Bear School Astartes

The risk of using deception and cunning tactics in battle lies right here.

If you successfully deceive the opponent, everything will be in your favor, as you will have firmly grasped the initiative.

However, if the opponent sees through your intentions and counteracts accurately, then the initiative naturally shifts in the opponent’s favor during this process.

In battle, the struggle and control over initiative is an art.

And now, the advantage undoubtedly lies with Lann!

The Long Blade initially held in hand had somehow returned to its sheath.

The Demon Hunter’s body leaned forward, crouched low, with one hand pressing on the sheath and the other hand gripping the handle, like a spring knife ready to snap open at any moment.

An acute thin line suddenly appeared in front of Lann, emitting a ’screech’ as it pierced through the air, leaving a slender trail of airflow.

[Iwami Cross Slash]!

This move once severed Asura’s arm, and now in Lann’s hands, its speed and power have soared!

It sliced straight towards the front limb joint of the Demon Wolf!

Although Zhao Ge Luyin previously showed that it seemingly did not fear contact with the Lady of the Lake’s Sword, Lann was still confident enough that, even with mere Swordsmanship and the sword’s sharpness, he could chop off half of the Demon Wolf’s leg!

The first strike of the Cross Slash would break through flesh, stopping at the underlying bone. But the second strike following would sever the bone altogether!

The fierce sword wind sliced through everything in front of the blade.

The swiftly flowing extended Qi Flow Blade also bore some characteristics due to the power of the Lady of the Lake’s Sword, this Divine-made Armament.

Yet right when this powerful assault was about to accurately land on Zhao Ge Luyin’s front knee...

”Clang!!!”

A brilliant circle of sparks erupted between the Long Blade and the sharp fangs!

The azure Demon Wolf twisted its neck at an odd angle, almost looking as if it were licking its fur.

Lowering its head, its fierce mouth stretched behind the front leg, biting down on Lann’s descending Aron Dite.

Just like before, the holy Long Blade emitting a faint light appeared ineffective against this wicked creature.

It didn’t cause any smoldering pain, nor did it make its claws weak.

It seemed as though Lann’s attempt was entirely fruitless.

However, the Demon Hunter’s eyes squinted thoughtfully.

Not only the Demon Hunter, but also Zhao Ge Luyin’s wolf-like face with a human-like demeanor showed a solemn expression for the first time.

”Boom!”

A blast that compressed the air!

At the very moment when the Long Blade was blocked by the fangs, Lann’s leg abruptly lifted and swiftly drew a full arc, landing a fierce kick on Zhao Ge Luyin’s exposed snout!

[Peak Mountain Kick]!

”Awoo!”

The wet snout, a dense nerve center, was kicked and Zhao Ge Luyin immediately let out a shriek, its wolf eyes uncontrollably watered.

The kicked snout was also stimulated to expel mucus and blood.

This was not all; while lifting the leg, Lann had already taken out an Alchemy Bomb from the Alchemy Pouch at his back waist and shoved it into the opponent’s nostril.

[Higher Demon Dust]!

Using demon feces from the Magic Middle Ages as the primary ingredient, it emits a stench potent enough to poison monsters.

Although the Alchemy Bomb exploded in the relatively fragile nasal cavity, it was negligible to the physical strength of Zhao Ge Luyin, far from the [Peak Mountain Kick] that Lann executed with expert muscle coordination.

But the odor was incomparably unbearable for the keen-nosed Zhao Ge Luyin!

The Demon Wolf was no different from a wolf dog punched in the snout at this moment.

Its body contracted tightly, twisted in pain and the stench hit its brain, thrashing violently on the ground.

Whereas ordinary wolfdog tantrums merely dust the ground a bit.

Zhao Ge Luyin’s mighty body, its claws easily carved fierce grooves into the wasteland, its spine arching could easily crush jagged rocks nearby.

In the process, the azure Demon Wolf’s fangs finally could not remain clenched, its facial muscle taut and uncontrollable.

Lann promptly withdrew the sword, distancing himself like smoke from the crazed Zhao Ge Luyin.

”Ah! Awoo!!”

The Demon Wolf continuously inhaled through its mouth and exhaled through its nose, its paws constantly pressed on its snout.

This had a slight effect; from Zhao Ge Luyin’s massive nostrils, it puffed out yellow-green pungent gas like smoking.

Yet [Higher Demon Dust] mostly had already been inhaled.

Besides, the Alchemy Bomb was not meant to poison but merely to exploit the stench.

Delivering it to the nasal cavity fulfilled its purpose; entering the lungs was irrelevant.

Although the Crow Ridge foothills were somewhat distant from the main battlefield on Smaug’s Wasteland, they were not far.

