An iron bolt tumbled down the stairs leading to the first floor of the iron factory, clanking loudly with each bounce.
Clank!
A flash of sparks lit up on the ground floor as a sharp Fang clashed against a steel beak before retreating immediately into more cramped, darker corridors.
Clank!
A screech heralded a small flood of acrid acids rushing through the corridors, softening the floor and walls as it ate through the concrete, sizzling like water dropped into hot oil.
Clank!
The iron bolt rolled to a slow stop, but the battle only intensified as a blur emerged from the blanketed corridor, dragging a sharp Empty Fang across the Stryx's healthy wing, carving a bloody furrow that enraged the monster.
The Stryx paused, observing the surroundings as it schemed.
Behind it was the corridor Lu Zhang had just emerged from, spreading acidic fumes as the floor dissolved. The right walkway was completely destroyed, in a similar state of acidic breakdown.
The bird's natural hunting instinct confirmed it. All it had to do, was outlast Lu Zhang, covering the room in more acid than he could dodge at once.
It eyed Lu Zhang warily, awkwardly waddling over to a side, it's claws unable to find purchase on the cold, smooth floor.
"Not so scary on the ground, huh?" Lu Zhang teased it, despite it not understanding what he said.
Lu Zhang didn't exploit the slight opening, instead stretching his legs. The lacerations were starting to sting more with every flex of his thigh.
'It's pretty smart. Not as much as that accursed insect though,' Lu Zhang thought as he leapt slightly, trying to lure the bird into wasting another vomit of acid on him.
He was enjoying himself more than he showed. He had to.
For his own survival, and for the people who trusted in him.
It's just a Game.
And he wanted to clear it.
Which meant this monster before him had to die.
The Stryx flapped its wings uselessly, unable to fly until they healed.
'Not yet.'
Lu Zhang remained steady, not biting. He had already experienced those seemingly soft wings up close. His leg was proof that he did not want to be trapped between them.
They were locked in a tense standoff, both injured and trying to lure the other into their traps.
Until a sudden trumpeting roar echoed through the factory, the temperature around them going up as both beings looked at the hallway connecting both factories.
"It looks like I can't dally here any longer."
"So be a nice bird and just die."
[Devour]
The smaller cuts along Lu Zhang's leg were starting to close up, the Stryx's vitality filling him.
Under the influence of two upgraded skills, the current Lu Zhang had already become an existence capable of fighting across level gaps.
The Stryx knew it had to end this fight as fast as possible.
It's enemy's weapon was stronger than its own body. An errant move could result in its death.
Resolving itself, it let out a shriek before spraying a large amount of acid into the air, a deluge of small drops spattering down all around the area Lu Zhang stood.
An inescapable net formed in the air, dropping down at him.
Lu Zhang's mind raced as the first milky white drops began sizzling against his raised hand.
'Forward.'
He followed his instinct, bursting forward, right at the waiting Stryx. His back was already hit by a few globs of acid, melting through the clothes to bubble against his skin.
The Stryx's iron beak snapped towards Lu Zhang's head, aiming to decapitate him directly.
As the sharp beak closed around his head, Lu Zhang let his legs lose power as he slid under the Stryx, barely missing the strike that would have separated his head from his shoulders.
For a moment, it seemed like he was safe.
The Stryx cawed in happiness as it contorted its body, slamming into Lu Zhang behind it, sending him flying back into the pool of acid forming around the hallway.
"Khak-" Lu Zhang felt his head ring as a small crater formed against the wall next to the hallway's entrance, dazing him.
He slid and fell onto the pool of acid formed by the Stryx beforehand, bracing himself with his right hand.
Lu Zhang's eyes watered from the acidic fumes rising. His burnt back could barely feel heat rising behind it on the other side of the hallway.
Agony coursed through his body, bursting from his slowly dissolving hand. The blurriness in his vision cleared slightly as he saw his own skinless palm before his face. Slight scratches and slashes against the front of his body from the Stryx's wing made themselves known painfully.
His shoes were melting, bits of acid starting to eat away the soles of his feet as well.
And with pain, came rage.
Lu Zhang looked at the rejoicing Stryx unblinkingly, even as a line of blood trickled into his right eye.
'I will...'
His teeth grit together as he fell deeper into his own mind.
'...fucking kill you.'
The Gale-Crested Stryx hooted in triumph as it leapt up and down in joy, it's keratinous feet clacking against the smooth floor.
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The Bulgasari charged towards Arthur, its tusks already lengthening as the heated metal flowed threateningly.
Arthur gulped, preparing to let it get as close as possible before trying to roll away.
To his surprise, the Bulgasari slowed down, before stopping entirely.
In the corner of it's eye, a spark lit up.
It ignored Arthur, turning to see Su Yao standing still, a small flame held in her raised palm.
"That's right. Come and get it," Su Yao taunted the giant monster, her eyes wary for any metallic spears hurtling at her.
She wasn't like Cai Dajiang. One hit and she would be done for.
'No mistakes.'
The Bulgasari trumpeted once in her direction, its eyes locked onto the flame in her hands. Gluttony shone in its large eyes as it shivered in anticipation.
[Inferno]
A large plume of flame burst towards the Bulgasari the instant it charged her.
Su Yao hurriedly stopped the Inferno and leapt aside as the heated Bulgasari passed by her, crushing through a wall.
The large beast seemed to revel in the heat surrounding it, letting out joyful huffs.
The few remaining survivors hiding away parted, as three men walked out shakily.
They were the ones who had joined from Elena's group, seeming to find their nerve again.
"O-Over here," one of them tried to distract the Bulgasari from Su Yao, clearly overwhelmed. He froze stiff the instant the beast eyed him curiously.
His two comrades had picked up bits of rubble from the destroyed walls, and began throwing it at the Bulgasari as they spread out.
A horrible choice.
With an annoyed noise, spears of hot metal stabbed through the heads of the ones throwing rubble, scrambling their brains as their heads popped like overripe watermelons.
The one trying to call out the Bulgasari turned in disbelief, looking at his friends corpses, "Ah?"
An eye rolled towards his feet, looking right at him accusatorily.
"AHHH!"
"Damn you, you bit-" His last words were cut off as a similar spear was put through his throat.
Almost on an afterthought, the Bulgasari flicked its tail, sending a hot metal lance through Cai Dajian's shoulder, pinning him to the wall behind him as it laughed.
It turned to Su Yao, walking after her scrambling form with the majesty of a being higher in existence than the rest.
It crushed a small ramp underfoot as it speared Su Yao's foot from underneath, making her shout in pain and fall over.
The Bulgasari slowly walked up to her, its mere presence searing her skin.
Su Yao struggled to breathe as the overwhelming heat washed over her, but she felt a strangely cool sensation against her back.
'I made it.'
As the Bulgasari leaned down towards her, su Yao's last thought was filled with hatred.
The Bulgasari's tusk tore a hole open in the tank behind Su Yao as its head dipped.
A geyser of pressurized water erupted as the tank blew open, flooding over Su Yao and the Bulgasari at the same time.
Steam exploded loudly as the cold water slammed against burning hot metal, intertwined with pained trumpets, obscuring both beast and hunter.
[Inferno Lv 3 -> Inferno Lv 4]
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[Name: Su Yao]
[Level: 9]
[Strength: 19]
[Speed: 17]
[Intelligence: 36]
[Endurance: 17]
[Stat Points: 25]
[Mana: 105/360]
[Skills: Inspect Lv 6, Inferno Lv 4]