Under the bright moon, a cloaked girl moved with agile steps, like a swift leopard weaving through the forest. Her golden hair, flowing in the wind, shimmered faintly in the moonlight.
After departing from White Wolf Town, Cornelia traveled southwest along the dark forest, heading towards the Imperial Capital.
Because it was night, the probability of encountering wild beasts significantly increased. Even within the Empire's borders, there were Danger Beasts of various forms and abilities.
They were categorized by their threat level as follows:
Tier 3 Danger Beasts, Tier 2 Danger Beasts, Tier 1 Danger Beasts,
Special Danger Beasts, Super Danger Beasts.
Among them, beasts that reached the level of Special Danger Beasts could be used to create powerful equipment after being hunted. Four hundred years after the Empire's founding, the emperor at that time used Special Danger Beasts as material to create Imperial Arms. However, compared to Teigu, Imperial Arms had various flaws.
For example, Cornelia's Imperial Arm—Smash King—could cause self-injury if punching posture was incorrect. Frequent powerful punches would also make Smash King overloaded and prone to breakage.
And using Super Danger Beasts as material could even create weapons with special abilities. However, because finding and subduing Super Danger Beasts was extremely costly, only the founding emperor, using numerous long-lost secret arts, managed to create forty-eight unique and irreplicable Teigu.
For ordinary people, encountering a Tier 1 Danger Beast required dozens of people to subdue it, so traveling at night was clearly a wrong choice.
Although the jungle at night was so dangerous, the girl still chose to travel at this time. That was because there was a very "perverted" man behind her urging her on.
At this moment, the girl had slowed her pace, not because her body was tired from an overnight rush. In the past, during her father's training, Cornelia had hunted many Tier 1 Danger Beasts, and she possessed rich wilderness survival experience. However, the forest she entered this time was far more dangerous than before. In such a rarely visited place, it was highly possible to encounter legendary Super Danger Beasts.
"Why aren't you moving?" Lin Feng asked, walking up to her.
According to information gathered in White Wolf Town, this forest was home to a Super Danger Beast, a Manticore. It was also known locally as the "Man-eater."
The Manticore was said to have a pair of wings, three tails, and astonishing strength. Because the Manticore was overly ferocious, it had no discernible intellect, and its greatest pleasure was devouring other creatures. Therefore, almost no one dared to hunt it, though its existence was constantly discussed by the residents of White Wolf Town.
He really wanted to catch it. Although he didn't know what materials could be dropped from a Manticore, as a Super Danger Beast, Lin Feng should be able to "create" weapons comparable to Teigu.
And with Lin Feng's current strength, apart from a few Super Danger Beasts with special abilities, he should be able to handle most Danger Beasts. He could also use actual combat to help Cornelia become familiar with demonic energy.
Based on these points, he decided to choose this rarely traveled forest at night.
"There's no moonlight ahead, it's too dark. It's hard to guarantee we won't be attacked by Danger Beasts."
Cornelia jumped up and looked at the path between the trees. The dense leaves completely blocked the moonlight, and in the utterly dark forest ahead, a man-eating beast seemed ready to leap out at any moment.
"Listen carefully, Cornelia. In combat, you must rely on your senses, not your eyes. Just like bats flying in the dark night."
Saying this, Lin Feng took out a yellow cloth strip from his cloak and covered her eyes.
"Now, my 'qi' also flows within you, so you should be able to do it. Sense 'qi' or killing intent, and react before your eyes can see."
"?"
Sense... how to sense... where to sense from?!
A series of question marks popped up in Cornelia's small head. She wasn't a bat, how could she sense with her eyes closed!
However, when Cornelia closed her eyes, she felt her consciousness extend from her body into the forest dozens of meters away. The surrounding pitch-black scenery became clear, and even with her eyes closed, her visual system seemed to function normally.
"I see it."
Cornelia's expression suddenly turned serious. Unlike her usual carefree demeanor, she had transformed into a cold and ruthless killer.
