Power Over Tricks

From above the tree, the Moonlit Feline watches, silently licking its wound, as the Creatures of the Night approach, alarmed by the Light that had pierced through the forest's darkness.

The Master, just like his Underling, had tricks up his sleeve.

"Let's pick up the pace!" Zino had shouted moments earlier.

His attacks had become heavier. His movements faster and deadlier. The lapse of time between each move shrunk.

Mark struggled to keep up.

Attacking wasn't an option. He could barely block, most of the time reaching too late, which made each hit from the General of Wrath stagger him.

Even keeping his balance when hit by such heavy attacks was difficult.

'Afraid that I'll knock you out?' The General thought to himself, noticing the Monster's tendencies in blocking and defending.

Indeed, the white-scaled Monster focused primarily on protecting its head, which meant that more attacks landed on the rest of its body. The inaugural upload of this chapter took place via n(0)vel(b)(j)(n).

The Monster didn't mind though. Protecting its head was the most important thing, as hits landing on spots where there was more muscle and where there were stronger bones was preferable.

Fire Magic, Ice Magic, Corruption Magic, Earth Magic, Wind Magic.

The General of Wrath had seen it all.

It was entertaining, but the Monster didn't seem to have much more than that.

Sacrificing Quality over Quantity was a bad move, Zino thought. And of course, he would think that, as one of, if not the most proficient user of Lightning Magic in the Realm of Monsters.

'Not yet...' A fist covered by Lightning landed on the white-scaled Monster's side.

'No yet...'

"Haha! Fire Resistance, huh?" magic

A leg kick swept the Monster off its feet.

'Not yet!' As its hands reached for the ground, its tail moved towards the General's head.

"Fun... But sloppy." Zino said as he grabbed the incoming tail before it could reach his chin.

The white-scaled Monster was raised into the air by its tail and slammed against the ground.

'A test... I have to...'

"Mmm..." The General tapped his chin with his index finger. "You were fun. Let's hope that one will be too."

An exhausted white-scaled Monster rose from the ground.

"I'll go for your heart," Zino smiled. "Okay?"

Which made it all the more strange, unnerving, and disgusting.

If the other whips had shattering and cutting properties, this one had something very different.

Pain.

That's all there was to it. Each hit made the one hit feel pain like no other.

A barrier of ice was raised. It was brought down by the Commander's brown whip.

Ice Spikes were shot. They were shattered by that same whip.

The Commander, for the first time, leaped towards the Moonlit Feline. The difference in strength was too obvious!

Krista needed to create more distance! Crack-

Yelp-

She had consumed too much Mana Points earlier when the Commander was surrounded and trapped by the Ice. She had launched an attack she was sure would hit... But it hadn't.

Again and again, the whip descended upon the Moonlit Feline's. Again and again, until the pain took over her mind.

The Lioness' roars turned into yelps.

But... Master!!

***

"Not bad, little guy. But..." 'Tsk.' Mark clicked his tongue internally.

His fist, imbued with the power of the Giants, had landed cleanly on the General's side.

Yet, aside from Zino's feet drifting on the ground and stopping two steps away, there was no sign of any effect.

The General tilted his head slightly.

"Is that it?"

Before Mark could react, a kick landed on his side, launching him away.

With wide eyes, he lay on the ground for half a second. Had he not Devoured the Undead Lich's bones, both his elbow and ribs would have shattered. Mark quickly rose to his feet.

'That pelt... Took off most of the damage from my hit.'

If even Partial Gigantification doesn't work then...?

Two wildcards remain for Mark.

Would the General of Wrath allow their use though?