Chapter 10: Purple Cloud Scorpion

  Purple Cloud Scorpions are typically nocturnal creatures. Their hunt starts by ambushing prey from underground. When prey approaches, they release an electric current to kill or paralyze them, then finish them off with their poison.

  Their hunting grounds are in the central, innermost part of the forest. This area is teeming with devil beasts that provide them with abundant nutrients, unlike the smaller, less nutritious devil beasts on the outer part of the forest.

  With their numerous weapons, they prefer ambushing to direct combat. They can kill most of their prey through surprise attacks. Even though they excel in ambush, they also don't fear confrontation.

  Purple Cloud Scorpion is confident that it can defeat most of the Learner devil beasts in the deep part of the forest, but because of Engraver devil beast also dwells there, it decides to set the central forest as its hunting spot.

  Only occasionally do they venture this far into the outer part of the forest. Even though prey here is weaker, it had to watch out for humans. If the area behind the forest was the territory of the devil beast it couldn't fight, then the area in front of the forest was the territory of humans.

  The humans were weak. It could kill most of them without worry. But some humans were terrifyingly strong. It learned from experience that if it killed too many weak humans, the strong ones would hunt it back.

  There was once a devil beast so strong it didn't even dare to go near. That devil beast had invaded the outer forest, killing many humans. In less than a day, a much stronger group of humans swarmed in and killed that beast.

  It had its last hunt three days ago. A large mole-like devil beast came into its lair in search of food. The Purple Cloud Scorpion was delighted with the meal delivered right to its nest. Once that last meal was finished, it was time to hunt again. This time, it chose to hunt in further areas than before, looking for opportunities to attack new prey.

  The shift in hunting grounds and hunting in the morning instead of at night was also due to this reason. It decided that this time, it would launch a direct attack.

  As if Lakiz could hear its thoughts, not far ahead lay the carcass of a Monstrous bird. Although it wasn't a scavenger, its poisonous nature meant it wasn't afraid of the poison in the carcass, especially that of a devil beast as nutrient-rich as this bird.

  It tapped its two claws, the sound waves spreading around the area. It often used this power to detect and survey the surroundings.

  Once it was certain there were no strong creatures around, it cautiously approached the Monstrous bird carcass. It wasn't surprising that the carcass appeared in the middle of the forest like this. There were many reasons why a hunter would choose to abandon their hard earned prize.

  Perhaps another devil beast had ambushed it, or perhaps it sensed the danger and fled. Situations like this were too common.

  Even with its echolocation abilities, it remained uneasy. Its purple tail glowed a deeper purple light. A massive surge of electricity gathered at the tip of its tail, creating a large, serpent-like arc of lightning swirling around it. The Purple Cloud Scorpion pointed its tail at the carcass of the Monstrous bird and unleashed a bolt of lightning.

  The area around the Monstrous bird's carcass instantly scorched. Even the carcass itself turned black. Residual lightning still coursed through the remains, crackling and sizzling softly from the heat.

  Now it was certain there was no danger, so it slowly approached the carcass. It examined the slightly charred remains. The Monstrous bird now had only one wing, some of its claws were blunt and broken, and its beak had been cut. Upon noticing the deformed carcass, it knew immediately something was wrong.

  This was the work of humans!

  With that thought, another flash of lightning shot from its tail. This time, instead of firing a lightning bolt, the lightning exploded, centering itself on the blast.

  Simultaneously with the lightning explosion, Prai emerged from under the Monstrous bird's carcass. Prai's body was now gray, reflecting light as if made of steel. A pained expression shows on his metallic face.

  As Prai's hands push the ground, numerous roots begin to sprout from the earth. The roots wrapped around its entire body, especially the joints of its eight legs. Some roots had burrowed into its tail, immobilizing it.

  After the explosion, some of the roots turned charred black, but most remained tightly bound, severely restricting its movement. Prai's face twitches in pain, and his breath becomes ragged. His metallic body now turned dark gray, and a hissing sound filled the air. Gritting his teeth, Prai drew his giant shield, ready to fight.

  Purple Cloud Scorpion raised its claws to the sky. The blunt ends of these claws glowed, transforming from thick shell into blades. They slashed down on the roots binding its eight legs, easily cutting the tough roots that had withstood the lightning blast. Purple Cloud Scorpion swung its claws again, this time aiming at Prai.

