Chapter 196: CH 196

Words : 1577 Updated : Oct 14th, 2025

What were they protecting? Dave’s curiosity was piqued as he observed the scene before him. The beasts seemed to be defending something, but what it was, he couldn’t quite see. His gaze narrowed, focusing on the center of the circle, as he tried to catch a glimpse of the mysterious thing. But he was finding it hard to see what it was. As he continued to observe the beasts, his gaze drifted downward, and then, he noticed a large crater beneath their feet. The earthy scent of disturbed soil wafted up, mingling with the acrid smell of smoke and char. The crater’s edges were rough and jagged, and the beasts seemed to be standing guard around its perimeter. A memory flashed in Dave’s mind, he remembered the meteor that had hit him, which in turn had created a massive crater at the place where he had awoken. He also recalled Chris mentioning something about craters and mother crystals back then. According to Chris, mother crystals often formed in the midst of these craters, imbuing the surrounding environment with powerful energy. Dave’s eyes narrowed as he pieced together the information. The beasts’ behavior made sense now, they were protecting something valuable, something that could potentially give anyone an upper hand in this mad world. The mother crystal! As Dave watched the beasts, he became more convinced that his theory was correct. The way they stood guard, their fiery manes a fierce halo, suggested that they were defending something precious. The crater beneath their feet seemed to be the key to it all. Dave’s mind whirled with possibilities, his eyes fixed intently on the crater as he contemplated his next move. The beasts, sensing no immediate threat, continued to stand vigilant, their eyes fixed on the surrounding environment, waiting for any sign of danger. The thrill of the unknown drove Dave forward, his determination to claim the mother crystal unwavering. Despite the uncertainty surrounding its powers, he was willing to take the risk. The promise of items from the crystal was too enticing to ignore, and he had set his sights on obtaining it at all costs. As the beasts that were chasing after Dave closed in, their thunderous roar grew louder. They were almost upon him, but Dave’s focus remained fixed on the mother crystal, his plan was to claim it as swiftly and decisively as he can. At that moment, the beasts guarding the crystal, had started sensing his presence, and soon they had begin to stir. They lifted their bodies off the ground, their eyes fixed intently on the new threat as they let out a low, menacing growl. Compared to the beasts Dave had fought moments ago, most of these ones seemed smaller, their sizes and demeanor suggested that they were the basic level Ignarok. Dave’s gaze swept over them as he analyzed each of them. Dealing with these basic beasts, along with a few intermediate ones, shouldn’t take him long, he thought. However, he was unaware of what he was just about to face. (Weekend Mass Release: 2/5) **** Dave charged forward, his fists flying as he targeted the beasts guarding the mother crystal. With a swift punch, he took down one beast, its body crumpling to the ground. He moved on to the next, his fists striking with precision, the beast’s skull sinking deeply into its head. The sound of crunching bone and the beasts’ pained roars filled the air as Dave continued his assault. In a few seconds, about a dozen of basic beasts lay lifeless on the ground, Dave wasn’t slowing down at all. He dashed towards another group, his fists punching and killing them with deadly efficiency. The beasts’ attack were no match for his speed and strength, and they fell one by one. And soon, a fraction of the beasts had been put down, but Dave’s gaze remained fixed on the rest. The intermediate beasts were still closing in from behind, but they were too far away. For now, Dave focused on taking out all of the basic beasts in front of him. If he was able to take the mother crystal before the intermediate beasts catch up with him, then he’ll take it and leave the area. There’ll be no point in engaging them when he’s already had the mother crystal with him. Unless he wants to continue with his beast army building goal. As he stood amidst the carnage, about to take down another pack of beasts, he then notice something quite peculiar. An intermediate beast had appeared among the rest that surrounded the mother crystal, its eyes were fixed on a basic beast. Then with lightning-fast speed, it pounced, biting into the basic beast’s chest. Its claws dug deep, ripping through flesh and black blood, until a red fiery crystal was revealed. The intermediate beast then swiftly plucked out the crystal as he proceeded into placing it into its mouth. A silent, crunchy sound accompanied the act, and Dave’s eyes widened in surprise. It felt as if the beast had gained a bit of energy from what it just did. Moreover, the beast continued as it repeated the process with another basic beast, standing by its side. Dave watched, transfixed, as the intermediate beast continued to harvest crystals from the beasts around him and from the ones that had fallen. Seeing this, Dave had started placing all of the beasts he had killed into his void space. He was also in need of their crystals, so he won’t let it take them. The strange acts of the beast and the scene before him were both bizarre and fascinating. The beasts that were killed by the intermediate beast, for their crystals seemed to be offering no resistance at all, it was almost as if they were willingly surrendering their lives to the beasts. Yet, Dave didn’t let this strange phenomenon distract him from his goal. He continued to attack the remaining beasts, his movements were swift and deadly. His priority was to stop the intermediate beast from consuming the crystals, as he didn’t know what it was planning to do next. As he fought, Dave noticed another peculiarity. The intermediate beasts that were initially chasing after him had caught up, but instead of attacking, they all stood at a distance, around the edge of the large crater, while they watch as the scene below unfold. Their eyes seemed to be fixed on the intermediate beast, and Dave felt a growing sense of unease that something big was about to happen, something that didn’t feel right. But he pushed on, determined to take out the remaining beasts protecting the mother crystal. Five minutes passed, and Dave had dispatched most of the beasts, leaving only a few that surrounded the intermediate beast and the mother crystal. It was then that Dave saw the intermediate beast taking them all out. With swift and brutal efficiency, it killed them and started harvesting the crystals from the remaining fifteen beasts, leaving them lifeless on the ground. Then, as the last beast fell, Dave’s gaze was drawn to his surroundings. And then, he saw it - a glowing red crystal, oval in shape which pulsated with an otherworldly energy. Its size was imposing, almost as large as a human head, and it seemed to radiate a life of its own. The crystal’s glow was mesmerizing, drawing Dave in with an irresistible force. He felt a shiver run down his spine as he gazed at the mother crystal, its power and significance unknown, but its allure undeniable. The air seemed to vibrate with anticipation, and Dave’s senses were on high alert, ready to respond to whatever lay ahead. "So, this is the full form of the mother crystal?" He said, his voice was laced with amusement, and his eyes gleamed with fascination as he gazed upon the crystal’s glowing form. He had seen a piece of it before, in White’s lab, but nothing could have prepared him for the sight of the entire crystal in all its glory. But Dave’s moment of admiration was short-lived. The crystal’s glow had started intensifying as it grow brighter than before. The air around it seemed to vibrate with energy, and Dave’s eyes were drawn to the sand nearby. Suddenly, tiny creatures began to emerge from the ground, their small bodies wriggling free from the earth. They were baby Ignarok, but they were so tiny. Even the mother crystal towered over them in comparison. As Dave watched, more and more of the creatures emerged, their numbers swelling to twenty. The ground trembled slightly as they broke free, their tiny paws wiggling as they took their first steps. And then, in a shocking display, their bodies began to grow. The transformation was rapid, their tiny forms expanding at an alarming rate. The mother crystal continued to glow brighter, its light almost blinding. But Dave’s eyes remained fixed on the creatures, his gaze transfixed by the spectacle unfolding before him. In mere seconds, the baby Ignaroks had grown into large, imposing beasts, their bodies now comparable to the basic beasts Dave had fought earlier. But before Dave could process what he was seeing, a shocking turn of events unfolded. The twenty beasts, now fully grown, suddenly started collapsing to the ground, in a lifeless form. Dave’s eyes widened in surprise, his mind reeling with questions. What had just happened? Why had the beasts grown and then died so suddenly?

Chapter 196: CH 196

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