The First Legendary Beast Master

Chapter 1264: Happy Carnage

“Let’s get a move on, then. No need to keep the boss waiting. Once we finish the last of the others, I will engage the Demon without my Golems.

That’s how Wrath Demons duel in Drodh, so I am going to assume that it’s traditional enough for the Dungeon.” Karl offered.

The berserker nodded. “That is one tradition that hasn’t changed. Even the Immortal Regent respects it, and that’s why summoning spells aren’t allowed in personal duels.”

Rae led the way through the rest of the regular demons, practicing her killing skills on the various sorts of Wrath Demons. There were dozens of different options, though only four were in this dungeon.

It was still enough to make Rae happy.

Carnage smiled and hefted his axe over his shoulder as Karl strode onto the open floor of the ruined building that the dungeon’s final boss had claimed.

“Are you up for a challenge?” He asked the boss, not actually expecting a response.

The massive Demon smiled and nodded, then flexed his wings, showing off his physique.

Karl used [Behemoth] to increase his size and took out the Sword of Champions, then equipped the Haint Claw.

The rest of the team remained at the edge of the room, spectators for their fight.

So fast that Karl could barely track his movement, Carnage attacked, and the Berserker cursed. The boss was not supposed to be that fast.

Not even close to it.

But sparks flew when the massive axe met the blade of the Sword of Champions. Karl slid backward a few metres, then hurled [Void Blasts] at the Demon as he charged back in, meeting the demon’s twirling axe with measured attacks intended to probe for weak spots.

Carnage laughed as he burst into flame, activating a defensive barrier around himself.

Then, Karl used [Naga Swamp] to turn the battlefield into knee-deep muck, which would slow down the surprisingly nimble Demon much more than it affected him.

It also caused a light fog of steam to form where the flame barrier met swamp water.

Over and over, the two tested each other’s defences, twirling and charging through the fog as skills lit the area in red and black, punctuated with the golden sparks of mythic weapons colliding.

“Something is wrong. Can he even win against that?” The Dwarf asked as Karl and the Demon fought to a stalemate.

“Give it time. The longer they fight, the larger the advantage that Karl will gain.” Dana whispered back.

Then, Karl used [Greater Consecrated Ground] beneath the swamp waters, where the Demon would feel it but couldn’t see it, and began trying to use [Blood Destruction] against the Demonic champion.

It was a huge mana burn, but it might be the edge that he needed.

Carnage laughed as he smashed the ground with his axe, shattering [Consecrated Ground] and a large portion of the dungeon floor.

Swamp Water poured into the chasm, and Remi whistled in appreciation.

That was one way to do it. She had never even considered the possibility that you could simply destroy so much of the ground that there would be no water left in the swamp.

Each of the strikes that made it through only did limited damage, but Carnage had very little healing within the dungeon.

Minute by minute, his attacks were slowing. Then he finally stumbled, and a strike from Karl cut deep into his throat. That fully activated the Haint Claw, and the tether of stolen soul essence was visibly draining the Demon, which seemed to deflate until it was first a lithe fighter, then an emaciated form, skin loose over bone.

A final strike took the Demon’s head, and the Dungeon lights flashed bright red, then white.

{Challenge Successful.}

{Select Another Challenger or Complete Trial?}

The others stared at the message from the Dungeon.

What sort of nonsense was that? After all that they had just seen, who would legitimately think that they had a chance to win that fight? Even without the beasts, Karl was a monster.

The others couldn’t know, but Dana was well aware that the combination of [Rampage], [Pack Tactics], [Greater Bestial Champion] and [Predation] combined to form an unassailable advantage in combat.

[Rampage 2] Every time an enemy is damaged by the Beast Master or a bonded beast, increase the damage done by the Beast Master and all bonded beasts for one minute.

[Pack Tactics] damage and healing done by bonded beasts and the Packmaster is increased by 10 Percent Per Rank.

[Greater Bestial Champion] doubles the applied effect of all applied buffs cast by the Champion on himself or his bonded partners.

Karl sighed in relief as he stepped to the edge of the area and let his spells expire.

The moment they were gone, the dungeon repaired, and Carnage reappeared in the middle of the destroyed building, ready for another challenge.

[Buff me up.] Dana instructed, as she watched the Demon’s movements.

[Are you sure?] Rae asked excitedly.

She really wanted to see the Dana Mage in action, going all out. But she didn’t often get such good chances. Mostly, she just acted like a normal mage and fought from a distance with spells.

Dana nodded, and Karl stacked her full of fresh buffs.

“I will go next. Worst-case scenario, I will retreat, and the challenge will be lost.” Dana informed the team.

They all looked as startled as Rae had been, though for a different reason.

“If you’re sure. Remember, it will reset if you use your Golems. That’s the rules to a Wrath Demon challenge.” The Berserker reminded her.

“No worries. I’ve got this. Karl might be strong, but I actually know how to fight.”

Karl laughed. She wasn’t even joking. She had multiple combat style skills, increased agility and speed, [Auto Parry], and blade attacks. Her usual fighting style was barely a tenth of her actual skills, though it would be most of her potential damage.

The Berserker smiled.

“Alright, you go first, and I will go next if you win. This dungeon might actually be the most fun one now. But it will have every warrior in the Guild begging for new gear.”

Once they actually fought Carnage, the begging might not even be of the dignified sort, either.