Fire Mage

Chapter 632: Minotaur

To Charles\'s astonishment, even as he cautiously closed the gap to a distance of merely a kilometer, the magnificent sight before him remained oblivious to his presence. 

But it was engrossed in a relentless pursuit of a wild boar, its massive form cutting through the wilderness with primal determination.

This unexpected revelation filled Charles with a mix of surprise and newfound courage. Intrigued by this curious turn of events, he resolved to gather more information by subjecting the creature to a careful scan. With a surge of confidence, he released his wisdom power, directing its probing energy towards the Minotaur\'s imposing figure.

The Minotaur momentarily paused its pursuit, caught off guard by the sudden intrusion of an unknown power scanning its body. Sensing a disturbance in the air, it slowly turned its attention towards Charles\'s direction, its bull-like snout sniffing the surroundings with keen senses. In an instinctual response, the creature let out a primal roar that reverberated through the wilderness, a warning to any potential threats.

With immense strides and thunderous footsteps, the Minotaur resumed its pursuit of the wild boar. Its muscular form moved with unexpected grace, cutting through the dense undergrowth and pushing its physical limits in its relentless hunt. Each step exuded an air of primal power and determination as the Minotaur narrowed the distance between itself and its intended prey.

In a display of raw strength and agility, the Minotaur closed the gap between itself and the wild boar, its massive axe at the ready. It brought the weapon down with a mighty swing, aiming to end the chase and claim its well-deserved meal. The force behind the strike was enough to fall trees and shatter boulders. With a swift motion, the wild boar stood no chance and was cleaved into two. 

Setting its majestic axe aside, resting it casually on its broad shoulder, the Minotaur began to tread in an unpredictable path, dragging the weighty carcass of the wild boar behind it. Each stride exhibited a grace that belied its massive size, leaving a trail of awe and bewilderment.

Meanwhile, Charles maintained his vantage point high above, hovering in the expansive sky, a mixture of surprise and confusion across his face. Observing the Minotaur\'s seemingly oblivious and unrefined behavior, he couldn\'t help but voice his bewilderment, questioning the creature\'s intelligence.

\'I had anticipated that beings of Legend Rank, such as this Minotaur, would possess great intellect, but this display contradicts my expectations,\' Charles mused, his voice filled with intrigue and a touch of disappointment.

At the same time, a row of information appeared before his eyes.

[Name: ????

Race: Minotaur

Rank: Legend Rank

Age: 5,408 years

Health: Normal

Affiliation: Chaotic Evil

Title: None

Attributes:

Strength: 43

Agility: 33

Vitality: 49.9

Chaos Power: ????

Wisdom Power: ????

Bloodline Spells:

Bull\'s Charge, Skin Hardening, Roar of Thunder, Might of Berserk, Chaos Breath, Revitalizing Burst.]

"Oh? An abyssal being?" Charles said, his voice filled with curiosity and a hint of surprise. The sight before him was formidable, and he knew dealing with it wouldn\'t be easy. Although he possessed the capability to kill the abyssal being, Charles understood that it would require a considerable amount of time and effort.

\'With the aid of the Skin Hardening and Revitalizing Burst, this creature will not meet its demise unless I sever its head completely,\' Charles contemplated. However, he recognized his limitations in terms of physical strength. Despite his other abilities and skills, he lacked the sheer power needed to overpower the abyssal being with brute force alone.

After careful consideration, he reached into his belongings and retrieved a leather sac filled with the potent venom of a Serpent. He meticulously applied the poison along the edges of his trusty Scimitar, ensuring that each stroke was infused with its deadly essence.

With his weapon now prepared, Charles gradually descended from the sky, gracefully approaching the ground. Finally, he touched down a few hundred meters away from the imposing figure of the Minotaur.

As Charles arrived, the Minotaur also became aware of his presence. It dropped the lifeless wild boar it held in its powerful grip; its attention focused on the intruder. The creature\'s reddish eyes gleamed with an intense radiance, reflecting an ominous glimmer of chaotic energy.

\'From this point onward, I must remain completely focused and strive to inflict shallow wounds at least,\' he thought. Activating his unique skill [Accelerate Thoughts], Charles entered a deep state of concentration, sharpening his senses and enhancing his mental agility.

Simultaneously, he activated two additional skills, [Rune Eye] and [Faceless Eye], which granted him extraordinary perception and analytical capabilities. Through his left eye, Charles witnessed a myriad of twenty different future visions, glimpses into the possibilities ahead. Meanwhile, his right eye revealed the weaknesses of the Minotaur, providing him with crucial insights into how to exploit its vulnerabilities.

In contrast, the Minotaur tightened its grip around its massive metallic axe, enveloping its entire body in a strange, chaotic reddish aura. It charged towards Charles with incredible speed, displaying a ferocity matched only by its sheer power.

Charles stood his ground, his Scimitar poised and ready to meet the oncoming assault of the charging Minotaur. His eyes focused with unwavering determination as he analyzed the creature\'s movements, searching for the perfect opportunity to strike.

