Bear School Astartes

A pair of claws capable of traversing the boundary between the Netherworld and the material world.

These claws and sharp teeth, when attacking, produce effects akin to spatial laceration.

Thus, every attack by Zhao Ge Luyin leaves scars that are eerily smooth.

The claw marks on rough stones are so smooth they can reflect light!

Even the finest sanding machine couldn’t achieve this effect!

It’s due to the spatial slicing effects of these claws that Zhao Ge Luyin can cut through the air in front of him while moving, enabling fast movement without the sound of air being broken.

The evil creature created by Morgoth is indeed powerful enough.

However, the reason Zhao Ge Luyin’s claws can resist the Lady of the Lake’s Sword is merely because he hides them in the Netherworld during confrontation.

If the sacred light contained in the Lady of the Lake’s Sword only affected the material world, then this would be a good strategy, but...

The legendary Light of Earyendil, the most holy and pure light, how could it only affect the material world?

It’s merely that the user hasn’t perceived the power of the Netherworld, causing the light to fail to spread there.

The depth of power’s influence relies on the user’s perception level.

For Lann, the Light of Earyendil is undoubtedly a deeply penetrating force. And his own eyes... are sufficient to see the depths of the world!

”Screech!”

Lann originally drew the Aron Dite blade backward with his left hand, placing its slender blade on the outside of his extended arm, using this leverage to block Zhao Ge Luyin’s claw strike.

As a splendid and radiant blade light flashed, the initially counteractively held knife turned into a completed slash.

Soon after, several claws, roasted crispy by the pure light, were straightly cut to the ground!

The Demon Wolf stared blankly at its own claws, with perfectly smooth cut surfaces and scorched residual heat marks on the fracture.

After a moment of daze, it released a deafening wail and scream!

”Ah... Ah!!!”

The Demon Wolf’s evil nature was inherently restrained by the Light of Earyendil; the pain and terror the light brought to it were indescribable.

When its claws fell to the ground, Zhao Ge Luyin went into a frenzy, desperately trying to retreat.

With its three still-uninjured legs pawing the ground and dirt, it made a mess while flapping backward.

Its azure wolf fur was covered in filth.

Moreover, in terms of sheer strength and size, Zhao Ge Luyin was undoubtedly stronger than the Demon Hunter.

But...

”Ah!!! Crack~”

The Demon Wolf’s previous screams hadn’t ended, followed by Lann’s foot, which was previously planted on another claw, suddenly lifting up.

Just as it briskly withdrew, at a critical moment, it was kicked sideways in its claw joint.

[Immortal Peak Kick]!

The ’crack’ sound was because when the leg landed, due to the misguided angle and timing, it was forcefully broken under Zhao Ge Luyin’s own weight and strength, twisting to the side!

Thus, in just a brief encounter, the Demon Wolf originally flaunting its power on the battlefield had its two front limbs crippled.

Once the enemy’s body and strength were entirely seen through by Lann, the mere difference in strength actually didn’t matter much.

The Demon Hunter, slightly out of breath, watched the Demon Wolf, with only two intact hind legs, clumsily sliding backward with all its might.

The breathing technique could extract the body’s power, maintaining peak status until complete exhaustion, but physical exertion would multiply.

Back when the Old Sword Saint of Iwami Country could extract even his life for the joy of wielding the blade, Lann’s current use was comparatively relaxed.

And the reason he didn’t reveal his [Spiritual Vision] against Zhao Ge Luyin earlier was because it controlled four Earth-Swallowing Giant Worms.

Those wild creatures weren’t evil, merely simple-minded and under control; to them, the sacred light on the Lady of the Lake’s Sword was merely a sensation of heat, unable to provide targeted restraint or damage.

With four Earth-Swallowing Giant Worms acting as meat shields, Lann wasn’t confident that he could deliver a decisive blow to Zhao Ge Luyin the moment [Spiritual Vision] was fully unleashed.

The first strike often presents the best opportunity.

Thus, he dragged on with the Demon Wolf for so long, just waiting for a secure chance to strike.

If Glorfindel hadn’t arrived earlier, he really would’ve gambled everything, advancing with an open [Spiritual Vision] for a fierce fight.

But now...

’Swish,’ the Aron Dite sliced through the air.

A pale red glow already covered the elegant curve of the blade.

