As Cale emerged from the lake, droplets of water slid from his armor, which glistened under the faint light, casting a menacing aura that matched the cold gleam in his eyes. A faint ripple spread across the lake’s surface as he moved, and an ominous silence settled over the battleground.

The dark red, viscous liquid that had spread from his hands, coating his forearms, legs, and even his mouth in a substance that pulsed with an almost sentient energy. That liquid solidified, forming a perfect, armor-like fit that encased his body in a menacing, protective layer. Almost as if it had a will of its own, now a sharp, dark-red crystal blade extended from his right wrist. Dark energy coiled around the blade, blending with the faintly glowing veins in his forearm. The blade seemed to drink in the surrounding shadows, emanating a deathly chill that matched the dangerous gleam in Cale's expression. 'I feel so strong now'

“Ready for round two?” he taunted, his voice a dark whisper echoing across the silent field. His grin widened, and he tilted his head as if savoring the sight of his opponent’s trembling form. Without hesitation, he surged forward, the ground cracking beneath his feet as he moved, crossing the distance in an instant.

The Shard Eater Boss responded immediately, steeling itself. Jagged crystals along its arms shifted and rearranged to form thicker, more defensive barriers. Its core pulsed with desperate energy, bright lights flickering in its chest. This creature knew, in some primal way, that this opponent was no ordinary prey. Cale radiated a chilling menace that overshadowed anything it had faced.

Cale swung his blade horizontally with brutal force, cutting through the air so sharply it hissed. The Shard Eater Boss barely managed to raise its arms in defense, but the impact sent a shockwave rippling through the ground, the attack cracking rocks and slicing through nearby foliage behind the Shard Eater boss as though they were made of paper. Cale didn’t pause, immediately following up with a swift upward strike. The Shard Eater Boss staggered, its defenses barely holding.

The creature let out a roar, channeling elemental energy into its right arm, which burst into bright, crackling flames. It slashed toward Cale, fire scorching the air as it closed in. But Cale twisted his body, sidestepping the blaze with fluid ease, his own dark-red blade humming with dark energy as he countered.

The Shard Eater Boss, undeterred, transitioned to water, sending sharp, pressurized jets from its left arm that sliced the air toward Cale. He shifted, ducking under the streams as they carved through the earth behind him, and lunged forward. They clashed repeatedly, their strikes shaking the ground, every collision releasing bursts of light and energy that seemed to cut through the air as it hissed.

Despite its relentless attack, the Shard Eater Boss found itself struggling. It summoned lightning, arcs of raw electricity crackling from its crystal blades. Sparks lit up the battlefield in harsh flashes, illuminating Cale’s face, his eyes narrowed in concentration, his grin widening with every attack. Each burst of lightning met the dark red blade of Cale’s wrist crystal, casting a surreal light over the area.

They seemed evenly matched, with neither giving an inch, but the tides began to turn. Cale’s attacks grew sharper, his footwork more precise, and his strikes relentless. The Shard Eater Boss poured its strength into each counterattack, switching from fire to water, from lightning to wind, its core lighting up with every element it summoned.

But Cale was gaining ground, his movements fluid and unfaltering, his blade carving through the creature’s defenses with each blow. It was after the fifth brutal exchange that something shifted within the Shard Eater Boss. The once-steady lights in its core began to flicker, a sliver of fear creeping into its eyes. Instinct told it the truth—it couldn’t win. For every inch it held, Cale claimed three, pushing forward with each swing, his strikes more ferocious, his stance unbreakable.

In one swift, deadly motion, Cale swung his wrist blade low, dark energy rippling along the edge. He sliced through the creature’s right arm with ease, sending the severed limb crashing to the ground. A faint glow of crystal dust drifted from the wound, the Shard Eater Boss’s pained roar filling the air.

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The creature staggered back, its eyes widening in shock as it registered the loss. Panic gripped it, and it made a desperate attempt to retreat, using the wind to propel itself backward. But Cale matched its every move, unyielding and relentless, his blade humming as it pulsed with dark, dangerous energy.

“What’s wrong? Realizing you’re weaker than me?” he taunted, his tone dripping with mockery. His gaze was piercing, almost hypnotic in its intensity, as he watched the Shard Eater Boss with predatory satisfaction.

