LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 87: Kill!?
Kayvaan rolled over without hesitation. As soon as his feet hit the ground, he ejected the spent magazine from his bolt pistol and smoothly slid in a fresh one. Without pausing, he sidestepped swiftly, his hand already reaching for the sniper rifle slung across his back. There was no need to aim—at this range, instinct and years of battle-honed precision guided him. The sniper rifle barked loudly, its large-caliber bolt round tearing through the golden lion's thigh with brutal efficiency. The shot shattered bone and exploded in the Daemon's hind leg with a violent burst.
The rifle hit the ground with a metallic clang as Kayvaan discarded it without a second glance. He drew his combat dagger and charged, his movements fluid and relentless. With a pistol in one hand and the dagger in the other, he leaped onto the golden lion's back, slamming the blade deep into its thick hide. The single-molecule edge sliced effortlessly through flesh and bone, embedding itself to the hilt. Kayvaan didn't stop—he tore the blade free, carving a gruesome wound along the lion's spine. Without hesitation, he jammed the bolt pistol into the exposed flesh and pulled the trigger.
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Thirteen explosive rounds detonated deep inside the Daemon's body, sending tremors through its massive frame. The golden lion howled in agony, its fur bristling as it thrashed wildly. Yet, Kayvaan held firm, gripping the dagger's handle like an anchor. Half-kneeling on the lion's back, he remained steady as if he were part of the beast itself, unshaken by its desperate attempts to throw him off. The pistol's magazine clicked empty. With practiced ease, Kayvaan ejected it, pulled a fresh one from his belt, and reloaded single-handedly. In one swift motion, he pulled the dagger free and stabbed it into a fresh spot. The blade sliced open another gory wound, and once again, thirteen rounds exploded inside the lion's torso, each shot deepening the Daemon's anguish.
The golden lion roared in fury, its mind clouded by pain. Even its Daemonic resilience faltered under the relentless assault. Still, it refused to succumb entirely to the torment. Driven by primal instincts, the lion's body surged with infernal energy. It reared back on its hind legs, its claws swiping blindly at its tormentor. Kayvaan let go of the dagger and dropped to the ground, landing lightly behind the creature just as one of its massive paws slammed down, inadvertently driving the embedded dagger deeper into its flesh.
The lion howled again, the pain unbearable. Kayvaan wasted no time. He discarded the bolt pistol and flexed his hands. The lightning claws integrated into his gauntlets extended with a sharp snikt, crackling with blue arcs of energy. With a quick lunge, Kayvaan ducked under the lion's belly. His claws found their mark, raking across the soft underbelly in a series of long, deliberate cuts that tore through the Daemon's thick hide like parchment.
The golden lion thrashed harder, its massive form shaking the ground. But Kayvaan moved with the precision of a veteran warrior. He darted around the beast, striking with speed and ferocity. As he slipped out from under the lion, his claws delivered another brutal series of slashes across its abdomen, leaving the wounds gaping and raw, like an unzipping seam.
The lion staggered, its Daemonic strength finally faltering. Its glowing eyes widened in disbelief as its insides began to spill out. Intestines, shredded organs, and charred remnants of muscle poured from its ravaged body. The lion tried in vain to hold its intestines, pawing at them with trembling claws as if it could somehow shove them back inside. "How… how is this possible?" the lion gasped, its voice choked with shock and fury. It glared at Kayvaan, who stood before it, his armor spattered with gore but his stance unshaken. "I am the Golden Lion! My legend has only just begun! How can I fall here, at the hands of a mortal? Who are you? Speak your name, human!"
Kayvaan tilted his head, his expression one of mild irritation. "Why do you Daemons always have to talk so much?" he muttered, shaking the blood off his claws. "You're done. Just die already."
Kayvaan stopped wasting words and leaped forward like a predator on the hunt. In a single bound, he landed on the golden lion's thigh, pushing off with force to propel himself onto its massive chest. His claws extended, gleaming in the dim light, and he drove them straight into the daemon's left atrium. A sickening squelch echoed as his claws sank deep into the lion's chest. With a grim determination, Kayvaan twisted his arms violently, tearing through flesh and bone. Blood sprayed as his claws raked around the lion's ribcage, carving a gaping wound. Using his legs for leverage, he anchored himself into the beast's chest, forcing his way further into the cavity.
With one claw still embedded in the daemon's torso, he reached deeper with the other, pulling aside layers of muscle and sinew to reveal the beast's massive, pulsating black heart. The organ throbbed unnaturally, its surface shimmering with a sinister glow. Without hesitation, Kayvaan plunged his claws into it. With a flick of his wrist, the heart was severed from its arteries, ripped out with brutal efficiency.
He kicked off the lion's chest, landing gracefully on the ground with the grotesque heart still beating in his clawed hand. A look of disgust crossed his face. With a flick, he discarded the heart, letting it thud onto the ground. Raising his boot, he stomped down hard. The heart exploded beneath his foot in a wet burst, dark ichor splattering everywhere. "Shut up and die quietly," Kayvaan spat, glaring at the daemon.
The golden lion, trembling in agony and fury, collapsed. Despite its grievous wounds, it glared at Kayvaan, its glowing eyes filled with hatred. "You filthy human," it growled, its voice a mix of rage and pain. "This isn't over. The horror has only just begun. I will return, and when I do—"
Before it could finish, a single shot rang out. A projectile tore through the daemon's mouth, obliterating its tongue in a spray of gore. The lion could only emit garbled, meaningless sounds as its body convulsed. Suddenly, eerie green flames erupted across its massive form. The fire was unnatural, consuming the lion without a single spark to ignite it.
Elizabeth approached, her calm demeanor contrasting with the chaos. "Impressive," she remarked, standing beside Kayvaan as they watched the daemon burn. "I was ready to give you fire support, but you managed to kill that beast in under two seconds. To be honest, I haven't seen such skill in a long time."
"Kill?" Kayvaan shook his head. "This wasn't a fight. The battle ended the moment I struck. All we're doing now is cleaning up. Tell your people to hurry up—we don't have time to waste."
Elizabeth frowned. "You don't seem to grasp the gravity of what just happened. You killed a daemon with a true name. Do you have any idea what that means? It will come back for you."