Lunar Legacy: Rise Of The Beastlord
Chapter 111: Robbed

Chapter 111: Robbed

The forest held its breath.

The two hulking Earth Smashers loomed like living mountains, their thick, corded muscles flexing beneath shaggy brown fur. The first—larger, with scars running like battle trophies across its chest—locked eyes with Jayden, its dark gaze burning with primal fury. The second beast, slightly smaller but no less deadly, snarled, saliva dripping from its elongated fangs as it took a threatening step forward.

Then, unexpectedly, in a move that defied expectations - the first Earth Smasher threw out a tree-trunk sized arm, blocking its companion’s path. Then it roared.. a deep, guttural sound that shook the trees. The message was clear:

"He’s mine."

The second beast hesitated, its nostrils flaring as it glared at Jayden. Then, with a reluctant growl, it backed away, retreating to the base of a nearby oak.

It wouldn’t interfere. But it would watch.

Jayden smirked. "Good call." he muttered, then.. silently, he moved.

The first Smasher turned back—only to find empty air where Jayden had stood. It frowned and turned it’s head around, trying to figure out where Jayden was.

"Looking for me?"

Jayden’s voice came from above.

The beast barely had time to tilt its head up before—

WHAM!

Jayden’s clawed fist rocketed into its jaw, the impact sending a visible shockwave through the clearing. The Smasher’s head snapped back with enough force to send cracks spiderwebbing through the earth beneath its feet. A spray of saliva and blood arced through the air, glistening in the dim light before splattering across the forest floor.

Yet the beast didn’t fall.

Instead, it shook its massive head like a dog shedding water, then fixed Jayden with a gaze that burned with newfound respect - and fury.

Jayden landed in a crouch, his claws sinking into the soft earth. "Tough bastard," he admitted, flexing his claws.

The Smasher’s response was immediate and devastating. It reared back and slammed both fists into the ground with the force of a meteor strike. The earth exploded outward in a concentric wave, uprooting trees and sending boulders the size of small cars tumbling toward Jayden like some ancient artillery barrage.

Jayden’s telekinesis flared to life, creating a shimmering barrier that deflected the largest projectiles. But the sheer volume of debris overwhelmed his defenses. A jagged stone grazed his ribs, drawing a line of crimson across his torso. But he ignored it—his focus locked onto the Smasher... which was gone.

Jayden’s instincts screamed.

He barely had time to register the shadow above him before the Smasher descended from the sky, having launched itself after him with terrifying agility for its size.

BOOM!

Their midair collision sent a visible shockwave rippling through the clearing.

Jayden’s claws met the Smasher’s fists in a shower of sparks, the sheer kinetic force sending tremors through both their bodies. For a suspended moment they hung in the air, locked in a primal contest of strength - then physics reasserted itself, sending Jayden skidding backward across the ravaged earth.

The beast wasn’t just strong—it was fast when it wanted to be. This was a problem.

Jayden adjusted his stance, his golden eyes calculating. His original plan.. hit and run—wouldn’t work if the Smasher could match his speed in bursts. He needed to adapt.

The Smasher beat its chest, the sound like war drums echoing through the woods. Then it charged, each step cracking the earth beneath it.

Jayden ducked under the first swing, the wind from the massive fist ruffling his hair. He countered, driving his claws into the beast’s ribs—but they barely pierced the thick hide. The Smasher used that opportunity to strike...

THWACK.

It swiped it’s fist and backhanded him.

Jayden flew sideways, crashing through bushes before rolling to his feet. His lip split, blood dripping down his chin.

The watching Smasher chuckled in satisfaction, a deep, rumbling sound.

Jayden wiped his mouth. "Funny, huh?" he scoffed. Then with a flick of his wrist, the telekinetic pulse from within moved a jagged rock which sliced across the second Smasher’s chest, opening a deep gash that oozed dark blood.

The beast roared in pain and surprise, clutching at the wound. When it looked up, its eyes burned with newfound hatred - and something else... Fear.

Jayden grinned, bloody but unbowed. "I’m coming for you," he promised, flexing his claws as telekinetic energy crackled around him like an invisible storm.

Then he moved.

Not away—but forward... to the first Smasher, who was already charging towards him as well.

His telekinesis propelled him forward in a blur, closing the distance before the Smasher could react. His claws raked across the beast’s forearm, drawing first blood in a spray of dark ichor. The Smasher roared - not just in pain, but in outrage at being wounded by something so much smaller.

