The flames spewed by the Lionbite Shark weren’t endless—they’d extinguish sooner or later.
The moment it stopped…
…that would be the counterattack signal.
Though the blaze had incinerated a wide swath of forest, Sasha and the others remained untouched. The instant smoke curled from its jaws and the searing assault ceased, Sasha leaped down from the tree trunk.
From this angle, she could strike the red crystal on its back.
Just like when she’d defeated the demonic crocodile, Sasha clenched her fist.
Corebreaker Fist.
Channeling Faith Power into it.
Twenty… thirty… forty!!
This time, Sasha shattered her limit—forty points of Faith Power surging through the Corebreaker Fist, slamming straight into the Lionbite Shark’s back.
Thud!!
The colossal force smashed the beast flat. The ground cracked violently; trees toppled like twigs. Such devastation left everyone speechless.
Yet—
Gritting her teeth, Sasha stared at the red crystal.
Unscathed.
Gleaming with an eerie, pristine luster.
That punch had shaken its body… but hadn’t scratched its defense.
What *is* this crystal?!
As the thought flashed, the Lionbite Shark’s tail lashed upward. Unlike a shark’s tail, this was a rod-like creature with a serpent’s maw—conscious or not, a bite would be fatal.
Sasha dropped from its back. But the beast was already coiled. The moment her feet touched earth, claws slashed toward her.
Trapped mid-air, she blocked desperately. Struck, she rocketed backward—smashing through four, five trees—before skidding to a halt.
"..."
Her hands trembled. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.
In raw power, this Grade-A monster surpassed her.
"Sasha!"
Agnes’s cry echoed. From beyond sight, Sasha called back:
"I’m fine! Stay sharp!"
Simultaneously, the Lionbite Shark lunged again—this time at Tina.
Massive yet terrifyingly swift.
Tina slowed its charge with ice magic while retreating. Agnes struck its eyes with lightning. But the beast guarded its weak points deliberately.
"..."
Tina, Agnes, Xue Die—elite mages, martial prodigies. Yet only Sasha dared close the distance.
Its attacks were too brutal. Without her Elf physique, that last swipe would’ve left her crippled.
They knew it. So they kept casting from a safe range.
Sasha’s role? Draw its focus. Shield the others.
"..."
No hesitation.
Sasha sucked in a breath and charged.
The beast sensed her intent. The instant she neared—
Its tail whipped down like a scourge.
This time, she didn’t dodge. She caught the rod-like appendage, arms locked tight.
Too heavy to hold—but Tina acted fast:
Wind Seven [Lightweight]
The Lionbite Shark’s weight dipped. Not enough.
Xue Die followed: another Lightweight spell.
Weight dropped further. Sasha *moved* it.
"Let’s see if you’re armored *everywhere*!"
Teeth gritted, she hauled the tail and executed a brutal over-the-shoulder throw.
CRASH! Belly-up, weak points exposed.
Tina, Agnes, Xue Die struck as one—ice, lightning, wind—hitting abdomen and heart without delay.
Surely fatal.
But—
Sasha was flung aside. The Lionbite Shark flipped upright, rising as if untouched.
Its belly *was* wounded. Yet monstrous vitality held. Worse—the frenzy in its blood surged, thickening the air with savage aura. Sasha’s brow furrowed deeply.
No victory here.
They’d hit their limit.
Next move? Casualties.
A mercenary’s gut truth.
"Hey!"
A familiar voice cut through the sky.
All looked up.
Roland, clutching a cage, shouted at the beast:
"Recognize this?"
"...Roland?"
Tina hadn’t expected Roland, Thuke, and Autumnwater soaring overhead. Angel, Vermilion Bird, demon—each bore low-flight wings. Flying here was suicide: exposure meant swarms of monsters hunting you to exhaustion. Only darkness made it viable. Luck held—no monsters nearby.
The Lionbite Shark froze.
It knew what was in that cage.
*Its cub.*
Roaring in fury, limbs coiled—
—and launched skyward like a spring.
"It can *do* that?!" Thuke paled, scattering with the others.
Roland hurled the cage toward the swamp.
"Go find it yourself."
The swamp masked scents. Even the beast would need time.
Time enough to run.
The Lionbite Shark pivoted, chasing the cage. Roland folded his wings, landing beside Tina.
"That’s enough, Miss Tina. That monster’s beyond us." He offered a wry smile.
Autumnwater urged the group:
"Talk while we run. If it returns… none of us walk away."
