NOVEL WEB Chapter 458: Arthur's show
Each impact generated sound effects that echoed through the forest, creating a symphony of overwhelming force meeting inadequate resistance. The superior-rank predators, creatures who had dominated their territory for centuries, were being treated like training dummies by a single young man.
Arthur's gaze found the Mane King again, his expression deliberately dismissive as he continued his dismantling of the legendary creature's pack. The psychological impact was clearly visible in the king's amber eyes, fury mixed with growing anger as he watched his carefully assembled force being thrashed around.
"Are you enjoying the show?" Arthur called out mockingly between strikes, his voice carrying the casual tone of someone providing entertainment commentary. "I want to make sure you have a clear view of how worthless your protection really is."
SLAM!
Another Golden Mane sailed through the air, his golden form creating a brief comet trail before disappearing into the forest canopy with a sound like breaking branches and splintering wood. The creature's trajectory carried him so far that his eventual crash landing was barely audible over the ongoing sounds of combat.
The Mane King's roars of fury and frustration had become increasingly desperate, each vocalisation carrying notes of helplessness that had never existed in his voice before. Despite his legendary status and overwhelming pride, Arthur continued to ignore his presence as if the pack leader was merely part of the scenery rather than a genuine threat requiring attention.
Unable to find any weaknesses in the young man or tolerate the destruction of his pack any longer, the Mane King finally abandoned his defensive positioning.
He had been waiting, not intervening because he thought that the young man was baiting him into position before launching an attack on him. After all, he was the pack leader. But the more he watched, the more he felt like the young man simply...didn't care about his existence.
His massive body launched forward with legendary speed, claws extended and jaws wide as he aimed for Arthur's exposed back during a moment when the human seemed focused on another target.
WHOOSH!
Arthur simply vanished from his position, causing the Mane King's devastating charge to pass through empty air. The legendary predator's momentum carried him into the space where Arthur had been standing, his claws gouging deep furrows in the earth as he immediately stopped his momentum and regained control.
Arthur reappeared casually beside another Golden Mane, delivering another humiliating kick that sent the creature spinning through the air like a golden tornado.
CRACK! WHOMP!
Glancing at the Mane King, Arthur muttered with a tone that seemed he was mildly disappointed with the king's performance. "You are too slow, I expected better reflexes from someone with your pride and power,"
The Mane King spun around with snarling fury, his amber eyes blazing with the humiliation of missing such an obvious target. He launched himself again, this time attempting to anticipate Arthur's teleportation by striking at multiple positions simultaneously with sweeping claw attacks.
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
Arthur's response was to disappear mid-strike, reappearing behind the king to deliver a casual backhand to another Golden Mane who had been attempting to provide support.
THUD!
The subordinate's body flew through the air with enough force to uproot a small tree upon impact, while the Mane King's elaborate attack sequence struck nothing but forest air.
Arthur continued his casual commentary while the Mane King spun around frantically, trying to locate his elusive opponent. "You know what's fascinating about pack dynamics? The pack relies entirely on its leader's strength and wisdom. But what happens when that leader is completely powerless to protect them?"
CRACK! WHOOSH! CRASH!
The sound effects of Arthur's assault created a constant background rhythm, each impact demonstrating the vast gulf that separated his capabilities from those of his opponents. Even as the Mane King attempted another charge, Arthur was already elsewhere, eliminating the remaining pack members.
Recognising that his current strategy was failing catastrophically, the Mane King let out a specific roar that carried tactical commands his surviving subordinates had been trained to recognise.
ROAAAAR! ROAAAAR!
The remaining Golden Manes immediately abandoned their scattered positions, converging on their leader's location to form a tight defensive cluster. The tactic was sound in principle—by keeping his subordinates close, the king could provide direct protection while maintaining concentrated firepower against their elusive opponent.
Arthur paused his assault to observe this tactical adjustment with obvious amusement. "Ah, finally showing some strategic thinking. Unfortunately, your tactics are mere child's play in front of my abilities.
No matter how close you are, you will never have the chance to react to something that you can't see, feel or hear," he commented.
He demonstrated his point by teleporting directly into the centre of their defensive formation.
WHOOSH!
The Golden Manes' attempt to strike him simultaneously resulted in them attacking each other as Arthur vanished again, their claws and fangs finding pack-mate flesh instead of their intended target.
ROAR!
SNARL!
YELP!
Arthur reappeared on the formation's perimeter, grabbing one of the outer Golden Manes by the tail and spinning the creature overhead like a golden mace before releasing him toward the clustered group.
THUD! CRASH! BANG!
The impromptu projectile bowled over three of his pack-mates, creating a tangle of golden limbs and confused roars that temporarily disrupted their defensive coordination.
"Let me show you," Arthur answered his previous rhetorical question.
He grabbed the nearest Golden Mane by the scruff of its neck, lifting the four-hundred-pound creature overhead with ease despite the beast's struggles and attempts to rake him with rear claws. With a calm gesture, Arthur hurled the subordinate directly at the Mane King's position.
THUD!
The Mane King was forced to dodge his own subordinate's flying body, his dignity compromised by the need to avoid being struck by his pack-mate's unconscious body. The dodge disrupted his protective positioning, leaving gaps in the defensive formation that Arthur immediately exploited.
"Even your own kin have become weapons against you. How does it feel to be reduced to dodging your own subjects?" Arthur taunted, his voice carrying across the battlefield with crystal clarity.