Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 122: Corrupted Thunder Elemental

Chapter 122: Corrupted Thunder Elemental

The group kept moving forward faster and faster as they rose through the Nagan Mountain. They knew they could not outrun the Demonic Thunder Bats, as the beasts were fast and could fly. However, at a higher altitude, the density of the air was lower, making flying harder for winged beasts with such large bodies.

As they advanced, Vlad’s dual swords became a blur of motion, slicing through the swarm of bats with deadly precision. His eyes flicked from one target to another, never missing a beat.

Freya’s mace swung in wide arcs, each impact sending shockwaves through the air and smashing the bats into the ground. Her shield deflected their attacks, and she moved with ferocious skill. Shattered corpses blasted all around her with every swing of her weapon.

Jormungandr’s control over the lightning waves proved invaluable. The spells darted through the air, illuminated the sky, and left a trail of smoldering remains.

With icy determination, Grey Hawk continued to launch frost blasts in all directions, always aiming at the most dense pack of bats. His eyes never left the sky, precisely tracking the bats’ movements and determining where his attack would do the most damage.

The spellcasters unleashed torrents of magical energy, which provided the bulk of the killing power. They created a lethal web that few bats could escape, butchering dozens every second. However, even that formidable killing speed did not seem to make a difference, as there were simply too many bats, and no matter how many perished, they kept attacking with utter ferocity.

The group pushed on, their pace relentless. Blood trickled from their ears and noses due to the bats’ ultrasonic electric waves, but they ignored the pain, focusing only on moving forward.

Luckily, things began to improve as they neared the three-thousand-meter mark since the thinning air began to take its toll on the bats. Their movements became sluggish, and their attacks less coordinated.

Sensing the shift, Vlad called out, "They’re slowing down! Keep pushing forward!"

Jormungandr, Freya, and Grey Hawk’s eyes burned with determination as they heard those words and kept pressing on. The bats, now struggling to maintain their altitude, were much easier to kill.

Vlad’s swords easily cut through the weakened swarm, Freya’s mace crushed their fragile bodies, and the spellcasters’ attacks decimated the remaining ranks.

By the time they reached the higher altitude, the bats’ numbers had dwindled significantly. Their speed and dexterity were reduced by nearly 60%, making what came next a massacre.

The last ray of sunlight was fading by the time the final Demonic Thunder Bat fell to the ground dead. Vlad, Jormungandr, Freya, and Grey Hawk were all breathing roughly, utterly exhausted from the fight and with wounds all over their bodies. Their heads were still ringing from the beasts’ ultrasonic blasts.

Vlad and Freya fell to the ground as they finally took a moment to relax, their muscles burning from the overwhelming strain endured during the clash. They needed to pick up the corpses of the bats, but while they were valuable, the duo was too tired and lay on the ground resting along with the two spellcasters.

The group rested during the night, consuming Vlad’s stew, composed of Rank 1 Alchemy Potions and demon champion hearts, filling their bodies with enough vitality to care for their wounds. While they were full of wounds, they were not too deep, so the food and their own vitality were enough to heal.

Once the sun rose again, the Depravita and the vikings began to gather the Demonic Thunder Bats, harvesting their valuable parts, such as their hearts and the special organ that allowed them to unleash ultrasonic waves.

Even though all four were working, there were thousands of those bats, so it took them almost three hours to finish. After that, they piled all the corpses into one massive pile that Vlad set on fire with the power of his runes to avoid the spread of future diseases from the rotten corpses or other phenomena.

Afterward, the group finally advanced forward, crossing to the upper part of the mountain. Here, the Depravitas and vikings found jagged cliffs and exposed ridges with fierce winds that threatened their balance.

The continuous lightning strikes had electrified the environment, charging the ground with static electricity and making the path even more dangerous. Just walking through this place struck them with lightning damage.

Vlad and Jormungandr could ignore it thanks to their bloodline and Runic Set, but the Vikings were not so lucky. Freya and Grey Hawk frowned as the electric charge was painful, but that was all, as their bodies were strong enough to endure without any severe damage.

It did not take long for the group to face their next challenge. They saw small, volatile beings composed of gravel and raw lightning, nearly one and a half meters tall. They had spherical heads with glowing eyes and skeletal, lightning-like bodies with long, thin limbs.

The creatures had been static, unmoving as they charged the lightning from the sky. Yet, when the Depravitas and vikings neared them, they all turned to the group, their eyes glowing with rage and killing intent.

"Thunder Elementals?" Vlad could not help but think of Thunder Elementals as he focused on those things, but these were different in appearance and in the chaotic state of their energy.

[Beep! Analyzing targets.

...

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A new mutated species classified as Corrupted Thunder Elemental: A terrifying fusion of elemental lightning and demonic energy. Originally pure Thunder Elementals, they have been twisted by demonic energy, improving their energy pool but leaving it unstable and infusing their spirit with a raging, bloodthirsty nature.

Much of their lightning demonic energy is gathered in their oversized heads, making them extremely unstable and ready to explode at any second.

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Challenge rating: 5

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Average stats:

Strength: 4.2

Agility: 7.0

Vitality: 4.8

Energy Pool: 8.2

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Note: Explodes one second upon death or immediately if they suffer a severe head trauma, causing area damage of roughly five meters. The host must keep a safe distance.]