What followed was a deadly dance of violence. Jayden flowed around the beast’s attacks like water, his telekinesis augmenting every movement. When the Smasher swung, Jayden wasn’t just dodging - he was pushing himself faster with mental energy. Each counterstrike landed with surgical precision: an elbow to the kidney that made the beast stagger, a knee to the thigh that elicited a grunt of pain, claws across the back that left deep furrows in its stony hide.

The Smasher snarled, frustration growing. It couldn’t land a clean hit—Jayden was too fast, too fluid.

It changed tactics abruptly, slamming its fists into the ground once more - but this time, the earth beneath Jayden’s feet *liquefied*, becoming quicksand that sucked at his legs hungrily.

Jayden’s eyes widened as he began sinking. Above him, the Smasher hefted a boulder with a sadistic grin, preparing to crush him where he stood.

With a surge of telekinetic energy, Jayden wrenched himself free, his clawed feet finding purchase on a half-buried root. As the boulder hurtled toward him, he pushed against it with his mind, altering its trajectory just enough to flip over it gracefully.

His landing was perfect... directly on the Smasher’s shoulders.

The beast howled, its massive hands scrambling to dislodge him. But Jayden was already moving, his claws sinking deep into the meat of its collarbones as he swung his entire body around its neck in a brutal chokehold.

Muscles strained as Jayden squeezed, his enhanced strength augmented by telekinetic pressure. The Smasher’s roars turned to gurgles as it staggered, its massive hands clawing at Jayden’s arms. Veins bulged in its forehead as it fought for air, its knees beginning to buckle.

Jayden tightened his squeeze. Then... with one final, vicious twist of the neck...

CRACK.

The sound echoed through the clearing like a gunshot. The Smasher’s massive form trembled for a moment before collapsing forward, shaking the earth with its final impact.

Jayden rolled off, panting. The system screen appeared, notifying him of his victory.

[+30 exp received]

Then came the usual notification of acquiring the beast’s energy. But he decided to take care of the second Earth Smasher first. He wiped blood from his lips, his eyes narrowing as he turned to face it.

But the beast wasn’t there.

Then... his instincts screamed. But it was a fraction of a second too late. And before he could react...

WHACK!

A fist the size of a boulder slammed into his back, launching him like a cannonball through the air. He crashed through branches, bark splintering around him, before his body smashed into a thick oak.

The impact knocked the wind from his lungs, and he coughed, spattering the tree trunk with crimson.

[-60 Hp]

"Tch... sneaky bastard," he growled, pushing himself up. His ribs screamed in protest, but his enhanced healing was already stitching the damage. He expected the Smasher to press the attack, to finish him while he was staggered...

But it didn’t.

Instead, the beast stood motionless, its beady eyes locked onto him. Waiting.

Jayden tensed, claws flexing. "Why isn’t it attacking?" he thought.

Then—it moved.

Not toward him. But toward the D-Rank Howler Alpha’s corpse.

Jayden’s eyes widened. "Shit! Oh no you don’t." He surged forward, telekinetic energy flaring around his fists.

The Smasher reacted with terrifying speed, its free arm swinging in a wide arc. Not to attack.. but to smash the ground.

The earth erupted like a bomb had detonated beneath it. A shockwave of dirt and stone blasted outward, forcing Jayden to throw up a telekinetic shield.

Through the debris storm, the Smasher scooped up the Alpha’s lifeless body, slinging it over one shoulder like a sack of meat. Then, without hesitation, it grabbed its fallen comrade by the scruff of its neck—all 2,000 pounds of dead weight.

Then using the choas as a distraction, it leapt into the trees.

The sheer power behind the jump sent shockwaves through the ground. The beast soared, clearing nearly 20 meters in a single bound, crashing through the canopy like a living meteor. Branches snapped, leaves rained down, and in seconds—it was gone.

When the dust settled, the clearing stood empty but for the ravaged earth and Jayden’s own labored breathing.

No corpses. No beast. Just the fading tremor of massive footfalls retreating deeper into the Crimson Woods.

Jayden stood there, blood dripping from his claws, his mind struggling to process what just happened.

Then, realization dawned on him as his hands and feet twitched, reverting back to normal.

"Did I... just get robbed?"