Starting With an SSS-Rank Swordsmanship Talent

Chapter 548: Stubborn Beast Refuses to Submit

With the size of their troops, it took them nearly two weeks to leave the borders of Harune.

Alaric could have returned home early if he had chosen to ride Zephyr, but he decided to march with the troops because he was looking for an opportunity to use the Catastrophe-Grade Steed Card.

If he were to use it and summon a beast at the estate, he wouldnʼt be able to explain how he had captured or taken control of it.

He was only lucky that his family didnʼt have many questions about Zephyr, but he couldnʼt do the same thing again. Lucas and Maria might not be the interrogative type, but his birth mother, Jade Kristine, was different.

He had to make a reasonable story so that no one would find it unusual for another Catastrophe-grade beast to appear next to him.

At this moment, the troops were setting up camp. They had been marching with little rest over the last two weeks so Alaric suggested that they should set up camp and rest for the night.

”I will go out for a light mana training,” Alaric informed his father.

Since his mission had been updated, he rarely skipped his training. With his efforts, he had already made a decent amount of progress.

Lucas didnʼt find it unusual. Alaric would always find time to do some light training in the middle of their rest.

”Alright. Just donʼt go too far from the camp. This area is known for having some really nasty creatures so you must not be careless.” He reminded his son with a stern look.

Alaric nodded with a faint smile. ”I will be careful, Dad.”

After bidding his father farewell, he turned around and left on his horse.

Hiya!

Alaric lifted his head and noticed that the sky was getting darker.

He narrowed his eyes and moved his gaze back to the road. With his enhanced vision, he could clearly see in the dark. He could also sense the beasts that were hiding nearby.

Twenty minutes later, Alaric stopped his horse near a stream.

The horse seemed to be restless and it refused to get closer to the stream.

Alaric wasnʼt surprised by the horseʼs reaction. He sensed that there was a powerful monster lurking beneath the shallow waters.

Should I capture this beast?

Alaric thought, but he quickly abandoned the idea.

The monster was just sleeping in its territory and he felt that it was wrong to disturb it.

It should have sensed me by now, but why isnʼt it moving? What a strange beast…

Alaric was amused at the peculiar nature of the monster. Most powerful beasts were territorial and highly aggressive. When someone stepped into their territory, they would immediately attack or force the other to leave.

However, the monster in this stream didnʼt seem to mind his presence.

”Just stay where you are. I am not going to hurt you. I will leave after I handle some things.” Alaric spoke while looking in a certain direction.

It was where the beast was hidden.

Catastrophe-grade monsters could understand human speech. There were even some that could speak the common language.

Alaric smiled after getting no response from the beast.

[Do you want to use your Catastrophe-Grade Steed Card?]

[Yes] [No]

With a glint of anticipation, he clicked [Yes].

A bright light flashed in front of him. Alaric kept his eyes open the entire time and witnessed the magical moment.

Archaic patterns emerged to form what seemed to be some kind of portal. From this bright portal, a ball of light was slowly taking shape and forming a giant mass.

The bright light was starting to hurt his eyes so Alaric coated his eyes with mana to shield them from the blinding brightness.

Even with the power of a Venerable, I still cannot fathom this mysterious force.

In the next moment, the blinding light vanished, revealing a creature with a glacial blue body.

As soon as it appeared, the surrounding temperature dropped significantly.

It had the body of a horse and in the place where its head should be was the upper body of a naked woman. She had dark blue hair and pale blue skin that seemed to embody the cold glaciers.

Its pair of golden eyes was staring at Alaric with an expressionless look.

”Human…” The creature spoke in a cold, almost mechanical voice.

Just right after it spoke, it grabbed its head, seemingly in great agony.

Blood trickled down from the corner of its lips.

What is going on?

Alaric was confused.

The creature seemed to be resisting something.

I understand now… Itʼs trying to resist the forced submission that has been cast by the system upon it.

”Aaahh!!”

The creature screamed in a shrill voice. Its mana was fluctuating intensely.

