Regressor of the Fallen Family Novel - Chapter 286
Chapter 286: “A Shocking Battle.”
It had been half a year since Burdell was tasked with locating the king’s brother and set out into the southern mountains. Perched high on a massive tree, Burdell gazed down below and sighed quietly.
Below the towering tree, a colossal puma, as large as an average cottage, lay sprawled across the area. Its sheer size was imposing, but more importantly, the beast possessed incredible leaping ability, capable of covering a distance of at least 30 meters in a single bound.
If not for his attire crafted from the skin of the Tohiren, worn since his days in the forest of the beastly demons…
“It would have detected me instantly by scent.”
Although Burdell could defeat it, unless he could pierce the puma’s eyes and shatter its brain in one strike, all nearby monsters would swarm him – each as formidable as the finest knights.
How did he know?
Because he had faced that dire situation himself just two months ago, forcing him to retreat all the way back to the entrance of the southern mountains. Consequently, he had to recommence his journey towards the depths from the beginning.
“I’m exhausted. I thought I had witnessed all the horrors the forest could present…”
While memories of the forest’s challenges were still vivid, he had a foreboding sense that a few more months there would change his perspective.
And finally…
“There it is!”
Next to where the massive puma had passed, there was a trail of crushed bushes. In this forest, where everything was unusually large, only a human-sized being could leave such traces. Since entering the deep southern mountains, Burdell hadn’t encountered any creature smaller than himself.
Which indicated…
“It’s a sign of Prince Ronian. I’ve finally caught up with him.”
Burdell couldn’t comprehend why the prince would opt to hide in such a perilous place.
Regardless of his lack of understanding of the prince’s motives, his duty was clear, and he devoted himself entirely to the mission. After all, his ruler had promised him noble status if he truly became a superhuman in addition to instructing him and bestowing knighthood.
“Here I go.”
As his determination surged, Burdell’s body leaped noiselessly onto the opposite branch without a sound.
Six months in the mountain range.
He felt that his agility and stealth abilities, already pushing the boundaries of a superhuman archer, were progressing. All thanks to the guidance from Felix Esperanza, the “Phantom Shadow,” coupled with years of hunting supernatural creatures.
To Burdell’s slight dismay, this progress wasn’t entirely pleasant.
“I yearn for home.”
He missed the comfort of the mansion in Grandia City, not the modest dwelling near the beastly forest, but…
“To complete my mission first. Focus!”
With a slight furrow in his brow, Burdell shook off his daydream and continued to track the trails below.
His already keen eyesight had sharpened as he advanced in his training, enabling him to discern details from dozens of meters away with clarity.
Confidently surveying the terrain, he reaffirmed the continuation of the tracks.
“They’re close. Definitely residing nearby.”
Burdell’s pupils quivered slightly.
The conclusion of this arduous mission was finally within reach.
Unbeknownst to him, his pace quickened slightly. It took him only about thirty minutes since discovering the initial trace in the bushes before he stumbled upon a cavern resembling a massive animal’s den.
Despite being perched on a branch of a colossal tree hundreds of meters away from the cave, and despite the pitch-black darkness within, these were no hindrances for him.
“Kae-an (Opening Eyes).”
His unique method of channeling force, focusing it on his eyes, and enhancing his vision further. The force-generated light pierced through the dark distances, unveiling the cave’s interior.
And there, at last, Burdell saw his quarry.
“A person!”
An exclamation of triumph escaped his lips involuntarily, and his fists clenched in a reaction he would have certainly repressed had he been in his prime back in the beastly forest – but he didn’t even realize his slip.
The consequence was immediate.
“Swish.”
A soft sound – but what ensued sent shivers down his spine.
Burdell instinctively sensed the peril and leaped from the branch downwards.
Then, a massive explosion erupted where he had stood moments ago. Swiveling mid-air, he saw a colossal serpent with eyes as large as a human torso, its vertical pupils exuding malevolence and attempting to immobilize his movements.
