Lunar Legacy: Rise Of The Beastlord-Chapter 67: Endless Brawl

Jayden stepped through the forest, his sneakers crunching over damp leaves and broken twigs. He had absorbed the energy of the Serpenthis successful, and in doing so, acquired it’s gene and abilities.

Since the beast had an ability at the time it’s energy was acquired, Jayden was able to receive it. The poison secretion ability was now at his command.

And just like that, Jayden acquired his first beast ability.

But he didn’t Integrate the gene yet. He knew it was a painful process... one that would put him in a vulnerable position.

Moreover, he had just one Integration slot left. And he wasn’t sure he wanted it to go to the Serpenthis.

Jayden kept walking, his breathing was steady, the adrenaline from the battle with Serpenthis still running faintly through his veins, like static in his blood.

The forest was eerily quiet now... Too quiet.

No rustle. No chirp. No distant growl.

Just wind.

Jayden’s eyes narrowed.

[You feel that?] Luna’s voice came, low and guarded. [Something’s off]

"Yeah," Jayden muttered. "It’s too silent."

And then—a blur suddenly emerged.

A slight flash of movement... approaching Jayden with insane speed.

Jayden barely ducked as a claw whistled past his face, slicing through a nearby tree trunk like butter.

CRACK!

Bark exploded behind him, wood splintering.

"What the hell—?!" Jayden dropped low, his instincts screaming.

But there was nothing. Only air.

Until—

Shtkkk!

A deep gash tore across his shoulder. Not deep enough to maim, but enough to burn like fire. Jayden stumbled back, eyes wide.

Jayden growled through clenched teeth. "Shit... a Wolverine Stalker." he muttered in panic and disdain.

His instincts flared and he rolled to the side just as another strike carved into the dirt beside him, claws leaving deep, sizzling trenches in the ground.

Jayden’s left eye flashed golden. He activated Dragon Eye, his vision distorting, filtering heat and energy signatures.

And then he saw it...

A faint shimmer. Barely visible, like the bend of light over hot metal.

The outline of something massive, crouched and ready to pounce.

Jayden braced himself just in time to block a swipe aimed at his throat. The force behind it sent him skidding backward, feet dragging through the soil.

"This one’s really strong... but not strong enough." he said, before using his inspect to check the beast’s info.

_____

Name: Lesser Wolverine Stalker

Rank: D-Rank

Ability: Invisibility

HP: 450/450

_____

Jayden’s jaw clenched. "A lesser Wolverine, huh? Weaker... but still a pain."

[Jayden, you’re bleeding] Luna warned. [You need to finish this before it takes you apart piece by piece]

Jayden smirked. "Relax, Luna. This would be over soon." he muttered, his eyes burning bright now.

The Stalker shimmered again—now sprinting in a wide arc.

Jayden saw it, but only barely. He sprinted forward, feinting left, then rolled under a flying claw.

He flipped mid-air, spinning behind the shimmer and blasted a telekinetic pulse—

BOOM!

The wave struck the invisible beast and flung it sideways, revealing its hulking shape for just a moment.

It skidded across the clearing, snarling as it shimmered back into view, blood spraying from a cracked rib.

Jayden landed on one knee, eyes locked on it.

Then, with a savage growl, he activated his first trump card.

[-10 Ep]

[Partial Transformation Activated – Wolverine Stalker (E-Rank)]

Then... a wave of energy pulsed from Jayden’s body.

His arms grew thicker, muscles surging. Black fur sprouted across his forearms. Long, retractable claws slid out from beneath his fingers—shimmering with an obsidian sheen.

His eyes turned completely red, his pupils dilating. Veins pulsed with power as his heartbeat kicked into high gear.

Everything was happening just like the last time... he was changing. But there was something different... he felt no pain.

It was just like the first time he activated the partial transformation... but without the burning sensation and the piercing feeling. There was no discomfort. Not even a single ounce of pain.

He simply transformed easily and almost effortlessly, like as though he’d been doing it for decades. And unlike the first time, the transformation took only a few seconds.

