"This would surely get me back to hundred percent," he muttered, grabbing the purple-black, centimeter-wide energy ball in his hand.

"Also, let’s see if I can get a concept or two! I’ll take the battle as worth my time if I can." His words were a dark prayer whispered to the rising tension of the woods.

With such words, Aezaleon devoured the energy ball! Instantly, he felt the rush of energy surge through him. Ten seconds passed, and he opened his eyes with a sharp glint.

"[Darkwind]. I got the concept corresponding the calamity’s main element! How lucky of me." His lips curled as he looked at Clementine, who was also surprised by his fortune. However, then, the both of them heard a loud roar resound throughout the land. The sound was a jagged tear in the fabric of the silence.

"Ooh, the big boss is coming! Are you ready, my husband?~!" Clementine asked in a teasing yet expectant voice. The both of them glanced towards the west simultaneously—the direction from where the roar came.

"This time I am expecting some good entertainment... Husband~!"

HM! ...

"You will get one.. a good entertainment! I’ll make sure of it," Aezaleon played along, nodding with a confident smile.

A minute passed. Then another, and as the seconds flowed, suddenly from the west side, emerged a massive 4-meter-tall calamity! It was followed by the other three, three-and-a-half-meter calamities: Galescourge Bearers!

Aezaleon felt it—the sheer presence radiating from the 4-meter-tall Calamity Galescourge Bearer; it was overwhelming! Overwhelmingly strong and suppressive! The beast stood like a monument of malice carved from the night itself.

It was a Pureblood Calamity—the first one Aezaleon had encountered. "Must be why it was capable of creating a whole colony!"

Although of the same ascension rank, this calamity was entirely different from the other three! Its fur was more violet than black. Its two pairs of antlers were also long, approximately a hundred and fifty centimeters, covered with pulsating dark violet and black veins. The feeling this calamity gave him was of eeriness, of scourge and disease, of suffering and torment!

—Of decay! ...

’My?~’ Clementine voiced in genuine surprise. ’This Calamity Galescourge Bearer is strong. I don’t think you can defeat him with the current concepts you have learned. After all, yours are all Inferior concepts, the lowest concept tier, while this calamity; it is exuding the energy wavelengths of many—Superior Concepts!’

Clementine voiced calmly, having already distanced herself from him. She continued further, watching the unfolding events from the distant east, where none was able to see her except him.

’It has comprehended the superior concept of [Darkwind Solidification].’

She began her breakdown... 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

’A somewhat altered version of the superior concepts of [Air Solidification]—A power that allows the user to condense and solidify the air molecules to form shields, platforms, constructs or weapons. The concept also allows the user to compress the air into dense, solid shapes to create invisible walls, projectiles or other structures. It is a powerful superior concept, even I can’t deny that. So you better be careful, don’t get too arrogant and lose your head, alright~!’

Clementine joked while reminding him of the potential danger of the battle ahead. Her warning was a velvet glove hiding a fist of cold reality.

’I understand, I will be careful!’ Aezaleon responded in a solemn tone. His expression was grave. ’However, you mentioned there being many and not one. What are the other concepts this calamity has?’

MM!

’They are the superior concepts of—[Suffering], [Torment], [Calamitous Darkwind], [Lesser Decaying Haze], [Winds Benediction], [Microscopic Darkwind Erosion], and [Noiselessness]. While I can also detect the wavelengths of approximately 13 inferior concepts too. Focused on physical defense, offense, acceleration, senses, vitality, endurance, stamina, recovery, support, and even some concepts that increase his element’s potency, some that decrease his energy consumption and some increasing the amount of energy his rank 3 material and rank 1 spiritual ascension cores can store!’

’Wh..’

’What the what? You’re kidding me, right, Clementine?!’ Aezaleon blurted out in pure speechlessness and shock. ’You can’t possibly expect me to battle this thing and even win as I am now, correct! You can’t be serious, right!... Um.. Clementine!’

’Time’s up, husband. I hope you can entertain me; I’m expecting a great show~!’ Clementine responded in an excited voice. Aezaleon gave her a disbelieving glance, but she merely winked at him playfully. ’Dear husband~’ ...

Aezaleon genuinely had no choice but to focus on the calamities nearing him. They closed in meter by meter with each passing second, like predators surrounding their prey! The circle was a tightening noose of purple eyes and jagged antlers.

In this 10-second short conversation, Aezaleon came to learn of many things—from the two superior concepts capable of giving him extreme physical pain and extreme soul pain—[Suffering] and [Torment] respectively—to vowing in his heart to get his own vengeance when the time came!

He would remember this battle for as long as he lived. No, he would make sure to remember it and never forget about it.

Meanwhile, as the distance between them became 300 meters, the 4-meter-tall calamity halted in its steps. The other three calamity deers moved towards him. One came from the front, while the other two moved to the right and left of him.

’Ugh.. ’ Aezaleon grumbled inwardly. ’This bastard sensed that I’m a pureblood too, just like him. That’s why he is sending his minions to test me out instead of coming himself. He is not as savage as the other calamities I’ve fought until now, how bothersome...’

He squinted his eyes, coming to his own conclusion about the Pureblooded Galescourge Bearer’s actions. Nevertheless, since his girl wanted a good show, then he might as well give her one!

’Hmm! Now that I think about it, I hope when I absorb these three, they can also give me some useful concepts; that would increase my chances against the big boss, certainly.’

He took out his blood claymore which he had thrusted into the ground. Swirling it within his hand, he observed the three Calamity Galescourge Bearers advancing towards him with a cold and collected gaze.

Although Aezaleon was nervous, that didn’t mean he would lose his cool. As he observed, he quickly noticed the difference in strength between the three from the density of their presences.

The strongest was to the left of him, whereas the weakest was to the right of him. As the distance between them reached a 100 meters, Aezaleon rapidly shot towards the right, further using the inferior concept of [Darkwind] to increase his speed. He became a blur of motion, a streak of shadow across the grey ground.

In a second, he was before the Calamity Galescourge Bearer, who was also coming at him with a speed of 50 meters/sec. Also, his own speed had reached 60 m/sec because of the concept.

The calamity was obviously surprised by such a fast acceleration from its target, but it quickly composed itself and wanted to retaliate—but he wasn’t given any chance to do so.

Aezaleon jumped, grabbed the edge of the antlers with his left hand, twisted his body in the air, and with a precise downward horizontal swing with his claymore, beheaded the calamity in one go.

Subsequently, he kicked the back of the calamity and jumped backward, distancing himself from the other two calamities! Additionally, during that movement of contact between the calamity and him, Aezaleon used—Matter Absorption—on both the headless body and the head in his hand.

The second his feet touched the ground, the head disappeared. It became visible quantum energy particles that advanced towards the black-violet energy ball forming from the headless body.

The two calamities completely ignored this event, moving towards their target without hesitation. Aezaleon was already on the move, keeping his distance from the two Galescourge Bearers and also not forgetting about the main boss, who was still observing everything calmly and had not moved from his place.

"Damn, just how arrogant is this deer!" he voiced with a frustrated smirk.