The creature let out a low, menacing growl, its glowing eyes narrowing as it studied Wu Chen.
Though it couldn't speak, its gaze was sharp and calculating, filled with a primal intelligence. Wu Chen could almost sense its thoughts.
its confidence, its disdain. It was as if the creature was silently mocking him, its expression conveying a clear message: *You are strong, but not strong enough.*
Wu Chen didn't flinch. He stood firm, his breathing steady and his mind razor-sharp. He didn't need words to understand the challenge before him.
The creature's posture, its predatory glare, and the way it loomed over him told him everything he needed to know. This would be a fight that pushed him to his limits, perhaps even beyond.
But Wu Chen didn't dwell on doubt. His focus was absolute. The villagers were counting on him, and failure wasn't an option.
He tightened his grip on his weapon, his body coiled like a spring, ready to unleash everything he had.
The creature might have been confident, but Wu Chen had something it didn't—a purpose greater than himself.
The creature lunged at Wu Chen with a ferocious snarl, its massive claws slicing through the air like jagged blades.
Wu Chen sidestepped with practiced ease, his movements fluid and deliberate, as if he were dancing with the wind. The creature's claws missed him by inches, gouging deep furrows into the ground where he had stood just moments before.
Without missing a beat, Wu Chen retaliated, his spearhead flashing like a silver streak as it cut through the creature's thick, scaly hide. A guttural roar erupted from the beast, but Wu Chen was already moving, his mind sharp and his body a coiled spring of energy.
The battle was a whirlwind of chaos and precision. The creature's strength was monstrous, each strike capable of shattering stone, and its speed was unnerving for something so large.
Wu Chen met its ferocity with unwavering focus, his every movement calculated, his every strike aimed to exploit the smallest openings.
He ducked under a sweeping claw, rolled past a crushing tail swipe, and countered with a swift jab to the creature's flank.
The spearhead bit deep, drawing a spray of dark, ichorous blood, but the creature barely seemed to notice. It was relentless, its glowing eyes burning with primal fury.
Wu Chen's breath came in controlled bursts, his body a symphony of motion as he weaved through the creature's attacks. He relied on more than just his physical prowess—his ability to predict the creature's movements was his greatest weapon.
He studied its patterns, the subtle shifts in its stance, the way its muscles tensed before each strike.
Over time, he began to anticipate its attacks, dodging and countering with increasing efficiency. Each blow he landed was precise, aimed at weakening the creature's defenses and sapping its strength.
The fight dragged on, the air thick with the sounds of snarls, clashes, and the occasional grunt of exertion.
Wu Chen's arms ached, his muscles burning with fatigue, but he refused to relent. The creature, too, began to show signs of wear.
Its movements grew more erratic, its attacks less coordinated. Its once-fluid strikes became sluggish, its roars tinged with frustration.
It was as if the beast was unraveling, its primal rage giving way to desperation.
Wu Chen saw his opening. The creature reared back for a powerful strike, but its balance was off, its stance unsteady.
In that split second, Wu Chen surged forward, his spearhead gleaming as he drove it into the creature's exposed chest.
The blade pierced deep, and the creature let out a deafening, earth-shaking roar, its body convulsing as it staggered backward. Wu Chen didn't let up.
With a final, decisive lunge, he plunged the spearhead deeper, twisting it to ensure the strike was fatal.
The creature's massive form shuddered, its glowing eyes dimming as it collapsed to the ground with a thunderous crash.
Wu Chen stood over the fallen beast, his chest heaving, his body drenched in sweat and speckled with dirt and blood.
The silence that followed was almost surreal, broken only by the sound of his labored breathing.
A faint, otherworldly glow began to emanate from the creature's body, coalescing into a pulsating core of dark energy. A voice, cold and mechanical, echoed in Wu Chen's mind:
[ You have slain a Special Mortal Creature Level 5: Demonic Boss. ]
[ Do you wish to absorb the Special Demonic Core? ]
Wu Chen didn't hesitate. He reached out, his hand steady despite the exhaustion weighing on him. "Absorb," he said, his voice firm.
The core surged toward him, its energy flowing into his body like a torrent of power.
He felt it coursing through his veins, a strange mix of warmth and chill that left him both invigorated and unsettled, it was far greater than anything he had felt before.
As the energy settled within him, Wu Chen took a deep breath, his gaze lingering on the lifeless form of the creature.
The battle had been long and grueling, but he had emerged victorious—not just through strength, but through sheer will and unyielding determination.
[ Demonic Core Absorbed. ]
[ Power Level Increased: Mortal 3 Intermediate. ]
Wu Chen felt the surge of energy coursing through his veins, a tangible wave of power that made his muscles hum with newfound strength. He clenched his fists, marveling at the sensation. "The creature was so strong that absorbing its core pushed me directly to Mortal 3 Intermediate, skipping the Beginner stage entirely," he thought, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Any improvement in power is always welcome."
But before he could fully process the change, another notification flickered at the edge of his consciousness. He ignored it for now—there were still creatures to deal with, and the villagers were counting on him.
With his enhanced strength, Wu Chen turned to face the remaining horde. His movements were faster, sharper, and more precise than before.
Each strike of his spearhead was a blur of deadly accuracy, cutting through the creatures with ease.
The villagers watched in awe as he moved through the chaos like a force of nature, his every action radiating power and control.
One by one, the creatures fell, their lifeless bodies collapsing to the ground. The air was thick with the stench of blood and the echoes of their dying cries.
As the last creature crumpled under his spear, the villagers erupted into cheers, their voices filled with relief and gratitude.
[ Demonic Core Absorbed. ]
[ Power Level Increased: Mortal 3 Master. ]
[ Demonic Core Absorbed. ]
[ Power Level Stabilized: Mortal 3 Master. ]