NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 30: Apex Predator (Part 2)
July 8th. 11:58 PM.
The city held its breath.
Elle stood between Kael and the Gravespine Tyrant, spear pulsing in her grip. The beast loomed over them, its triple-hinged jaw leaking black blood from the cracked point beneath its plated lower jaw.
Kael was on his knees, body bruised, bones strained beyond repair. His B-rank healing pushed to the edge. Elle knew he couldn't hold much longer.
And yet, he smiled.
"We're not done yet," Kael rasped.
Then, his eyes glowed gold. Bright. Ancient.
> [Divine Echo – Activated]
All limits lifted for active abilities for the next 2 minutes.
Target Synch Enabled: Elle
A surge of light burst from Kael, covering both himself and Elle in radiant energy. Her muscles rippled, senses sharp.
> [Iron Bones – D Rank: Activated – Time Limit Removed]
Muscle & tendon reinforcement. Strength and durability boosted.
Elle felt her body tense with power. She could feel every motion, every shift in the Tyrant's massive form.
"Let's kill this thing," she said.
Kael rose, daggers blazing in both hands—longer now, infused with divine energy.
They ran.
---
The Tyrant Reacts
The beast snarled. It had underestimated them.
No longer.
The air grew heavy with tension as the Gravespine Tyrant roared, its plated spines glowing red-hot. With newfound aggression, it charged. The earth quaked under its weight.
Its claw swept for Elle.
She ducked and countered. Her spear moved like lightning.
Strike. Dodge. Strike again.
Each stab aimed at the wounded jaw. Each one struck home with brutal precision.
The Tyrant recoiled, screeching, tail lashing wildly.
Kael lunged from the side, daggers blazing. He spun mid-air, slashing in a cross-shaped arc that left two burning gashes across its face.
The Tyrant retaliated—a claw caught Kael's side, flinging him into a shattered car.
> [Health: 33%]
[Injury Heal Active: Internal Bleeding suppressed. Muscle tear sealed.]
Kael flipped back onto his feet. Blood dripped from his jaw.
"Still standing," he growled.
---
Relentless Assault
Elle dove under the creature's foot, slashing up with her spear, severing tendons. The Tyrant staggered. Kael used the moment to leap and slam both daggers into the weak spot.
The daggers fused with their respective abilities:
The Dagger of Humility erupted in a searing golden flame.
The Obsidian Dagger hissed with corrosive energy, eating through bone.
Kael twisted both blades.
The Tyrant shrieked and bucked, but Elle pressed in—more powerful and focused thanks to Iron Bones.
Strike after strike, they battered the same point.
Crack.
Bone shattered.
Kael dropped and slid away. The Tyrant fell forward, one limb paralyzed.
But it wasn't done.
It unleashed a final breath—a roar that melted stone.
Elle jumped into the air, spear above her head, glowing with momentum and rage.
Kael's voice cut through the air.
"NOW!"
Elle dropped.
She drove her spear into the fractured bone.
The Tyrant froze.
Then collapsed, its chest thundering into the pavement. Spines flickered. Light died in its eyes.
> [Apex Predator Defeated]
---
Aftermath
Civilians poured from their hiding spots.
Cheers erupted.
Elle stood panting atop the beast's body, glowing with sweat and power.
> [Skill Unlocked – Spear Echo (C-Rank)]
Can unleash 5 rapid strikes per second.
Combat awareness: Enhanced.
Duration: 10 minutes once per day
> [Iron Bones – D Rank Restored: Standard 5-minute a day limit reinstated]
She looked around.
"Kael?"
No response.
She scanned the rubble. The shadows. The alleys.
Nothing.
The crowd ran toward her, cheering, lifting her hands.
"She did it!"
"She saved us!"
"The girl with the spear!"
Elle turned, searching again.
Kael was nowhere to be seen.
---
Elsewhere...
Kael, bloodied but alive, walked down an alley far from the crowd. His robe was torn. His daggers dismissed. His face was blank.
He didn't stop.
Didn't wave.
Didn't want applause.
He just walked, shadows swallowing him.
Then his interface blinked.
> [New Skill Unlocked]
Classification: ???
Kael stopped.
Stared.
A cold wind blew.
---
To Be Continued...