Desperation flashed in the Shard Eater Boss’s eyes, and it summoned a storm of fire and lightning, the two elements blending together in a wild, destructive force as it struck out with its remaining arm. The chaotic blaze roared as it shot toward Cale, illuminating the twisted battlefield in vivid reds and yellows. But Cale moved with deadly grace, sidestepping the attack and darting back in.

With a smooth, merciless motion, he swung his wrist blade across the creature’s left arm, severing it cleanly from its body. The second arm fell to the ground, and the Shard Eater Boss let out a final, defeated wail, now defenseless. Its crystal core pulsed erratically, the lights within flickering weakly, as if grasping for a last remnant of power.

The creature’s face, filled with pure terror, fixed on Cale, who loomed over it, a dark, unstoppable force. He approached slowly, savoring the sight of the creature’s collapse, each step filled with a cruel purpose. "I should do more training so that I don't use Monarch's Blood often. Don't you agree?" Cale touched his neck once again with his right arm. Smiling he stood face to face with the Shard Eater Boss.

The Shard Eater Boss, overwhelmed by its fate, sank to its knees, its entire form trembling as it stared up at Cale. In that final moment, it recognized the inevitability of its end. All resistance left it, and a deep, all-consuming fear filled its core.

it looked up at Cale, consumed by the reality that it was at his mercy.

Cale leaned forward, his eyes narrowing, the corner of his mouth curling up into a smirk. “Scared, are we?” he whispered, his voice dripping with satisfaction. His dark crystal blade radiated power as he raised it, positioning it directly over the creature’s pulsing core. With a final, mocking smile, he drove the blade down, stabbing straight into the core.

As the blade pierced the crystal heart, the Shard Eater Boss’s body convulsed, its core erupting in waves of dimming light. Different colors flickered and faded—the elemental energies it had absorbed over time extinguishing one by one. The creature let out a shudder, a fading gasp, as the lights within it began to blink out, leaving only a faint, dying glow in its core.

With the last tremor of life slipping from the Shard Eater Boss, Cale withdrew his blade, his movements slow, savoring each second of his hunt. The once-mighty Shard Eater Boss which chased him, its form cracking and splintering as the elemental essence left it. Its crystal shell dulled to a cold, lifeless gray, fracturing into countless shards that clattered across the ground.

'I should go and help Soojin and then train my skills. So I don't have to rely on Monarch's blood all the time' Cale stood still for a moment, his dark crystal blade in his wrist, surveying the now-silent battlefield. His heart thundered in his chest, the taste of hunt a satisfying warmth in his veins. The fading embers of power from his Monarch’s Blood pulsed faintly before dissipating, returning him to a more grounded state, though the faint traces of a smirk lingered.

Ding!

A system notification flashed in front of him.

[Shard Eater Boss defeated. Experience Gained]

[[Ability: Shard Consumption, Proficiency: 100% completed ]

[Description: The host can use the powers and attributes of all devoured metals and crystals at will.]

Cale glanced extended his hands towards the kneeling body of the Shard Eater Boss now lifeless. 'Devour' He thought as dark liquid energy surged forward and started feeding on the Shard Eater's boss in delight. In seconds the Shard Eater Boss's body was gone.

Ding!

[Host has devoured his prey the Shard Eater Boss.] [Host has levelled up and become Level (lvl) 37] [Host has gained 10 points and 2 bonus points]

[Skill Absorption Active: Extracting Elemental Energy… Success!]

[New Skill Obtained: Elemental Surge (Passive)]

[Description: Enhances power with absorbed elemental energies, allowing a controlled surge of any absorbed one element during combat at a time.]

Cale raised a brow, the thrill of his hunt replaced by a glimmer of intrigue as he checked the notification. He flexed his hand, sensing the latent energy from the Shard Eater Boss’s core resonating faintly within him. This new power wasn’t merely an addition; it felt as though the elemental forces themselves awaited his command, restless and eager.

He glanced at the place where the Shard Eater previously kneeled, their faint sparkle catching his eye. “Well,” he murmured to the quiet expanse, a smirk tugging at his lips, “looks like you weren’t such a waste after all.”

Without another glance back, he turned and began to walk away, the cold thrill of the hunt already fading as he disappeared into the Fracture's exit.