NOVEL NEXT Chapter 119: Final Phase.
Their gaze fixated on their prey.
Their eyes glittering with killing intent they stood with their weapons pointed ready to attack at any point.
*RUMBLE RUMBLE*
I lift the cage up by the rope attached to it.
The Viper slowly begins to unwind itself and in an instant it strikes at Conan who stands at the middle.
*BAM*
From the side comes Beom slamming into its side with his shoulder before it reaches Conan.
He crashes with it into the wall of the pit.
Beom was using a large war hammer.
After studying his fighting pattern I determined it was the best for him.
He's raw physical strength made moving it really easy.
During training I had carved a kinda war hammer from a tree for him, but now, he's using a real one I had purchased from a blacksmith.
Beom quickly withdraws after slamming it into the wall.
The darkness made it hard for them to make a next move.
Hwa or Ae-Cha could light up the environment but I think they got the message, I wanted them to pass this trial in the darkness.
The dust settles and the beast rises towering over them.
Its head almost reaching the top of this 35 feet deep pit.
Well, it could easily come out if it wanted to but I believe it understands if it does it'll face my punishment.
Slowly it began moving while having its gaze still fixated on them.
"Dont let it encircle us." Hoon warns.
As he says this they than realize that's what it was trying to do.
Conan leaps towards it to strike with his sword.
It dodges and then hits Conan away.
Conan crashes hard to the ground.
Together the others began attacking it.
The battle became fierce.
The beast was too fast so it dodged most of their attacks but even the ones they were able to land it's scales were too tough to pass through.
The battle continues, they slashed, hammered and punched.
Of course the snake wasn't just taking hits and dodging.
It was always counterattacking whenever it had the chance.
It also attacked them with its tail which had spikes on it.
After about twelve minutes of battle their clothes were all tattered.
Blood stained their bodies and clothes as they stood panting.
Two people seemed like they were conserving their energies, though also tired they didn't seem as roughed up as the others.
Those two were Ae-Cha and Hoon.
Ae-Cha, though also attacking, she was also focused on healing the others.
While Hoon was analyzing the Beast and this battle to figure out a way to beat it.
"There is no way this is just a Level 9 Spirit Beast." Hoon says out loud as the others blocked and tried to attack.
'Hmmmm, did he figure it out?' I say to myself.
"You think Master lied about it's true strength?" Ae-Cha asks.
"Sounds like something Master can do but I doubt he did that, maybe we just aren't as strong as we thought." Hoon says.
"We have to give it our all guys, we need to use the Blood Absorption Martial Arts." Hoon says.
Everyone pauses for a second.
The only time they've used it on an opponent together was when they faced the Level 8 Spirit Beast.
Now, they are gonna use it on something bigger and stronger.
They all stand together, encircling this giant Horned Viper.
They activate their technique together and attack.
Their strikes became more powerful but not only that.
With every strike they stole a bit of Ki from the target.
Chipping and chipping away.
Their cuts began to go through, but the Beast also got more violent.
Their injuries are getting more serious.
Should I stop it?
Fuck! I pose a hard Master but I care for them as my children.
Maybe I should....
*BAM*
Beom suddenly strikes from above using his Hammer to slam down the head of the Viper.
Oohhh!! That would have done alot of damage.
He slams the head straight to the ground and tries to hold it down while the others attack it.
Little by little they began tearing through the Beast.
Beom was only able to hold it down for six seconds before it flung him away.
It used it's tail to hit him hard flinging him to crash against the wall.
It was a very heavy hit.
Beom was officially out of commission.
He was in a really bad state from tanking most attacks.
Ae-Cha focused on healing him to get him out of a dangerous state.
"Come on guys, let's take down this ugly ass beast!" Conan yells.
"Nari, Beom is down now, use your speed to attack and create distractions for us." Conan states.
"Understood." She replies and dashes away towards the monster.
"The rest of us, let's try and make decisive blows while Nari gives us the opportunity, though we are chipping away at the Beasts Ki, we are still running low on Ki, we don't have much time, lets end this now." Conan says and they all nod their heads in agreement.
"Ummm, Guyss!!" Nari yells as she dodges a strike from the beast.
The others turn and continued their attack on the beast.
Now they were two men down, Beom who is badly injured and Ae-Cha trying to heal him.
Can they still pull this off?
Should I end it???
Did I give them too much?
I was already clenching my hands about to activate the blood worm when I heard;
"Conan, 30° below to your left."
It was Hoon.
Conan then quickly reacts and dodges a swing from the tail of the Viper.
Hoon was predicting the path of the Viper half a second before it made the move.
Half a second is too short but it's still something, more than enough for a skilled Martial Artist.
Hwa with her sword stabs at the belly of the Viper but the sword doesn't go through.
One might think she failed but that was not it.
In an instant a large explosion occurs at the point between the viper and her sword
This explosion knocks the Viper back slamming it into the wall.
'What's going on?'
I know my children, they aren't this strong yet.
Are they growing through this.
Conan would normally not have been able to dodge that attack even if he was told half a second before it came.
Hwa didn't have that much power.
Hoon could predict a quarter of a second before the move but now, half a second?
My clenched fist began to soften.
This children.
*Swish Swish*
Nari at incredible speed slashes the left eye of the beast with her daggers.
The Beast screeches in pain.
They continued a fine onslaught that was so refreshing to watch.
Maybe they could...
Suddenly the Viper hits them all away with its tail.
Just as it seemed like they might win the Beas turns the tide.
With one eye gone it hits them all hard sending them crashing hard into the walls.
It turns its gaze to Hwa who was trying to get up.
She was panting as blood dripped from her body.
Almost too fast for me to react it dashes at her to chomp her down.