Enveloped by crimson spirit blades, the Bone Katana "Wolf", which wasn't particularly sharp, erupted with astonishing destructive power.
The densely serrated blade effortlessly cleaved through the Khezu's slick, tough hide. Beneath, the elastic gelatinous muscles and blood vessels were sequentially severed by the blade's slicing force.
Further down lay the spinal column, dense with countless nerves.
To facilitate neck flexibility and movement, the Khezu had evolved a peculiar vertebral structure similar to a snake's jawbone, capable of easily dislocating.
If, when the neck was fully extended, the blade struck the exposed gap between cervical vertebrae, it truly might sever it at once, directly chopping off its head.
Unfortunately, at this moment, the Khezu's neck wasn't elongated. Moreover, sensing the attack, its neck reflexively twisted and dodged.
This strike ultimately failed to break the Khezu's cervical spine. Amid splattering blood, it struck the ground.
"Aaarrrggghhh...!"
The Khezu's agonized roar reverberated through the Arena.
Though failing to achieve the ideal result of a single strike decapitation, this long-prepared slash was exceptionally deep. The Khezu's neck, from the right side, was almost cut open by nearly half.
Through that dreadful wound, even the pinkish-white spinal bone could be seen, and crucial arterial vessels in the neck were severed under this blow, spurting dark-red blood like a fountain.
Altaïr focused his gaze on that blood-spurting wound.
Though this strike couldn't directly end the battle, it was nearly there. At this bleeding rate, even the resilient Flying Wyvern species couldn't endure for long.
With the safest approach, he merely needed to cautiously maneuver around the prey, preventing the Khezu from gaining breathing room and wound-healing opportunities. Naturally, it would collapse from weakness induced by massive blood loss.
But his goal this time wasn't just "safely completing the hunt." It was to hone himself and... surpass Isis!
For this, Altaïr initiated another fierce assault without hesitation.
Whether ignited by fury from successive severe injuries or realizing life's ebbing, stirring ferocity, the Khezu was utterly enraged.
It roared, its originally pale skin turning unevenly red, the surging blood showing through vessels and translucent skin.
Ignoring that this would further tear the neck wound, the Khezu's neck twisted, extending multiple times like a flexible rubber band.
It didn't bite directly at the hunter ahead but swung that highly elastic long neck, drawing a winding arc in the air, blocking nearly all evasion paths left, right, front, and back for the hunter.
This move truly somewhat exceeded Altaïr's expectations.
Iaido Spirit Slash countering the attack? Impossible! Too late! Without time for a better response, Altaïr rather awkwardly dived and sprawled onto the ground.
The Khezu's massive mouth swept over his head, biting empty air, but he didn't relax.
The dive was the evasion action with the greatest vulnerability. If the monster reacted promptly, it could likely pursue before the hunter stood up.
The Khezu's reaction under furious state clearly wasn't slow. Its neck not fully retracted, it lowered head biting at the prone hunter.
Altaïr dared not pause, rolling sideways at full speed as he landed from the dive.
The Khezu bit empty air again but surely wouldn't abandon such a good pursuit chance, continuing to bite.
Having evaded two successive bites via rolls, Altaïr knew continuing would inevitably be hit. Grasping the timing, as the Khezu's bloody mouth gnawed ground less than one meter beside him, he pushed ground with both hands, swiftly rising.
Even without time to fully stand, he hurriedly slanted-swung the Bone Katana "Wolf", meeting the Khezu's again attacking bloody mouth.
The hunter's rushed counter couldn't contest monster strength.
Altaïr was shoved backward quite a distance. Fortunately, the Khezu's peculiar jaw structure made truly gripping anything difficult; otherwise, his weapon might have been snatched.
Continuous biting pursuits failing real effect, the Khezu chose to change attack mode.
Its tail again expanded suction-like, attaching to ground. Simultaneously, that bizarre-shaped bloody mouth crackled, blue arcs gathering within, brighter and brighter.
