CHAPTER 196: ARTIFACT

ROARRR!!!

A 3-meter werebear swung its axe as it bellowed at the top of its lungs. However, Elian didn’t even turn to face it. Instead, like blades in a fan, his chainsaw tentacles drew wide arcs and took care of the problem.

BBBBZZZZZZZZZZzzzzz.

One attacked low at around knee height; the teeth of the saw spun so fast it looked like a solid blade. It passed by softly like a gale, and with a twist of the Dominator variant muscle, the entire limb was flicked left to right.

It did not matter if there was one or twenty werebeasts, the chainsaw tentacle spun without a care in the world.

All their attacks were deflected.

And their armor might as well have been tissue paper.

GROWL!

But the werebeasts did not lose heart. Even though the buzzing sound unsettled them. They still charged forward. It was normal to lose allies in a fight in the crucible. Just as it was also common to overpower warriors through numbers.

Only that seemed not to have worked against the warrior from Earth.

BBBBZZZZZZZZZZzzzzz.

Armor, flesh, and bone—everything was sawed in two as the spinning chainsaw passed. Nothing the invading monsters had could even resist the devastating weapons. Within a single instant, those behind Elian fell to their knees.

Those who lost their reason continued to crawl forward as they foamed at the mouth. The ones who were still of sound mind, however, paused in fear. They gawked at their legs, which were already separated from their bodies in horror.

But perhaps the most embarrassing thing about losing in such a manner was that their opponent didn’t even look at them.

No.

Elian’s back was turned, his arms were slicing up other Gnarethians. The werebeasts here tried to attack his blind side, and yet they failed pitifully. Unable to even touch him, they were dismembered and left crippled for life.

BBBBZZZZZZZZZZzzzzz.

An infernal sound.

Within a few minutes, every werebeast grew terrified of the loud revving sound of Elian’s tentacles. The crippled werebeasts looked up and resigned themselves to death. Two more tentacles came. Both at angles that would bisect them at the waist or neck.

The beasts didn’t even have time to contemplate their mistake. For in the next instant. Their lives all ceased to be.

***

"Next!"

Elian didn’t know how much time had passed. Only that there were enemies still standing. Slamming his foot on the ground, Elian twisted his body. Using his arms as chainswords, he swung them at the buffalo and elephant werebeasts in front of him.

Though their skin and hides were probably tough, in front of Valestrian Steel, they were not.

"MOOO!!!" "KUYAKKKK!"

The Buffalo cried as Elian sawed his torso off his legs; his spear, whose shaft was only made of wood, failed to stop the Tyrant’s attack. Elian’s other arm stabbed into the shield of the Elephant; it pierced and ripped the shield, burying itself into the monster’s chest.

BBBBZZZZZZZZZZzzzzz.

Blood splattered. Meat chunks were flung all over. Elian’s two enemies crumpled to the ground dead. Multiple cries came from behind him. All from enemies who were severed and cut apart into pieces.

Using Golem Lake, Elian saw everything. He had no blind spot. As he fought normally, he just swung all the tentacles from left to right in an arc. By giving them space in between, like spokes on a clock, they could attack and defend effectively.

Each tentacle only had one command, ’Swing’, each arm that controlled the tentacles had the command ’turn’. Whenever one tentacle reached the end of its arc, the arm would turn, allowing the tentacle to swing back.

Those who tried to attack him from behind would need to defend from twelve angles in order to reach him. And up till now, not one of the Gnarethians could do so. The Valestrian Steel was so sharp that they couldn’t defend; the tentacles were so fast that they could not avoid.

At least those that tried. There was a large group at the back that caught Elian’s eye. There were werebeasts that seemed more intimidating than the rest: lions, panthers, and cheetahs. Unlike the others who simply charged, these bastards were level-headed.

"Are those the leaders?"

The region Elian fought in was Bianca’s manmade arena. She blasted everything outside of this space into kingdom come. Due to her overwhelming firepower, he wasn’t even sure if the Knights and Anchor were still alive. The Tyrant should be, as the invasion had yet to end.

Not willing to waste any more time, Elian lowered his center mass and braced his legs. He saw the leader beasts all tense up and raise their weapons. It was the same red crystal things that all the Gnarethians were using.

They threw spears and arrows. Elian recalled his tentacles and brought them forward. He interlocked them together like fingers to block the projectiles.

Clink! Clank! Clink!

