Second World

It was roughly six hours after he discovered the rock wall when he found the end of the wall. He had dealt with another two waves of Living Shadows since then. He looked into the part of the wall where it ended. After observation, he surmised that the wall was not in fact ended, there was simply a very huge opening on this side of the wall. The wall still continued some distance away, but he could not see it because it was covered by fog.

The opening itself seemed like a quarter sphere shape, as if one section of the wall had been scooped out.

He did not doubt that there was something in this opening, as he saw one large dark red dot. From the size and its color, Jack could determine this was not a monster that he wanted to deal with. Such indication on his radar meant that this monster was much stronger than him.

Under normal circumstances, Jack would have left and avoided such an existence. But at the moment, he needed to find a way out of this place. And the existence of this monster could probably mean one thing, that it was guarding the exit. He would not let go of such possibility.

Before he headed over, Jack cast Body Double. He then crept forward slowly with his two other copies spread out some distances apart. He expected this large red dot to be a gargantuan existence similar to the Land Behemoth or the Grim Sand Drake. But even when the dot was rather close, he didnʼt see the gigantic outline of the creature.

There were several rocky outcropping around, Jack was using these rocks as a hiding place as he advanced.

ʼWas the creature also hiding behind the rocks?ʼ Jack thought. But the rocky outcrops around here were not that big. To be able to hide behind these rocks meant the creature didnʼt have a large build.

Jack slowly crept over, trying to make as little noise as possible. What he would give for Rangerʼs Silent Step skill at this moment.

He looked at the red dot on his radar and was sure that the creature was behind the rock just ahead. He peeked over in that direction. What he saw was some kind of a strange beast the size of a bear, laying lazily on the ground. Its skin was rough and hard as if a blend between wood and stone surface. Although it was not a giant creature, its limbs appeared thick and powerful. On its head were two large horns that had a yellowish sheen.

Seeing its horned head, Jack couldnʼt help but feel like it was familiar.

ʼThat… Thatʼs a Therras Beast,ʼ he heard Penielʼs voice in his mind.

ʼIs it a special monster?ʼ Jack asked.

ʼItʼs a monster that was thought to have been extinct.ʼ

ʼOh? A monster can go extinct in this world?ʼ

Peniel didnʼt reply to Jackʼs last comment. Instead, she continued, ʼA Therras Beast is considered a sacred beast for Themisphere kingdom. Do you still remember the kingdomʼs banner?ʼ

ʼAh! Now that you mentioned it. No wonder I felt this monster looked familiar. The horned head on Themisphereʼs banner was a Therras Beast?ʼ

ʼIt is. The first king of Themisphere conquered and built the kingdom with the help of a Therras Beast. He was a Beastmaster with a Therras Beast as his pet.ʼ

ʼWow, this monster is special then.ʼ

ʼIt is. Donʼt you try to fight against it.ʼ

Jack Inspected the monster using his God-eye monocle.

Therras Beast (Rare Elite, Beast), level 45

HP: 460.000

ʼLevel 45 Rare Elite, I will be crazy to fight it,ʼ Jack thought. He took his attention away from the fascinating beast and surveyed the surroundings behind the monster. His gaze at once fell on a large cave hole on the wall.

ʼThat seemed to lead somewhere,ʼ he thought. This place was devoid of any noteworthy landscape, even the wall he found was mostly flat without any discernible feature. So this distinct hole on the wall was obviously more than just a simple cave.

Now, all he needed to think of was how to cross over to that hole. Unfortunately, there were no more rocks big enough for him to sneak over. He would surely be spotted once he tried to run for that cave.

ʼHow fast is a Therras Beast?ʼ Jack asked.