Altaïr knew this was the precursor to launching a breath attack.
Try attacking to interrupt Khezu's breath? No, accumulated spirit energy exhausted in previous Spirit Helm Breaker. Basic sword moves alone couldn't quickly disrupt Khezu's attack preparation.
Using Iaido Slash to break breath attack, then exploiting precious vulnerability after Khezu's breath ended for counterattack? Also impossible.
The Khezu's breath was typical energy attack, slicing electric ball with sword? Perhaps those top-tier Long Sword users with exquisite swordsmanship truly could achieve slicing lightning, such an absurd feat, but he clearly lacked that level.
Realizing this, Altaïr quickly judged, shook blade activating Demon Mode, then turned and fled.
Seeing this, ordinary audience on stands inevitably felt somewhat disappointed, but those hunters truly experienced in actual combat nodded approvingly.
Especially as teachers, Karin and Amos revealed gratified expressions.
Advancing without fear when should, retreating calmly without hesitation when must, this was what a mature hunter should do.
Having completed attack preparation, the Khezu spat several bright blue electric balls at the hunter sprinting full speed. These balls skimmed ground, fan-shaped enveloping distant hunter.
Facing Khezu's covering attack, Altaïr not only didn't panic but relaxed.
The Khezu's breath electric balls weren't true lightning but some condensed energy form. For heavily armored hunters unable even to walk fast, evading these balls perhaps somewhat difficult.
But in his eyes, the Khezu's covering attack was like a ragged net, everywhere gaps for escape.
His foot pivoted, changing direction, directly diving through the electric ball-formed net. Utilizing super speed under Demon Mode state, he circumvented reaching Khezu's side-back position.
Dissolving Demon Mode state, directly entering charging stance.
This was a small trick taught by Great Sword user Haifa, preparing Charged Slash at monster side-back, waiting monster turns head, perfectly hitting their skull!
This move practically always worked; the Barroth back then was thoroughly confused by his circling.
But this time he slightly misjudged, the Khezu didn't turn body at all but directly elongated neck, head twisting 180 degrees, biting towards him.
"Tsk."
Clicking tongue slightly discontentedly, Altaïr timely interrupted Charged Slash, swinging Long Sword dissipating bit of accumulated power, then immediately rebound-step spinning retreat, narrowly evading Khezu's turn-back bite.
Immediately, he arrow-stepped out, countering Rising Slash slicing Khezu's jaw. Momentum thoroughly subsided after Spirit Helm Breaker again surged.
Foresight Slash!
"Good." Amos lightly patted knee on stands.
Long Sword users adept at finding opportunities within monster attacks often give impression like risking life.
Not fully initiated Long Sword users indeed such, they often share common flaw, love "gambling": gambling monster's attack slower than mine, gambling I can slash this extra strike.
But truly seasoned Long Sword users, each Foresight Slash, each Iaido timing, derived from precise judgment. Seemingly dangerous, actually everything under control.
Altaïr decisively choosing to interrupt charge, timely Foresight Slash evading monster attack, countering with Foresight Slash, proved he had emerged from that gambling phase.
This, compared to student muscle-brain, fiercely chopping prey dead, made him happier.
Having initially completed Spirit Gauge raising via Foresight Slash, Altaïr prepared to continue fierce assault but saw Khezu's turn action abruptly stiffen, foot wobbling, revealing unexpected vulnerability.
This stagger emerged too abruptly, making him momentarily suspicious, whether Khezu intelligence high enough to understand performing feints deceiving enemies.
But he quickly discovered real cause of Khezu's abnormal reaction.
Previously, the wound he cut open on Khezu's side neck using Spirit Helm Breaker, during Khezu repeatedly elongating neck, twisting head, turning head, continuously torn, dark-red blood connecting forming line, dripping ceaselessly.
So twisting neck like this kills you faster?
Altaïr's face revealed a dangerous smile, again swinging sword approaching.
(Translated by yourtl.app)