CHAPTER 37: 37: LEVEL 3 BEAST

A towering form stepped out of the trees. Its menacing red eyes glowed as it gave them a deathly glare. Like the other beasts they fought, it resembled a wolf with a rat’s tail. The fur was thick and black as pitch. There were swirls of red fir that glistened, like wet red blood.

The beast’s fangs were long with jagged razor-sharp tips. Blood red saliva dripped from its long fangs, giving the appearance that it had just devoured its kill. Its saliva was thick and red, resembling fresh blood.

The beast towered over them, double the size of the level 2 beast. The beast growled, showing its rows of jagged, bloody teeth. It wasn’t blood, it just looked like it was.

Chad was the first one to act; he shot his glowing arrow, then notched another. The arrow flew through the air, hitting the beast. He was aiming for the eyes, knowing that it was the weakest part of the beast. If he could blind it, it would make it easier to defeat it. At least that’s what he was thinking.

His arrows did nothing.

Switching to his sword, he prepared to fight, his expression grim. Drake slashed his whip. It elegantly sliced through the air, and it made a high-pitched hum as it flew. The glowing whip hit first, slashing along its face. The whip followed, hitting inches apart. Two deep gashes appeared on the beast, blood dripping from its wounds.

The beast roared. It was hard to tell if the beast was in pain or just angry. Its eyes narrowed. It was definitely angry.

Drake threw an explosive whirlwind, which hit the beast. All aims were at its face. The beast’s hide was too thick. They already knew that. The spell exploded, stronger than before. The beast was pushed back, startled, but unharmed. He quickly pulled out his bow, shooting an explosive arrow. Trying to shoot it before the beast recovered. It hit seconds before it regained its footing, pushing him back once again. He shot another. Trying to hit the same spot, as it flew through the air, the soft voice floated to his mind. HE could barely hear what it said as he pulled his bow, sending another.

{Explosive Whirlwind is now Level 2}

{Mana +1}

{Whirlwind is now Level 2}

{mana +1}

{Fireball is now Level 2}

{mana +1}

The explosion blasted the beast back, but it was already getting used to the spell. Mike took this time to shoot out his electrified energy blade. The glowing ethereal blade left the sword, flying toward the beast, hitting it in the face. It was the same location Drake had been aiming for. It pushed the beast back, the electricity sizzling through the towering creature before disappearing into nothing. The beast was unharmed.

As Drake prepared another spell, the beast leaped forward, giving him no time to complete it. He slashed his whip, slicing through its snout. It roared as it landed. Less than a second from pinning him down, Drake rolled to the side. The massive claw barely missed him.

Chad and Mike rushed toward the towering creature, stabbing with their runed blades, giving Drake time to stand. His eyes glowed brightly in anger, the glowing green piercing through the veil of energy and magic. He found the monster’s weakness.

Through his magical vision, lines of energy pulsed in waves through the beast. A single core pulsed deep within the beast like a heartbeat. He just had to figure out how to get to it.

Pulling his Emerald sword, Drake filled it with power. It pulsed and condensed, pulsed and condensed until a thin razor edge coated the blade. Thrusting forward, he pierced the beast. The thick fur gave too much resistance. He needed his blade sharper, stronger.

With one hand, he threw an explosive whirlwind, aiming for the pulsing core of the beast. As it exploded at its target, Drake condensed the energy again on his sword, making it sharper, not stopping until no more could be condensed. The explosion sent the beast flying; it was a powerful blow. The level upgrade on his skill helped. It was much stronger than the last time.

The blast burst at the beast’s chest, the soft spot near the pulsing core. Fur exploded from the area, revealing soft flesh. The beast howled in pain, its red eyes glowing, narrowing in on its prey, then leaped.

Mike rushed in with his gauntlets, dragging the spikes through its underbelly, as he slid under the beast. Doing a rolling turn, he somersaulted, coming out into a stand, turning abruptly, with his glowing sword gripped tightly.

Blood from the beast dripped onto the road. The beast growled.

Chad switched back to his bow, aiming for the open wound. He shot his arrows in rapid succession as Drake shot his spells, both boys aiming for the same spot. From behind, Mike used the energy pulse of his sword to shoot bolts of enhanced lightning. The trio was sending a barrage of attacks from multiple directions.

The beast roared and howled, its massive claws stuck out at its enemies, but was stopped by the explosions. Drake’s whip soared as he sent spell after spell, not giving the beast time to react. Between Chad’s arrows, Mike’s electrical jabs, and Drake’s spells and whip, the beast could do nothing but howl.

Drake’s green eyes glowed brighter; it was so bright that his figure couldn’t be seen. He rushed forward, ducking under the flailing limbs of the towering beast, then, with all his might, shoved his glowing emerald sword into the open wound. The pulse of the razor-sharp sword shot through the beast, destroying the core. The beast burst into light particles, disappearing into nothing.

{You have slain an evolving Level 3 beast}

{You have received a reward: Dimension Map}

{Strength +1}

Drake fell to his knees, breathing heavily. His glowing eyes dimmed. Breathing in short, ragged breaths, he looked around, searching for his friends. They were both running toward him. Chad has his sword out, the blade shining with a white glow. He bent down and pressed the flat of his sword against Drake’s back.

The warmth spread. Mike was pale as he looked at his friend.

Confused, Drake asked, "What’s wrong? We won..." After he spoke, he noticed that Mike was trying not to look at his midsection, causing him to look down at himself. When Drake looked down, he tried not to throw up.

There was a large hole in his abdomen. In his charge to stab the beast with the emerald sword, the beast impaled him with its claws.

As the warmth of Chad’s sword spread through his body, Drake tried not to pass out. Now that he saw his injury, the pain was overwhelming. Like fire, the pain burned.

Chad kept the sword in place; there were tears in his eyes. Drake knew that this was a bad wound. If the sword was able to heal him from the dagger, it should be able to heal him from this...right?

Mike moved closer, carefully resting Drake on his lap, with his abdomen up. Chad slid the flat of the sword carefully toward the injury, not willing to lift the sword.

"Stay awake, Drake. Stay awake," Mike pleaded. He was afraid that if Drake fell asleep, he would never wake up.

Chad said nothing. He was too busy willing the sword to heal Drake’s wound. Tears were falling from his eyes as he held the glowing sword in place.

***

The man with bright green eyes stared at the screen in horror as he watched his heir fight for his life. He did well in fighting the powerful beast. It was a level 3 beast on the cusp of being a Level 4. No, it wasn’t the fight with the beast; it was that Drake was fighting for his life to stay alive from his injury.

Chad’s sword was powerful, but the power determined how powerful the trio became. All of their swords’ powers were linked to the collective power of the three boys. He wasn’t sure the boys were strong enough to allow the sword to heal such a wound.

The system wasn’t offering the life token. It was as if Drake didn’t even have them anymore. If he did, the system should have given him the option to use one of them to save his own life. Drake should have two left. He had obtained three in total, the maximum amount that could be given under the circumstances. He had only used one. It was on Chad during the battle at Draco Town when they were fighting the gargoyles.

He wanted to go to the dimension and save his heir’s life, but it was against the rules. It was a beast attack, not someone trying to prevent the quest from being completed.

His blond friend walked into the room and glanced at the screen. He froze in his tracks. His face paled as he watched his own heir try to save the young Dimension Master. "They’re strong. They have to be. He can save him. I know he can." He choked out. He was worried about the boys because if Drake dies, so would Mike and Chad.