Moreover, Zhao Ge Luyin’s violent flailing was so ferocious, so loud, that many on the battlefield were already aware of the Demon Wolf and the Demon Hunter, these rivals crashing from the mountain to the base.

”Is that... a demon wolf?!”

Thranduil, riding on a stag with his formerly soft white hair now smeared with beastman black blood, widened his eyes and said.

Beside him, the dwarf, riding a pig like a massive lump of iron, shouted.

”The demon from the stories is back to fight us! Dwarves! Attack Hell! Attack!”

Meanwhile, at the foot of Crow Ridge, Lann had just steadied himself amidst the chaos. Opposite him, Zhao Ge Luyin proudly regained control of his own body.

Still breathing heavily, it braced a front paw against its nose, its eyes cautiously and venomously fixed on the tall human opposite.

Their two pairs of vertical pupils locked onto each other, but the expressions were no longer the same as before.

The bright, silver-bladed sword in Lann’s hand unconsciously spun out a dazzling flourish, emitting a ’buzzing’ sound as it whirled through the air.

”Actually... you can’t ignore the sacred light on this sword, can you, Zhao Ge Luyin?”

Lann observed the azure demon wolf opposite him, and sure enough, after he calmly delivered the statement, the wolf’s body showed a subtle reaction.

Its expression turned solemn, its bared, menacing fangs twitching slightly at the corners of its mouth.

All these signs confirmed Lann was right.

”At least not all of your body can resist the light on this sword.” Seeing this, Lann added an explanation. ”If that’s true... only your claws and teeth have resistance.”

Zhao Ge Luyin did not respond, nor did he show any sign.

Yet this was a kind of ’sign.’

When it almost succeeded in ambushing Lann just now, its tone had been quite smug.

The Demon Hunter chuckled lightly, a smile that made the demon wolf opposite him bare its teeth viciously, yet it still remained silent.

The blade emitting a faint glow was placed by Lann in front of him, his other hand softly brushing over the back of the sword. The flexible finger pad played with the tip of the long blade.

This sword remained delicate, exquisite, and graceful.

Actually, when using the Iwami Cross Slash towards the demon wolf’s leg bend just now, Lann did not consider it would be blocked.

But until he saw Zhao Ge Luyin twisting its body into an awkward posture inappropriate for battle, lowering its head to bite with its teeth, he was fully convinced.

Other parts of its body were absolutely intolerable to the Light of Airendil.

Otherwise, even adopting the most costly strategy, Zhao Ge Luyin could raise its leg at the last moment, preventing the two blades of the Iwami Cross Slash from cutting the same spot.

That would cause two deep wounds, yet not result in amputation.

Unlike now, where its nose was kicked hard by Lann’s Senpou Foot and then stuffed with a super stinky bomb.

It was still uncontrollably dripping snot, its mind presumably a bit hazy, with its sense of smell entirely disabled.

The high cost was paid to prevent the Lady of the Lake’s Sword from contacting other parts of its body.

Because those parts were too fragile for the Lady of the Lake’s Sword, too vulnerable to ’special attacks.’

Zhao Ge Luyin forcibly suppressed its instincts, letting the paw against its nose come down.

It looked fiercely at Lann, and both wary and disgusted at the Lady of the Lake’s Sword emitting a faint glow in his hand.

”Yeah, that nauseating light.”

Due to the nose issue, Zhao Ge Luyin’s voice sounded muffled.

”But what does that matter, Dragon Slayer?”

”If I don’t dare touch your sword, would you dare let my claws and teeth touch you?”

The wolf’s paw gently shifted on the ground, revealing the marks left by Zhao Ge Luyin’s frenzied twisting earlier.

The claw marks left on the ground and stone wall were exceptionally smooth.

Aron Dite in Lann’s hand spun carelessly, remaining silent.

Because what the opponent said was indeed correct.

Both of them now before each other are somewhat like ’glass cannons.’

As long as the opponent uses the right part to touch oneself, it would be either death or crippling.

”You might think: Oh, I’m much more compact than you, I’m more agile.”

Zhao Ge Luyin deliberately pinched its voice, emitting a seemingly ridiculous, yet actually mocking sound.

But immediately after, the demon wolf’s expression turned vicious and dangerous again.

”But have you thought about it, Dragon Slayer Lann?”

Its voice, originally deliberately modulated, now returned to its deep, frightening tone.

”Why did I knock you off the mountain?”

The ground began to tremble, starting with mild vibrations, followed by the small chunks of stones around Lann’s feet bouncing like dancing.

Huge shadows and movements approached from the direction of the front battlefield.

Lann knew the cause of such commotion... it could only be those four Earth-Swallowing Giant Worms!

Feeling the Earth-Swallowing Giant Worms turning towards him, the Demon Hunter suddenly understood the look in Zhao Ge Luyin’s eyes.

The demon wolf grinned wickedly.