CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 43 : THE GRIFFIN (2)

Chapter 43 : The Griffin (2)

Axton was caught off guard by the sudden charge of a beast he was sure he had killed just minutes ago.

How was that even possible?

The griffin wasted no time, seizing the opportunity the moment Axton’s attention wavered, to attack.

It shot through the air like a high-speed bullet, its talons burying deep into Axton’s armor.

"Shit!" Axton groaned, saliva shot out from his mouth as he struggled against the crushing force.

Unfortunately, any form of resistance was useless at this moment.

-5 HP

His HP bar was depleting.

The griffin shrieked, flapping its massive wings with violent force.

The gust propelled Axton backward, slamming him against a towering tree with bone-jarring impact.

Boom!

In the end, after all the crashing, Axton lost 25 HP.

For a heartbeat, silence.

The players stared, stunned.

The griffin’s strike had been so fast, so sudden, that most hadn’t even followed what happened.

All they saw was Axton’s body being hurled across the field, crashing into the tree with brutal force.

Their expressions twisted into confusion and fear.

That beast... they had killed it.

They had seen it fall.

So how was it still alive?

And worse—how had it become stronger?

The griffin was no longer the same creature they had fought earlier.

Its form was bulkier, its muscles more defined as if it had absorbed new strength from an unknown source.

Its wings had hardened, edges razor-sharp, while its talons were now longer and deadlier than before.

It had shed its old body.

A voice rang out in their minds, crisp and mechanical.

[Molting process complete]

[New form acquired]

[New form: King Griffin]

...

[King Griffin]

Grade: 5

Level: 14

Attack: 490

Defense: 380

HP: 640/640

Skills: Ultimate Feather Strike, Griffin Charge, Storm Cutter

...

"It’s hopeless..." one player whispered.

"W-What the hell? Level 14?" another stammered.

"Grade... 5?"

Even Axton clenched his jaw.

This was the strongest beast he had ever faced.

His dragon was Grade 5 too, but this monster was higher when levels were compared.

In raw power, the King Griffin outclassed it.

"Molting, huh?" Axton muttered, stepping back into view.

His gaze sharpened as he studied the newly transformed beast.

’It shed its old body and emerged even stronger,’ Axton thought grimly. ’Even my dragon is weaker than this thing.’

The griffin spread its wings wide and let out a thunderous shriek.

With a single flap, a violent gale ripped through the battlefield.

Trees splintered, and several players were cut down by blades of wind that sliced through flesh like butter.

[Storm cutter]

Axton quickly replied.

The ground cracked beneath his feet, rising into a tall wall of solid stone.

[Earth shield]

His dragon had appeared by his side, conjuring the shield to buy them time.

But the King Griffin was merciless.

Dozens of wind blades tore through the air, slamming into the barrier.

*Crack* *Crack*

Cracks spiderwebbed across its surface until—

*Shatter*

The earth wall crumbled, tinier chunks of it scattering across the ground.

The two beasts roared in unison, charging at each other with beastly fury.

Their collision sent a thunderous shockwave into the skies.

*Boom*

Axton flinched, heart pounding.

His dragon staggered back, stunned for about three seconds by the griffin’s overwhelming headbutt.

That three-second lapse was all the griffin needed.

It lunged towards the enemy beast, talons raking across the dragon’s side, flesh tearing and blood spurting.

The dragon howled in pain but retaliated with a savage bite, clamping down on the griffin’s wing.

The beast screeched in agony, flailing violently as the two titans tumbled through the sky, locked in a death struggle.

The players watched, their hearts in their throats.

Different emotions flashed in their eyes.

Fear, awe, helplessness. Yet all of them shared one thing, and that was hope.

They wanted the dragon to win.

Even if the odds were slim, they prayed for it.

Axton’s knuckles tightened around his weapon.

He watched carefully, his sense sharp as a blade, waiting for the opening he needed.

He wouldn’t get many chances.

But he had to act fast because his dragon was losing.

The King Griffin began overpowering it.

Its talons sank into the dragon’s chest, spilling more blood as feathers hardened like blades pierced deep into its flesh.

[Ultimate Feather Strike]

The dragon shrieked in agony.

Its massive body trembled as it plummeted toward the ground.

But in its last act of defiance, it wrapped its tail around the griffin’s neck, dragging the beast down with it.

"This is it!" Axton’s eyes widened.

Even in defeat, his dragon had created the opportunity he needed.

Axton raised his hand, aura sword in his grasp.

[Aura Sword Summon]

*Shing*

The sky split apart.

Clouds scattered, revealing a vast stretch of clear, blue sky.

From above, the tips of three large swords appeared, descending with unstoppable force.

It was the one skill Axton trusted. The only attack capable of piercing the King Griffin’s defenses.

*Boom*

The three blades impaled the beast, tearing into its body.

The griffin’s shriek echoed across the battlefield.

Before it could recover, Axton unsummoned his dragon, sparing it from further harm. It had done its part.

Now, it was his turn.

He leapt high into the sky, body crackling with speed and power.

The griffin thrashed in pain, wings beating wildly, but it was vulnerable.

It was pinned to the ground by the blades.

Perfect!

Axton tightened his grip around his flash sword.

[Flash Sword Attack]

In a blur, he descended like lightning, his blade trailing light as he aimed for the griffin’s throat.

*Slash*

The attack was mercilessly fast.

The King Griffin’s head separated cleanly from its body, squirming lifelessly on the ground.

Silence.

The players could only stare.

They had just witnessed something unbelievable.

A fellow player had just slain a Grade 5 monster.

For them, the thought of even surviving against such a beast was a distant dream.

Axton sheathed his sword, expression hard, though sweat dripped down his face.

The players glanced at each other, an unspoken question hanging between them.

Was this... the dungeon boss?

They hoped it was.

They prayed it was.

Because they had nothing left to give.

As if answering their prayers, the AI system of New Eden chimed.

*Ding*

[You have...]