Tribal Lord: SSS Ranked Taming Primitive Beauties and The Beasts! Chapter 32
CLANG!
Metal screeched as the sword struck the gauntlet, the impact sending shockwaves rippling through the air.
Vakra slid back half a step, boots carving trenches into the earth. He grinned fiercely. "Not bad."
At the same time, Uncle Zan clashed with the second 4th Rank Lizardman.
The Gravehorn Longsword whistled as it cut through the air, colliding with the Lizardman’s broad blade and creating sparks.
Uncle Zan’s expression remained calm, as the weight and density of the Gravehorn blade began to press the Lizardman backward inch by inch.
Their battle instantly split away from the rest of the field.
And in that same heartbeat, Old Ni made his move.
He slipped past the clashes like a shadow, his body blurring as he directly faced the twenty incoming 3rd Rank Lizardmen.
These were a little bit smaller than the 4th Rank warriors. Six of them formed the front line, shields raised and spears angled forward.
Old Ni stopped, unsheathing his sword and waited.
The moment they were close enough to him, he instantly used his (Sever the Line) skill as he slashed his sword horizontally.
A massive, crescent-shaped slash tore forward, the compressed mana exploding outward in a wide, sweeping arc that distorted the air itself.
The six frontline Lizardmen turned solemn.
They slammed their shields together. Their shields flared as defensive skills activated, overlapping layers of hardened energy and reinforced scale forming a temporary wall.
BOOOOM!
The shields shattered and the six Lizardmen were torn apart instantly, bodies ripped open as the ferocious force crushed through their bodies. Blood and broken scale fragments exploded backward, staining the ground red.
But the attack didn’t stop as it kept going even though its power had been weakened.
Five Lizardmen wielding swords behind them stepped forward in desperation. They crossed their blades, roaring as they poured everything into blocking the remaining force.
CLANG!
CRACK!
Three of them were blown apart, bodies severed mid-block as their swords snapped under the pressure.
The remaining two were sent flying, crashing into the ground with shattered arms, barely clinging to life.
Before they could even scream, Old Ni was already there as he appeared before them in an instant.
He then slashed his sword with precision, cleanly cutting their heads.
Old Ni straightened slowly, blade lowering as he faced the remaining terrified Lizardmen.
At this moment in time, Ash also made his move.
He burst forward with a wide smile the moment Old Ni disengaged, the ground crunching under his feet as moss and roots were torn aside.
The battlefield split cleanly.
Old Ni strode toward six 3rd Rank Lizardmen without a shred of hesitation with three saber wielders advancing in a loose arc, while three archers fanned out behind them, already drawing their bows.
"These three are for you." Old Ni chuckled lightly, tilting his head toward another three lizardmen at the rear before accelerating again.
Ash felt the pressure instantly shift.
The three Lizardmen he’d been "gifted" moved with practiced coordination. Two dagger-users closed in low and fast, tails whipping behind them for balance, while the archer remained several dozen meters back, drawing an arrow and ready to shoot it at any given time.
The first arrow flew.
His passive skill (Predator’s Premonition) screamed a warning in his mind a split second before release. Ash twisted instinctively, the arrow slicing past his ribs close enough that he felt the wind shear against his skin.
Then, he charged toward the archer, but the two dagger-wielding Lizardmen intercepted him immediately.
Steel rang as bone-forged daggers clashed against his Stonebite Dagger.
Their movements were efficient as they didn’t waste any steps. One attacked high, forcing Ash to parry upward, while the other went for his legs at the same time.
Ash barely kept up, his Twin Dagger Rhythm kicked in as he reacted on instinct with left dagger parrying and the right dagger countered.
Still, his timing was off and a dagger scratched his side, blood spilled slightly.
Before he could even have a breath, another arrow whistled in.
Ash activated his (Shadow Steps) skill, dropping his presence and shifting sideways at the last moment. The arrow embedded itself in a tree trunk where his head had been an instant earlier.
Ash’s feet slid across the moss-covered ground as he regained his balance, eyes locking onto the three opponents again as he was ready to go for another round.
The two dagger-wielding Lizardmen pressed in relentlessly, clearly experienced in close-quarters combat. Their tails swayed in controlled motions, helping them pivot and adjust angles mid-strike, while the archer in the back kept a steady distance, bow half-drawn, waiting for the slightest opening.
Ash inhaled slowly, his passive skill (Hunter’s Calm) took effect. The chaos around him dulled slightly as his breathing stabilized.
The faint outlines of weakness flickered into existence across the Lizardmen’s bodies, his passive skill (Vital Point Perception) was guiding his eyes instinctively.
The left dagger-user lunged again, blade flashing toward Ash’s throat.
Ash parried upward in response.
At the same time, the second dagger-user swept low, aiming his thigh.
Ash twisted his waist sharply, barely avoiding the strike, then countered in one smooth motion. His left dagger struck first, forcing the Lizardman’s guard himself.
His right dagger followed immediately, as he used his (Twin Dagger Rhtyhm) skill.
The second strike came faster, cleaner, and heavier.
The blade tore across the Lizardman’s upper arm, slicing deep into scaled flesh. Blood sprayed outward, as the wound clearly reached the muscle.
The injured Lizardman staggered back, clutching his arm as dark blood poured freely, his movements instantly slowing down.
The archer seized the moment and shot another arrow.
Ash felt the warning pulse through his spine an instant before impact. He ducked low, the arrow passed overhead, snapping a branch clean off behind him.
In response, Ash charged forward and activated his (Shadow Lunge) skill.
The ground blurred beneath his feet as he burst past the remaining dagger-user, closing the distance to the archer in an instant.
The archer panicked, trying to nock another arrow, but Ash was already there.