Anticipating the immense strength and power of the Minotaur, he knew that a direct confrontation would be unwise. Instead, he relied on agility and quick thinking to outmaneuver his formidable opponent. As the Minotaur closed in, Charles used the \'Shadowstep\' skill and swiftly sidestepped, evading the initial swing of the creature\'s mighty axe.

With his agile movements, Charles positioned himself behind the Minotaur, taking advantage of its momentary vulnerability. Seizing the opportunity, he imbued the Scimitar with Intermediate Sword Aura and lunged forward, unleashing a precise and swift strike with his venom-infused Scimitar.

The blade swiftly cut through the air, aiming for a vital spot on the Minotaur\'s exposed back. However, the creature\'s instinctual reflexes proved formidable as it deflected Charles\' attack with a swift twist of its muscular body, narrowly avoiding a potentially fatal blow.

But Charles had long seen its following action, activated his \'Shadowstep\' skill, enabling him to move silently and undetected towards a nearby tree. As he approached the tree\'s shadow, his figure gradually grew fainter until it disappeared entirely from sight.

The Minotaur, taken aback by the sudden disappearance of its adversary, emitted a deep growl of frustration. Its powerful grip tightened around the massive axe, its muscles tensing in anticipation of an attack. Fueled by anger and confusion, the creature swung its colossal weapon wide, aiming to strike at the tree where Charles had last been seen.

In that split second, a surge of chaotic energy erupted from the edge of the Minotaur\'s axe. The raw power of untamed and unpredictable chaotic force surged, manifesting as a formidable shockwave. It pulsed through the air, rippling with magical energy that defied comprehension.

It was no ordinary shockwave. It embodied pure chaotic energy, an overwhelming wave of destructive power. It expanded rapidly, resembling a blinding light that radiated with an intense and unstoppable force. With each passing moment, the wave strengthened, spreading like wildfire and consuming everything in its path.

In mere seconds, the devastating force of the chaotic energy wave ravaged the landscape, reducing everything in its vicinity to mere fragments. The once-vibrant surroundings succumbed to its wrath as trees were uprooted, rocks shattered, and the earth trembled under its devastating might. The path of destruction extended for more than two kilometers, leaving behind a desolate expanse where life had been erased.

The creature stood amidst the aftermath, its heaving breaths filled with anger and awe at the magnitude of the chaos it had unleashed.

Meanwhile, Charles, having utilized his skill and quick thinking, had managed to evade the Minotaur\'s attack and find refuge in the shadows. Hidden from sight, he watched as the destructive power of the chaotic energy wave decimated the surrounding landscape.

\'Its instinct is so good, giving me no opportunity to give a shallow wound.\' But everything was still within his calculations.

\'I\'ve only one chance. I\'m going to aim for the deep scar on its chest.\' Charles thought, his mind racing. Despite his uncertainty regarding whether the Minotaur could also develop immunity to his Burning Thoughts spell, he couldn\'t afford to be careless. The stakes were too high, and failure was not an option.

With a resolute nod, Charles braced himself and swiftly dashed towards the Minotaur\'s back. Upon sensing the sudden shift in his killing intent, the creature instinctively turned towards its left, raising its massive axe in preparation for another strike.

But just as the Minotaur prepared to swing its axe with full force, a peculiar purple fire erupted within its mind, erasing its current thoughts and causing it to enter a half-dazed state. Confusion clouded its eyes, and its movements faltered momentarily, granting Charles a fleeting advantage.

Seizing the opportunity, he enacted the [False Blink] spell. In an instant, he closed the remaining distance to the Minotaur, taking a stance with his Scimitar pulled back, ready to strike.

Charles thrust his Scimitar toward the Minotaur\'s chest with precision and speed. Though the Intermediate Sword Aura alone couldn\'t deliver a deep wound, its purpose was different this time—to allow the venomous poison to enter the Minotaur\'s bloodstream.

The blade made contact with the creature\'s flesh, and the venomous essence seeped into its veins. Despite the shallow wound, the poison\'s potency ensured that it would have a lasting and debilitating effect on the Minotaur.

In an instant, the Minotaur snapped out of its dazed state, its anger resurfacing as it realized what had transpired. It growled fiercely, its eyes narrowing with fury and determination.

However, before Charles could safely retreat from his successful attack, the Minotaur abruptly stretched out its massive arms and unleashed a mighty roar that reverberated with thunderous intensity. The sound waves generated by its roar rippled outward at supersonic speeds, creating a shockwave that propagated in all directions.

The shockwave swept through the surroundings, causing the air to tremble and distort. The forceful impact of the sound waves created a destructive force capable of shattering objects and rending the very fabric of reality. Trees were uprooted, rocks were pulverized, and the ground quaked under the immense power unleashed by the Minotaur.

Alas, Charles had long cast the [Golden Shield] spell and reduced the impact to an incredible level. He anticipated the approaching shockwave with heightened perception and swiftly executed a nimble backflip.