Alaric covered the area in his ice domain to prevent the others from sensing what was happening.

Itʼs only a Catastrophe-grade beast, but its mana is almost at my level!

[Do you want to use Appraisal on the selected target?]

[Yes] [No]

Alaric clicked [Yes].

Glacial Centauress Sovereign [Catatrophe-Grade] EXP: 4991/5000

Potential: L

Innate Ability: Water Manilulation (L), Expanded Energy Core (L), Transformation (L), Heart of Ice (SSS), Innate Divine Strength (SSS), Water Resistance (SSS), Superior Perception (SS), Soul Protection (SS), Mana Gathering (SS), ….

Strength: 999

Stamina: 999

Agility: 999

Vitality: 999

Endurance: 999

Mana: 1500

Alaric couldnʼt believe what he was looking at. The creatureʼs attributes had all exceeded the threshold of a Catastrophe-grade beast.

Just what kind of monster did I summon?

Until now, the Glacial Centauress Sovereign was still resisting the forced submission of the system.

Suddenly, the beast stopped moving and it stared at Alaric with a deep look.

”Human, why do you possess the power of the Ancients?” It asked in a shaking voice, blood trickling down from its orifices.

Alaric frowned. ”I donʼt know what you are talking about…”

The Ancients? What the hell is that?

The creature sighed in resignation and reluctantly lowered its head. ”I greet my master. I am called Nivis, the Queen of the Ice Centaurs.”

Alaric cautiously approached the creature. ”Are you willing to submit to me?”

Nivis lifted her head, and a trace of rage and humiliation flashed in her golden eyes. ”If you didnʼt possess the power of the Ancients, I would have already killed you right here even if I end up dying!”

Alaric could tell that it wasnʼt lying, but he wasnʼt afraid.

With the exception of his mana, all his attributes were higher than hers. Though she possessed incredibly powerful innate abilities, Alaric was confident that he could overpower her if he used his destruction domain.

This is bad. This beast isnʼt under my full control and it might attack me or the people around me if it wanted to. Should I just kill it and take its beast soul crystal?

A thought flashed in his mind.

Nivis was indeed powerful, but she was like a ticking time bomb. She could betray him at any moment.

After wrestling with his thoughts, Alaric narrowed his eyes. ”What would make you willingly surrender to me?”

Nivis scoffed and stared at him with contempt. ”I would never willingly submit to a human, not even you who possess the power of the Ancients!”

”I see. You leave me with no choice then.” Alaric shook his head with a regretful look.

He raised his arm and summoned the destruction element.

The stubborn beast was stunned when it sensed the familiar powerful coming from him.

”H-How can a human wield that power? You… Just who are you?!” Nivis revealed a fearful look.

That is the power of annihilation!

How could this be…

”Wait…” Nivis hesitated for a moment.

Alaric unsummoned the destruction element and raised an eyebrow.

”I will listen to you, but can you promise me one thing?” Nivis stared at the young human warrior in renewed light.

If itʼs him… maybe he can…

”Letʼs hear it first.” This was a special creature so Alaric was willing to make some compromise.

Nivis took a deep breath and spoke. ”I donʼt know where exactly we are now, but beyond this continent lies a vast ocean. On the opposite side is where my home should be located. If you grow strong enough to navigate the vast ocean, I hope you can help me find my home.”

A place beyond the continent? Is there something like that?

He feigned composure and asked. ”You mean that my strength is still insufficient to travel the vast ocean?”

Nivis scoffed in disdain. ”At my peak, I could squash a hundred of you with a single finger.”

She paused for a moment before she continued.

”In the vast ocean, there are numerous creatures with unparalleled might. They can devour the fragile ships that you humans make and they can roam freely in the sea without fear…”

With a deep look, she added.

”To safely cross the ocean, you must be strong enough to protect yourself against these creatures.”

”And how strong do I need to be?” Alaric felt that he had taken a glimpse of the realm beyond the Venerables and it filled him with excitement.