[Hybrid Transformation Complete]

[Temporary stat boost is in effect]

Jayden stood taller and broader, his clothes barely containing his current body mass.

"I didn’t feel any sort of pain this time." he muttered, his voice low and gutterly.

[Yeah. I wanted it to be a surprise] Luna said. [You felt pain the first time you transformed because that was the very first time your cells would be rearranged and modified]

[But now, it’s adapted] she continued. [So you won’t feel pain from any hybrid transformation anymore. Though, you might still feel a bit of mental strain during the Integration of a beast gene.. and even in some cases, pain]

Jayden nodded. "Understood."

[Good] Luna muttered. [Now go fight... but be careful and don’t get too cocky]

But Jayden didn’t need warnings now. He was done playing.

With his gaze still locked on the bleeding beast.. he leapt.

BOOM!

The ground shattered beneath his launch, dust erupting as he zipped forward like a blur.

The Stalker reappeared mid-strike, lunging—but Jayden parried it mid-air, twisting behind the beast, and slammed his claws deep into its back.

The monster screeched, convulsing as black ichor sprayed.

Jayden didn’t stop.

He drove a savage elbow into its temple, then kicked off its back and vaulted into the air.

Mid-spin, he hurled three telekinetically-gripped branches at its limbs. One struck the knee. Another struck the shoulder. And the third went right into the jaw, smashing the bone completely.

The Stalker roared and lunged again, its body already regenerating.

Jayden landed, crouched like a beast, claws scraping the ground.

"Round two," he snarled.

The beast charged.

Jayden sprinted.

They clashed in the middle.

The world boomed as claws met claws—fangs against fang. Sparks flew. Jayden twisted mid-fight, slipped beneath its arm and slashed its underbelly. He spun again and planted a vicious telekinetic punch into the creature’s stomach, lifting it clean off the ground.

While it flailed in mid-air, Jayden moved and instantly appeared behind it.

Claws glinting, heart pounding, instincts burning.

He whispered under his breath, "This one’s for the pain."

Then with a roar—

SHHHLLKKKK!

Jayden drove both claws through the back of its skull, the tips bursting out its face in a brutal, perfect kill.

The beast twitched.

Then dropped. Dead.

Jayden landed gracefully and was met by the usual notification.

[+40 Exp received]

[D-Rank Beast Defeated]

[1 D-Rank Beast Crystal Gained]

[Beast Crystal has been added to Inventory]

[Wolverine Stalker crystal detected: Would you like to absorb crystal for rank up?]

[Yes] [No]

"Yes." he responded almost instantly.

[1 D-Rank Wolverine Stalker crystal has been absorbed]

*Crystals required for next rank: [2/10]

Jayden exhaled and stood there, the dark forest quiet again.

He looked down at the beast’s corpse and smirked.

"I think I’m easily the same level as a D-Rank beast." freewebnσvel.cѳm

[Yeah, no kidding] Luna chuckled. [But I’m pretty sure you’re stronger. Cause i mean, look at you.. you’re still in hybrid form and you’re not complaining about being tired or something]

Jayden’s face brightened, he had completely forgotten about the cost of using the hybrid transformation. But that was because the cost wasn’t so costly anymore.

Jayden’s stamina has increasingly by leaps and bounds, therefore, holding the hybrid form was something he could do for hours without getting tired.

"I didn’t even realise i was still in hybrid form." he chuckled nervously. "It felt so normal and i didn’t even feel any sort of strain."

Luna giggled. [Yep, that shows how much your stamina has increased. I’m impressed] she said

Jayden smiled and prepared to cancel the transformation, he needed to still conserve his energy for the main fight.

But before he could even think, another set of beasts emerged from the trees.

Three Howlers. E-Rank. Blocking his path forward.

Jayden sighed in annoyance. "Seriously?" he clicked. At first, it was okay... the beasts attacking him. He saw it as a chance to get more exp. But now, it was getting too constant.

And that made him furious.