Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Turning The Tide?

"Ethan, focus!" Cedric's voice cut through the chaos, snapping Ethan back to the present.

Their battlefield was swarmed with a variety of formidable beasts—hulking bears, brute apes, serpentine creatures, Shadowfang Wolves, and several giant flying birds. Their roars and shrieks filled the air, mingling with the sounds of clashing steel and explosive magic.

Swish... Swish... The sharp, rhythmic sounds of arcane arrows whizzed through the air as Yona unleashed a barrage of explosive projectiles. Each arrow erupted in a burst of energy upon impact, scattering the enemy forces and leaving scorched ground in its wake.

Cedric, spear in hand, surged forward with a powerful thrust. His spear skills triggered a series of precise, deadly strikes, each one aimed to pierce through the ranks of the approaching beasts. The spear danced in his hands, a blur of motion as he carved through the enemy lines.

On the other hand, Marcus, with his greatsword raised, charged against a horde of giant apes alone.

Seeing Marcus's madness, Ethan shook his head and followed behind him to ensure his safety if needed.

With a swift, fluid motion, Ethan swung his Dragonian Blade, effortlessly decapitating a few of the brute apes that charged at him. Their massive bodies crumpled to the ground as their severed heads rolled away, leaving a trail of blood in the dirt.

"Screech!" Suddenly, a giant raven, its feathers as dark as night, lunged at him from the sky. Its eyes glinted with a terrifying, predatory gleam, promising death.

Reacting quickly, Ethan extended his hand, channeling his power into the ground.

"Earth Manipulation!" he commanded, and thick, multilayered walls of solid earth erupted from the ground, forming a protective barrier between him and the raven. The enormous bird collided with the wall at full speed, the impact reducing the barrier to rubble. The force of the crash left the Raven dazed, its head wobbling as it tried to regain its focus.

Shaking off its dizziness, the Raven opened its beak, and a dark, ominous energy began to gather within its mouth. Ethan's eyes widened—whatever it was preparing to unleash would be devastating.

"Shadow Step!" he muttered, and in an instant, he melted into the shadows cast by the crumbling walls, reappearing five meters away from the raven. He knew he couldn't match the beast in raw physical strength, but he didn't need to. He had other ways to outmaneuver it.

"Inferno Leap!" With a burst of fiery energy, Ethan launched himself into the air, leaving a trail of flames in his wake. His target was clear: the raven's vulnerable head, while its still preparing to unleash its breath ability.

"Slice!" His blade cut through the air with deadly precision, and in one clean strike, the raven's head was severed from its body. The massive, blood-soaked head thudded to the ground, its once menacing eyes now lifeless.

But as Ethan descended back to the ground, he noticed something disturbing. A demonic aura, dark and malevolent, began to seep from the Raven's decapitated body, attempting to flee into the shadows.

"Where do you think you're going?" Ethan grinned wickedly, his eyes narrowing to slits.

"Alright... " Aria's father nodded and let Astrid take charge of his position.

The battlefield, now littered with the remains of slain beasts, felt as if it were on the verge of calm. The overwhelming presence of the Obsidian Terrors had been significantly diminished, thanks in large part to the relentless efforts of City Lord Longus and the other A-Rank powerhouses.

A few minutes passed, and the beasts' numbers dwindled rapidly, far outpacing the human casualties.

[ Congratulations! You have leveled up.]

[ You have received 5 attribute points to distribute freely. ]

[ Current level: 18 ]

As Ethan received the familiar notification, he allowed himself a moment to rest. He had slain so many beasts that their corpses now formed a small mountain around him.

Despite that, It was frustrating that he couldn't use Skill Absorption because of all the prying eyes nearby.

Clap, clap!

"Haha, well done, young man. You young people are the real hope of humanity," a group of elderly veteran hunters cheered, clearly impressed by Ethan's party's performance.

Cedric scratched his head, a bit embarrassed. "Don't exaggerate, seniors. It's you who did most of the work."

"Hahaha, is that so? It's good to see you're modest. The world is unpredictable, so always stay true to your nature," an old man said, patting Cedric's shoulder warmly.

"Young man, are you married? What do you think about my granddaughters?" An elderly woman proposed, eyeing towards two beautiful girls.

The girls blushed and took glances at Cedric from the corner of their eyes.

Cedric blushed at proposal, and replied, "Sorry madam, I have a girlfriend already."

Ethan looked dumbfounded at the site. "Man, I did all the work. Where's my praise?"