  Numerous roots shot out from Prai's legs, anchoring him firmly in the ground. He sensed that these giant claws could cut his shield like paper, so he tilted his shield diagonally. The first attack deflected off the shield. Purple Cloud Scorpion prepared to use its claws to clamp down on the stationary human instead of cutting it, but the light arrow arrived first, unleashing a burst of light right in front of it.

  Purple Cloud Scorpion whole vision filled with white, it hurriedly tapped its claws to activate echolocation. Ratri appeared beside it. She rushed into close range, placing both hands on its side shell.

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  Faint spiritual energy covers a small area around Purple Cloud Scorpion shell. Ratri quickly ran, but Purple Cloud Scorpion was faster, concentrating deadly poison at the tail tip and striking Ratri with pinpoint accuracy despite its blindness.

  This strike was so fast that a weak human before it would have had no way to dodge. However, upon thrusting, its tail felt as if it were piercing an invisible wall.

  Purple Cloud Scorpion’s tail was one of its strongest organs. It focused all the strength and pierced through the invisible wall with almost no decrease in speed. Yet, there was another invisible wall in the path. After penetrating through, it encountered the wall again, and again, and again. The invisible wall appeared five times before its tail could no longer penetrate.

  When Purple Cloud Scorpion’s vision returned, Ratri had already retreated out of its attack range.

  Purple Cloud Scorpion continued to use its claws to fend off the shield-wielding human in front of it. However, whenever it attempted to use its tail, it would encounter that invisible wall again.

  While it was in a fit of rage, another human figure emerged from the ground. Fah thrust a spear with all her might into the thick shell on its side, at the exact spot Ratri touched earlier.

  The moment the spear collided, the thick shell transformed into a soft, rubbery substance. The spearhead pierced deep into its body, followed by a tremor that exploded from the inside.

  It felt an excruciating pain, like its whole body being struck by a giant hammer. Its body froze before a purple light reappeared at the tip of its tail. A bolt of lightning erupted, forcing the Fah to burrow back down.

  When the lightning faded, Purple Cloud Scorpion reappeared. The wound on its side had healed, though traces of blood and the tremors within it remained. Prai's face was grim, but his body trembled slightly. Cracks were beginning to appear in his metallic body.

  Purple Cloud Scorpion turned around and swung its claws at Ratri, who had seized the opportunity to get closer again. Its claws struck the invisible wall once more. This time, there were only three layers of defense. After breaking through all three layers, the weakened claws sent Ratri flying.

  It realized that the culprit rendering its thick shell useless was this human!

  Ratri's body was sent flying, blood dripping from the corner of her mouth. Just before the claws struck, Ratri softened part of its claw, reducing the damage from a direct impact.

  Purple Cloud Scorpion turned back, its claws becoming razor-sharp. This time, it slashed through the ground in a web-like pattern. Fah's figure reappeared, her spear pointed at the giant scorpion before thrusting out. At the same time, Prai extended his arm, lengthening it and striking the head of the purple cloud scorpion.

  Purple Cloud Scorpion's tail shakes violently till it becomes blurry. When it stopped moving, another purple tail appeared, becoming two tails. One struck Fah, while the other attacked Prai.

  Fah's face was tense. She quickly shouted while she still had the chance, "Help Prai!"

  After speaking, Fah bit her tongue, spitting out a blood mist in front of her. As the tail touched against the blood, the whole tail slowed down. The more it tried to move, the harder it was to thrust forward, as if it were trying to thrust against a strong current. Fah seized the opportunity to retreat, while the other tail was blocked by Arun's invisible wall.

  Purple Cloud Scorpion roared. It was furious now. Although displeased, it was still confident it could handle this group of humans.

  Humans' normal attacks couldn't harm it. It only had to be wary of the human woman touching it. Blocking the roots and light was difficult, but it could counter them with Word of Power, ‘Echoes’ and ‘Blades’.

  Its tail emitted a purple light, shooting towards Fah, who was curled up on the ground. Seeing this, Fah burrowed into the ground. However, the high-voltage electricity still spread throughout the surrounding area. Fah's body resurfaced, hair disheveled and parts of her skin charred.

  Fah used her giant spear as a support, gritting her teeth and glaring at Purple Cloud Scorpion. Her legs trembled, and her breathing became weak. Seeing his girlfriend’s condition, Prai immediately attacked with giant shields. However, the giant scorpion deflected with only one claw, while the other struck towards Ratri, who sneaked in again.

  Purple Cloud Scorpion was certain that the human with the shield posed no threat. He could only withstand its attack and had no way to strike back. Its primary target was the human who had rendered its shell useless.

