High-speed neural reflexes allowed Logan to react just in time. He grabbed Zhu Peiniang's broad tail and yanked backward with all his might. His immense strength caused Zhu Peiniang's body—heavier than an African elephant—to slide back instantly. The monstrous fish snapped at thin air, its head slamming violently into the riverbank.
Aided by the faint glow of surrounding fungi, Logan was able to see the beast clearly: it was a Jyuratodus.
This was a fully grown adult, about 15 meters long, with a massive head, a sturdy torso, and a flat, thick tail. Three pairs of well-developed fleshy fins grew along its back and chest, making it look like a cross between a coelacanth and a mudskipper.
As an ancient Piscine Wyvern, it possessed three unique ways of breathing—absorbing oxygen through its skin, lungs, and gills—allowing it to adapt perfectly to the amphibious environment of the swamps. Because it occasionally needed to walk on land, its pelvic fins had become exceptionally developed, capable of supporting its massive weight and functioning like legs.
At that moment, the Jyuratodus stood up on its short, thick hind legs and spun around, leaping forcefully toward Logan and Zhu Peiniang once again.
Having already recovered, Zhu Peiniang quickly dodged backward. Logan, however, rose up on his hind legs. Brilliant arcs of electricity flickered across his thick foreclaws as he slammed a heavy palm directly onto the oncoming giant fish head.
The Jyuratodus was covered in a layer of viscous mud, with a hardened shell protecting the top of its skull, which partially cushioned the impact. However, the sheer force still pinned its head to the ground. Massive amounts of electricity surged through its body, letting out a series of sharp, crackling explosions.
Hardly any fish are unafraid of electricity, and the water-heavy mud acted as a perfect conductor. The massive Jyuratodus instantly let out a pained shriek, its entire body twitching violently.
Zhu Peiniang then charged in from behind, stepping directly onto the Jyuratodus's back. Bright electricity flowed across her azure scales as she unleashed a rapid-fire barrage of strikes with her claws.
The immense electrical discharge quickly overwhelmed the Jyuratodus's nervous system, leaving it paralyzed and frozen. Only the slight rising and falling of its belly proved it still had a spark of life left.
From the initial ambush to the beast being incapacitated, the entire process took less than ten seconds—it was over in a literal flash. Logan couldn't help but wonder: with such mediocre strength, how did this Jyuratodus dare to attack them?
It should be grateful he wasn't hungry and was in a hurry; otherwise, "trying its luck" would have turned into "dying on the spot."
...
"If you're bored, go pick a fight with a Barroth. Don't always try to attack passing creatures. Having too much territorial aggression will only get you beaten."
Logan patted the Jyuratodus's head, feeling a rare moment of mercy, intending to spare its life.
However, the Jyuratodus was not grateful. Watching Logan and Zhu Peiniang's retreating backs, its pale, fishy eyes rolled. It suddenly opened its mouth and spat out a massive glob of mud.
The sharp sound of rushing air caught Logan's attention. He turned to see a dark shadow flying toward them like a cannonball and leaped to the side to avoid it. Zhu Peiniang wasn't as lucky; she was knocked to the ground by the mud. Though not seriously injured, she was covered from head to tail in sludge.
The mud swallowed by a Jyuratodus contains a special mucus it secretes, making it extremely thick and sticky—almost like molten asphalt. Zhu Peiniang shook her body repeatedly, but the mud clung tightly to her, impossible to shake off. A smaller creature would likely have been encased entirely and suffocated.
This ungrateful behavior instantly enraged Logan. He moved like an arrow released from a bow, covering the distance in the blink of an eye as he leaped high into the air.
Mid-air, he curled his body into a ball, spinning rapidly like a wheel. His tail was swung with the force of a morning star, crashing down with immense power.
Before the air could even escape, it was shattered by the high-speed tail blade, turning into a ribbon of white mist that wrapped around the edge as it split the Jyuratodus's head. The heavy axe-blade instantly sliced through the surface mud, tore through the scales and armor, cut through muscle, and shattered the hardened skull, embedding itself deep into the cranial cavity.
BOOM!!!
Only then did a piercing sonic boom echo through the air. Accompanied by a deafening roar, flesh and bone fragments erupted like fireworks.
The Jyuratodus's head looked as if it had been hit head-on by a tank shell. The entire upper half disintegrated instantly, and after one final tremor, the body went completely still.
Simultaneously, a light blue text flashed before Logan's eyes:
Hunted Jyuratodus: Evolution Points +7.
The strength of this Jyuratodus was roughly on par with a Royal Ludroth. Two months ago, it might have given Logan a real fight, but now it was no match for him.
This was thanks not only to the lethal power of his newly evolved tail blade but also to the continuous enhancement of his basic attributes like strength, speed, and size.
Faster, stronger, and more terrifying lethality—combined, they resulted in a near-instant kill.
...
Logan pulled his slightly numbed tail out of the Jyuratodus's head and shook it in a nearby stream to wash off the blood. Once the gore was rinsed away, he curled his tail in front of his eyes to inspect the blade.
The milky-white, translucent axe-blade showed several small nicks and a few minor cracks. After all, the impact force had been immense, and for every action, there is an equal reaction; the bones of monsters in this world were incredibly hard. The tail blade couldn't remain completely unscathed.
However, as long as he had enough nutrition, these wounds would heal quickly. The entire tail blade, like his claws and arm blades, grew continuously and self-sharpened by shedding surface layers.
Now, he had to decide what to do with the massive carcass. Logan wasn't hungry yet and was in a hurry to find a Rathian, so he didn't want to waste time.
"I'll just have a few bites then!" He had intended to let the Jyuratodus go, but it had insisted on seeking its own death. He couldn't be blamed for that.
He had heard that Delex livers were a rare delicacy. Since the Jyuratodus was also a Piscine Wyvern, its liver likely wouldn't taste bad. Logan used his arm blades to slice open its belly and began to feast with Zhu Peiniang.
As he ate and digested, the light blue text flashed again:
Consumed Jyuratodus: Evolution Points +5.
After just a few bites, the two giant beasts were nearly full. The remaining carcass would have to be left behind; nature would take care of every scrap of nutrition, so it wasn't a waste.
For instance, small fish were already being drawn in by the scent of blood. They were spindle-shaped with fleshy fins and had many barb-like spines behind their gills. They were currently burrowing into the meat through the Jyuratodus's wounds.
This parasite-like behavior sent a chill of disgust through Logan. Upon closer inspection, he suddenly realized that these small fish appeared to be Jyuratodus juveniles.
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