He burst out from behind the crystals with explosive power, charging toward the pitfall trap and closing the distance on the trapped Uragaan in just a few short steps.
The massive beast's legs were currently mired deep in the pit, and it let out a heaven-shaking roar. Its thick scales ground against one another as it struggled, sending sparks flying everywhere, but the trap held its lower body in a firm lock.
"ROAARRR!!" The Uragaan bellowed, struggling to swing its forelimbs. However, since the trap had pinned its lower half, it could only expose its massive head and back.
Leon did not hesitate, slashing down with both blades!
"Demon Double Slash!"
"Demon Six-fold Slash!"
Lightning danced between the blades as his strikes hit the Uragaan's neck with precision, causing scales to shatter and blood to spray.
"Nice work, Leon!"
Vos's voice came from the flank. His lance was already in position, and the moment Leon's offensive began, he thrust forward.
"Lance: Dash Attack!"
A cold gleam appeared as the tip of the lance pierced the soft flesh of the Uragaan's chest. He then pivoted and flicked the weapon, kicking up a large cloud of blood mist!
"GROOARRR!!" Wracked with pain, the Uragaan suddenly lowered its head and slammed its hammer-like tail toward Vos!
"Bring it!" Vos barked. He instantly pulled his lance back into a tight stance—
"Counter Thrust!"
BOOM!!
Dust billowed. Although Vos was knocked back half a step, he successfully blocked the tail hammer and used the momentum to retreat, immediately opening up some distance.
Leon took the opportunity to launch a round of quick attacks from the flank, his lightning flickering like a net and his sword shadows falling like a tide!
The Uragaan roared repeatedly, its body thrashing even more violently as the ground around the pitfall trap began to crack.
"It's about to break free!" Vos warned.
"Do it now," Leon replied coldly, his eyes like an eagle's as he locked onto the Uragaan's neck.
Just as he was about to unleash a Blade Dance in his Demon Mode—
Suddenly, an incongruous dragging sound echoed from deep within the forest.
"Hmm?" Vos's eyebrow twitched. "Isn't that..."
In the next moment.
A monster even bulkier than the Uragaan with a mouth full of fangs lunged out. Its body was heavy, and its scales were a pale blue.
"A Dodogama!"
"Dammit, an intruder at a time like this?" Leon frowned and immediately retreated to dodge.
The Dodogama leaped high into the air and pounced on the Uragaan's head, its heavy jaw slamming directly onto the other monster's skull.
"GROOARR!!" The Uragaan's fury erupted. It whipped its head around with a powerful bash, sending the Dodogama flying several meters back.
After tumbling to the ground, the Dodogama quickly scrambled back up. Undeterred, it pounced toward the Uragaan once more.
"Is this guy here for a turf war?" Vos raised his lance warily, shielding Leon's side.
"Who cares what it's here for." Leon's gaze darkened as he tightened his grip on his twin blades. "We should be fine hunting both monsters in the chaos."
Vos nodded. "Understood!"
The next moment.
The two of them charged back into the battlefield.
Twin blades—slashing through the air!
Lance—weaving through with thrusts!
Meanwhile, the Dodogama had no intention of leaving. Instead, it prowled the edges, waiting for a chance to ambush the Uragaan's hind legs. The battlefield instantly devolved into a three-way brawl.
At this time, the Uragaan also managed to break free from the pit.
"Dumpling!" Leon commanded. "Get the Flash Pods ready. You and Biscuit go stall the Dodogama."
Dumpling immediately rummaged through his bag for Flash Pods and skillfully handed them to Biscuit. "Biscuit, I'll distract it, you throw the flash meow!"
"Meow-hu—leave it to me!" Biscuit's whiskers twitched as he firmly gripped the Flash Pods.
Dumpling drew his sword and shield and dashed into the edge of the fray. Moving as nimbly as a raccoon, he circled behind the Dodogama and delivered a sharp cut to its tail.