"So, where is it?" Lin Feng asked with a relaxed expression.
"There. Right there."
Upon hearing his question, Cornelia deliberately extended her right index finger, pointing towards a large tree to her front right. In the dense forest, ordinary people would see nothing due to insufficient light and blocked by leaves. But Cornelia, who had learned to sense 'qi', was completely unaffected by obstructed vision.
Just as Cornelia pulled out a dagger from her waist, there was movement in the forest, and the dangerous beast gradually appeared.
It was a Hellhound, classified as a Tier 1 Danger Beast. Though called a dog, its body was as large as a lion's. Its gaping maw held two rows of sharp fangs, and its sleek black fur enveloped countless bulging muscles. Its heavy chest muscles looked incredibly powerful. From its appearance, it was extremely ferocious.
Owooo~
Hellhounds usually operate in packs. After this Hellhound let out a long howl, six more Hellhounds of similar sturdy build emerged from behind him.
"Seven Hellhounds, huh… that's quite a lot. But we have no choice but to fight."
Cornelia crouched low, her right hand gripping a dagger held horizontally in front of her.
Hellhounds have the ability to track prey from several kilometers away. Coupled with their extremely high stamina, escaping was impossible; they could only fight.
"So, Cornelia, do you need my help?"
"If I needed help with mere Level 1 Danger Beasts, even without Smash King, it would be too embarrassing for my No. 3 ranking. Please watch how easily I deal with these Hellhounds."
Cornelia's words were full of confidence. Her five senses were infinitely amplified, and she wasn't afraid of these creatures ambushing her from the shadows.
"Woof woof woof~"
The leading Hellhound looked at the two weak humans in front of him, treating it as a normal hunt. With a howl, he opened his large maw and charged at Cornelia with all his might, as if insane.
Cornelia also approached the Hellhound with astonishing speed, a speed that seemed impossible for a human.
"Woof woof~"
The leading Hellhound let out a chilling howl and opened his large maw, aiming for Cornelia's neck. However, in front of Cornelia, who had undergone extensive assassination training, such a move was too easy to evade.
Just as the two were about to collide, Cornelia leaped into the air, and her sharp dagger easily severed the Hellhound's head. Blood spurted far from the massive wound.
Thanks to the right arm created by Lin Feng, Cornelia's physical abilities were greatly enhanced. Cornelia, whose strength had advanced by leaps and bounds, only felt that all of this was due to their dual cultivation.
"Next, the remaining…"
Two Hellhounds circled from beside the severed head, flanking the girl from both sides. Cornelia pushed off with her left foot, flying forward to dodge the attacks of the two beasts.
Lin Feng casually picked up a wooden stick, looking relaxed, seemingly unconcerned about the battle unfolding before him.
Cornelia's combat power was sufficient to deal with six Hellhounds. With the boost from the demonic arm, the Hellhounds were slowly dealt with one by one, but Cornelia's left shoulder was also bitten, and blood flowed from her shoulder, staining her cloak red.
Although the girl looked pained, it didn't seem to affect the speed at which she swung her dagger.
"Two left." As if delivering a victory speech in advance, the girl swung her dagger, preparing to launch her final assault.
However, the Hellhounds' two ears suddenly perked up, rapidly twitching left and right. After seemingly discovering a terrifying presence, they turned to flee, but Cornelia was faster than them. Beasts that had lost their will to fight were nothing to fear.
As the sharp dagger pierced its neck like flowing clouds and water,
A sudden change occurred.
"Roar~"
With a roar that shook the air, a massive shadow fell directly from the sky. Its colossal four-meter-tall body kicked up a large cloud of dust.
Lin Feng, from his elevated position, clearly saw with his vampire night vision that the mighty beast had the main body of a lion, the wings of a giant eagle, and the tail of a scorpion. It was a very formidable opponent. One of its claws easily crushed a Hellhound as large as a lion.