  This time, Purple Cloud Scorpion changed its attack method. Instead of a simple slash, it focuses more on stabbing. Five layers of invisible wall crumbled. The giant claw finally reached and pierced Ratri's stomach.

  Bloodsplash, Ratri's face paled. She was able to soften the claw to minimize damage, but even a softened blade, if sharp enough, could still cut through flesh and blood.

  Because the immense piercing power had been neutralized by Arun's invisible wall, the wound wasn't life-threatening, but it was severe enough from the blood loss. Ratri clutched her wound, slumped to the ground, and gritted her teeth as she struggled to maintain her balance.

  Purple Cloud Scorpion was about to strike again to finish her off, but Fah lunged forward again. Purple Cloud Scorpion raised both its tails, one infused with lightning power, the other thrusting directly at Fah. It was certain that if it attacked with both tails simultaneously, the human woman in front of it would have no way to defend herself.

  Prai extended his hands to their fullest extent, clenching both fists like a hammer. The gray skin on his fists turned a deep black, reflecting light. Numerous roots flowed up and wrapped around Prai's fists, forming a giant root hammer.

  Prai roared before swinging his fist hammer directly at the Purple Cloud Scorpion's head. Sensing danger, it raised its claws to protect its head.

  Arun, who stands far away, focuses all his spiritual energy into his hand. He grabs the air before him tightly. The Purple Cloud Scorpion's tail abruptly stops. As if its tail was grabbed by countless hands.

  Instinctively, Purple Cloud Scorpion tails emitted a blinding purple light. Twice the usual amount of lightning erupted relentlessly from the Purple Cloud Scorpion's tails, unleashing a double-powered lightning blast that scorched everything in its path.

  When everything calmed down, over half of Fah's body was severely burned. One arm hung limply at her side.

  Prai, who was the closest, was thrown several meters away. His once strong metallic body had reverted to its original form. Scorched marks covered his body, and his hands were blackened from the close-range lightning strike. Prai was half-sitting, half-standing, leaning against his giant shield, his eyes weary.

  The furthest Ratri was largely unaffected, but her body still bore minor burn marks and numbness that paralyzed her movement.

  Purple Cloud Scorpion still held Ratri as its primary target. Its tails flashed with lightning once again, the blinding purple light at their tips forming a lightning bolt aimed at Ratri, intending to extinguish the life of the human who dared challenge it.

  At this moment, Purple Cloud Scorpion's body froze. Its whole body becomes incredibly heavy, unable to control its muscles. All its joints seemed bound. Disgusting pain coursed through its body. Its organs burned as if on fire. Its tail, once proudly held high, now limply flopped down its back.

  It senses something amiss. Wounds on its body start to rot. The area around the wound changes color continuously. The source of pain starts from that small wound from the spear.

  It was poisoned!

  When? And what kind of poison could harm it? It was certain that no poison in this forest could harm it! Purple Cloud Scorpion's thoughts became a mess.

  The amount of poison couldn't be much, as the only way it could be injected into its body was by the spears of that tiny human attacking it. What kind of poison could possibly affect it?

  Its eyes trembled as the effects of the poison intensified. At that moment, two more humans emerged from the forest. One was a handsome young man with a striking face, the other was a sharp-featured young man with deep blue eyes.

  "That's the poison of Rainbow Devouring Serpent. Even a higher-level poisonous devil beast than Purple Cloud Scorpion wouldn't stand a chance.”

  “The one I'm carrying is diluted. It might not be enough to kill directly, but temporarily paralyzing the whole body wouldn't be a problem," Injan smiled.

  Massive roots sprouted from the ground, wrapping tightly around Purple Cloud Scorpion's body. Purple Cloud Scorpion tried to muster its power to unleash another lightning blast, but its body refused to obey.

  Ratri reappeared above its head, close enough for it to see Ratri's cold, emotionless face. One hand pressed against her stomach wound, another pressed on Purple Cloud Scorpion's head.

  Purple Cloud Scorpion turned to the other side, seeing another human gripping a spear tightly. Her hair was disheveled, and many parts of her skin bore large, terrifying burn scars, yet her eyes were resolute. The two hands gripping the spears emitted a radiant glow. Immense power flowed into the spears, which trembled slightly as if struggling desperately to contain that energy.

  Whoosh!

  The sound of the spear piercing through the air.

  The last thing Purple Cloud Scorpion saw was the tip of the spear piercing its head.