidable beast—a Demonic General Rank or higher—appeared, even his newfound Sword Aura wil not be enough to guarantee his survival.

And he still had to cross the Shadowed Thicket of the Mystic Evergreen Forest, a task made more daunting by the toll his aura would soon take on him.

The Sword Aura thrumming through him was no ordinary Awakening Stage aura; he knew that much.

Its potency surpassed all his expectations. Though it wouldn't kill him, the strain would soon take its toll, delivering pain as relentless as the power was intoxicating.

Reon stepped closer to the bear, his gaze cold and unyielding. Sensing the shift in its odds, the wounded beast turned to flee, stumbling forward despite its mangled state, desperate to escape.

Demonic Beasts were known for their powerful regenerative abilities; given a week, its severed limbs would heal completely.

But Reon had no intention of letting it live. His voice was barely a whisper as he watched the creature lurch away.

"Run. Run as fast as you can," he murmured. "Let me see how far your resolve to live will take you."

Before the beast could disappear from his sight, Reon swung his sword once more, this time with a deadly, unwavering slash.

The beast's massive body continued to stagger forward, but in a surreal twist, its head froze mid-motion, almost as if time itself had fractured.

Its bewildered eyes widened in confusion, the scenery around it seeming to reverse and blur, distorting as it tried to comprehend what had happened.

Slowly, its gaze drifted downward. Where it expected to see powerful limbs surging forward, there was only empty air—its own headless body still running blindly, driven by the last pulses of its life, ignorant of its own doom.

Finally, the body halted, swaying as if grasping for balance, before collapsing with a resounding crash that shook the ground beneath it.

The impact was so forceful that dust and fragments of ground erupted skyward, and the surrounding trees shivered as if bowing to the power that had felled such a mighty beast.

Reon's expression remained cold as he watched the final tremors of the fallen creature subside.

The dark aura still radiated fiercely from his sword, casting ominous shadows around him, while the forest held its breath in reverence, silenced by the raw, violent mastery that had just been unleashed.

With a wave of his hand, Reon stored the massive body of the Shadow Claw Bear within his spatial ring. His gaze then fell on Cloudia, lying battered on the ground, her skin mottled with bruises.

He knelt beside her, retrieving another Healing Pill from his ring, and carefully guided it to her lips, watching as its gentle warmth began to soothe her wounds.

Just as he thought he might finally catch a moment's rest, a searing pain ignited within him, a sensation unlike anything he'd ever felt.

It was as though every bone in his body was being crushed, ground into fragments. The agony eclipsed even the blows dealt by the Shadow Claw Bear, surpassing the pain of fractured bones by leagues.

The intensity of it was overwhelming. Unable to bear it even for a heartbeat, he collapsed to the ground, his body hitting the ground with a heavy thud, almost lifeless.

.

.

.

.

.

In a hall of the Sect, a young man sat upon a throne-like chair, draped in lavish silks, with a golden goblet of grapes in his hand. His posture was regal, exuding an effortless confidence as he enjoyed the indulgence of his surroundings.

On either side of him, two young women waved large, feathered fans, their every motion delicate and precise, as though they served a young king in his opulent court.

Suddenly, the heavy footsteps of another young man echoed from outside the chamber, quick and urgent.

He approached the hall with a determined stride, but as he neared the entrance, two guards blocked his way, crossing their spears to bar his path.

"What do you think you're doing, rushing in like this?" one of the guards demanded, his eyes narrowing with disdain. "Do you realize whose abode this is?"

"Yes, how dare you approach Young Master Niu Ling's quarters without permission? Where is your Follower Token?" the other guard demanded coldly. "Do you not fear losing your limbs for such insolence?"

The young man took a steady breath. "I am not yet Young Master Niu Ling's follower, but I wish to become one. I have urgent news for him. Please, allow me to pass."

The guards exchanged a skeptical glance, then one of them relented, nodding curtly. "Wait here," he commanded before disappearing through the grand doors.

A few tense minutes passed before the guard returned, giving a sharp nod. "You may enter. But watch your manners; we won't hesitate to show you the price of disrespect."

The young man entered the hall, bowing low as he approached the throne.

"This humble servant greets Young Master Niu Ling. He wishes to become your follower and brings precious news you may find valuable," he said respectfully, though the tremor in his voice hinted at his urgency.

"Raise your head and speak. What news did you bring?" Niu Ling commanded, his tone calm but laced with authority.

The young man straightened, his gaze cautious. "Young Master, I've received word that your former follower, the one who betrayed you, has left the Outer Sect. He was last seen heading toward the Mystic Evergreen Forest."

A slow, malicious smile spread across Niu Ling's face, his eyes gleaming with cruel delight. "This is good news. You may become my follower. Ning Ning, give him a Follower Token."

"Yes, Young Master," a maid concealed in the shadows behind Niu Ling responded with quiet deference.