Chapter 131 Hellbat



Kliek...

The Hellbat was hovering above my head, its glistening wings flapping with a hum that echoed through the floating island.

Its sinister red eyes glared down at me with an intensity that would make a lot of brave souls tremble in fear.

However, I couldn't care less about its gaze.

All I cared about was to bring it down to the ground, so I could reach it with my sword.

Whoosh...

Suddenly, the monster channeled another spell, creating a fireball that hurtled toward me, searing through the air with a blinding trail of orange and yellow flames.

The projectile was moving at astonishing speed, closing the gap between us in a mere blink of an eye.

I knew that it was too late to dodge, so I raised my Authority, bracing myself for the impact.

Boom...

As soon as the Spell collided with my Longsword, I was engulfed in a fiery explosion that sent shockwaves rippling across the entire island.

"Hah..."

I exhaled, my clothes smoking under the scorching heat of the blast, but luckily the Runes engraved on them prevented them from being destroyed.

This new skill 'Rune Enchantment' was really a game-changer!

Tsss...

Anyways, since the smoke was still in the air, I decided to take advantage of the chaos and quickly pulled out one of the Enchanted pebbles from my pocket.

Without hesitation, I quickly activated Mana Perception, feeling Mana flowing toward my eyes.

Blink...

The very next second I could see the ethereal threads of Mana weaving and pulsating in the sky, highlighting the Hellbat's position with a vibrant glow.

Since everything around me was covered with smoke, this was the only way to locate my target accurately.

Whoosh...

With a swift motion, I threw the enchanted pebble directly at the Hellbat's glowing outline and watched as another explosion erupted upon impact, engulfing the Hellbat in blinding light and causing it to plummet toward the ground like a fallen star.

Boom...

The ground shook as the Hellbat crashed onto the island with a thunderous thud, its wings splayed out and its body smoking from the impact.

It was still alive but clearly weakened from the fall.

'Perfect...'

I quickly closed the distance between me and the fallen Hellbat, coating my sword with Mana and activating my Weapon Style's first movement 'Shadow Strike'.

With a fluid motion, I lunged forward, aiming to deliver a swift and precise slash to slice its throat and end its monstrous existence.

Kliek...

However, the bat wasn't going to go down without a fight.

The bastard lifted its sharp claws, slashing at me with surprising speed and agility.

Pluck...

Of course, due to my Weapon Style, my sword tore through its limb effortlessly, severing it from its body, but it did manage to inflict a deep gash across my arm in the process.

"..."

Although it lost a wing and a limb, the Hellbat let out a blood-curdling screech and lunged at me with its remaining strength, teeth bared and eyes filled with fury.

It was its final desperate attempt to take me down before its eventual demise.

However, I anticipated this move, blocking its desperate attack with my Longsword and extending my other hand to its throat.

"Aura Blade..."

Golden particles surged to my hand and formed a shimmering blade of pure Mana. It didn't even take a full second for me to thrust the Aura Blade through the Hellbat's throat, ending its screeching and ensuring its demise.

Thud...

The Hellbat's lifeless body slumped to the ground as I withdrew my Aura Blade from its throat, watching as its once fiery eyes faded into darkness.

Well as I predicted it took only one precise strike to bring down this monster.

I honestly thought that I could win this battle unharmed, but unfortunately, I let my guard down.

"..."

Looking at my wounded arm, I could see a deep gash that would require a health potion to heal.

Although my Jacket absorbed some of the damage, it was clear that I needed to tend to my injuries and take proper precautions before continuing any further engagements.

Unfortunately, I was basically out of health potions. I had a few bottles, but it'd be unwise to use them for an injury that wasn't life-threatening.

Click...

I took out some spare clothes from the Spatial Ring and ripped a strip of fabric to create a makeshift bandage for my arm.

Carefully, I wrapped the makeshift bandage around my arm, applying enough pressure to stem the bleeding.

It wasn't ideal, but it would have to do for now.

Anyways, it seems like this Bat was the only monster inhabiting this floating Island, but just to make sure, I had to go and explore the ruins it came from.

Tap... Tap...

Walking through the rough terrain and navigating through the strange red cliffs, I swiftly made my way toward the runes.

As soon as I was about a few hundred feet away, though, I quickly flattened myself against the ground, observing the ruins from a safe distance.

Slowly, I crawled toward the ruins, my heart pounding in my chest. The dark chamber loomed ahead, its entrance shrouded in shadows. I could feel a sense of foreboding, but my curiosity pushed me forward.

Step by step, I cautiously entered the chamber, my eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger. The air was thick with a musty smell, and the silence was eerie.

And then, there it was - a Hellbat, lying dormant in the corner of the chamber. Its wings were folded, and its red eyes were closed, seemingly unaware of my presence.

A cunning smile crossed my face. This would be an easy kill.

With practiced precision, I drew my Longsword and infused it with Mana. Moving swiftly and silently, I closed the distance between us.

The Hellbat stirred, sensing my presence, but it was too late. In one swift motion, I delivered a precise strike to its heart, ensuring it would never awaken again.

Swish...

The creature let out a soft, barely audible gasp before its life was extinguished. Its body lay still on the cold stone floor, a testament to my stealth and skill.

But as I glanced around the chamber, something caught my attention - a group of small bats huddled together in the corner. They were much smaller than their larger counterparts, their wings barely developed, and their red eyes seemed harmless.

Curiosity piqued, I slowly approached them, intrigued by their presence. As I neared, one of the bats suddenly leaped at me, its tiny fangs bared, aiming for my throat.

Reacting on instinct, I swiftly grabbed the bat by its throat, feeling its fragile bones break beneath my grip. Its desperate attempt to harm me was futile, and it fell lifeless from my hand.

The other bats, startled by the commotion, cowered in fear, their beady red eyes filled with terror. It was clear that they posed no threat.

However, I couldn't leave them alive.

"I feel like hurting a pet..."

Pluck... Kliek...

...

After doing the deed I quickly left the ruins, not displaying any emotions on my face.

Should I feel guilty for my actions?

Absolutely not!

Those Hellbats would grow into powerful beings that could do significant harm and destruction.

Also, the Void wouldn't close if they were allowed to live.

Anyway, I made the right choice, the only thing to do in such a situation.

Shaking away the stupid thoughts, I made my way back toward the crystal trees. My eyes quickly found the one with a half-exploded trunk and a human face etched onto its bark.

There were two chains connected to this floating Island...

One behind me, which led to the Void I came through and the other, leading to other floating islands in the realm.

The issue was that the chain to the other islands was on the other side of the forest.

Keep in mind that I couldn't touch the trees or else I'm going to become entangled in their mind control and risk losing my life. So, I had to find a way around the crystal trees without making contact.

"..."

Looking around, I could see that the Crystal forest spanned till the end of the floating island, preventing me from walking around it.

I had to think of a creative solution to navigate around the crystal trees without making contact.

Hmmm...

Suddenly, a brilliant idea came to my mind.

If I couldn't pass through the forest by normal means, why don't I create a path?

I quickly grabbed a ton of pebbles from the ground, looking at them with a grin on my face.

I was intending to turn every single one of these small rocks into an explosive device. Of course, that would cost a lot of Mana, but it would be worth it to create a safe path through the crystal trees.

I'd rather spend a few hours enchanting these pebbles to explode rather than risk my life by getting entangled in the mind control and being consumed by a fucking tree.

I think my priorities are somewhat correct...