Chapter 34: Guardian III

The Fallen Beast immediately followed with another attack.

Its claws came down toward Ryan’s head.

Ryan raised his sword and blocked again.

The beast’s enormous claws pressed against his blade, but Ryan’s strength was more than enough to hold them back.

The Fallen Beast suddenly opened its mouth and tried to bite him.

Ryan quickly moved to the side and avoided the attack.

The beast’s jaws snapped shut where he had been standing.

Ryan looked at it calmly.

"Did you really thought killing me would be easier?"

The Fallen Beast growled and attacked again.

This time, it used both claws at once.

Ryan stepped backward and blocked one attack before twisting his body to avoid the second.

The beast’s claws repeatedly struck toward him, but Ryan continued to block, dodge, and counter each attack.

His maxed-out attributes gave him more than enough physical ability to keep up with the Fallen Beast.

Even without relying on his summons, Ryan could easily handle its attacks.

The Fallen Beast became increasingly aggressive as its attacks continued to miss.

It swung its tail.

Ryan jumped over it.

It attacked with its claws.

Ryan blocked them.

It lunged forward with its jaws.

Ryan stepped aside and struck its head with the flat side of his greatsword.

BOOM!

The Fallen Beast staggered backward.

Ryan lowered his sword slightly.

"You’re fast, but that’s about it."

The Fallen Beast let out another roar and charged at him again.

This time, Ryan didn’t retreat.

He stepped forward and met the beast head-on.

Their attacks collided in the middle of the battlefield.

BOOM!

The shockwave spread across the floor.

Ryan remained completely steady.

The Fallen Beast, however, was forced backward several meters.

The beast stared at Ryan in confusion.

It had expected the human to be an easy target.

Instead, the person standing in front of it was strong enough to fight it directly.

Ryan raised his greatsword.

"Now it’s my turn."

He glanced at his summons.

"Don’t interfere. I want to fight it myself."

The summons immediately stopped and moved to the side, giving Ryan and the Fallen Beast enough space to fight.

Ryan looked at the creature and smiled.

"Come on. Now you don’t have to worry about guarding against my summons."

The Fallen Beast seemed to understand his words.

It lowered its body and growled.

Dark energy and holy power began gathering around its claws. The two opposing energies mixed together, creating a strange and powerful aura.

The Fallen Beast suddenly charged.

It swung both claws toward Ryan, releasing several golden slashes that tore through the air.

"Now you’re talking."

Ryan smiled and activated another ability of the Skeleton King’s greatsword.

Dark flames suddenly covered the entire blade.

Ryan swung the weapon forward.

"Devouring Wave!"

A massive wave of black flames erupted from the greatsword and surged toward the incoming attacks.

The golden slashes collided with the black flames.

BOOM!

The two attacks exploded against each other, sending a powerful shockwave across the battlefield.

Ryan stepped forward through the fading energy.

The Fallen Beast was already waiting for him.

It rushed forward and swung one of its claws toward his chest.

Ryan raised his greatsword and blocked the attack.

CLANG!

The force pushed him several meters backward.

Before the Fallen Beast could follow up, Ryan stepped forward again and swung his sword.

The beast crossed both claws in front of its body.

BOOM!

Ryan’s greatsword struck its guard and forced it backward.

The Fallen Beast quickly recovered and attacked again.

Its claws came from both sides.

Ryan ducked beneath the first strike and blocked the second with his greatsword.

The beast immediately swung its tail toward him.

Ryan jumped over it and landed behind the creature.

He turned around and brought his greatsword down.

CRASH!

The Fallen Beast raised one arm just in time to block.

The impact forced it down onto one knee.

Ryan didn’t give it time to recover.

He pulled his sword back and activated another physical skill.

"Brutal Swing."

He swung the greatsword with tremendous force.

The blade smashed into the Fallen Beast’s side and sent its massive body flying across the hall.

The beast crashed into the ground and rolled several times before stopping.

Ryan lowered his sword slightly.

The Fallen Beast quickly stood again.

There was no fear in its eyes.

Instead, it charged at him once more.

Ryan met it head-on.

The beast attacked with its claws.

Ryan blocked.

It swung its tail.

Ryan jumped over it.

It opened its enormous mouth and tried to bite him.

Ryan moved to the side and struck its jaw with the greatsword.

BOOM!

The Fallen Beast staggered.

Ryan immediately followed with another attack.

The greatsword struck its shoulder and pushed it backward.

The beast retaliated with another series of rapid attacks.

Ryan continued to defend against them using only his physical strength and swordsmanship.

His maxed-out Strength and Agility allowed him to keep up with the Fallen Beast’s movements.

His Greater Undead Physique and Lesser Draconic Physique further strengthened his body, allowing him to withstand the beast’s attacks without suffering serious damage.

The Fallen Beast swung its claws again.

Ryan crossed his greatsword in front of his body.

CLANG!

He blocked the attack.

The beast immediately attacked with its other claw.

Ryan twisted his body and avoided it.

Its tail followed.

Ryan caught the tail with the flat side of his greatsword and pushed it away.

The Fallen Beast tried to bite him again.

Ryan stepped backward and avoided its jaws before suddenly stepping forward.

"Death Slash."

A dark arc flashed from his greatsword.

BOOM!

The attack struck the Fallen Beast across its chest and forced it backward.

Ryan didn’t chase it immediately.

He stood in place and watched the creature regain its balance.

"So you’re stronger than the first phase, but you’re still not enough."

The Fallen Beast growled and charged again.

Ryan tightened his grip around his greatsword.

This time, he also rushed forward.

The two collided in the center of the battlefield.

The Fallen Beast attacked with its claws while Ryan defended with his greatsword.

Every collision produced a loud metallic impact.