NOVEL WEB Chapter 904: Chased by a pack of dogs
That thought alone made his expression turn darker, frustration bubbling inside him like molten fire. He clenched the Blue Dragon Sword tightly in his hand, flames and sword intent flickering to life along its blade, casting sharp bursts of light into the darkness as he ran.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The sound of his footsteps merged with the deep rumble of the pursuing beasts. Max swung his sword backhanded mid-run, sending arcs of fiery sword energy flashing like angry comets.
Puff, puff, puff!
Several of the lesser black dogs howled in pain as they were slashed apart, their bodies collapsing heavily onto the cold stone ground.
But Max's lips tightened into a thin, grim line. Killing those lesser beasts wasn't his goal. His real target was the two-headed black dog at the peak of Legend Rank. If he could injure it or at least force it to retreat, the pack would lose its coordination, and he'd be able to slip away easily.
Unfortunately, the beast was far too cunning. It avoided every strike Max aimed at it, its movements fluid and unpredictable, like it could read Max's intentions before he even acted.
Every time the Blue Dragon Sword, wreathed in his level 2 sword concept and blazing flame concept, came slashing toward it, the beast darted aside at the last moment, its dual heads snarling mockingly as though taunting him for even trying.
Worse still, each time it lunged, it spewed clouds of black gas from both of its mouths. The poisonous mist shot forward like a volley of arrows from a war crossbow, striking the ground and walls with explosive force, leaving jagged scorch marks on the stone and filling the air with a sharp, acrid smell.
Max's brows knitted together, irritation flashing in his eyes. This wasn't just a pursuit; it was a hunt, and the two-headed beast was the hunter driving him deeper and deeper into unknown territory. Tightening his grip on his sword, Max exhaled slowly, suppressing his rising anger, and pushed himself harder, darting forward even faster.
The space ahead of the Black Dog Abyss grew narrower and narrower, shrinking from a sprawling thousand feet across to barely a hundred feet in width. The deeper Max went, the more oppressive it became, as though the abyss itself was trying to swallow him whole.
The faint grayness of the air that lingered at the entrance had long since darkened into a pitch-black void where sight was utterly useless—one could hardly see their own hands in front of their face. Only the faint, flickering light from Max's own body illuminated the path.
Black flames curled and danced around him like living shadows, casting fleeting glimmers across the jagged rocks and gaping caves along the walls. From those caves came bursts of frigid wind, carrying with them an aura so sharp and biting it could chill the soul itself.
Max's brow furrowed as he noticed the distinctive nature of that aura. 'Yin energy… thick Yin energy.' It rolled like an unseen tide, filling every inch of the abyss with a deathly stillness that made even breathing feel heavy. His expression grew grim. Though he had been running relentlessly since the start of the chase, he had also been keeping an eye out for any rare herbs or treasures hidden within this desolate place.
But despite covering so much ground, he hadn't found a single thing of value. Nothing. No miraculous herbs, no hidden spiritual objects—only endless rock, cold Yin air, and the endless howls of the beasts behind him.
'No treasure? After coming this far?' The thought gnawed at him, souring his mood further. Slowly, his gaze shifted behind him, settling on the towering figure of the two-headed black dog leading the pursuit.
Its dark, soulless eyes glowed faintly in the dimness, its dual maws exhaling that corrosive black air with each step. A murderous gleam flashed in Max's eyes, his patience running thin. 'Enough is enough.'
His grip on the Blue Dragon Sword tightened, the hilt warm and familiar in his palm. With a sudden, sharp stop, he whirled around to face his pursuers, his movements fluid and deliberate. The black flames coating his body pulsed like a heartbeat, painting the rocks in shifting shades of crimson and black.
Raising his right hand high, he brought the Blue Dragon Sword down with explosive force.
"Crimson Burial Sword Art!"
"Bang!"
The lead black dog, as if sensing the fatal danger, released a violent tide of black air from both its heads, a thick miasma that surged forward like a wall to meet Max's descending strike. The two forces collided midair with a deafening crash, sparks of red and black scattering like a storm of molten embers.
The big black dog planted its four massive paws firmly into the ground, glaring at Max with its dark eyes, then let out a guttural, twin-headed bark that echoed through the abyss.
"Woof! Woof! Woof!"
Its call was a signal, and immediately, the rest of the pack surged forward, surrounding Max in a wide semicircle, their bodies low, their snarls guttural and violent. The black mist spilling from their bodies thickened, enclosing him like a cage made of Yin energy and killing intent.
Max's expression turned cold, his voice sharp as he muttered, "Looking for death."
He had endured enough. Being chased like prey was something he could never tolerate, and now these beasts would learn why. With a cold shout, he swung the Blue Dragon Sword again, his black flames surging and compressing into its edge. 'Crimson Burial Sword Art!'
Thirteen slashes of black-flamed sword energy erupted forth, fanning out like thirteen enraged black dragons, roaring as they cut through the air. The pressure of the sword qi alone split the earth beneath him, and the explosive force crashed through the pack of black dogs, tearing apart their formation. Yelps and howls filled the air as bodies were shredded or sent flying.
Without hesitation, Max stepped forward, his speed suddenly surging. The flames around his body expanded like a living storm, curling and lashing outwards, their oppressive energy striking fear even into the beasts that had pursued him so tirelessly.