Chapter 124: The Thunder Showdown

Zeus's determination to keep pace with Lucy had driven him harder and faster than ever before. In just a day and a half, he had reached the designated location where the four-star Thunder Eagle was rumored to reside.

His speed, fueled by his resolve, had brought him to the mountain peak ahead of schedule. As he approached, he spotted the massive Thunder Eagle perched atop the mountain, its eyes glowing with fierce energy.

But something else caught Zeus's attention. The Thunder Eagle wasn't alone. It was engaged in a fierce battle with another formidable creature—a four-star Thunder Python. The sight brought a smirk to Zeus's lips. This was an unexpected bonus.

"I'll let them wear each other down," Zeus thought, his eyes narrowing as he watched the clash of titans unfold. It was the perfect opportunity to conserve his strength and strike at the right moment.

The Thunder Eagle, with its powerful wings spread wide, let out a piercing cry as it swooped down at the Thunder Python, its talons crackling with thunder energy.

It unleashed a deadly attack, Thunder Talons, aimed directly at the python's head. But the Thunder Python, coiled and ready, countered with a move of its own, Thunder Bite, snapping its jaws toward the eagle's talons.

The clash was intense, but the Thunder Eagle was faster, pulling back just in time to avoid the python's bite.

It then flapped its wings with tremendous force, executing Thunder Wing—a powerful wing strike that sent a shockwave of thunder energy crashing into the Thunder Python's head. The impact was brutal, causing the python to recoil in pain, but it was far from defeated.

With a hiss of rage, the Thunder Python used its long, muscular body to coil around the Thunder Eagle, attempting to trap it in a crushing embrace. The eagle struggled, thrashing wildly as it tried to break free, but the python's grip was relentless.

Not to be outdone, the Thunder Eagle let out another screech and unleashed Thunder Burst, a surge of concentrated thunder energy that exploded outward, forcing the python to loosen its grip.

But the Thunder Python was no less determined, and it responded with its own Thunder Burst, the two forces clashing and sending ripples of energy across the mountain.

Zeus watched with keen interest, his smirk widening as he observed the fierce battle between the Thunder Eagle and the Thunder Python.

The two beasts were evenly matched, each trading devastating blows, their energies crackling in the air. The toll of their struggle was evident—their movements were slower, more desperate. They were still powerful, but now vulnerable.

"They're wearing each other down nicely," Zeus thought, his eyes narrowing with calculated intent. "Perfect time to strike."

[About time you did something useful,] the system's voice chimed in, dripping with its usual arrogant tone. [Honestly, if you had just jumped in earlier, we wouldn't be wasting all this time watching a couple of overgrown lizards wrestle.]

Zeus's smirk deepened. "Patience, my friend," he replied, his voice calm but with a hint of amusement. "It's all about timing. Besides, letting them exhaust themselves makes my job easier."

[Excuses, excuses,] the system mocked, its tone shamelessly dismissive. [Just don't mess this up. Even a child could hit these sitting ducks now.]

Ignoring the jibe, Zeus focused his energy, conjuring two massive Thunder Lances. Each one crackled with the potent energy of his Heavenly Thunder, the air around him humming with power.

He took careful aim, his gaze locking onto the heads of both creatures as they continued their desperate struggle. Sёarᴄh the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"Let's finish this," Zeus murmured, his voice filled with cold determination.

With a flick of his wrist, Zeus hurled the lances with deadly accuracy. The Thunder Eagle and Thunder Python, both caught off guard by the sudden attack, had no time to react.

The first Thunder Lance pierced the eagle's head, the force of the strike driving it deep into its skull. The second lance struck the python with equal precision, impaling it straight through the brain.

[Nice shot,] the system commented, almost begrudgingly. [But don't get too comfortable—]

Before the system could finish, Zeus's lips curled into a knowing smile. The moment the lances struck, they transformed into Thunder Mines, detonating with a powerful explosion that sent shockwaves of thunder energy ripping through the beasts' bodies.

The blast was so intense that it obliterated any remaining resistance, killing both the Thunder Eagle and Thunder Python instantly. Their lifeless forms crumpled to the ground, the mountain now eerily silent.

Zeus watched the aftermath of the explosions, his smirk returning as he approached their fallen bodies. He knelt beside them, a sense of satisfaction settling over him.

"You were strong, four-star thunder beasts," he muttered, his voice laced with a calm, icy satisfaction. "But your thunder was no match for my Heavenly Thunder."

[Of course not,] the system interjected smugly. [Your thunder is basically divine. And theirs? Pfft, child's play.]

Zeus chuckled softly. "Indeed. Now, let's collect what we came for." He then reached into his spatial pouch and withdrew a gleaming blade, its edge shimmering with faint traces of thunder energy.

Carefully, he approached the Thunder Eagle first, its massive form sprawled across the rocky ground.

With practiced precision, Zeus made a clean incision near the eagle's chest, feeling the resistance of its tough hide.

As he delved deeper, he could sense the powerful core pulsing within the beast, a concentrated source of thunder energy that had fueled its formidable abilities. After a few more careful cuts, he reached the core, a glowing orb that radiated with intense energy.

Zeus carefully extracted the four-star Thunder Eagle core and held it up, admiring the raw power contained within. The core throbbed in his hand, filled with the energy of countless storms, and he could already feel the potential it held for his cultivation.

Without hesitation, he placed the core inside his spatial pouch, knowing that it was worth a fortune to others—but to him, it was a stepping stone to greater power.

Next, he turned his attention to the Thunder Python. Its long, serpentine body was coiled in death, but the core within still vibrated with life. Zeus repeated the process, making a series of precise cuts to reach the core.

As he removed the four-star Thunder Python core, he felt the same surge of energy, though this one carried a more grounded, steady charge compared to the volatile power of the Thunder Eagle's core.

Both cores now safely stored in his spatial pouch, Zeus surveyed the two massive corpses before him.

While the cores were the most valuable parts of the beasts, their bodies still held a significant amount of thunder mana, which Zeus could use to enhance his cultivation. The bodies might not fetch the same price on the market as the cores, but their worth to him was far greater.

Zeus had a clear goal in mind. By absorbing the thunder mana from these bodies, he hoped to push himself to the next level and advance to a four-star warrior. The energy within these beasts was potent, and with his unique abilities, he could harness it in ways that others couldn't.

"This should be enough," Zeus murmured to himself, his eyes gleaming with determination. "If I can absorb all this thunder mana, I'll have a real shot at reaching the four-star level."