"AOO!" The Dodogama cried out in pain and turned around. With its fangs bared, it glared at the tiny Felyne.
"Now meow!" Dumpling lunged forward and leaped high into the air—
BANG!!
The Flash Pod detonated simultaneously, its white light instantly illuminating the entire forest battlefield!
The Dodogama recoiled violently, falling into a blinded state. It roared and thrashed its head blindly, then began wildly swatting at its surroundings, yet it couldn't hit the nimble Felyne duo at all.
"Hmph, just a common interloper. Get lost!" Dumpling snorted. He turned and pulled out another Flash Pod, stuffing it into his slinger amidst the chaos. "Biscuit, get ready for round two! We need to keep it under control meow."
"Meow-hu!"
—Meanwhile.
The Uragaan had completely broken free from the trap. The ground splintered as debris flew everywhere! Seething with rage, it kicked off the ground and surged upward, its hammer-tail sweeping toward Leon!
"Leon, watch out!" Vos growled. His body moved faster than his voice as he quickly raised his shield to block.
"My turn!" Leon's eyes were sharp. His twin blades crossed in his grip once more, erupting in a violent resonance.
"Demon Flurry Rush!"
"Blade Dance!"
He lunged into the Uragaan's flank like a bolt of lightning. His twin blades whirled like a gale, landing a series of slashes on the monster's weak points. Amidst the thunderous electricity, the scales shattered.
"GROOARRR—!" Driven to the brink of fury, the Uragaan suddenly jerked its body, scattering a large number of explosive rocks in all directions.
Vos raised his lance and delivered a powerful, charged thrust!
"Lunging Thrust!"
The shadow of the lance moved like a flowing stream, passing through the air currents to strike the Uragaan's neck. The coordination between the two was flawless, their offensive coming in wave after wave, pinning the massive creature in place.
Vos shouted, "How much longer can it hold on?"
Leon didn't look away, saying coldly, "If it doesn't go down within three minutes, I'll eat my swords."
Just as he finished speaking, the Dodogama suddenly crashed through the brush and charged back in!
Although Dumpling and Biscuit had suppressed it temporarily, the creature clearly wasn't willing to give up its assault on the Uragaan.
"Dumpling!!"
"On it meow!"
A second later, a Flash Pod hit the Dodogama squarely in the face. The white light exploded like a torrent, causing the Dodogama's feet to slip as it fell heavily to the ground.
Vos blocked another of the Uragaan's attacks. By now, the monster's movements were becoming increasingly sluggish. Heat steamed from its mouth and nose, and blood flowed steadily from its broken scales.
"Now!" Leon barked. The twin blades in his hands slashed out in a rapid cross.
"Blade Dance!"
Lightning erupted at the tips of his blades. Along with a flurry of strikes, he slashed relentlessly into the cracks of the scales on the Uragaan's neck.
"AOOO—!" The Uragaan let out a piercing scream, its body twisting violently.
Vos let out a roar and stepped forward forcefully. His lance spun rapidly, its cold gleam turning into a silver serpent that lunged at the Uragaan's head.
The tip hit the soft flesh of the Uragaan's jaw with precision, then instantly pierced through the scales, trailing a string of blood droplets.
The Uragaan's pupils constricted. After letting out one final, low roar, its body trembled uncontrollably.
"Stay down!" Leon gritted his teeth, his final strike coming down like a thunderbolt.
BOOM—!!!
Finally unable to withstand the repeated heavy blows, the Uragaan crashed to the ground, its massive frame kicking up a cloud of dust.
Its head slumped powerlessly to the side, and the blood flowing from its mouth and nose pooled into a deep crimson puddle on the ground.
[KILL: URAGAAN (HIGH RANK)]
[EXPERIENCE POINTS GAINED: 2000]
[LEVEL: LV. 25]
[EXPERIENCE: 105,000 / 125,000]