Chapter 200: Star Ox

Chapter 200: Star Ox

After taking a look at the swollen face of Average for a few seconds Zac let go of his opponent's leg and slowly got to his feet.

So the ox is mine, right? No interference? Zac said after spitting out a mouthful of blood and cracking his neck.

It felt like every part of his body was swollen and pulsating, but he had work to do. He simply took out a healing pill and swallowed it to manage the pain.

Ive been called many things in my life. Handsome, generous, dashing. But never a liar, Average said as he got to his feet as well. Besides, we have hundreds of Star Oxen back in one of our Mystic Realms, what do I care about this one?

Then why the hell did you make this such a pain in the ass for me? Zac angrily said.

Dad told me to find and kill this one, and if I did it hed consider letting me change my name, the youth admitted, looking a bit embarrassed.

Your name is actually Average? I thought it was some method you used to block your real name, Zac said, not being able to stop a snort.

Average glared at Zac for a bit before he deflated.

Its my crazy dad. He said he wanted to see if a bad name would spur a child to improve faster. Greatness through embarrassment he called it. More importantly, do you truly not know who I am? he said, a bit curious.

No idea. Ill go kill that bull now, just stay out of the way, Zac said.

See if I care when it stabs you in the ass, the teenager muttered, but followed Zacs word and sat down after eating a pill.

Zac only shook his head and headed toward where the beast slunk away. While he knew he wasnt the best discerner of people, he felt that Average wasnt lying. He wouldnt likely interfere in the fight. Of course, Zac would still keep an eye open just in case.

It didnt take long for Zac to find it, as it was currently dismantling the wall on the opposite side of the town. Large pieces of rocks were flying as it pierced the wall over and over, the rocks seeming like butter to the large horn.

Its senses were quite sharp, and it somehow noticed Zacs approach from behind almost immediately. As though it felt pushed against a corner the ox bellowed and stomped the ground threateningly, its feet causing small earthquakes in the ground. Zac warily looked the beast over, not in a rush to make a move.

He had a feeling there was something special about the animal. Hed already killed an E-Ranked beast before, and that was when he was far weaker compared to now. Of course, that had been a desperate battle, but still, he didnt think this would be a walk in the park.

But just looking at the beast didnt tell him anything, apart from reinforcing the notion that something likely was up with the horn that crackled with wild energies. He summoned a large edge with [Chop], and the next moment disappeared.

Immediately after he appeared beneath its torso, the edge soaring up toward its stomach. Zac had already imbued his strike with the Dao of Sharpness. It was this very combination that had cleaved the Fiend Wolf in two, and it was a good measure to test the bison.

The edge slammed into the thick hide, but Zac was disappointed to find that apart from a few long strands of fur being cut, there seemed to be no effect from the swing. It didnt even manage to penetrate the skin.

It wasnt that the beast had an impenetrable skin, but rather it felt like there was a strong energy blocking the edge to cut through. Zac couldnt be sure, but he guessed that the Dao of Hardness should have properties that worked a bit like this.

A few motes were spawned in the path of the hand and exploded on impact. Luckily, the hand was imbued with the Dao of Trees, and only some scorch marks remained after the hit. It might have been a different story if tens of the motes detonated on it, but Zac had already cleared most of them out.

However, Zac didnt feel relieved as his danger sense kept building as the horn of the bison was nearing the same level of blinding brightness as when it fired its last shot. This time it was quickly swiveling its head back and forth in the direction of Zac, likely aiming to destroy a wider area.

Time was running out and Zac did the only thing he could think of. The huge wooden hand closed the last distance and gripped the huge horn. Searing heat was transferred from the wooden hand to Zacs, but the feeling was nothing new to him.

Zac aimed to push its head to the side to avoid the incoming laser, but he had underestimated the power of his skill. An extremely loud snap echoed through the area, followed by a high-pitched screech as the horn was broken off.

Zac was shocked, but wouldnt let the opportunity pass as there still was some time left on his skill before it ran out of steam. He pivoted the hand and with all the remaining force he could muster he drove the huge horn straight into the body of the bison.

A huge fountain of blood shot straight up in the sky as the animal essentially was impaled into its ground from its own body part. It let out a last desolate bellow before it stopped moving forever, its death infusing Zac with a huge amount of cosmic energy, bringing him clean to level 61.

The remaining floating mines in the vicinity soon disappeared, turning into a dense amount of cosmic energy that spread through the town. It allowed Zac clear passage as he slowly walked over to the corpse, the adrenaline from the fight quickly turning to tiredness all over.

The axe in his hand started to gleefully vibrate as he got next to the bison, and Zac dutifully placed its edge at the still bleeding wound of the animal. A good deal of blood entered the axe, and Zac almost thought that he could hear a happy purr from inside it.

Not long after the effects of [Hatchetmans Rage] ended, and he was overcome with a wave of tiredness. Between his two fights and using both his aces he just wanted to curl up and sleep, but he wouldnt lose his battle-readiness until he felt he was in a safe place.

Wow, that was pretty crazy, a voice came from behind, making Zac straighten his back and turn around, hoping that his weakness couldnt be discerned.

It was unsurprisingly Average, who likely had spectated the battle from somewhere closeby. The fact that he had stayed away from the battle from start to end somewhat proved to Zac that the youth might be a bit spoiled, but he was true to his word. There was a moment of opportunity to steal the kill after the animal was impaled, but Average didn't take it.

He also couldnt sense any danger, so Zac didnt mind him approaching.

I didnt expect it to have such strong attacks, so I might have gone a bit overboard, Zac said as ripped out the huge horn from the bison and put it in a pouch.

Star Ox are pretty well known for their star beam. Ahh, I'm so unlucky! If you didn't get lucky and caught my leg, I would have been the one to rip the horn off and stab the animal, Average said with a sigh as he prodded the corpse of the Star Ox.

Luck had nothing to do with it, Zac said with a shrug as he stored away the beast carcass as well. In 100 sparring duels you would probably defeat me in most of them, but in a real battle, I would always be the one to walk away. You lack life-and-death experience.

Average frowned and looked like he was about to argue with him, but was interrupted before he could start anything.

Haha, well spoken, brat! a rough and extremely loud voice suddenly echoed through the town, making Zac warily look in all directions.

The fact that someone else was in the town without either of the two of them noticing wasnt a great sign, giving Zac a sinking feeling.

That feeling only amplified when he noticed the abject horror on Averages face.