Life After Reaching The Pinnacle

Chapter 26: Red Horned Rat

As Aurora and her companions exited the small cave, the other two teams also noticed their return. Observing them without any injuries, the members of the other teams clicked their tongues in annoyance, clearly realizing that the second cave was indeed the right choice.

Silence hung in the air as they all eyed each other, but it didn't last long. Suddenly, they heard faint squeaks coming from the front. Over time, the squeaks multiplied, echoing from all around them.

Startled, everyone immediately stood up, their guards raised high, forming tight-knit squads as they stood prepared for any imminent attack.

Then, unexpectedly, a deafening 'boom' reverberated from behind them. Every muscle tensed as they spun around to see a thick curtain of dust, stirred up by the impact, obscuring their vision.

As the dust began to settle, though their sight was still somewhat impaired, they could make out the silhouette of a colossal figure standing before them. The figure slowly opened its large, menacing red eyes, sending shivers down their spines.

Aurora, who had been standing nonchalantly, snapped to attention, her eyes narrowing as she focused on the looming creature. "A mid-grade Earth Profound Stage Beast?" she muttered to herself, a hint of disbelief in her voice. "Isn't this a bit overkill?"

Profound beasts' cultivation was categorized similarly to humans. First to third grade was considered Early Grade, fourth to sixth grade as Mid Grade, and seventh to ninth grade as High Grade.

As the dust finally settled completely, they could see the figure clearly. It was a massive grey rat with crimson eyes, sporting a menacing one-meter-long red horn on its head. It was a Red Horned Rat, notorious for attacking in hordes.

Squeaks echoed around them, and in a matter of moments, they found themselves encircled by hundreds of Red Horned Rats, much smaller than the towering creature before them, which appeared to be the leader.

Any lingering hope they had was shattered as they realized that not a single Red Horned Rat among the hundreds was below the Early Grade Origin Profound Stage. Their numbers were already a disadvantage, and now, even in terms of cultivation, they were at a significant disadvantage. Only a handful of them had reached the Origin Profound Stage. How could they possibly prevail against these odds?

Though they possessed life-saving treasures bestowed by their elders, even if they managed to survive the onslaught of rats, the colossal Red Horned Rat remained a menacing presence.

Aurora observed the despair in the eyes of her comrades, but her focus was squarely on the massive Red Horned Rat. She smiled, sensing an opportunity to test her limits. Drawing her flaming red daggers, Flamingo, she began to approach the creature with unwavering determination.

Addressing Shihab as she passed him, Aurora instructed, "Just cover me and make sure these rats don't hinder my battle. I'll take care of the big one."

Shihab was taken aback by her audacity but quickly responded, "That beast is two major stages higher than you. You'll get killed. Let me handle it."

Aurora, still advancing toward the Red Horned Rat, replied calmly, "Don't worry. As long as these rats don't interfere, I'll be fine. I want to push my limits. Focus on your task."

Shihab wanted to argue further but realized that this was their best option. He was resigned to the fact that he might only be able to stall the colossal creature for a brief time before meeting his end. He had no choice but to place his trust in Aurora.

Witnessing this exchange, the other members of the Kela Kingdom team arrived at the same conclusion. With death seemingly imminent, they decided to give it their all.

Forming a tight V-formation, they faced outward, determined not to let a single rat breach their defenses.

Meanwhile, the members of the other two teams, who couldn't hear or simply didn't care about the Kela Kingdom group, steeled themselves for the fight ahead. They were elite warriors who had faced death multiple times, and while fear coursed through them, they refused to go down without a fight.

The smaller Red Horned Rats surged forward, launching their attacks on the group. On the opposite side, the colossal Red Horned Rat seemed indifferent to its smaller counterparts. Though it couldn't speak, its demeanor mocked and taunted Aurora as Profound Beasts gain intelligence when they reach Spirit Profound Stage.

Unfazed by its taunts, Aurora remained focused, observing the colossal creature and formulating her battle strategy. Red Horned Rats relied heavily on their physical prowess and lacked a wide array of techniques, compensating with their extraordinary strength.

Aurora possessed a limited reserve of Profound energy compared to the Red Horned Rat and knew she couldn't engage in a prolonged battle using Profound energy and techniques. As a Spirit Profound Stage Artist, her endurance couldn't match that of the Red Horned Rat.

With determination, she gripped her daggers in a reverse grip and assumed a battle stance. Profound energy flowed into Flamingo, enveloping it in flames. She also encased her body in a layer of Profound energy.

Without hesitation, she dashed toward the colossal Red Horned Rat, her speed remarkable. She closed the gap swiftly and, with precision, slashed Flamingo at the creature's legs.

The Red Horned Rat reacted swiftly, swiping its claw toward Aurora's chest. She had no choice but to shift her daggers to defend against the impending strike.

The force behind the claw was overwhelming, and Aurora was sent flying backward, thrown dozens of meters through the air. She managed to stabilize herself mid-air and landed gracefully.

Her lips curled into a crazed smile as she contemplated the battle. "So, you possess such incredible physical strength. I underestimated you, but that's just fine. It means I can fight to my heart's content." Aurora assumed her battle stance once more, her determination unwavering, as she charged at the colossal Red Horned Rat with even greater speed than before. This time, she had made up her mind to go all out.

The claw and Flamingo again collided but this time, neither could push other out, clearly having the same strength.