Chapter 264

Boom!

The colossal beast collapsed lifelessly, kicking up a thick cloud of dust.

“It's annoying that they don’t always drop bloodstones,” Theo muttered irritably, sheathing his sword with a sharp motion.

“Only halfway done.”

At first, he’d been excited at the prospect of evolving Umbra, systematically wiping out every magical beast in the vicinity.

“It seems like only second-class beasts drop them.”

No matter how many lower-class beasts he exterminated, not a single bloodstone appeared. And finding a second-class beast was an ordeal in itself, often taking three hours or more.

The tedium was beginning to wear on him, though the materials piling up in his inventory helped ease his frustration.

Screech!

Umbra, sensing Theo’s mood, chirped in a playful, appeasing manner.

“If first-class bloodstones exist, how many would they drop?”

Theo glanced at Umbra. Its aura had changed noticeably, and its form seemed subtly distorted, as though it was adapting to its evolving nature.

“It’s going smoothly.”

The Viper, one of Umbra’s ancestors, was known for its lack of a fixed shape. That unique trait appeared to be influencing Umbra now. The sight filled Theo with anticipation for the final stages of its evolution.

“I’d like to head deeper into the territory...”

Theo cast a wary glance toward the inner regions of the beastlands.

Though venturing further would speed up his hunt, the potential risks were too great. This was the beastlands—a domain intertwined with the Nameless Sovereign and the Sacred Demon Cult.

The deeper regions of the territory lay in the shadow of that unknown, chaotic power.

“They’ll try to break the Sovereign’s seal eventually. I’ll need to bolster our defenses when I return.”

The Sacred Demon Cult would undoubtedly attempt to unseal the Nameless Sovereign, sparking a cataclysmic conflict in the future.

“Is that why this quest appeared?”

If Umbra’s evolution granted Theo a creature comparable to a first-class magical beast, it would be a powerful card to play against such threats. The quest’s difficulty was a sign of the challenges that lay ahead.

“First things first—Umbra’s evolution.”

Theo mounted Umbra and resumed his hunt with renewed focus.

Hunting from Umbra’s back proved highly efficient, and the bloodstones began accumulating faster.

During a brief respite, Theo descended to the ground, feeding Umbra the bloodstones he’d collected.

“You’re eating well, at least.”

He tossed Umbra the final bloodstone in his possession before checking his system window.

[Bloodstones: 20/30]

Ten more to go. At this pace, he estimated he could complete the quest by tomorrow.

But then, a new notification appeared.

Ding!

[Coordinates have been set.]

“Coordinates?”

Theo expected a detailed map to appear but was instead presented with a black void containing a single red dot.

“I suppose it wouldn’t be as simple as feeding bloodstones.”

With a resigned sigh, he braced himself for whatever came next.

Clang—!

Screeeeech!

Crunch, rip!

The attack came without warning.

The system window shattered before Theo’s eyes, and something black and shapeless streaked past him with blinding speed.

He hadn’t even had time to react.

“Umbra!”

Theo’s cry rang out as the creature viciously tore into Umbra’s wings, ripping them apart and retreating a short distance to devour the flesh.

The assailant was an amorphous black entity, its form writhing and undefined. It lacked eyes or a mouth but radiated an overwhelming presence.

“Why didn’t I sense it? With an aura this strong, I should’ve noticed it immediately. And why is it targeting Umbra?”

The questions swirled in Theo’s mind, but there was no time for answers.

Umbra was gravely injured, and Theo needed to act fast to protect it.

“Get into the shadows!”

Despite his rising panic, Theo forced himself to stay calm as he ran toward Umbra. The wounded creature began retreating into Theo’s shadow, seeking refuge.

Once hidden in the shadows, the attacker wouldn’t be able to reach it—or so Theo thought.

“Is it mocking me?”

Even without eyes, the entity exuded an unmistakable air of mockery.

Srrr—BOOM!

Theo barely managed to destroy the ground beneath him, disrupting the creature’s attempt to follow Umbra into the shadows.

“Its movements surpass even the Giant Quatch. But why is it so fixated on Umbra?”

Inside the shadows, Umbra’s pained cries echoed, each one stabbing at Theo’s heart.

“It didn’t just tear off its wings—it pierced its body as well.”

Through their bond, Theo could sense the severity of Umbra’s injuries. The damage was extensive and life-threatening.

Ding!

[Emergency Quest Received]

[Emergency Quest: Defend Umbra]

Target: Viper, one of the Five Kings of the Beastlands, has revealed hostility toward Umbra and seeks to consume it.

Objective: Defeat the Viper and protect Umbra.

Difficulty: A+

Reward: Viper Bloodstone

Failure: Death

Time Limit: 72 hours

The message flashed before Theo’s eyes, but he had no time to process it fully.

Clang!