Like eggs on concrete wall, the primitive projectiles smacked onto Elian’s tentacle shield, unable to push through.

"Tsk. Two can play that game."

Bracing Elian’s body, he drew back his arm and threw it. Separating at the elbow, Elian’s chainsaw arm flew like an axe and spun. The leader beasts raised their shields, but it was pointless. Like a bullet hitting wood, the shields ruptured and came apart.

Two werebeasts, a gorilla and a rhino, threw themselves at the projectile only to be torn apart in a storm of blood. The monsters got out of the way in reflex, not wanting to be the third. In the small window, they all focused on Elian’s flying arm; he recreated a new one and charged.

"Are you the Tyrant?"

Not even bothering to confirm, Elian swung down both arms at the closest werebeast. Only for a sharp sound to reverberate in the chaos.

CLANG!

For the first time since the battle started, Elian’s chainsaw was repelled.

"Ho? Scan."

Elian didn’t focus on the werebeast who deflected his attack, but rather on the sword he held.

___

Name: Wyvern’s Talon

Rarity: C-Rank

Origin: Grumdalok

Stat boost: Strength + 150

Stat Retirement: Strength: C | Intelligence: E | Agility: D

Level: 25

Durability: 250/300

___

"Hmm. Must be an artifact."

Elian licked his lips and grew amazed at all the things this sword implied. Did the lion buy it from the system? Are there others? What is the highest rarity? What rarity would the equipment Elian made get?

Meanwhile, the leader beasts all formed a loose circle around Elian. It was obvious that they planned to have the Lion keep Elian busy while the rest attacked him from all sides.

"Good luck," Elian said curtly.

ROARRR!

Not even trying to say any words, the Lion growled ferociously. Like thunder, his roar reverberated in the air. The other werebeasts all inched toward Elian, just staying out of reach of his tentacle chainsaws.

"Hmm... should I continue to train how to fight, or should I just kill you all?"

Perhaps offended by Elian’s question, the beasts surrounding him all lunged at him. Around half of them were using artifacts. Intrigued, Elian braced his body and spun like a top. Flicking the tentacles that were slashing at his back, he turned while attacking.

Those with artifacts blocked or parried his chainsaws; when they did, the other werebeasts all entered Elian’s inner space, brandishing small axes and daggers that glowed red.

Elian shot his arms back to fists and took a boxing stance. The chainsaws on his body all spun like crazy as he waited. A muscular panther werebeast chopped down on Elian’s neck with his small axe. The Tyrant candidate raised his left arm to guard and threw a right punch.

A werebunny threw what looked like a steel net around Elian’s arm and dragged him to the ground.

"Tsk. How many artifacts does this group have?"

Unable to resist, Elian’s arms sagged, leaving his chest exposed. When he tried to call his tentacles, the Werebeasts threw themselves on the long limbs. They pinned the chainsaws and used their immense body weight to nail the arms to the ground.

"Crap!"

For a split second, a beaver Werebeast drove a black spear into Elian’s shoulder. It did not have mana but had dark energy.

"Argk!"

The black spear sliced through the Valestrian steel and left a huge gash; molten ore spurted out, causing the beaver to retreat. When he did, a cheetah stabbed a red ore dagger into the wound.

Then Elian’s shoulder exploded.

Boom!

Molten ore rained around Elian, scorching any Gnarethians in range. Elian and the Werebeasts were thrown back by the shockwave. Those that were too close, like the cheetah and the panther, were scorched by the golem’s blood.

’Tsk. That hurt.’

A sharp ringing resounded in Elian’s brain. He could not stand properly as his body swung from side to side.

"Crap, I was too complacent. Crucible races are bastards. They always have a few tricks up their sleeves. But still, wasn’t that red dagger way too powerful?"

Elian looked at his left arm and found nothing. When he tried to rebuild his arm, he noticed that he couldn’t. Even the golem lake below him suddenly stopped transmitting. It was as if he had suddenly lost the ability to wield his metal.

But Elian didn’t worry.

"After all, I am not alone."

KRZZZZZ—THOOM!

Like a lance from heaven, a burst of plasma shot the cheetah, melting it into vapor. When the Gnarethians looked up, a single woman trembled in rage.

Large spears of Ice VII fell like rain in the next second. The fast species escaped while the slow ones were skewered and died.

"How dare you bastards hurt my Elian,"Bianca blurted between clenched teeth. "I am going to kill you all."