288 News About The Calamities
A few hours before the news broke out,
Nathan's sword clashed with the monster, sending a high mana wave rippling around them.
The Spatial Barrier had shattered, and at present, the beast was severely weakened. However, the same was true for Joseph, who had suffered from the monster's blood-
infused attacks.
Nathan's eyes were glowing red, but his armor was starting to wear out and break apart. Regardless, Nathan dismissed the damage.
Right now, the monster was at its weakest, and if they allowed it time to recover, things would turn dire.
"Fifth Sword," Nathan altered his stance, causing his aura to explode as he descended toward the monster.
His sword met the skin of the monster, but each strike could only slightly wound it.
The combined power of the three SSS Rank entities was devastating the surrounding area, with tremors felt even in cities near the Border.
Each time the monster unleashed an attack, the earth would quake, enough to unsettle any normal man.
Usually, SSS Rank Hunters would never fight; all the skirmishes would occur inside a Dungeon. However, this was the first time the people of Fashia had experienced anything like this.
The monster's horns fell as Joseph lodged his sword around the nape of the beast, and Nathan sheared off the horns with a broad arc of his greatsword.
The monster tried to shake its head free, but a slam from Nathan's leg forced it to kneel as blood soaked the land beneath them.
Mana waves erupted from the monster as it tried to launch another attack, but this time, Nathan didn't give it a chance to move. He descended with his Greatsword at an extraordinarily high speed and pierced the monster's skull slightly.
"DIE!!" Nathan shouted as immense energy erupted from his greatsword.
Joseph instantly floated away from Nathan as he watched the Monster's final struggle. But Nathan withdrew his sword and hovered in the air.
Despite its skull being pierced, the monster continued to struggle, but it ceased as Nathan gathered his energy, and his sword descended in a slow arc.
"Eighth Sword," Nathan murmured as his sword descended through the air.
In an instant, the monster's neck was severed, the earth below splitting apart as Joseph observed the destruction Nathan's sword art had wrought around them.
Both Joseph and Nathan remained motionless as they waited for the monster's mana to dissipate completely.
And soon enough, it did. Nathan descended, but the land beneath them was scorched and torn apart.
What was once a dense forest filled with mountains had become a flat, burnt land marked by numerous massive cracks.
No life forms could be seen kilometers away from the two men standing in front of a massive monster carcass.
"Damn, this monster took a long time to die," Nathan said as he thrust his greatsword into the ground.
He began walking toward the monster, intent on confirming something. As he proceeded, Joseph appeared in front of him.
"What are you doing, Nathaniel Greville?" Joseph asked, his armor half corroded from the monster's bloody attacks and his skin still healing.
"What else but claiming my reward?" Nathan replied, meeting Joseph's gaze.
"We haven't decided what to do with these monsters," Joseph said, preventing Nathan from advancing further.
"HOH," Nathan's eyes widened as his mana flared anew.
"Do you truly wish to stop me?" Nathan asked, staring at Joseph.
"Don't be unreasonable," Joseph retorted, his eyes growing cold.
"Step aside, Joseph Kimir Cranston," Nathan commanded as their mana began to clash.
Nathan wished to investigate if the SSS Rank Monster had a mana gem. Joseph opposed this, but knowing the difference in their injuries, he couldn't prevent Nathan from taking the Mana Gem.
And Joseph realized that Nathan was serious about his threat.
At the moment, if Nathan and Joseph clashed, Joseph knew his odds of winning were slim.
"Even though you helped here, I was the one who killed this beast, right?" Nathan asked, his aura intensifying.
"I'll just check for one simple thing, and if I don't find it, all of this will be yours," Nathan proposed, and Joseph began to consider it.
Nathan stepped forward as Joseph stood still, looking straight at him.
Even though Joseph didn't seem that strong against the monster, it didn't mean Nathan could easily overpower someone as potent as Joseph.
That's why he offered Joseph something he couldn't reject without consideration.
