The First Legendary Beast Master novel Chapter 1013

As they approached the next village, a beast that could make a run for the title of mother of all Crocolisks emerged from swamp waters that were clearly too shallow to have hidden its body.

Compared to the ten-metre bodies that Hawk reported for the others, this one was easily twice that length, and carried a long lifetime of battle scars on its body. A perfect accompaniment to its Totem Rank status.

Then, dozens of snarling beasts emerged from the swamp to surround Karl's group, and Cara began to cheer from her perch on Karl's shoulder.

He had totally forgotten that she was still there, reduced in size to more easily spectate.

Karl called on the Haint along with his sword, but didn't merge with the weapon yet. Having the Haint and the Epic Guard surround the massive beast would be more effective than adding a bit more damage to himself.

Lotus giggled as the Haint began to splash her feet happily in the water, glad to be out of storage.

The beasts briefly paused as golems and bodyguards were called out, and the enemy numbers increased. But only for a few seconds before they launched their attack.

The Crocolisk Matriarch was surprisingly fast, but physically outmatched.

Its first strike began with its massive maw opened around Karl, who landed a punch on its nose and stopped its forward momentum before aiming a swing at its neck, leaving a shallow gouge across its throat as the creature retreated.

Cunning eyes stared at Karl, assessing his abilities.

If it couldn't simply overpower him, this would not be an easy fight. But not one that it didn't believe there was a chance to win.

A massive Swamp Shambler, a mud and vine construct made of the swamp itself, rose from the shallow water and lashed out at Karl with a club as the Crocolisk Matriarch moved to attack his unarmed side.

Karl sidestepped the attack before being distracted by the sound of a monster to his left howling in pain and frustration.

Cara had her garotte wire out again, but she wasn't using [Void Blast] on it.

She was standing on the back of a Crocolisk, one hand on the thread and riding it like a rodeo bull as the creature thrashed and flailed wildly, trying to dislodge her.

Whatever. She would take care of it when she was done.

The Haint knocked the Crocolisk Matriarch up on its hind legs with [Force Slam], and the Lamia duo attacked its belly, which was much less armoured than its top side.

Karl parried the club of the Swamp Shambler, then hit it with a [Nullify] spell that caused the golem to disintegrate into a pile of mud and vines.

The Matriarch twisted impossibly fast and bit one of the Lamia, nearly biting the unfortunate creature in half, but getting attacked on the inside of its mouth for its trouble.

The pain made it retreat, and the Lamia began to regenerate rapidly. Black mist surrounded its body as Lamia blood stained the murky swamp water deep red.

Only a few seconds later, it was ready to fight again, and the Crocolisk Matriarch still hadn't found another opening to attack past the Haint and the other Lamia.