Chapter 634: Chapter 634
Hunting required patience. This was all the more so when the prey was an Ultimate Dark Form. That kind of being stood at the top of the food chain in the World of Calamity and may even be the progenitor of an entire dark creature race. Their bodies were virtually indestructible, and they all wielded bizarre and terrifying powers.
They also received endless replenishment in the World of Calamity, where calamity was omnipresent. Even a Holy Fist could only wear them down in a protracted standoff. Therefore, the best way to slay an Ultimate Dark Form was to drag it into the surface world. That way, the creature would lose its supply of calamity energy and its endurance would plummet. Of course, even then, an Ultimate Dark Form was still fiendishly hard to kill.
Fortunately, Cassius was the heir to the Southern Dipper Covert Martial Inheritance. His Southern Dipper Red Falcon Fist had become Dominator Fist, and the other two Southern Dipper styles had likewise peaked.
These arts inflicted horrific damage on immortal beings. It would further cripple the Ultimate Dark Form's regeneration and turn a once‑immortal foe into a health‑bar creature that could be slain. All these factors combined gave Cassius the confidence to lure and hunt an Ultimate Dark Form.
Star Horn God's heavy steps drew closer to the inter-world passage. Each pillar-like leg made of blue crystal sent tremors through the gorge. Wherever it passed, the rock walls turned into semi‑transparent crystals as smooth as a mirror. At a glance, the gorge looked like a field of blue crystals.
The footsteps halted as Star Horn God reached the passage. A huge pitch‑black hole on the rock face, almost as tall as the beast, was sheathed in a film of light, yet air still flowed in and out.
Every breath it took in carried a tempting scent. The aroma was irresistible for ordinary dark creatures. However, Star Horn God was an Ultimate Dark Form so it would not lose its mind so easily.
Still, the scent had caught its attention and lured it here. What truly stirred Star Horn God's emotions was the giant passage itself. A few passages always opened between worlds during every intense calamity tide. Yet, those passages were too small for an Ultimate Dark Form to fit through.
Unless it was a great upheaval like the one over a century ago where three colossal passages appeared, ushering in the Lightless Night. Ultimate Dark Forms and Holy Fists would wage a furious war of life and death. The terrifying wound on Star Horn God dated from that very war. Back then, it had been entangled elsewhere and never reached a passage.
Now, after a century, another giant passage had emerged and it had stumbled upon it. After only a brief hesitation, Star Horn God resolved to enter and investigate. The alluring calamity scent inside was somewhat suspicious. Still, the creature trusted its own strength. Besides, the human Holy Fists had collectively collapsed since that war. The Ultimate Dark Forms had firmly held an advantage afterward.
The Holy Fists had even lost White Bird Holy Fist! Many Holy Fists had burnt out their Qi holding back numerous Ultimate Dark Forms during the Lightless Night. In fact, some Ultimate Dark Forms now roamed unopposed.
Compared with any trifling traps beyond the passage, the lure of rampaging in the surface world was greater for Star Horn God. Thus, it made its choice. It would probe the passage and scout the other side.
With that thought, its heavy legs moved. The huge translucent sapphire body approached the portal. Once it passed through the light film, the tempting tang of blood and calamity thickened in the air. Its crystalline horns glowed blue, faintly illuminating the gloom ahead.
It was greeted by a vast cave with a solitary tall figure at the center. He resembled a rigid statue lurking in the dark, having awaited Star Horn God for far too long. The beast's huge gem‑like eyes met Cassius's tiny pupils. A second later, Cassius's cold, rigid face suddenly smiled.
"Heaven favors me... and dooms you as well!!!"
His deep‑blue eyes turned crimson with furious bloodlust. They carried the terrifying aura of a raptor on the hunt. Star Horn God bore a wound, which was its greatest weakness. A mere scratch would have long since healed through its immortal trait. The lingering gash meant it had once been grievously hurt. Thus, Cassius was in for a sumptuous feast!
His domineering laughter thundered through the cave.
Star Horn God realized it had walked into a trap. A Holy Fist awaited beyond the passage! Since it was wounded, it shouldn't linger any longer. It decisively backed away, its body radiating clear blue light.
However, it was already too late!
Ting, ting, ting, ting!.
In an instant, the pre‑arranged ritual erupted and stored energy blazed forth. Dense golden sigils spread like a spiderweb over the cave and a dreadful invisible binding rope looped around Star Horn God. The immense force jolted the beast to a halt.
Yes, it was the same massive ritual Cassius had used days ago to bind Black Rain Manor! From that trial, he learned the array tethered colossal targets quite well. The diluted Blood of the Spirit that fueled it ignited swiftly with explosive force and a minor tweak with the Book of the Devil made it suitable for an Ultimate Dark Form.
Granted, it would merely drag the creature into the surface world and bar its retreat. It lacked any kind of lethal offense.
However, that was enough for Cassius!
A savage raptor screech rang out as endless domineering Qi burst out. Within the cave, Cassius's face turned solemn and tyrannical. His pupils beamed like two crimson searchlights. He flung his arms wide as Qi surged from every pore. Red Qi formed a vortex before him.
