Chapter 189: Two Lords

Chapter 189: 189: Two Lords

"You two run. We cannot fight it."

Lucard’s voice was serious.

Cedric looked toward the direction of the approaching beast. The pressure coming from that direction was becoming stronger with every passing moment. Even though the monster was still far away, he could already feel the difference between a Sixth Rank beast and a Seventh Rank beast.

"You do not need to tell me twice," Cedric said. "I have no intention of becoming food for a Seventh Rank monster."

Elowen stood quickly and picked up the small travel bag. Puff had already hidden inside Cedric’s coat, leaving only its white ears outside. The rabbit seemed to understand the danger better than anyone.

Lucard looked toward the western side of the forest. There were several large rocks near the slope, and beyond them was a narrow passage leading toward the mountain.

"Follow me. Do not use magic unless necessary. That thing can sense mana from a great distance."

Cedric nodded. "I will save my remaining mana."

The three immediately moved toward the rocks. Lucard went first, using Blood Concealment to hide their presence. Cedric stayed behind Elowen, ready to help her if she fell.

They had barely traveled a hundred meters when the ground shook again.

This time, the tremor was much stronger.

Elowen almost lost her balance.

Cedric caught her arm and pulled her behind a large stone. Lucard also stopped and looked toward the forest.

A terrible sound came from the distance.

It was not a roar.

It sounded like several enormous trees breaking at the same time.

Then they saw the tops of the distant trees moving apart.

Something huge was passing through them.

Cedric’s face became pale. "It is closer than I thought."

Lucard narrowed his eyes.

The Nightfall Behemoth was not chasing them directly. Its movements were too steady for that. It was heading toward the mountain, following a path that happened to pass near their location.

However, that did not make the situation safer.

A single careless movement from a Seventh Rank beast could kill them.

"Get behind those rocks," Lucard ordered.

They moved into a narrow space between two large stones. Lucard immediately placed a small blood concealment formation around them. It would not completely hide them from a Seventh Rank beast, but it could reduce their presence enough to avoid attracting attention.

Cedric crouched beside Elowen.

For several breaths, nobody spoke.

Then a loud cry came from above the mountain.

"Kreeeeee!"

The sound was sharp enough to make Elowen cover her ears. Puff immediately pulled its head back inside Cedric’s coat.

Lucard looked up.

Far above the forest, near the rocky peak of the mountain, something red appeared against the dark clouds.

At first, it looked like a small flame.

Then the flame spread.

Two enormous wings opened in the sky.

Cedric’s eyes widened. "Another one?"

The red shape moved away from the mountain peak and began descending toward the forest. As it came closer, its true appearance became clear.

It was an enormous bird.

Its feathers were bright red, with golden lines running along the edges of its wings. Flames moved between some of the feathers, but the feathers themselves did not burn. Its long tail spread behind it like several burning ribbons, leaving faint trails of red light in the air.

The bird had a sharp golden beak and two powerful legs covered in dark red scales. Its claws were large enough to seize an adult man without difficulty.

But its wings were the most impressive part.

When fully opened, they stretched wider than the length of several large trees placed together. Every time the bird moved them, hot wind rushed through the forest below.

Elowen stared upward with her mouth slightly open.

"What is that?"

Cedric did not answer immediately.

He was studying the bird’s mana.

Then his expression changed.

"Another Seventh Rank beast."

Elowen turned toward him. "What?"

"That bird is also Seventh Rank."

Lucard looked from the bird to the approaching Nightfall Behemoth.

Two Seventh Rank beasts.

Both moving toward the same place.

Interesting.

The red bird released another sharp cry and suddenly increased its speed.

It folded its enormous wings halfway and dived toward the ground.

Far below, the Nightfall Behemoth finally appeared between the trees.

The monster was even larger than Lucard had expected. Its black armored body pushed aside thick branches, and its enormous tail dragged across the ground. The bone spikes on its back looked like a row of broken spears.

The Behemoth stopped when it saw the red bird coming.

Its six pale eyes turned upward.

Then it opened its mouth.

Black mist escaped between its teeth.

Cedric immediately pressed one hand against the stone. "Lower your heads."

Lucard had already pulled Elowen down.

The red bird reached the space above the Behemoth.

Instead of striking with its claws, it opened its beak.

A huge stream of fire shot toward the ground.

The flames were bright orange at the edges and almost white in the center. The heat reached Lucard’s hiding place even though they were still a considerable distance away.

The Nightfall Behemoth raised its front foot.

Boom!

The ground exploded upward.

A thick wall of stone rose in front of the monster, blocking the incoming fire. The flames struck the wall and spread across its surface.

For a moment, the entire area became bright red.

Then the stone wall cracked.

The fire broke through several sections and struck the ground behind it.

Trees caught fire immediately.

Elowen gasped when she saw how easily the flames burned through the wet forest. Even the rain-soaked branches turned into ash within seconds.

Cedric stared at the destruction.

"That was only one attack."

Lucard remained silent.

The bird spread its wings again and pulled upward before the Behemoth could reach it.

The black monster lowered its head.

The bone spikes on its back began to glow with dark yellow light.

Lucard felt a heavy earth mana gathering beneath the forest.

The ground shook.

Several enormous rocks broke free from the soil and floated into the air.