The monster was slain quickly.
As Lann’s legs were enveloped in swirling air currents and he came to an abrupt halt from his rapid sprint, the giant monster had already been doused with three bottles of gasoline.
This was the first time Lann used the "Acceleration Technique" since acquiring the Old Hunter’s leg bone.
Under this technique, the user’s speed dramatically increases during short bursts of movement such as sidestepping or stopping suddenly. To onlookers, it appears as if they have transformed into a wisp of smoke!
Moreover, it slightly enhances the normal movement speed, turning a ’walk’ into a ’jog.’
Henrik added another Molotov to the giant beast, turning it into a wailing, gigantic torch.
The mournful roar emitted a shockwave with substantial destructive power due to the creature’s immense size.
The sonic boom shattered the wooden carriage of a nearby four-wheeled cart.
In terms of resonance, a regular person standing within the range of the roar would likely suffer massive internal bleeding after it subsided.
However, Lann’s Quen Rune could even block the sound waves, and Henrik relied on his vast experience to nimbly dodge away before the roar arrived.
The giant beast’s fear of fire seemed not only due to its dense body hair but also because of a psychological trauma of sorts.
Even before being engulfed in gasoline or seeing a spark, it raised its hands in front of its face, assuming a cowering position.
Once set ablaze, apart from its initial roar, Lann almost felt a hint of pity.
But as the initiator of the hunt, Henrik showed no hesitation.
He perfectly exemplified the demeanor of a Yan Nan Hunter during a hunt.
Skilled, precise... and merciless.
Throughout his battle with this clearly affiliated monster, Henrik wielded his saw cleaver without the slightest hesitation.
The serrated back of the cleaver, the smooth blade, the Transformation Slash that interchanges and compounds mechanical force...
He released a significant amount of blood from the monster!
Lann watched from the side, perplexed.
Henrik clearly hadn’t dealt with this type of monster before, as he reacted on instinct to dodge its roar.
Yet during hand-to-hand combat, he easily evaded the monster’s strikes as it raised its hand.
Finally, as Henrik’s saw cleaver slashed through the large muscle fibers in the creature’s legs, forcing it to kneel on the bridge,
Lann’s Turbulent Flow Greatsword severed the deformed wolf head with antlers from its nape.
The gaunt yet large body first twitched and then lay still.
Henrik poured two more bottles of gasoline onto its body before the residual flames were extinguished by blood.
In the blazing inferno, the beast’s body slowly vanished.
Lann and Henrik quietly watched the flames together.
Lann sheathed his Turbulent Flow Greatsword and asked calmly without turning his head.
The Old Hunter was very familiar with the other’s movements, unfamiliar only with the pathological changes from the beastly disease. Such familiarity was not something mere ’unusual connections’ could achieve.
Henrik, like him, did not shift his gaze from the flames.
"...Yes, an old friend of decades."
"We both survived the great fire that swept through Old Yan’an. He was originally a Church Hunter too, but after that he began to fear flames and eventually became a regular clergy member."
"How can a Hunter fear fire, right?"
Henrik’s last words were as soft as a murmured dream.
Lann said nothing. He merely watched silently as Henrik picked up a dim sword-shaped badge from the ashes and placed it on his person.
It was likely his friend’s Hunter badge.
"Let’s go, the road to Byron Vis is not easy."
After collecting the badge, Henrik turned away without lingering.
Lann glanced at the pile of ashes, the shattered caravan around it, and the remains of people and horses, sighed, and followed Henrik.
Such is the endless night of hunting.
The journey from Yan’an to Byron Vis involves passing through a stretch of woods known as the Forbidden Forest.
The gate, as mentioned by the Crow Hunter Erin, ’sealed by Master William’s servant,’ serves as a barrier between Yan City and the Forbidden Forest.
Henrik led Lann toward it, and upon reaching the metal gate embedded in the mountainside, Henrik naturally crossed his arms and stepped to the side.
He motioned for Lann to approach.
Master William’s servant would open the gate only upon receiving the correct password. This was no secret among the seasoned Hunters.
Though the servant was mad, he still obeyed his master’s wisdom with blind devotion.
Lann quietly approached the gate, ensuring his footsteps were softer than those of a Yan’an dog.
Yet the person inside seemed certain someone had arrived, and a voice, raspy as sandpaper rubbing together, sounded.
"Revere the Ancient God’s Blood."
Though surprised, Lann decisively recited the maxim he had learned.
The gate embedded in the mountainside opened with a creak. Thɪs chapter is updated by NoveI★Fire.net
Presented to Lann and Henrik was a corpse, seated in a chair, already weathered into a skeletal state.
Aside from that... there was no one else.
The surprise straightened Henrik’s body; he stood up from his previous position leaning against the wall with arms crossed.
Lann discreetly averted his gaze.
It seemed even in Yan’an there weren’t mechanisms operating on vocal commands.
Nobody had heard of a door-guarding system run by the dead...
In this bizarre situation that even left the Old Hunter dumbfounded, Lann naturally approached the seated skeleton.
In dealing with beasts, Yan’an Hunters were undoubtedly experts.
However, Demon Hunters witnessed far stranger phenomena when tackling curses and demon spirits than this.
"He’s been dead for at least a decade."
After a slight examination, Lann deduced from the decay and dryness of the body and clothing.
The corpse was dressed in a double-breasted suit coat, its once crisp attire now appearing bulky and hollow due to the shriveled body.
On its head was a top hat.
The chair lacked armrests, leaving regular people uncomfortable even during a short nap, likely causing them to slip off midway.
Yet the corpse showed no signs of struggle or defiance, naturally and peacefully deceased in the chair.
As if to its last breath, it followed its master’s order to verify passwords and guard the gate.
Legend among the Old Hunters was true... the gatekeeper was madly devoted, willing to oversee a door till death for a command from its master!
The moment this dawned on him, Lann’s mystical extrasensory seemed to be fueled by solving a mystery or witnessing something curious.
Upon a fleeting distortion of vision, Lann only felt that his "Spiritual Sight" became more... profound?
Lann was uncertain about this sensation.
"Spiritual Sight" differs from Chaos Magic Power, a concrete energy system, in its growth not represented by a feeling of ’magnificence or grandeur.’
It signified a shift in how the world is perceived.
Regardless, Lann sensed that he could now discern more with his "Spiritual Sight."