Chapter 522: The Lone Guardian

The group moved through the dark forest, hemmed in by the sheer walls of the abyssal ravine. Countless holes dotted the stone on both sides, mouths leading into unseen caverns.

“I-I can’t see anything,” Layla whispered.

She kept one hand on Charlie’s shoulder, using her as a guide through the darkness. Then, suddenly, something slipped out from one of the cavern openings.

“Something’s coming from our right,” Luke said.

“There are several of them, Master Luke,” Charlie added.

Among them, only Luke and Charlie could truly see in the dark, and Charlie’s vision was far superior. Luke sensed shapes through perception, like a kind of sonar. Charlie, on the other hand, saw clearly, both through her senses and her eyes.

“W-where? What’s coming? Please tell me it’s not something big and terrifying,” Layla pleaded.

“It’s big,” Luke said, gripping his throwing knives. “And probably terrifying. Don’t use fire, Franky.”

A sharp hiss cut through the air.

“That sound,” Franky muttered, suddenly alert.

The creatures rushed toward them, sliding fast across the ground. One surged close enough to open its jaws and rattle its tail, the sound echoing in the dark.

“N-no. This isn’t… this isn’t what I think it is, right?” Layla said, her voice tight.

Luke hurled two knives.

[Telekinetic Impulse activated]

Both blades struck an enormous serpent, forcing it to recoil. On their right, two more emerged from the shadows.

Luke kept throwing.

[You have slain a Beast Serpent – Lvl 64]

Charlie charged in with her sword, engaging another beast head-on. Angie and Layla could barely help, blind in the darkness. Luke and Charlie handled it, cutting the serpents down one by one. They weren’t as massive as the Beast Lord, but each snake was still large enough to swallow a full-grown bear.

“So much for avoiding attention,” Luke said. “These things can see in the dark.”

Charlie activated her [Flame Aura] and pressed the attack. Even Franky joined in, launching fireballs into the fray. When it was over, corpses lay piled across the forest floor.

“I hate snakes,” Layla said flatly.

“Me too,” Franky murmured, staring at one of the bodies. The tone was different from his usual humor. There was something heavy beneath it.

They moved on, continuing their exploration. The place was eerily quiet, unnaturally so. Even after lighting a torch, the shadows felt thick and oppressive. Luke knew it instinctively. This darkness wasn’t normal. More serpents appeared, slithering through the forest as they spotted the group. Luke drew his kukris. When one lunged at him, he rolled aside just in time.

[Crimson Fang activated]

This time, he struck first. His kukri flared red as it slammed into the serpent’s side, killing it in a single, brutal impact. More came, but in the end, they were nothing more than bodies scattered across the ground.

**Your class [Demonic Predator] has reached Level 69!**

Luke tossed a kukri into the air, caught it smoothly, and slid it back into its sheath.

At least Charlie can feed on these. That’s something.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

He crouched beside one of the serpents and reached into the wound he had opened, pulling something free.

“And that makes the third core,” Luke said, holding it up as he extracted it from the dead snake’s chest.

Charlie was farther ahead with Layla and Angie. Layla didn’t like staying near the snake corpses. Three cores were gathered in front of Franky, but this time he didn’t look nearly as excited as before.

“They came from snakes. You should be happier,” Luke said.

[Your familiar Frankzaroth has successfully absorbed a Rank E Mana Core.]

[Rank E Cores (73/100)]
[Rank E Cores (74/100)]
[Rank E Cores (75/100)]

[Your familiar Frankzaroth has awakened a new skill.]

It worked. He gained another skill after twenty-five cores.