Lunar Legacy: Rise Of The Beastlord-Chapter 122: Smasher Territory

Jayden surged forward, his powerful legs propelling him through the dense undergrowth as he pursued the fleeing Earth Smasher. The massive beast moved with surprising agility for its size, its thick arms swinging from tree to tree as it desperately tried to lose its pursuer.

But Jayden wouldn’t be shaken.

His enhanced senses tracked the creature’s every movement, his energy detection skill locking onto the energy residue left in its wake.

The Smasher thought it could lose him in the labyrinth of towering oaks and tangled vines - its home territory where it held every advantage.

But it was wrong.

Jayden’s feet slammed against a thick branch as he launched himself forward, covering twenty meters in a single bound. The wind whipped past his face as he closed the distance, now just ten meters behind the panicking beast.

The Smasher glanced back, its beady eyes widening in alarm. With a guttural snarl, it ripped a massive branch from a tree and hurled it backward with terrifying force.

Jayden didn’t even break stride.

His hand flicked outward, telekinetic energy pulsing as he deflected the projectile effortlessly. Another branch came flying - then another. The desperate beast was throwing everything it could to slow him down. But Jayden evaded them effortlessly.

He kept chasing after the panicking beast, keeping up with it’s trail. Then he finally saw an opening.

His Precision skill activated, time seeming to slow as he locked onto one of the incoming branches. With a mental command, he seized it mid-flight and sent it rocketing back toward the Smasher with twice the force.

The thick branch impaled the beast’s thigh with a sickening crunch, punching straight through muscle and bone. The Smasher’s agonized roar echoed through the forest as it lost its grip, crashing through multiple branches before slamming into the ground with earth-shaking force.

Jayden landed lightly a few feet away, his golden eyes narrowing as the dust cleared.

The Smasher was already standing.

Not a scratch on it.

Jayden’s lips parted slightly in surprise. That fall should have shattered bones. But yet, the beast had shrugged it off.

It growled, its eyes now showing something unexpected... fear. It remembered how Jayden had injured it and killed one of it’s comrade with his bare hands.

It limped backward, the branch still protruding from its thigh, its massive, scarred chest heaving.

A smirk curled Jayden’s lips. "That’s right," he murmured, taking a step forward. "You should be afraid."

Then the Smasher did something that made Jayden pause.

It smirked back.

A primal warning screamed through Jayden’s nerves just as the world seemed to freeze. The air itself seemed to thicken, charged with impending violence.

Jayden wanted to move... but he was too late.

BOOM!

Something massive slammed into Jayden’s side with the force of a freight train. Ribs shattered instantly as he was launched through the air, his body crashing through a thick oak with bone-jarring force. Blood sprayed from his lips as he crumpled to the ground, his vision swimming.

[-150 Hp]

[Host has suffered a fatal hit]

Through the haze of pain, Jayden forced his head up, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

And standing where he’d been just moments before was a nightmare given form.

A towering Earth Smasher, its fur darker than midnight, muscles coiled like steel cables beneath its thick hide. Its eyes burned crimson in the dim forest light, and when it beat its chest, the sound echoed like thunder.

Behind the monstrous beast, the injured Smasher was pulling the branch from its thigh, its lips curling in a mocking grin as it moved behind its protector.

Jayden wiped blood from his mouth, his regeneration already knitting broken bones back together. He pushed himself up, golden eyes blazing with fury.

"You’re gonna pay for that," he growled. Then quickly, he activated dragon eye and checked the beast’s info.

_____

*Name: Earth Smasher

*Rank: D

*Ability: Super Strength

*Hp: 450/450

_____

Jayden clenched his fist, his gaze turning serious. The beast wasn’t just strong, it was also massive. And it’s health was slightly above the normal proportion for D-Rank beasts.. which meant it was probably on the verge of reaching C-Rank.

He shifted his stance, his claws gleaming in the sunlight.

The D-Rank Smasher roared in challenge, its massive fists clenching.

Then Luna’s voice cut through the tension.

[Jayden, you need to get out of there]

Jayden shook his head. "No, I can fight this beast. Even without transforming, I can still hold my own against it."

[I know, but you can’t fight them all]

"Them?" Jayden thought. "Aren’t they just two?"

[Look up] she added.

Jayden’s gaze lifted slowly. And that’s when he saw it...

Movement in the trees.

One. Then another. Then five. Then ten.

Dozens of Earth Smashers emerged from the shadows, their eyes glowing with primal fury. They perched on branches, crouched behind trees, their massive forms surrounding Jayden completely. Fifty at least. Maybe more.

The realization hit Jayden like a physical blow. He’d stumbled into the Earth Smasher’s territory. Their very own domain.

That was not advantageous for him at all.

The D-Rank leader growled, taking a menacing step forward as its warriors beat their chests in unison, the sound like war drums in the still forest air.

Jayden’s jaw tightened. He could take the leader one-on-one. But against an entire war party? Even with his abilities, those were suicide odds.

His golden eyes locked with the D-Rank’s crimson gaze.

"This isn’t over," Jayden promised, his voice low and dangerous.

The leader snarled in response, its massive fists clenching. It prepared to charge.

But in that moment, Jayden moved.

His body became a blur as he darted between two startled Smashers, his enhanced speed carrying him away from the clearing before the horde could react. Behind him, enraged roars shook the trees as the entire war party gave chase.

But Jayden was faster.

He wove through the forest like a ghost, every leap calculated, every landing precise.

He was no fool. Fighting the leader in it’s own territory would be a deadly move. Unlike howlers, earth smashers had a hierarchy. Which means if he killed the D-Rank Smasher, he wouldn’t be seen as the next ruler, he’d be seen as an enemy. And he’ll be killed immediately by the other dozens of smashers.

Running away was the best option... for now. Because unlike with the winter wolf, Jayden was planning on returning to the Earth Smasher’s territory to get his retribution.

And when he did, both the thief and its protector would learn the meaning of true fear.

.....

Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om