Lord Of Beasts

Ethan’s plan had been simple, but reckless and desperate.

He would bait the Boss Beast himself, force it to target only him, and when it burst from the ground, he would dodge at the last possible second.

Then, in that brief instant of instability, Wolfy and Talon would slam into it and knock it onto the spike.

That was the plan.

But reality didn’t care about plans.

’I need to get this thing off me!!!’

Ethan’s body was lifted into the air as the Lithoserpent Burrower clamped down on his left arm and surged upward.

Its jaws ground together, his bones splintering and tearing through his flesh.

”AAAGHHH-!!”

Another scream ripped from his throat.

Agony flooded his entire body as the beast’s teeth crushed deeper, grinding his arm like it was nothing more than brittle wood.

Tears streamed uncontrollably down his face.

This wasn’t pain.

This was decimation.

His body convulsed mid-air as the monster lifted him higher, shaking him like prey caught in a predator’s jaws.

At this rate, not only would his plan have failed, but the beast that was gnawing away at his body would swallow him whole.

Ethan’s vision shook violently.

He was swimming in and out of consciousness, the pain so overwhelming it was numbing his senses.

’I need to do something!’

Snapping out of the haze, he grit his teeth so hard they felt like they would shatter.

Ethan then did something unthinkable.

He planted his feet against the beast’s rocky exterior and pressed them hard against the jagged stone plates lining its mouth.

Then he pulled with everything he had.

Every muscle in his body screamed as he tried to rip the trapped limb off his body.

”AAAAAAAGHHHH-!!!”

The sound that tore from his throat wasn’t human.

It was raw and animalistic, a mix of pain and determination to live.

His body convulsed as he tore his own arm free: flesh ripped apart, bone snapped, and blood exploded into the air in a violent spray.

For a split second, there was no pain, just shock and silence, as if the world around him had frozen. Then everything came crashing back, and Ethan began falling toward the ground.

Blood trailed behind him like a crimson ribbon as his vision flickered.

’We can still do this.’

His MP surged, and two bursts of blue light exploded beside him.

”Wolfy!”

”Talon!”

Both beasts materialised instantly, and the moment they appeared, Ethan roared with everything he had left.

”NOW!!”

They didn’t hesitate.

Wolfy sprinted forward, paws tearing across the stone despite his injuries, while Talon dived from above like a falling blade.

The Burrower had just burst from the ground, its massive body still partially airborne and thus unstable.

They hit it at that exact moment.

Crashing into it with everything they had, they pushed and repeatedly charged at the Boss Beast, straining their bodies to their absolute limits. Even Ethan, after falling to the ground, scrambled to his feet and charged into it with his right shoulder.

The gigantic body shifted.

And slowly, inch by inch, it was veering towards the spike.

’It’s working!’

Those seconds dragged as hope surged within Ethan’s chest.

But that’s when the Burrower twisted violently.

It seemed to sense the danger, and even without much stability, it contorted mid-air, forcing itself away from the spike at the last possible moment.

The jagged stone scraped along its side, grinding against its armour.

SCREEEECH!

Stone split and plates cracked, as a deep groove was carved across its body, but it didn’t pierce the beast as planned.

Ethan’s heart dropped.

But the twist had cost the beast everything.

In an attempt to evade the spike, it lost its balance, and its enormous body slammed sideways into the ground.

The impact shook the plains.

It tried to roll over.

Once.

Twice.

But it was to no avail, and the Burrower was flipped completely onto its back.

Everything froze.

The gigantic worm writhed violently, its pale, fleshy underbelly exposed to the sky.

There were fewer stone armour plates, and the gaps between them were soft, unprotected, and vulnerable.

It was like a giant turtle on its shell, helpless to get back on its metaphorical feet.

Ethan’s eyes burned.

’This is it!’

This was their one and only chance.

There was no need for a signal, and Ethan’s throat burned and was strained through his screams of agony.

Immediately, he and his beast burst forward.

Wolfy was first and pounced onto the beast, landing on top of it before tearing into its exploded flesh. This time, there was no armour, and its teeth sank deep.

A clear, slimy liquid erupted across the plains as he ripped into the creature’s belly.

Talon followed instantly, diving again and again, claws shredding into soft tissue.

The Burrower convulsed violently, and its body thrashed, trying to right itself as its underbelly was being torn apart.

Meanwhile, Ethan’s body screamed in pain and was so drained that it was a miracle he could even stand.

It settled in now.

His left arm was completely gone.

A mangled stump remained at his shoulder, jagged bone visible through torn flesh as blood poured freely.

Just looking at it made his vision blur.

But he couldn’t stop now.

With his right hand, Ethan grabbed a jagged shard of stone and climbed up onto the trashing giant beast.

”As long as I don’t die here-”

He drove it down into the exposed flesh.

”I can come back!”

Again.

And again.

And again.

Wolfy tore deeper, ripping open a widening cavity in the beast’s underside.

The Ulfen, just as insane as its lord, shoved its entire head into an opening it created and began chewing away at the beast’s mushy insides.

The Burrower convulsed even more violently.

More of that gooey substance, which seemed to be the blood of this creature, poured out in torrents and soaked the cracked plains.

Talon carved deeper with every pass, ripping flesh apart with ruthless precision, and Ethan stabbed relentlessly.

The monster bucked wildly, and for a moment, it almost managed to roll back over. If it did, it would crush them all beneath its weight, and it would all be over.

But Wolfy held on, Talon didn’t stop, and Ethan kept stabbing.

This was only working because of their desperation, luck, and sheer stubborn refusal to die.

Finally, the giant worm shuddered.

Once.

Twice.

Then, it went still.

Silence fell across the Rocky Plains as Ethan collapsed on top of the enormous corpse.

’I guess everything really can be killed.’

His chest heaved violently.

Everything hurt, literally everything.

Wolfy limped toward him, and the Ulfen looked barely alive. Its fur was soaked, one leg was bent the wrong way, and bruising was spread all around its body.

Talon wasn’t in much better condition and landed beside him. Well, it was less of a landing and more of it falling out of the air. Its wings sagged heavily, feathers torn and stained red with its own blood.

”That’s enough.”

Ethan raised a trembling hand, and both beasts dissolved into blue light, pausing their suffering for now.

He then stared up at the yellow sky that stretched endlessly above him.

A weak smile formed.

”We actually did it.”

His voice came out as a whisper, his body giving out completely.

The adrenaline was fading quickly, his ribs throbbed with each breath, and his body trembled uncontrollably, not to mention the blood pouring from the stub where his arm had been.

At this rate, it wouldn’t be long before...

{Congratulations on defeating the Boss Beast!}

Upon hearing that notification, it was finally confirmed: he had succeeded, and the Lithoserpent Burrower was officially dead.

’That giant fucker held on for quite a while, didn’t it?’

Then came a series of chimes from the system, which he barely registered.

{Additional Reward: Beast Mend Skill (C)}

{The host has now met the requirements to ascend to Floor Two}

{Would you like to move to the next floor of the Tower Of Beasts?}

{Yes / No}

Ethan blinked slowly.

His thoughts felt heavy and distant, like he was sinking underwater.

The Tower Body was shutting down, and he knew it.

If he stayed here much longer, he would die completely, both here and in reality.

He lifted his right arm with the little strength he had left and made a decision that surprised even himself...