Chapter 541 541. SPECIAL BEASTS
The night passed and the group of thirteen experts resumed their journey with Noah carrying them across the many regions.
His movement remained speedy as usual, but he occasionally slowed down when they arrived at unique sceneries, like the one before them.
The group arrived before an elevation in the land surface, and three huge rocks stood at the edge of a flowing blue river, creating a breathtaking waterfall that fed the forests with its sparkling water.
The raging of that waterfall filled the environment with its sound and the closer they got the more outer sounds were drowned by its intensity.
At this point, those experts felt like Noah only considered their journey a mode of sightseeing. After all, he landed below and departed into the waterfall itself.
Sure it couldn't hurt him, but it felt like he wouldn't take their mission seriously.
Those experts waited at the river bank whilst casually taking in the sight of the waterfall even if it wasn't their first time seeing one. Neither was it Noah's first.
So why would Noah need to enter the waterfall if it wasn't his first time finding one? The reason would reveal itself soon enough.
The experts waited a bit more than ten minutes before a ground-shaking roar boomed out of the waterfall to drown the raging sounds of that rapidly falling mass of water.
Danger immediately appeared in the minds of those experts as they stood; weapons out, ready to take care of the event. 𝒇𝑟e𝙚𝑤𝙚𝐛𝗻𝐨ν𝚎𝘭.c𝐨m
"Don't worry, it's only a lower-stage beast. Simply special," Noah's mental waves interacted with theirs and they watched the entire waterfall tremble violently.
The falling water burst open to reveal chunks of earth and surprisingly metal.
A huge figure flew out of that destruction to slam into the flowing river created by the waterfall.
The huge figure rolled and rolled until it eventually came to a stop.
"Sorry for the ruckus," Noah's voice drew those experts' attention from the magical beast that had flown out of the waterfall.
The huge hole embedded in the very elevation became evident. The water pouring from high above fell but was unable to properly cover its existence.
Soon enough cracks spread in the very landmass and that huge chunk of earth threatened to slide off. The water would rush down with even more power, disturbing the area.
Noah pointed his palm at the huge mass of earth allowing a beam of silver mist to shoot forward. Everything turned to ice at that point. He mended the hole and the cracks in mere instants.
In quick succession to the fix, Noah sprinted towards the shiny figure recovering from his punch.
The magical beast took note of his approaching figure, but it remained too slow anyway. Noah appeared above the rhinoceros, his fist descended toward it and the beast tried to slam its curved horn into him.
Both connected but the rhino saw its metallic horn give way to the power in that human's fist. Noah's blow slammed its head into the water and deep into the ground below.
It didn't matter that the beast was more than 60m in size, his fist sent it bowing before him.
That event created a significant wave that flooded into the lands around, filling them with shimmering blue water.
The experts watched with awe and shock. How had he found that beast deep within the earth?!
Noah had come across a metal affinity beast even when it was hidden in the best possible position.
"I believe it's been there for a long while. Too much rest," Noah announced approaching the beast as it failed in removing its face from the ground.
He landed on that metallic surface. It glinted significantly in the sunlight, giving its ash color a nice glow. Like a shiny orb.
Raising his right arm he allowed silver light to gather on it until his limb became a blade made out of searing light.
Noah waved his hand at the beast's neck and watched a silver beam-like slash fly forward to sever its head from the rest of its figure. The beast went limp at that point. Dead.
Dispersing the gathered light, he watched a green mana core fly toward him and stored it. Shockingly the beast did not bleed. Its very insides were made of the same metal that created its body.
For the average middle stage that beast would possess the best type of defense possible. But its hunter had unfortunately been Noah.
A silver screen appeared before Noah's eyes and the system's voice rang out; reading its contest. He waved it away soon after. He had not gained any levels but had gained a 3% increase in his defense and stamina stats.
The system addressed the issue even before he could ask her.
"Killing special beasts awards you with stat additions according to what those beasts were special for. The metal Rhino had more stamina and defense than all beasts at its level. Even dragons would respect it," the feminine voice of the system was quick to explain.
"Are special beasts classified by their rare affinities?"
"Yes. But there are other types of special beasts, like your thunderbird, a phoenix, a dragon, and a hydra. All are special beasts, even if their affinities might be amongst the common elements."
"I understand." Noah nodded storing the giant beast in his inventory. He needed its body for certain projects.
"Sorry for the detour," Noah arrived before the still-stunned experts. They nodded at his words even if they wondered what he needed that beast for.
It was well known that metal affinity beasts were well sought out in armor and weapons making. Some of the best weapons or armor featured chunks of that beast's organs or skin.
Finding them was hard, and killing them was even harder for the average cultivator.
'He actually found a rare beast when our senses couldn't even notice it,' Davis spoke inwardly. His heart still shook. Just what was the limit to that being's collection of skills?
"We can resume our journey now," Noah announced, and they did just that.
Over the course of the next day, those experts watched Noah find and defeat two more metal affinity beasts. A wolf and a boar.
By daybreak on the third day, they arrived at the regions surrounding the said city. By this point, no one doubted that he could fulfill his promise of guaranteed safety. He had already done too much to not be worth at least that.
Rather, they felt pity for the experts they were soon to battle. The results of the event were already determined even before anything major occurred.
This was the certainty birthed by the overwhelming power of the silver and white-haired man.