Chapter 409: Mernars (1/2)

The waves galloped toward the shores as Arthur stood on the highland. The stream below ran unceasingly, and rumors have it that the monsters here made all the people evacuate.

As Arthur looked around, his detection took a snapshot of the land. He could use it to gain a live perception of the terrain, but it would consume his mana. There were monsters indeed, a type that Arthur never saw the like of before.

”I guess it's time to weed them out,” Arthur teleported toward a meadow, a piece of low land beside the river, where the monsters had a nest.

From Ma's report, Arthur learned that these humanoid-looking monsters were called Mernars, an aquatic humanoid monster that fed on human brains. That's why there were skulls scattered around the nest of either pirates or civilians.

The sight made Arthur sick, but he directed his rage toward the monsters in front of him. They sensed his existence and turned to see him taking a whip of fire out of thin air.

”You've committed enough sins as it is,” Arthur said as he looked down on the monsters. They turned to look at him with their blue marbles of eyes. ”Let me free you from the cycle.”

Not only have they killed innocents, but they have also hindered his trade. First, Arthur's fire extended to cover thegroup of monsters. Then, like a circle of death, the fire rope tightened around them. Their limbs got dismembered, and some of the weaker ones turned to ashes.

There was a deep roar as a giant Mernar, who looked like a puff fish with legs and muscles, came out to fight him from the water. It looked at Arthur and raised its head to summon a giant ball of water, throwing it at him. Arthur raised his hand and created a fireball of his own, throwing it in counterattack. The water evaporated, and the fire continued to strike the monster, but it was nowhere near enough to kill it.

”I guess my stats are getting a raise today,” Arthur smiled as golden mana exploded around him, and his stats were amplified. He rushed forward with fire covering his arm to strike down the monster.

”AGGO!!” the monster shrieked as it cupped its hands and struck down at Arthur. His punch connected with the monster, and it sent its arms flying back.

Arthur stomped on the ground and bolted forward to strike with the dagger that appeared in his hand. Fire exploded from within the blade as he stabbed it into the monster's heart.

The Mernar went still and fell back, never to stand again. Arthur let go of a breath, and he heard water splashes coming from the river. He turned to look at the newcomer and found a bigger Mernar, one with more defined muscles and body. Its head had a pair of fins on each side, and it looked like a basketball.

”I guess the marchioness didn't downplay how dangerous this matter is,” Arthur looked at the monster with a frown. He could tell this one was at least of the Vetus rank.

The Mernar roared with anger as it rushed forward, striking at Arthur. A barrier appeared around him and blocked the strike, but it broke down. Luckily, it was enough to repeal the monster's strike, but it followed with another one.

Arthur used his spiritual arm to create a shield in front of him. This was the first time he used spiritual power in a fight, and the effects were beyond his expectations. The barrier didn't break, but the impact sent him flying away toward the cliff.

The teleport rune appeared mid-flight and made him appeared above the monster, but the inertia carried him upward. Arthur turned his shield into an ethereal arm of white and golden.

”Release,” his rune devoured his mana as Arthur descended toward the monster. The Mernar turned to face him and flexed his arms back before striking with both fists.

Arthur gathered his energy around his ethereal arm during his descent, breaking all limits that his body couldn't release. The space around his fist twisted as he punched out at the monster, and it destroyed everything in its path.

BOOM!!

The force his fist carried was nothing the world could withstand, and it obliterated the monster's arms and its upper torso. Then, it carried on to bury it deep into the ground. A new basin appeared beside the rive,r and the water began to fill it up, carrying the monster's dead body above the surface.

The impact of his attack pushed Arthur upward, but he used his skill to descend beside the basin. His breathing was labored, but his 300 points in mana were still half full.

As he thought he needed to go to another nest, several more presences appeared from within the water. The fact that he couldn't sense them made Arthur uneasy, but he didn't run away just yet.

Three more monsters like the ones he just killed appeared from within the water, and they surrounded him. Foams and vapor left their body as they grew bigger, almost going berserk.