Chapter Twenty-Four: Battle Renewed

After his breakthrough, Lin Lei’s strength far surpassed that of a second-tier demon wraith; not to mention, after advancing, he had also “absorbed” the essence of three such creatures. With Zhen Shuang’s blessing added, he even felt confident enough to take on that third-tier behemoth once more. Even armed with only a dagger, dispatching these lower wraiths posed no challenge at all. Two second-tier demon wraiths fell swiftly, and the remaining dozen or so first-tier ones crumbled at the first sign of assault.

Witnessing Lin Lei deal with the battle so effortlessly, Zhen Shuang’s eyes widened in astonishment. “Your strength is incredible! Your Gift’s ranking must be extremely high!”

For the first time, Lin Lei saw Zhen Shuang’s eyes wide open, not the usual slits, and replied offhandedly, “My initial assessment was C+, but I feel I’ve grown a lot since then. Maybe I could reach B now.”

Zhen Shuang swallowed hard, her voice tinged with awe. “It’s likely much higher than B...”

For those with physical enhancement Gifts, the ranking was always more valuable. Yet Lin Lei had only just crossed a threshold, and his display of strength was already monstrous.

“What happened to you? How’d you end up like this?” she asked, pulling bandages and ointment from her pack, intent on tending his wounds.

“I ran into that third-tier monstrosity and nearly lost my life. Lost my weapon too... I just took a healing vial, so I’m still holding on,” Lin Lei said casually, taking the bandages from her hands. “I’ll do it myself.”

Though he looked battered, he bore no real wounds and couldn’t let her tend to injuries that weren’t there.

“You’ve got nerves of steel,” Zhen Shuang remarked.

“You haven’t met Wen Xiang. He’s the truly fearless one,” Lin Lei said with a wry smile, hastily wrapping himself up.

“You met Wen Xiang? Is he alright?” Zhen Shuang’s eyes lit up.

Lin Lei nodded, rolling his neck. “I’ll take you to him.”

Soon, Lin Lei led Zhen Shuang to regroup with Wen Xiang. He shared vital intelligence about the third-tier beast’s grievous injuries.

“This is too good an opportunity to pass up,” Zhen Shuang’s eyes shone. “Let’s rest up and, while we can, finish it off!”

Missing such a chance would be a true waste. The three of them took a brief rest, ate, and prepared themselves for another assault on the third-tier abomination.

“Lin Lei, you’re our main fighter. Take my blade,” Zhen Shuang offered her sword.

Lin Lei accepted it without hesitation. “Let’s go!”

Guided by their bracelets, the three quickly tracked the creature’s lair. The beast had returned to its den.

“We need to lure it out,” Lin Lei said, glancing at Wen Xiang.

Having stared death in the face, Wen Xiang was now thoroughly obedient. He nodded, raised his hand, and sent a small fireball into the cavern.

A furious roar soon echoed from deep within, accompanied by a heavy rumble. Lin Lei narrowed his eyes, used the moment to down an Amplification Elixir, and ordered, “Follow my lead—throw the rest of the grenades, now!”

He raised his hand, counting down, “One, two—throw!”

One by one, grenades arced into the cave just as the third-tier horror burst from the darkness. Wen Xiang unleashed serpents of fire from his hands, striking the beast as it emerged.

Explosions and flames erupted. The monster charged forth, howling in rage, its body battered and raw, no unscathed flesh remaining. Its pink eyes gleamed with a chilling, murderous light. Hideous before, it now seemed even more terrifying.

Meanwhile, Zhen Shuang cast her empowering blessing on Lin Lei and, with Wen Xiang, fell back to safety. Lin Lei, now aglow with golden light, charged, blade in hand.

“This time, you’re finished!” he roared, surging forward with explosive speed, blade slashing toward one of the monster’s arms.

As he closed in, the behemoth responded, its three claws slashing furiously, charging in rage. Blade and claws collided; Lin Lei was flung aside by a brutal swipe. But before the creature could pursue, Wen Xiang’s fire serpents once again struck its body.

Flames exploded again and again—not enough to deal lethal damage, but enough to slow the beast and obscure its sight. It shielded its head with its three arms, keeping its guard up toward where Lin Lei had landed, wary of another assault.

But Lin Lei, using Wen Xiang’s fiery onslaught as cover, had already activated his Nightstalker ability, slipping silently to the beast’s unguarded flank.

The attack came from nowhere.

The monster, caught off guard, failed to block Lin Lei’s strike with its rigid, hooked claws.

With a sickening slice, half of its arm was lopped clean off.

Lin Lei rolled aside and landed lightly, licking the blood from his blade.

When he had absorbed the third second-tier demon wraith, his wounds had healed and his power and source energy had surged again. Now, with Blood Boil, the Amplification Elixir, and Zhen Shuang’s blessing all layered upon him, his already fearsome strength reached a new, astonishing peak.

As the monster’s injuries mounted, the tide turned further in their favor. That single, cunning strike from the shadows was devastating.

Chen Fan had twice severed the same arm; now Lin Lei did the same.

Bellowing in agony, the beast lashed out with its remaining claws. Lin Lei, satisfied with his strike, rolled aside, narrowly dodging the counterattack.

Before the creature could recover, Wen Xiang’s fire serpents struck once more. With two arms gone on one side, the monster’s attempts to seize Lin Lei grew clumsy. Another blast from Wen Xiang’s fire sent the beast sprawling to the ground.

“Now’s our chance!” Lin Lei’s eyes gleamed as he dashed forward, plunging the blade into the creature’s eye at the corner of its massive mouth.

Its skull was all gaping maw, but the eyes were its weakness. With its defenses down, Lin Lei’s blade punched straight through.

The monster shrieked, thrashing wildly, and Lin Lei was flung away before he could retrieve his weapon. But Zhen Shuang’s blessing did more than empower him; it shielded him as well.

At a distance, Wen Xiang seized the opportunity to unleash volley after volley of fire serpents, bombarding the monster relentlessly.

Before long, its violent struggles ceased. Blackened and burnt, the behemoth crashed lifelessly to the ground.

Lin Lei rose to his feet, golden light fading completely from his body. He wiped the blood from his lips and turned to look at Wen Xiang and Zhen Shuang.

Wen Xiang’s face was deathly pale, drenched in sweat, but his expression shone with exhilaration and joy.