Fortunately, encounters with bizarre creatures like this were not unfamiliar to Burdell – particularly concerning matters of sight, for he possessed adaptability surpassing that of a superhuman.
With a surge of his force, he effortlessly shrugged off the snake’s oppressive gaze.
“Should’ve named it the Giansuroom (Giant Beast Forest).”
He pondered when the snake had slithered up behind him. Memories of the beastly forest flashed in his mind as he drew his bow in mid-air.
After tumbling dozens of meters from a sudden assault, he promptly adjusted his posture and released the arrow without hesitation. The arrowhead, with a force blade, or rather force shot, illuminated in red.
“Whoosh.”
“Boom!”
“Kieeeeek!”
Regrettably, the initial shot merely glanced off the snake’s eyelid.
“What?!”
Even considering its fantastical size, the notion of a snake’s eyelid deflecting a force shot potent enough to pierce rock was absurd. Barely processing this astonishment, Burdell rolled swiftly across the ground.
“Whirrr.”
The grass where he had lain moments before dissolved amidst white smoke – tainted by venom that had dripped from the snake’s gaping maw.
“Curse it. That size and an instant-death venom too? How?”
There was no time to ponder.
“Kyaaao!”
The colossal snake lunged from its perch, moving with a flexibility and speed belying its size.
“Tch!”
Burdell evaded the venomous mist and unleashed a volley of arrows. Each struck its mark – the descending snake’s head – with alternating attributes of penetration and explosion.
“Clang. Clang.”
“Swish, swish, swish.”
Only one arrow succeeded in inflicting a deep wound on the snake’s eyelid, the rest bouncing off ineffectually.
‘This is truly problematic.’
As the snake’s malevolence grew even more palpable and menacing, Burdell realized he was no longer just prey; he was facing a formidable adversary.
‘This is dire.’
Feeling cold sweat trickle down his spine, he poured all his force into his bow and arrow. The bow crafted from the horn of the beast Grindel, and the string made from Garen’s potent sinew vibrated with his force, enhancing its elasticity to the extreme. The force shot concentrated at the arrowhead, considering the prior failure and further amplifying its piercing power.
“One shot.”
He needed to pierce the snake’s eye and brain with a single shot.
He parted his lips slightly to regulate his breathing, allowing drool to flow without restraint – better to appear foolish momentarily than risk even the slightest tremor that could disrupt his aim.
But at that moment, a bead of sweat trickled from his brow, through his eyebrow, and into his eye.
Blinking involuntarily in that fleeting moment.
“Swish.”
“Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.”
For a heartbeat, the snake’s head seemed to swell, then spewed forth a deluge of green liquid – the venom.
“Blast it!”
Burdell instinctively released his arrow, cleaving through the venomous tide and rolled to the side.
“Ssssss.”
Simultaneously, he noticed his leather boots smoldering.
At that instant, Burdell’s eyes widened.
“The Tohiren leather destroyed so easily?”
The venom effortlessly pierced through his most resilient gear, and a single drop brushed his shin.
His leg stiffened, and numbness spread. Burdell screamed inwardly.
He was on the brink of death.
Slain by a snake’s venom.
‘To perish without fulfilling my mission, at the hands of a serpent?’
A spark ignited in his eyes.
Amidst extreme crisis, self-disappointment, anger at the foe, and despair.
All those intertwined emotions erupted into an indomitable will.
“I refuse to meet my end here by a mere snake!”
At that moment, the force enveloping the arrow in his grasp condensed anew, radiating a divine light.
The force, drawn without regard for life or death, breached its constraints and wrought a miracle.
However, his resolve couldn’t endure.
His vision blurred, and he felt the force ebbing like a receding tide.
‘No, not like this!’
As the serpent’s colossal head closed in, Burdell’s eyes snapped open.
“Boom!”
Before him, something ‘orange’ crashed with immense force into the serpent’s head.
The beast’s body was flung back, tumbling away into the distance.
“Kyaaaak!”
“Who is it?”
