The Demon Beast charged again, its enormous body tearing through the forest as it rushed toward the group. Rook immediately moved to the side while the other participants spread out, refusing to allow the creature to trap them together.
The spear-wielding participant stepped forward first and drove his weapon into the beast’s wounded thigh, while another participant attacked its shoulder with a concentrated blast of energy.
Milo followed from the opposite side, striking the creature’s ribs with enough force to make it stagger.
Rook saw the opening and raised his hand, sending a Gale Blade toward its exposed neck. The compressed wind tore through its hide, but the beast only roared before swinging its massive arm toward him.
Rook ducked beneath the attack and felt the force of the wind created by the passing fist before immediately retreating several meters.
"Keep moving!" Rook shouted. "Don’t let it focus on one person!"
The participants understood immediately and began rotating around the creature. Whenever the Demon Beast turned toward one person, another attacked from its blind side, forcing it to constantly change direction. Rook used the opportunity to strike from a distance, alternating between Wind Blade and Stone Lance whenever he saw an opening.
Milo remained closest to the creature, using his enhanced body to draw its attention before retreating whenever its attacks became too dangerous. The Demon Beast was powerful enough to overwhelm any one of them, but the group was gradually wearing it down through constant pressure.
The creature suddenly lowered its body and charged toward one of the weaker participants who had moved too close. Rook’s Perception caught the movement almost immediately, and he raised his hand toward the ground.
"Water Manipulation!"
A thick mass of water erupted in front of the Demon Beast and crashed against its chest, changing the direction of its charge just enough for the participant to escape. The beast stumbled sideways, and Milo immediately rushed in and struck its knee.
Another participant followed with a sword attack against the wound on its thigh, while the spear wielder drove his weapon into the creature’s opposite leg.
The Demon Beast roared and slammed both fists into the ground. The impact created a powerful shockwave that spread through the surrounding area, throwing several participants from their feet and forcing Rook to brace himself against the ground.
Before the creature could take advantage of the disruption, Rook thrust his hand forward and summoned a massive formation of stone between it and the fallen participants.
"Bulwark Fang!"
The stone formation erupted from the earth and blocked the creature’s path, forcing it to crash through the barrier instead of reaching the injured members of the group. Cracks spread across the stone as the Demon Beast pushed through, but the few seconds it created were enough for the others to drag their companions out of danger.
Rook immediately followed with a Flame Burst. Fire exploded against the Demon Beast’s chest, forcing it backward and giving Milo enough room to recover.
The beast emerged from the flames with several new burns across its body, yet it still looked capable of fighting.
Rook’s breathing had become heavier, and he could feel the amount of mana remaining inside him dropping rapidly. He had already used several of his stronger skills, and continuing to throw attacks without a plan would leave him completely exhausted before the creature was dead.
"We need to finish this soon!" Milo shouted as he avoided another swing.
Rook glanced around the battlefield and noticed that everyone was beginning to slow down. Some were injured, while others were struggling to maintain their abilities. The Demon Beast was also slowing, although its strength remained terrifying.
Rook realized that neither side could continue fighting at this pace for much longer, and if the battle dragged on, the outcome could easily turn against them.
"Everyone, attack the legs!" Rook shouted. "Don’t try to kill it yet. Just keep it from moving!"
The participants immediately followed his command. Milo rushed toward the beast’s right leg while the spear wielder attacked the other. Two more participants attacked its knees from opposite sides, forcing the Demon Beast to constantly shift its weight.
Rook waited until the creature became unstable before raising both hands and sending several Stone Lances from beneath it. The spikes pierced its legs, and the Demon Beast roared as it dropped heavily onto one knee.
"Now!"
The entire group attacked at once. Fire, blades, arrows, and elemental abilities struck the Demon Beast from different directions, forcing it to cover its face while several attacks penetrated the wounds that Rook and the others had already created.
Milo rushed directly toward it and struck its jaw, causing its head to snap backward, while the spear wielder drove his weapon into its abdomen.
The Demon Beast suddenly swung its arm and sent Milo flying several meters away. Rook immediately reacted, releasing a Vacuum Slash that tore across its shoulder before following with a Gale Blade aimed at its face. The beast raised its arm and blocked the attack, but the force still caused it to stumble backward.
Rook’s mana was dangerously low now, yet he refused to stop. He had already decided that conserving his strength no longer mattered if the creature remained alive.
He gathered the remaining mana in his body and raised his hands while the other participants continued attacking. Fire gathered around one palm as wind compressed around the other, and the earth beneath his feet trembled from the force of his abilities.
The Demon Beast noticed him and roared before charging.
Rook didn’t retreat.
He waited until the creature was almost upon him before stepping aside. Its fist passed beside his head and smashed into the ground, but Rook immediately turned and placed his palm toward its exposed side.
"Flame Burst!"
The explosion erupted at point-blank range and sent the Demon Beast stumbling forward. Before it could recover, Rook released a Vacuum Slash that tore through the flames and struck its chest. The invisible attack opened a deep wound, causing blood to pour down the creature’s body.
The Demon Beast staggered but remained standing.
Rook stared at it, breathing heavily.
The others gathered behind him, weapons raised despite their exhaustion. Nobody spoke because they could all see the same thing. The Demon Beast was badly wounded, but it was still alive.
Milo slowly returned to Rook’s side and tightened his grip on his weapon. "One more push."
Rook nodded.
The Demon Beast suddenly raised its head and released another furious roar before charging toward them with whatever strength it had left. The participants moved together this time instead of scattering.
Milo rushed toward its left side, the spear wielder attacked its wounded leg, and the remaining participants launched their abilities from behind them.
Rook stepped forward as well.
His mana was nearly empty, but he gathered everything that remained.
"Vacuum Slash."
The invisible blade tore through the air just as the others struck.
The combined attacks crashed into the Demon Beast almost simultaneously, and the creature’s charge finally stopped. Its massive body remained upright for several seconds before its legs gave way beneath it.
It collapsed onto the forest floor with a tremendous impact that shook the surrounding trees.
Nobody moved.
The participants stared at the corpse, too exhausted to immediately celebrate. Milo slowly lowered his weapon while Rook remained where he was, watching the Demon Beast carefully to make sure it wouldn’t rise again.
After several seconds, a notification appeared before Rook.
[Rank D Demon Beast eliminated.]
[Experience has been awarded.]
Rook’s eyes narrowed when he saw the message. Unlike the trial constructs he had encountered earlier, this creature had apparently counted as a genuine kill...largely, because it was his first kill.
’I got my first kill!’
He hid the joy almost immediately.
He closed the notification and looked around at the exhausted participants. Several were injured, some were leaning against trees, and others were sitting on the ground while trying to recover their strength. They had won, but nobody could pretend the battle had been easy.
Rook looked toward the deeper forest.
They still had a long journey ahead of them, and after fighting a Rank D Demon Beast, he knew that the remaining twenty-four hours would be far more dangerous than he had expected.