"…What destructive power… This is a Super Danger Beast!…"
Cornelia, who was near the Manticore, gasped. Having been trained by Lin Feng, she could now use her senses and naturally knew the Manticore's power. The overwhelming disparity in strength made her legs tremble uncontrollably.
The Manticore swung its sharp claws, aiming to attack the human in front of it.
Cornelia gripped her dagger and slashed at its claws, but it was like striking hard rock; her sharp dagger was easily repelled by its stiff fur. Such extraordinarily hard fur was indeed not a characteristic of ordinary creatures.
As far as Cornelia knew, to defeat a Super Danger Beast, an entire Imperial army had to be dispatched. If one were to defeat it alone, they would need a powerful Imperial Arm. However, Cornelia, without such a weapon, immediately gave up on further attacks, retracting her dagger and switching to defense.
"Move aside."
Lin Feng's legs tensed, and bloodlust flickered in his eyes. A Super Danger Beast was not something Cornelia could deal with with her current equipment.
Lin Feng raised his right hand, gripping the wooden stick. Instantly, a phantom image appeared at the tip of the stick. As the stick swung down, a space-distorting slash descended upon the Manticore dozens of meters away.
Even with the Manticore's incredibly tough hide, it was cut in half by the dimensional blade that could tear space. Foul-smelling blood splattered from the center of its cleaved body, staining the sky with an eerie crimson.
"…How is that possible… How is that possible?!"
A slight cold sweat broke out on Cornelia's forehead, and her heart pounded uncontrollably. This strike was simply too shocking. Even though it wasn't aimed at her, witnessing death occur right beside her was horrifying.
It was a reality she couldn't comprehend. Merely by swinging a sword qi, he could cleave the Manticore's steel-hard body.
The girl was stunned by this strike. If he had a powerful Imperial Arm to cut down a Super Danger Beast, it wouldn't be impossible for her father to do so. But to cut down a Super Danger Beast with just ethereal sword qi…
"Hehe~ Am I dreaming?" The girl's lips curled into a smile, letting out silly giggles. She felt as if she were in an unreal dream.
"Rumble rumble~"
Just as the girl was in a daze, the Manticore, which had been so fierce moments ago, split open in the middle. Its massive body separated and fell to either side, its foul-smelling organs spilling onto the ground. Both the stench in the air and the pain in her shoulder confirmed that this was absolutely not a figment of Cornelia's imagination.
Lin Feng took steady steps, ignoring the stunned Cornelia. After arriving beside the Manticore, he drew the dagger from his waist and began to cut its body.
The materials from a Super Danger Beast, if auctioned in the Imperial Capital, should yield a good income in gold coins. Of course, Lin Feng wasn't short on money. What he wanted to do was to use the Manticore's corpse to create powerful equipment and strengthen the combat power of those around him.
After all, he would soon be managing this vast empire, and he couldn't do everything himself. He needed qualified subordinates under him.
"Lin Feng, you're truly amazing! Although I already knew you were powerful, I never expected your strength to be so monstrous!"
Cornelia praised him from the side.
"Your strength is enough to rival the strongest General of the Empire. I firmly believe that your words about changing this country are not false."
Lin Feng patted the girl's shoulder.
"Cornelia, you're growing very fast too. You can already sense with qi. I believe it won't be long before you can reach my level too."
Lin Feng's words made Cornelia tremble.
Cornelia, Akame, Boni, and others constantly strived to become stronger for the sake of the people's happiness. Having obtained Imperial Arms, they had all felt that their strength surpassed everyone else's. But after Miao Zi, who had no special weapon, severed her right arm, Cornelia realized that there were always people stronger than oneself.
The gap between Miao Zi and Cornelia was merely a matter of common knowledge. Yet, she and Lin Feng were roughly the same age, and he could kill Danger Beasts with just the qi he emitted, without using any weapons.
To Cornelia, Lin Feng's current strength was a peak she could never hope to reach in her lifetime.
Cornelia believed.
Lin Feng, who forced himself to travel, though still an unknown youth now, would surely become a great general standing at the pinnacle of the Empire in the future.