The Viper launched another attack, its tendrils lashing out with devastating force.

“Can it see the system windows?”

Theo’s momentary distraction allowed the Viper to close in, forcing him to block its relentless strikes.

Clang! Clang!

The creature’s tentacles shattered the ground and pierced through massive trees with ease, the sheer volume of its attacks resembling a storm of spears.

“It’s like fighting an army.”

The Viper’s assaults came in countless forms—some tendrils swung like massive clubs, while others shot forward like arrows.

“I need to create some distance.”

Though Theo managed to cut down the nearest tendrils, the overwhelming barrage left his clothes shredded in places.

Slash!

Theo unleashed a sweeping strike, temporarily forcing the Viper to retreat.

For the first time, the creature let out a sound—a high-pitched, grating screech.

“Is it trying to say something?”

Theo couldn’t understand the noise, but the tone was clear: arrogance.

“You bastard... I’ll kill you for sure.”

The creature’s disdainful attitude only fueled Theo’s anger, especially as Umbra’s master.

The atmosphere shifted.

Thunder rumbled as dark clouds gathered overhead, mirroring Theo’s growing fury.

Srrrng—

Theo drew Valmung, one of his prized swords, its blade gleaming ominously in the dim light.

“A king, huh? Then I’ll fight you as one.”

For the first time, the Viper hesitated, its writhing body momentarily stiffening.

Screeeeech!

It recoiled violently before launching another wave of ferocious attacks.

***

Clang—! Bang! Boom!

The surrounding terrain was steadily being obliterated.

Thick clouds of dust were pierced through as countless tendrils lunged toward Theo, aiming to skewer him.

“So it doesn’t have a defined shape, yet it can attack like this?”

Theo couldn’t help but be impressed.

The onslaught of tendrils and shockwaves pouring from Viper’s form felt like standing alone against an entire legion.

“No, a legion would be easier.”

A legion, at least, had limits imposed by the gaps between soldiers, but Viper’s attacks defied such constraints.

Left, right, front, and back—the attacks came from every direction, relentless and unyielding.

Viper didn’t allow the possibility of retaliation.

Adding to the pressure, Theo’s balance wavered every time he attempted to channel his strength.

Even within the storm of attacks, his own overwhelming energy lashed out internally, throwing his body into disarray.

“Am I still not accustomed to it?”

The newfound insights he’d gained in the Naga Forest hadn’t yet settled within him. The overflowing power coursing through his body seemed to work against him, rejecting his control.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

As a result, Theo’s draconic heart pounded violently, as though on the verge of bursting.

“I have to get it under control.”

The opponent he faced was one of the Five Kings of the Beastlands, a first-class magical beast—an entity that had been defeated only once in the thousand-year history of the Ragnar Clan.

Even at peak condition, victory would be uncertain. Without mastering his energy, survival was impossible.

“I will do it.”

The sheer force of the energy made his joints scream and his muscles spasm.

Theo’s grip on Valmung tightened to the point where the hilt seemed on the verge of breaking, and mana surged across the blade with explosive intensity.

The tendrils rushing toward him were blasted back by the sheer force radiating from Theo.

Kikikik—?

Viper tilted its form slightly, as though curious about the sudden shift.

Despite feeling a twinge of irritation at Viper’s dismissive reaction, Theo recognized the critical opportunity this moment provided: a brief window to regain control of his energy.

Kikikik—!!

But Viper didn’t let him off easily. Its attacks grew even fiercer, its tendrils lashing out with greater force.

“That’s right, come at me.”

Theo’s grip on his sword tightened once more.

Boom! Boom! BOOM!

Simple swordplay wouldn’t suffice. He needed to push further, adapt to the fight.

Just as he prepared to launch himself into action, the writhing darkness of Viper’s body suddenly seeped into the ground and vanished.

“So that’s how it hides its presence.”

The earlier ambush now made sense. By melding into the shadows, Viper could erase its aura entirely, leaving no trace for Theo to sense.

“I have to catch its presence the moment it reemerges.”

Theo knew this was no easy feat, but it was his only option.

Suddenly, a sharp cry pierced the air.

Screeech!

It was Umbra, its panicked voice filled with terror.

The fear resonated through their bond, filling Theo with a wave of urgency.

“A king resorting to such underhanded tactics?”

Theo spun around, deflecting a tendril that had surged up from the ground toward Umbra.

“It’s toying with me.”

That much was clear. Viper wasn’t just trying to kill—it was playing with its prey.

The first taste of true fear had thrown Umbra into a state of panic. If the situation continued, Theo knew he would tire long before Viper did.

A decisive move was needed.

Boom! BOOM!

Theo leaped high into the air, shattering the ground beneath him as he propelled himself away.

“Wait for me.”

Gritting his teeth, Theo glanced back at the cloud of dust obscuring Viper’s form before retreating.