The corpse of an SSS Rank Monster was invaluable as it could be used in various ways. Joseph knew he couldn't stop Nathan if he was truly determined to claim the monster.
"Fine, remember your words," Joseph stepped aside.
He was aware that Nathan was looking for a Mana Gem, and the chances of this monster having one were low. Joseph took the gamble.
An SSS Rank Mana Gem was priceless and was only sold within the Kalvas Gala. All the dungeons were cleared with two or three SSS Rank Hunters or more, depending on the dungeon.
So if a Mana Gem was found, it was sent to the Kalvas Gala, and the monster's body was divided among the participating SSS Rank Hunters.
This was the first time that a dormant SSS Rank Monster was challenged and ownership lay with those who defeated it.
Nathan moved closer to the massive body casting a huge shadow over the land and touched it.
He spread his mana sense and sent a mana wave inside the Monster's body.
Due to his high mana sensitivity, Nathan always felt that the monster harbored dormant mana.
Pulling his hand back, Nathan smiled and threw a punch.
On seeing Nathan's expression, Joseph's countenance turned cold.
He had realized that Nathan had found a Mana Gem, and this was not good news.
At this moment, Nathan possessed not one, but two SSS Rank Mana Gems.
The monster's flesh broke open as Nathan materialized his mana and pulled the large Mana Gem towards him.
Though it was a bit smaller than the one he got at the Kalvas Gala, it was still a powerful SSS Rank Mana Gem.
"You can have it," Nathan offered, but upon sensing Joseph's killing intent, he disappeared from his spot and retrieved his Greatsword.
BOOOOM
In the next instant, Joseph's sword and Nathan's Greatsword clashed.
But Joseph could feel the power emanating from Nathan, who was smiling as he looked at Joseph.
"I don't mind killing you right here," Nathan threatened as their mana started clashing violently.
But after a few seconds, Joseph stopped, and Nathan also withdrew his Greatsword as he saw that Joseph had changed his mind.
"You are pushing your luck too far," Joseph warned as he stowed his sword in his spatial storage.
"Tsk, and here I thought I could finally kill one of you," Nathan retorted as he turned towards Fashia.
His expression changed immediately.
'So, he might not be the one,' Nathan concluded in his mind.
He had chosen Fashia for a reason, wanting to test Joseph Cranston first. Joseph would benefit the most if Greville were to fall.
But their previous clash made it clear that Joseph's animosity was straightforward, and he was not the type to plot behind others' backs.
Nathan put the SSS Rank Mana Gem back in his spatial ring, but he soon needed to find a container for it before deciding to use it.
"Now you can have all of this," Nathan declared as he started to float away.
Before leaving, Joseph dropped a rock-like cube. A barrier formed that severed the mana of the dead body of the SSS Rank Monster and concealed its presence.
He didn't want his possession to become a feast for other SS Rank Monsters that might happen upon it.
They needed to return to Fashia to announce to the world the fall of the first Calamity. They soon arrived in the Capital City, leaving the SS Rank Hunters who were glad to notice their arrival and were even more excited to end the Monster Tide now.
"So, can we expect you guys to go support other SSS Rank Hunters?" One of the reporters asked.
"No," Nathan replied,
"I have done my duty, and they will do theirs," Nathan said. Not a single person dared to question his decision,
Joseph gave a similar response. They would not go hunting other SSS Rank Monsters.
"Do you think fighting an SSS Rank Monster is a joke?" Nathan asked.
"I don't know about this guy here, but I won't move until I am needed there," Nathan replied.
"I am only responsible for Somaria, not every single continent," Nathan stated as he rose to his feet.
Not a single person attempted to stop him. And just like Nathan, Joseph also stood up to leave.
Even though they wanted to question them, the tremors from the SSS Rank entities and the sight of Joseph and Nathan's broken armor led them to conclude that the fight had not been easy at all.
The entire Fashia relaxed, feeling safe after the SSS Rank Monster was defeated. However, this was not the case for Desmar and Belvoria.