ʼIts physical trait was one of its best assets. Despite its smaller size, I can say that its strength was not far behind that Grim Sand Drake if they were on the same level. Its speed, on the other hand, would be faster. If you are thinking of racing against it, you should abandon that idea. Furthermore, those horns werenʼt just for show. It can send a devastating range attack using them.ʼ

Jack thought about the information given by Peniel. Trying to run for the cave just relying on his speed didnʼt seem like a good prospect. He thought about the time. After some pondering, he thought of a plan. He calculated the time that his Body Double was active, they should still be active when he carried out the plan. His level 10 Body Double could last 14 minutes, it should still be enough time. He should have cast this spell later, but no point in lamenting it now.

ʼWhat kind of crazy idea is going on in your mind?ʼ Peniel asked.

Jack rolled his eyes at her, ʼAre all my ideas that crazy to you?ʼ He then added, ʼwe will wait.ʼ

ʼWait? Wait for what?ʼ

ʼIt should not be long now.ʼ

ʼHey, tell me!ʼ

ʼHehe, now you know what itʼs like, right? To be denied the answer you asked.ʼ

ʼHmph! Whatever.ʼ

The fairy did not wait long before she got the answer. ʼAs I said, you and your crazy idea.ʼ

Jack looked back and saw the swarm of Living Shadows rushing to where he was at.

”All right, showtime!” He didnʼt bother to speak silently in his mind anymore. He cast Barrier as he ran out. The Therras Beast immediately spotted him. It was still laying down leisurely on the ground when Jack rushed out, his head rose up as he looked at Jack.

The creature then stood up slowly and stretched its four legs. Jack could have sworn the beast was yawning as it did that.

Since the beast was looking down at him, he was not about to let it go to waste. He ran as fast as he could. Though he was running towards the hole on the wall, his eyes never left the beast. Jack saw it finished its stretching and aligned its body so it was facing him. And suddenly, it zoomed abruptly in his direction carrying a blazing trail. It was as if a meteor was coming at him.

Jack was expecting the beast to come at him with fast speed, but this speed was still more than he expected. Luckily, he had paid attention. He couldnʼt change direction in an instant with his current speed, but he could still use Flash Step. He moved several meters ahead. The Therras Beastʼs charge slammed onto the rock wall.

The solid wall rocked hard as cracks appeared at the point of impact. The Therras Beast turned its head at Jack, it was completely unaffected by that heavy impact.

At this time, the Living Shadows arrived as they pounced at Jack. Their large numbers swarmed the place where the Therras Beast and Jack were at.

When the nearest Living Shadows clawed at Jack, its attack passed through Jackʼs body as if it was air. They looked over at the other side where two Jacks were running towards the hole.

Jack had switched his body just before the Living Shadow touched him. These Living Shadows had the ability to track his position, so they wonʼt be tricked by the false body. The Therras Beast, however, did not. With all the Living Shadows prancing about around it, it had lost sight of Jack.

Enraged by this disruption, the Therras Beast stomped and trampled wildly as it swung its large horns to the left and right. Every nearby Living Shadow was obliterated by its every move.

ʼItʼs working!ʼ Jack thought with relief. Yet, he didnʼt dare to be careless. He didnʼt slow down his running as a spell formation started forming on his magic staff.

Jackʼs relief was short-lived, as he heard a very loud stomping sound. He looked over where the beast was and was shocked to see a large shockwave that sent all the still surviving Living Shadows up in the air. The Beast now had a clear view of Jack.

It shot forward with great speed. It did not use the meteor dash move anymore but the speed was still frightening all the same. With a few rapid gallops, the beast was just a few meters from Jack. It lifted its two powerful forelegs up as it stomped at Jack.

Jack executed his second body-switching and his Body Double skill ended, his two images disappeared. As the Therras Beast stomping legs came down and created a small earthquake, the ground underneath it glowed.

Jack completed his Myriad Ensnaring Chains spell as he used his last switch. Three crimson chains shot out from underneath the Therras Beast and coiled around its body.

Jack never stopped his running. He almost reached the hole already.. He then heard the sound of a chain snapping.

😉