Bear School Astartes-Chapter 734 - 717. Facing Alone

Wende, who was originally rushing towards the Extinct Dragon to restrain and attack, suddenly stopped in his tracks with a frown.

Although this guy is usually cheerful and sunny, and can’t keep his mouth clean when fighting, he is ultimately a top-tier Hunter.

In a sudden situation, he instantly accepted the fact that ’the occurrence of the change is already uncontrollable,’ and began to weigh and plan in his mind.

"You go with Aiden for support."

But in a very short time, almost immediately after the sky-bound Hunter’s call for help came down, Lann spoke.

"Originally, that thing should be my responsibility, but now the Extinct Dragon likely won’t let me go."

Lann’s statement was an obvious fact.

Although initially, the Extinct Dragon’s attention was drawn by the Chaos Magic Power fluctuations in the distance, soon, its brutal vertical pupils beneath its large horns returned to focus on Lann.

In its eyes, both Lann and the Deer Spirit were holders of the anomalous power ’Chaos Magic Power,’ and Lann had also ’bitten’ it with that sword.

Clearly more hateful.

"Face the monsters you’re unfamiliar with using sheer numbers to suppress them. I can hold them here alone."

Since he, a professional Demon Hunter, couldn’t face the Deer Spirit right now, sending more experts over there for suppression became necessary.

And Wende’s now-stable aura indicated he made the same judgment as Lann.

He re-sheathed his longsword behind his back, patted Aiden on the shoulder, and slid down towards the tail of the Molten Mountain Dragon.

Before they left, Lann took advantage of the tense moment to offer the briefest of advice.

"Don’t expect to kill it; just hold or repel it."

That was all he could say.

Because the patience of the Extinct Dragon was clearly not great.

It wanted to deal with Lann first and then take out the Deer Spirit.

Thus, before Wende and the others completely retreated from the battlefield, the Extinct Dragon exerted force with all four of its claws.

After a brief buildup, it lunged fiercely towards Lann!

It wanted a quick resolution as well.

And since the Deer Spirit appeared, Lann’s gaze had been consistently deep and introspective.

[Spiritual Vision].

During the previous battle, he had some understanding of the Extinct Dragon’s body from witnessing its destruction and regeneration repeatedly.

While still far from fully comprehending this ancient dragon’s movements like he did with the ’Fierce Claw’, the Extinct Dragon couldn’t hide simple and straightforward intentions from Lann.

Just like this lunge and slap.

This ancient dragon’s paw, embodying both the aggression of a beast, had a structure with multiple joints offering great flexibility.

Capable of moving in claw, paw, and even fist forms.

Its paw pounded down with a "boom" explosion!

The shell of the Molten Mountain Dragon’s back instantly sunk down, and molten lava beneath the surface immediately seeped and overflowed.

And its paw, after the slap, habitually turned claw-like, excavating as it pulled up from the ground.

This attack evidently didn’t just cause blunt force trauma; in the Extinct Dragon’s usual hunts, the follow-up with sharp claws likely pulled out tons of flesh!

This series of continuous actions had been played very skillfully by it.

However, today, it wasn’t facing prey from the natural world.

"Bang!"

The tip of the sword [Murky Stream: Extinction] touched the ground, emitting a sound not terribly loud but very distinct.

In that moment, Lann, with a calm expression, powerfully raised the giant sword over his head, swinging it to his shoulder.

He posed in readiness to bring the weapon down.

And the Extinct Dragon’s descending paw struck just as he swung the great sword backward, shifting his stance to stabilize his center!

Everything felt smooth as if rehearsed.

Even the bony spikes on Extinct Dragon’s forearm snaked past the tip of Lann’s slightly raised nose!

And then—’Boom!’

Pale red battle aura flames erupted from his body and sword, producing a sound akin to explosive combustion.

[Charged Slash]!

The black blade and the pale red aura sketched a fan-shaped shadow with a bizarre color in mid-air.

Perhaps due to the intrinsic nature of [Murky Stream: Extinction], the color of this fan shape gave an immediate sense of accelerated heartbeat and uncontrollable anxiety.

After a series of crackling sounds, the massive blade sliced down like a guillotine, shaving past the Extinct Dragon’s forearm closest to Lann!

Splinters and broken roots of bony spikes flew around.

These spikes, whose hardness could rival regular weapons, stood no chance as obstacles before [Murky Stream: Extinction].

Like breaking a pile of small cookie sticks, the dark, fierce sword hacked onto the Extinct Dragon’s claw with undiminished momentum!

"Crunch~"

"Aohooo!!!"

Two of the Extinct Dragon’s claws immediately smashed into bent shapes.

The sword edge of [Murky Stream: Extinction] could evidently pierce the ancient dragon’s tough hide, creating a grisly gash on the Extinct Dragon’s claw.

Red muscle, white tendons, pallid bones...

Truly exposed wounds are a different concept than injuries confined within the body. At least for the Extinct Dragon, this was the case.

Like a startled cat, the Extinct Dragon arched its spine and swiftly withdrew backwards.

It became cautious, staring intently at Lann, who was also retracting his move.

The wounds on its claw automatically reset amid a series of ’click-clack’ sounds, followed by regeneration and healing.

Tightening and expanding repeatedly, it eventually seemed to make a firm decision.

Lowering its center of gravity, those bestial eyes met Lann’s feline gaze.

And on its body, spikes originally predominantly bone-white gradually appeared uniquely black from root to tip, as though dyed.

Black like steel, yet like crystal.

"Black spikes, a controllable form change?"

Lann muttered to himself about the Extinct Dragon’s new transformation, as the thrill and sense of danger from dancing on the edge with the enemy began to excite him.

Leading to an unconscious smile creeping at the corner of his mouth.

"Not entering black spine state earlier...in the end, still underestimating me, huh?"

Lann’s palm tightened around the sword hilt wrapped with Extinct Dragon Hide.

And in an instant, the Extinct Dragon, with nearly all its bony spikes shaded in black, seemed poised to crush the enemy in one go.

Its membrane wings, powerfully abnormal, had one side positioned like a shield on its flank.

Then smashed into the ground directly!

The long spiked wing membrane pushed sideways like a steamroller!

Those black spikes easily plowed through the ground, leaving a wide trail of lava!

Using wings, typically a vulnerable part, as a means of violent attack...maybe only the Extinct Dragon would employ such methods.