During the previous entanglement, Lann had already activated his combat spirit into the [Red Blade status].

The active fighting spirit flowing incessantly on the blade was like countless invisible fine blades moving back and forth, greatly enhancing the blade’s slicing capacity.

With no other external distractions, Lann could face the Demon Wolf calmly.

In his hand, Aron Dite swung down fiercely at Zhao Ge Luyin!

The blade was accompanied by a violent wind sound disproportionate to its size.

[Heartless Stream·Great Severing]!

The demon wolf Zhao Ge Luyin staggered backward instinctively, opening its mouth to bite the descending blade with its strongest teeth.

It indeed bit down, producing a crisp ’clang’ as teeth met steel.

But... Lann had deliberately let it bite down.

”Woo!!!”

In the moment its teeth closed on the blade, even Zhao Ge Luyin realized the error of its decision.

The teeth it had ’hidden’ in the Netherworld transmitted searing pain from the holy light, along with a sizzling sound.

Because its mouth was closed, even its screams were muffled into a low whimper.

The wolf’s sharp fangs, shimmering coldly, visibly turned charred and were covered in brittle cracks, finally shattering!

After its teeth crumbled, the large amount of air blades wrapped by high-level swordsmanship followed the sword blade into Zhao Ge Luyin’s throat.

The original intention when Lann created the [Great Severing] move was precisely this.

Use the hard, sharp sword blade as the vanguard to create an opening, followed by a barrage of air blades to expand the damage.

The air blades, imbued with the holy power of the Lady of the Lake’s Sword, caused extensive damage inside Zhao Ge Luyin’s mouth and even its respiratory tract.

Blood poured from the mouth of the enormous demon wolf, flowing like a stream.

Lann’s concealed abilities completely disrupted Zhao Ge Luyin’s rhythm, unable to keep up with his series of attacks.

The advantage of the surprise attack was maximized by the Demon Hunter.

If Zhao Ge Luyin had known that Lann could observe the Netherworld, it would have avoided any direct contact with the Lady of the Lake’s Sword, just like during their cautious first encounter.

But now, one mistake led to another.

The demon wolf was utterly baffled!

Its panic, confusion under pain... all became part of Lann’s aggressive strategy.

With its two forepaws crippled and teeth shattered, Zhao Ge Luyin instinctively tried to lower its head to push the Demon Hunter away.

But as it attempted to move, its muscles and bones were inevitably engaged.

”Boom!”

Lann withdrew his left hand from the sword hilt almost as if anticipating the opponent’s move, readying his fist as Zhao Ge Luyin pushed forward.

He then struck diagonally upward at the connection between the wolf’s protruding jaw and its neck.

At the moment of impact, the surrounding air was compressed into a blast wave.

[Kneeling Continuous Punch·Break Demon]!

After that punch, Zhao Ge Luyin’s neck muscles instinctively contracted backward, counteracting its forward push.

But it was not over yet.

Lann held the wolf’s mouth with the blade while his punch plunged directly into its mouth.

His fist opened inside the wolf’s mouth, a small flame floating on his palm.

Zhao Ge Luyin was almost completely dazed, its wolf eyes no longer glowing yellow, staring blankly at Lann.

[Jet Flame: Dragon Flame]!

A torrent of flames surged with the force of dragon flame, blasting into the demon wolf’s mouth, even shocking its lower back and tail straight, sending it flying backward.

Though the azure wolf fur could resist ordinary flames and dragon flame, they were now inside its mouth, rendering any resistance futile.

”Wooow... Ow!!!”

The demon wolf’s howls, whimpers, and struggles gradually weakened until completely silent.

All that remained was a patch of muddy ground battered during its struggles.

Lann sensed his physical and mental limits approaching, halting the curse technique.

Zhao Ge Luyin’s head, with its eyes boiled by the intense heat inside its mouth, cooled into a pulp.

Its head slumped against the ground, yet even from that position, the wolf’s head was roughly the same height as Lann.

With the death of the demon wolf, the thick clouds looming over the Lonely Mountain Region dispersed further.

More sunlight pierced the clouds, like swords tearing through a curtain.

Lann gasped for breath, propping himself onto Aron Dite buried in the ground, kneeling to rest.

A ray of golden sunlight punctured the clouds, slanting down to envelope him in a halo of light.