Chapter 144: Heroine Hunting Seven Ancient Beast
The next target on their ancient beast hunting journey was the Earthshaker Boar, a formidable beast residing in the rugged hills of the Stonehewn Wastes. This enormous creature, as massive as a house, was covered in skin as tough as stone and sported tusks capable of shattering boulders. With every thunderous step it took, the ground trembled, and its rampages had leveled entire villages.
Lucan and Maris ventured into the desolate valley where the Earthshaker Boar had been spotted. The valley was a landscape of jagged rocks and deep fissures, scarred by the beast\'s relentless passage. Dust choked the air, and each tremor from the boar\'s steps seemed to shake the very foundations of the earth.
As they neared the boar\'s lair, the massive creature emerged from behind a crumbling cliff, its eyes glowing with a menacing red hue. With a deafening roar, it charged at them, causing the ground to crack and heave beneath its massive hooves.
Lucan reacted quickly, pulling Maris out of the way as the boar\'s charge nearly crushed them. They scrambled to their feet, with Maris casting a protective barrier around them to shield against the tremors and debris. The boar\'s skin was like iron, impervious to ordinary attacks, and Lucan knew that sheer strength alone wouldn\'t be enough. They needed strategy.
Of course, Lucan and Maris could use full of their strength to directly kill it but they decided that Lucan would be main attacker and Maris would provide support.
Lucan\'s eyes darted around the battlefield, noting the boar\'s slow yet powerful movements. He needed to be agile. With Maris supporting him by creating gusts of wind to throw off the boar\'s aim, Lucan danced around the beast, striking at its legs and sides with precise, forceful blows. Each hit chipped away at the boar\'s rock-like hide, but the beast\'s sheer size and strength made it a grueling task.
As they fought, Lucan noticed Maris panting heavily, her energy waning from the constant magical strain. Despite the chaos, he spared a moment to check on her. He took a brief respite to ensure she was safe, moving to her side and placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You\'re doing great," he said, his voice firm yet gentle. "Just hold on a bit longer."
Thunderclaw Lion fight was quick, so Maris didn\'t use much of her mana, but this fight lasted too long that she was running out mana.
Maris gave him a tired smile, nodding in appreciation. She quickly resumed her spellcasting, reinforcing the barrier around them and using wind magic to create temporary blinding gusts, confusing the boar and giving Lucan the openings he needed.
The battle raged on with the Earthshaker Boar charging relentlessly, each collision with the ground sending shockwaves through the valley. Lucan maneuvered with increasing precision, exploiting the beast\'s slow turns and moments of vulnerability. Finally, as the boar charged again, Lucan saw his chance. He leapt onto the boar\'s back, his powerful limbs finding purchase on its rough hide.
With a mighty roar, he drove his sword deep into the boar\'s spine. The beast\'s roar of agony reverberated through the valley, and the ground shook violently as it thrashed.
Maris, her own mana nearly depleted, reinforced her barrier to shield against the tremors and debris. Lucan held firm, pressing his blade deeper into the boar\'s heart until the creature collapsed. Its enormous body created a minor earthquake as it fell, and the once-imposing Stonehewn Wastes was now littered with debris from their epic struggle.
As Lucan withdrew his sword, he saw a single, dark drop of blood seep from the boar\'s wound. This drop glimmered with the ancient power. Lucan\'s bracelet absorbed.
Exhausted but triumphant, Lucan turned to Maris, who was leaning against a rock, her breathing heavy but steady.
"We did it," Lucan said, extending a hand to help her up. Maris took it gratefully, her strength returning with his support. "Let\'s get out of here and rest"
Maris smiled.
3. The Abyssal Whale
Their next challenge led them to the treacherous waters of the Blackwater Abyss, where the formidable Abyssal Whale awaited. This monstrous creature, a descendant of Thalassa the Abyssal Serpent, was a colossal, eel-like being with scales as black as the abyss and eyes glowing with an eerie blue luminescence.
The whale was notorious for its ability to swallow entire ships and drag them into the unfathomable depths of the sea.
To prepare for this daunting task, Lucan and Maris equipped themselves with a sturdy boat and a harpoon imbued with magical properties to pierce the whale\'s formidable hide. They navigated into the heart of the abyss, where the waters grew unnaturally dark and cold, an ominous calm enveloping them.
Without warning, the water beneath their boat began to churn violently. A massive shadow loomed beneath the surface, and the Abyssal Whale burst forth, its gaping maw revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth. Lucan and Maris barely had time to react as the whale lunged, smashing the boat into splinters with a single swipe of its tail. They were thrown into the icy water, struggling to stay afloat.
Lucan grabbed Maris, who was struggling against the current, and pulled her to a piece of driftwood. "Hold on!" he shouted over the roar of the whale. Maris clung to the driftwood, her eyes wide with fear but filled with determination.
As the whale prepared for another attack, Lucan took a deep breath and readied the harpoon. With Maris\'s magic providing a brief shield against the freezing water and the whale\'s onslaught, Lucan dove underwater, evading the whale\'s snapping jaws. He thrust the harpoon deep into the whale\'s side, the magical energy of the weapon crackling through its scales.
The whale let out a thunderous roar that shook the ocean, thrashing violently in an attempt to dislodge the harpoon. Lucan fought to hold on, using the magic of the harpoon to channel his strength into the beast. With each passing moment, the whale\'s movements slowed, its power waning as Lucan drove the harpoon deeper.
Maris, despite her exhaustion, continued to use her magic to keep the water calm around them, reducing the turbulence and giving Lucan the focus he needed. As the whale\'s resistance finally gave way, Lucan delivered the killing blow, driving the harpoon into the beast\'s heart.
The whale let out one final, shuddering roar before sinking into the abyss, its blood staining the water a deep, dark blue absorbed by Lucan\'s bracelet.