The curiosity and relief woven into those words spoken in the familiar language of the continent – could they have ever sounded more comforting?
The familiar red-haired countenance confirmed to Burdell that he had indeed located his objective.
“Oh, uh….”
But he couldn’t reply; his blurred vision and unresponsive body left him speechless.
‘No, not like this.’
He felt as though he was descending deep into the ground, his consciousness fading, yet Burdell fought to open his eyes once more.
It appeared to him that he witnessed an extraordinary sight – the monstrous serpent being sliced by a brilliant orange aura, enveloping the sky and the earth.
But that was the extent of his consciousness.
* * *
“Hey….”
“Are you… coming to?”
Voices filtered through hazily.
The once distant voices grew clearer and clearer.
“Look here! Wake up. I know you’re conscious!”
With that distinct voice cutting through sharply, Burdell abruptly widened his eyes and propped himself up.
“Whoa! The, the snake!?”
“The snake? Oh, most of it is outside. And some are here and in your stomach.”
The young man with red hair and eyes held up a chunk of meat roasting over the fire, grinning.
Burdell, still feeling dazed, recognized the meat. He unintentionally quipped like a hunter.
“Snake meat with venom shouldn’t be consumed so casually…”
“It’s tastier than it appears. Besides, partaking of this snake’s gall bestows immunity to its venom. That’s why you survived, after all.”
“Ah? Oh! My leg…!”
Reassured by the jest, Burdell glanced down at his lower body and sighed in relief.
A minor burn-like mark and the faint discomfort from it – feeling that discomfort was more gratifying than realizing he had survived – though a ludicrous notion, the pain in his legs was more tangible, aiding him in grasping the situation.
After a moment, he looked up to find the young man extending a piece of meat to him, emanating an enticing, earthy aroma.
“Eat it. It will aid in your recovery. It’s a pleasure to encounter a person after such a prolonged period.”
“Ah… Th-thank you.”
Still somewhat bewildered, he accepted the meat; the understanding that he had survived settled in once again.
Burdell breathed a sigh of relief once more and scanned his surroundings, noting peculiar figures and inscriptions extending beyond the dim firelight.
“…Huh?”
Concentrating, he discerned the carvings on the cave walls – portraying a figure wielding a sword with annotations around it. Despite not being a swordsman, Burdell could ascertain at a glance that the figure exuded extraordinary internal strength.
The term ‘Aura’ appeared to be predominant.
“How is it? It’s remarkable, isn’t it? It’s an advanced sword technique exclusive to Aura practitioners. And the individual who penned this claims it to be top-tier. It was once known as the Sword Sage.”
“…Excuse me?!”
That high-level sword technique, a legend within the imperial family or the ancient combat schools, found in a cave?
“It’s astonishing, isn’t it? I was quite taken aback myself. That’s why I’ve lingered here for over a year now. Haha.”
“Oh, I mean, should you merely tell me about it… even if…”
“So what? Clearly, you’re not a swordsman. Are you considering taking up swordsmanship now?”
His nonchalant demeanor was so staggering that Burdell was left speechless.
“Oh, but, even if I might disseminate rumors…”
“Will you?”
“I have no such intention, but…”
“Haha! Then it’s no issue. And it matters little if others learn of it. It appears the Sword Sage purposely left it here for others to discover. Whether one can truly master it merely by observing, that’s another matter.”
“Uh…”
His confident tone and the effortless ease it conveyed once again left Burdell astounded.
‘It wasn’t an illusion.’
The image of the glowing orange aura cleaving through the monstrous snake resurfaced in his mind as the young man suddenly inquired,
“So, with skills like yours, what brings you to the heart of the southern mountains? Since you’re not burdened with much, it seems like hunting or gathering herbs isn’t your aim.”
“Ah!”
Burdell suddenly recollected his mission.
The query that reminded him of why he had ventured there elicited a queasy sensation in his stomach, yet this person was his savior and his mission target as well.
After a brief exhalation, burdell started to…
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