His foot tapped the ground lightly, and Cassius flashed forward. The vortex swallowed him and the next instant, it spat out a massive blood red falcon, its savage wings spread and twisted aura searing like a flame. The wings sliced the air at high speed, causing two trails of dark crimson Qi racing skyward.
"Southern Dipper Red Falcon Fist!!!"
The crimson giant bird dived at Star Horn God, its mountain‑rending talons extending with shredding spiral force. Its raptor eyes glowed scarlet with brutal bloodlust.
Both talons forced their way through the creature's domain, clamping down on its crystal armor. Then the vast wings beat madly, exerting a terrifying pull on Star Horn God.
The beast panicked, not only at being dragged into the surface world but because its foe was a Southern Dipper Holy Fist! The Southern Dipper lineage was supreme in combat power and best at slaying Ultimate Dark Forms. Only three Southern Dipper Holy Fists existed throughout the World of Calamity, yet they propped up the sky like central pillars.
Two of them each restrained a top‑ten Ultimate Dark Form. Then there was White Bird Holy Fist, whom none could match. After enacting savage carnage, he was exiled by nearly ten mighty Ultimate Dark Forms. Later, an unprecedented calamity tide upheaval occurred and the dark creature side almost seized final victory. However, White Bird Holy Fist had forcibly arrested their momentum at the cost of his life force.
Now, a new Southern Dipper Holy Fist had appeared within the surface world. Were that news to reach the World of Calamity, it would raise upheaval. Sadly, Star Horn God would likely not live to tell it.
The underground cave quaked wildly as the creature shining like a blue sun was hauled back bit by bit. It slowly exited the passage, and was fully wrapped in the air of the surface world, surrounded by endless crimson Qi.
The fearsome Blood Vulture tilted its savage eyes upward, gazing at the roof of the cave. Then its wings beat violently as torrents of Qi blasted downward like rocket exhaust. Both bird and beast tore through the ceiling, tunneling through layers of rock to Eternal Island above!
The island shook madly, causing marine life to scramble for deeper waters.
Suddenly, the ground split as a vast hole blew open. Two colossal figures emerged into the sunlight.
The horns atop Star Horn God's head amassed energy frantically and erupted. A blue crystalline beam roared forth like a waterfall. Its terrifying power warped the air in visible shockwaves, pushing back the surrounding clouds.
Cassius's giant Blood Vulture released its grip and blinked aside. But a wing was grazed by the beam and a thick blue crystal layer spread instantly across the wing. However, Dominator Fist Qi clashed with calamity aura.
The rest of the beam swept across a forest and struck the island's edge. The ground remained level yet the entire forest was crystallized. Glass trees started to chime in the wind. Nearby seas seemed frozen, coated in a blue crystal layer that crept downward. The island's rocks were likewise crystallized. From above, nearly a twentieth of the island was now crystal.
"A creature of the crystal race... Progenitor of the crystal race?" Cassius's Qi raged, shaking the crystal from his wing piece by piece. Its fiery hue had dimmed greatly.
When he had fished through the passage, he had hoped for an Ultimate Dark Form that was similar to a Weeping Demon. Instead, he got the crystal race's Star Horn God. Regardless, that hardly mattered. To Cassius, both are equally edible!
His Golem Covert Martial Arts needed neither flesh nor ingestion, only the foe's life magnetic field. Cassius devoured their very essence!
The giant Blood Vulture flapped and appeared near the crater, slamming into the charging Star Horn God. Large fissures split the ground and soil spurted up like thick black fountains.
"Wounded and severed from the World of Calamity's environment. You may become the first Ultimate Dark Form to fall in the surface world!" Cassius's Will kept surging, his Qi seeming to burn all over.
The giant vulture and Star Horn God clashed wildly as crystal energy and the Will of a Dominator Fist continued to battle for dominance. As they fought, the beast was driven farther from the cave.
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The vulture glided skyward, reaching the clouds in the blink of an eye. Then it dived at Star Horn God with a single talon outstretched.
During that dive, Cassius conceived a bold idea. He'd learned during Black Rain Manor's revival that mastering the Heart of the Holy Fist lay in sacred purification. Each purification affirmed his Holy Fist path. So what if he purified an Ultimate Dark Form? Would that not be an unparalleled affirmation?
Other Holy Fist seekers would never dare dream of such a deed. It was pure fantasy for an extreme combat artist to purify an Ultimate Dark Form. However, Cassius's Killer Persona had reached the Dominator Fist realm and could feed back into the Holy Fist path.
If he battered Star Horn God to the brink and then used the Holy Fist route for the final blow... It was a workable plan!
Could it be that on the same day, he would not only have his body achieve an Ultimate Dark Form's physique but also grasp the Heart of the Holy Fist, ushering his Main Persona into the Holy Fist realm?
If so, Cassius's power would soar for real!
"Southern Dipper Constellation, Blood Vulture King!"
As the colossal vulture dived, the feathers atop its head twisted together. They formed a blazing red crown that emanated a tyrannical will. That will was distilled into one simple word.