CHAPTER 683: PREY OF THE PREDATOR

"What?!"

Angorath’s pupils dilated in shock, his gaze locked on the crystal in Ethan’s hand.

He never—not even in his worst nightmares—imagined that something so small could actually hurt him.

Before he could react, most of his power had already been siphoned away. Ethan’s level surged, locking him firmly into 18Tier early stage.

A rush of satisfaction flooded Ethan’s chest. He flexed his fingers, feeling the raw, surging energy gathering in his palm. Without hesitation, he formed another energy sphere and hurled it straight at Angorath.

BOOOOOOM!

The impact landed with a thunderous crack, splintering the wooden armor that covered Angorath’s body. Shards of bark and splinters exploded outward, raining down like shrapnel.

Ethan didn’t waste the opening.

He lunged forward, closing the distance in a blink, and drove the Lucenite Crystal straight into Angorath’s chest—right where his heart should be.

A violent suction force erupted from the crystal, ripping the remaining energy out of Angorath’s body like a black hole devouring light.

The ancient creature didn’t even have time to scream.

By the time it was over, he was nothing more than a husk.

If he had any final thoughts, they were probably confusion—he never figured out how his power had been stolen so completely.

"It’s finally over..." Ethan gasped, chest heaving as he staggered back.

His body was glowing, muscles bulging with power. He’d never felt anything like this before.

He’d hit 18Tier mid-stage.

The absolute limit of what his body could handle right now. Any more, and he’d probably explode from the inside out.

"My Lord—hold on!" Feylora rushed to his side, placing a hand on his shoulder. She quickly channeled her own energy to siphon off the excess, stabilizing him before his body could tear itself apart.

Ethan’s eyes were wild with exhilaration.

He was finally on Feylora’s level—maybe even stronger.

Whummm!

But just as the thrill hit him, the wall nearby began to ripple.

A swirling vortex opened up, and from it crawled a creature that looked like a massive armored pangolin.

Its entire body was covered in thick, interlocking scales that clanked and sparked with every movement. The air around it crackled with pressure—this thing was no joke.

Definitely 18Tier mid-stage.

But strangely, it didn’t attack.

It just stood there, watching them with calm, intelligent eyes.

Time passed in tense silence.

Then, the creature took two slow steps forward, scanning Ethan and Feylora from head to toe.

"So... you two are the ones who took down Angorath?"

Ethan nodded cautiously, his eyes narrowing.

"You here to avenge him?"

The pangolin shook its head immediately and pulled something from its back—a thick, green vine—and tossed it onto the ground.

"Hell no. I hated that bastard. This vine? I tore it off him myself years ago. I’ve been hunting him ever since. Looks like you beat me to it."

Ethan blinked, stunned.

He hadn’t expected that.

This guy had actually managed to bite off a chunk of Angorath? That vine was thick—like, really thick. That meant this creature wasn’t just strong... he was dangerous.

Still, Ethan didn’t let his guard down.

He kept his eyes locked on the pangolin, every muscle tense.

There was something about this guy—something off. The energy rolling off him was dense, heavy. And that armor? It looked damn near indestructible.

The pangolin grinned and shuffled a little closer, moving with surprising ease for something so heavily armored.

He was just a few feet away now.

Then he took another step forward—

And Ethan snapped.

He hurled an energy sphere straight at the creature’s chest.

"Back off, big guy!"

BOOOOM!

The blast hit hard, and a chunk of the pangolin’s back armor shattered, scales flying off in all directions. Beneath the plating, soft flesh was exposed.

"Argh!"

"Damn it!"

The pangolin-like creature let out a furious roar as a surge of raw energy exploded from his body, engulfing both Ethan and Feylora in an instant.

"Shit! He saw through us?" Ethan gritted his teeth.

"You two really aren’t ordinary," the creature growled, his voice twisted with rage. "To think you actually saw through my act..."

"Well, screw it—no more pretending!"

BOOM! BOOM! BOOMBOOMBOOM...

The air around the creature detonated with power as his aura erupted, forming a massive spectral image of a pangolin in midair—towering, armored, and radiating lethal intent.

Ethan’s eyes narrowed. His power had just leveled up—this was the perfect chance to test how far he’d come.

"Hmph. Fine. Let’s see what you’ve got."

He raised his hand, energy swirling around him like a storm. A massive energy sphere formed in his palm, pulsing with destructive force.

He hurled it forward.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The sphere collided with the spectral pangolin, and the impact was so intense that the surrounding space began to collapse. The walls of the cavern—once sealed tight—started to crack and crumble. Shafts of light pierced through the darkness.

"What the hell?!"

Ethan’s heart skipped a beat.

He hadn’t expected this guy to be this powerful.

Even with his current strength, he couldn’t keep up?

Tap. Tap. Tap...

He stumbled back several steps, slamming into the wall behind him. Gritting his teeth, he pulled out the Scepter of the Fey Sovereign, gripping it tightly.

The pangolin’s expression twisted into something wild—almost manic. His breathing grew ragged, his eyes burning with fury.

"Angorath was my prey!" he snarled. "Do you have any idea how much power he was hiding? I spent years tracking him down, finally found his lair—and then you two bastards show up and drain him dry?!"

He let out a furious roar, and energy surged into his hands, sharp and deadly.

Then—

He raised one clawed hand and pressed down.

CRACK!

The sky above them split open like glass, a jagged rift tearing through the air. The pressure from it was so intense, Ethan and Feylora could feel their skin prickling, their bones vibrating.

If that thing came down on them, they’d be torn to shreds.

Ethan didn’t hesitate. He poured everything he had into the Scepter of the Fey Sovereign, channeling his full power into it and swinging it upward to intercept the incoming strike.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The clash echoed like a chorus of war drums, the sound of their single exchange ringing out like dozens of blows.

Ethan was clearly being pushed back. He staggered, retreating several steps before he could steady himself.

He quickly pulled up the system interface, scanning the creature’s stats.

18Tier, mid-stage.

No wonder he was this strong.

Ethan clenched his jaw. No more holding back.

He gathered every ounce of energy he had, pouring it all into the Scepter of the Fey Sovereign. Then, with a roar, he hurled it like a javelin straight at the creature.

BOOOOOOM!

"DIE!"

The pangolin roared in return, channeling all his power into his claws and slashing forward to meet the incoming weapon.

CRACK!

BOOMBOOMBOOMBOOM...

The explosion that followed shook the entire cavern. For a moment, the two forces seemed evenly matched.

But Ethan had only just reached 18Tier mid-stage. He was strong—but not strong enough.

The creature’s power began to overwhelm him, pressing down like a tidal wave.

Just as Ethan was about to be crushed—

Feylora stepped forward.

She slammed her hand onto his shoulder, and a surge of her own energy flooded into him.

THUMP. THUMP. THUMP...

Ethan’s eyes snapped open, blazing with renewed strength.

His power surged again, the Scepter of the Fey Sovereign glowing brighter than ever.

BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

The surrounding space shattered like glass. Cracks spiderwebbed across the cavern, and half the entire cave collapsed. Sunlight poured in from above, flooding the battlefield with blinding light.

Ethan saw his chance.

He wasn’t about to waste it.

No way was he going to keep trading blows with this lunatic.

With a flash of movement, he recalled the scepter, spun on his heel, and launched himself upward toward the light.

He was getting the hell out of here.

...