Free Web NovelChapter 248: Chapter 248: Split Claw Beast
"The dark zones are much larger than this one if we approach from other directions," Ning Xuan mused, frowning.
She and Di Youlin had surveyed the forest’s general layout from high above. This region was the one she had chosen because it had the smallest patch of darkness; they only needed to cross this one section of the Dark Forest to reach the unenveloped woods beyond.
"That can’t be helped. The black spatial rifts are extremely stable. They won’t just disappear," Yun Han said.
"Other regions might have their own threats," Ning Xuan said, unwilling to give up. "Besides, you two said yourselves that these things shouldn’t be here. Maybe this one isn’t the same as the ones you’ve seen before."
Di Youlin and Yun Han exchanged a glance. They didn’t argue. The forest was vast, and a detour would cost them a significant amount of time. Even if they circled around, there was no guarantee the larger dark zones wouldn’t have identical black spatial rifts.
"We’ll stay here for three days," Ning Xuan announced, making a final decision. "If we haven’t found a way deeper into the forest by then, we’ll choose another route."
No one else objected.
Ning Xuan began developing an antidote based on the properties and destructive power of the violet poison mist, determined to free everyone from its threat.
Di Youlin and the others took turns venturing into the Dark Forest to observe any changes in the black spatial rifts and search for their boundaries.
Finally, at noon on the second day, Di Youlin was the first to notice something unusual. "Master, thirty minutes ago, the black spatial rift at this spot suddenly vanished. I followed your orders and immediately sent a reconnaissance robot through. Look, it’s inside," Di Youlin said excitedly, showing Ning Xuan the screen connected to the robot.
"How long was the black spatial rift gone?" Ning Xuan asked.
"Only two or three minutes, I think. I was about to go in myself, but then I remembered your orders and sent the robot first. Not long after it made it through, the black spatial rift reappeared," Di Youlin explained.
Even with an opening of only two or three minutes, as long as they could master its pattern,
they could get through at this spot.
After repeated tests, they finally figured out the pattern for this particular location. However, both reconnaissance robots they had sent through were violently destroyed. The footage they transmitted back showed they had been attacked by Exotic Beasts.
In other words, highly aggressive Exotic Beasts roamed the Dark Forest on the other side of the black spatial rift.
After making thorough preparations, Ning Xuan’s group timed their passage through the black spatial rift perfectly. Moments after they crossed, the night-vision modules on their helmets picked up flickers of dark red light among the branches.
Yun Han suddenly spoke up. "Something’s coming. Three o’clock."
The words had barely left his lips when three black shadows tore through the dense fog. The leading Exotic Beast was over three meters long and covered in black, Basalt-like Scale Armor, its joints bristling with conical bone spikes.
Its forelimbs were the most terrifying part—each one split into four independently mobile, blade-like bone spurs. As it brandished them, they emitted a high-frequency vibration, producing a piercing sonic wave. The sound hit Ning Xuan with such force that her vision went black and she felt dizzy.
"It’s a Split Claw Beast!" Lin Mo’s voice trembled. "They reproduce like crazy. They’re one of the Exotic Beasts still found across the Federation’s planets. I fought them on the battlefield. They have high defense, they’re fast, and they’re incredibly tough to deal with."
"Master, allow me." Di Youlin charged forward as he spoke.
While Lin Mo was still explaining to Ning Xuan how dangerous the creatures were, Di Youlin had already killed all three Split Claw Beasts, each with a single slap.
Lin Mo stared, mouth agape, at the Exotic Beasts that Di Youlin had dispatched so quickly.
The Exotic Beasts’ blood splattered onto the moss, and in an instant, the ground was dotted with countless crimson points of light.
Seven more Exotic Beasts leaped down from the branches. Waves of sonic attacks followed, and pairs of beastly eyes glowed with a cold, blue light in the darkness.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Di Youlin unfurled his wings, launched himself from the ground, and charged toward the Exotic Beasts. freewёbnoνel.com
The rest of the group was also attacked by Split Claw Beasts. Aside from Yun Han, Lan Xin, the Little Fox, Qinghe, and Di Youlin, everyone else’s combat effectiveness plummeted under the sonic assault. Ning Xuan was uninjured thanks to Lin Mo’s protection, but Chen Nan, Zhang Nan, and the others were caught off guard and sustained various injuries while fighting the beasts.
Fortunately, Yun Han and the other powerful fighters were exceptionally strong and quickly eliminated all the Exotic Beasts.
The battle subsided. It was time to clean up the battlefield.
"Contractor, the claws of a Split Claw Beast are extremely valuable!" Lin Mo said happily, looking at the field of carcasses. "We’ve captured so many at once. We’re going to be rich!"
While Ning Xuan bandaged and treated the wounded, Yun Han silently collected the Exotic Beast corpses into his storage bracelet. The materials could indeed be sold for a good price.
After dealing with the lurking Exotic Beasts, treating the team’s injuries, and resting for about half an hour, they pressed onward.
They encountered a few more sporadic attacks, but the experts in the group dispatched them quickly. After about four hours, Ning Xuan and her team saw light ahead.
"We’re finally out!" Chen Nan cheered and ran forward.
Ning Xuan shot out a vine and dragged him back. "What are you running for?" she chided. "We’ve been in the dark for hours; you need to let your eyes adjust to the light slowly. Besides, we have no idea what the environment is like out there or what dangers might be waiting. Are you really that clueless about your own limitations?"
Chen Nan didn’t dare argue and fell in line silently behind Ning Xuan.
Qinghe took the lead. After trekking through darkness for so long, the sudden, bright light was agonizingly painful to his eyes. He could barely open them.
He quickly adjusted, of course.
Leaving the dark zone behind, Ning Xuan and her group entered a normal section of the forest.
Soft, beautiful light illuminated lush green trees. A vibrant, thriving vista unfolded before them.
"This is Red Sandalwood, that’s a Dragon’s Blood Tree, and this is Golden-Thread Nanmu," Lin Mo said with a sigh of admiration. "These trees are incredible. So thick and tall... I wonder how old they are."
"What’s so great about trees? If you like one, we can just chop it down," Di Youlin said.
Zhang Nan and Lan Xin were busy updating their map.
RUMBLE, RUMBLE, RUMBLE... THUD, THUD, THUD. The ground suddenly began to tremble. From the sound of it, something massive was headed their way.
A sudden unease gripped Ning Xuan, and she couldn’t help but feel a knot of tension form in her chest. Qinghe and Di Youlin exchanged a look before heading toward the source of the commotion.
The Little Fox also transformed, growing to a massive size before rushing in that same direction.
Yun Han moved to stand in front of Ning Xuan, his expression equally grave.
Seeing the top fighters in the team react this way, the others grew even more tense.
