Legendary Extraction: Kingdom Builder in a Ruined World-Chapter 41: Dealing With The Arcane Threat [3.]

AWWOOOO!

The undead dire wolf’s chilling howl echoed across the battlefield and in the next moment, a compressed sound wave burst out from its open jaws.

It shot forward at terrifying speed, roaring through the air like a bullet made of pure force, aimed directly at the spikedtail snake.

The spikedtail snake, still fixated on Elias, sensed the incoming attack at the last moment. It twitched and shifted, reacting fast.

BOOM.

The sound wave struck the exact spot where the snake had just been. Though it missed, the force was still overwhelming. The tree the snake was on exploded. Bark and splinters blasted out as the thick trunk shattered, the shockwave rattling the air itself.

The spikedtail snake thought it had dodged successfully, but the destruction of the tree had consequences. That tree had supported its coiled body, and now, without it, the snake crashed painfully to the ground. Its scaled body slammed into the dirt with a heavy thud. It let out a loud hiss, rattling with pain from the impact.

Elias didn’t let the opportunity slip. A tight grin spread across his face as he charged forward. His boots slammed against the ground, leaving small dents as he pushed with full force.

The spikedtail snake had been the biggest threat on the field, it moved easily between the trees, launching venomous ambushes that had almost killed him earlier. But now, grounded and dazed, it was exposed.

Still, the possessed guards weren’t just going to let him through.

The axe-wielding brute moved first. His massive frame rushed forward, dragging his axe across the ground. As he swung, Elias twisted to the side and ducked under the wide, obvious arc of the blade.

The axe whooshed just inches above his head as he slipped past. He didn’t worry about a follow-up. His earlier strike had already shattered one of the brute’s knees. That guy couldn’t keep up anymore.

The axe-man roared with fury and tried to pivot for another swing, but his motion was clumsy and slow. Elias was already gone.

The spikedtail snake, recovering from its fall, let out a low, deadly hiss. Its eyes locked onto Elias, and in the next breath, it lashed out. Its tail, lined with jagged spikes, whipped toward him like a wall of blades.

Elias’s face hardened.

Each spine was laced with venom strong enough to kill him several times over. One scratch—that’s all it would take.

With a burst of strength, Elias stomped the ground. The earth cracked beneath his feet as he launched himself upward. His body twisted in midair, flipping backward as the spiked tail missed him by mere inches.

"Too close," he muttered.

[Blood Claw Slash]

While still airborne, Elias slashed with his clawed gauntlet. The skill activated, and a translucent red claw burst outward. It tore through the air, aiming straight for the snake’s exposed head.

The serpent hissed, but this time, it couldn’t dodge.

BOOM.

The attack struck the side of its skull with brutal force. Blood sprayed, flesh tore, and a deep dent formed with a sickening crunch. Even with its tough skull, the damage was clear. The side of its head was split, bone cracked, and thick blood poured freely from the wound.

But the beast didn’t die.

Instead, it let out a loud, shrill shriek, filled with so much anger it echoed across the battlefield.

Its serpentine body twisted and thrashed wildly in a fit of pain and fury, its tail whipping around in madness—its full rage now completely focused on Elias.

"Great," Elias muttered, his eyes locked on the spikedtail snake. "I think I pissed it off."

The snake shot forward like a bullet, murder burning in its glowing eyes.

But Elias was ready.

He quickly opened his system stats and got to work, adding ten attribute points straight into Strength—bringing the stat into the sixty-something range.

Instantly, a surge of raw power flooded his muscles. A slow, heated energy spread through his limbs, like fire laced with lightning. He clenched his gauntlet-covered fist, letting the power settle into his bones.

At the same time, he activated Commander’s Bond, instantly sharing the strength boost with Vael.

At the corner of the battlefield, in the blur of clashing blades, Vael’s body jerked slightly in surprise as the wave of strength rushed into him. He felt it fill every inch of his being, and without hesitation, he charged forward again, launching himself at the silver-haired woman.

She met his renewed attack with her blade—steel clashing against dagger. Sparks flew.

But this time, her eyes widened in shock. The balance had shifted. She was being pushed back—for the first time.

What? she thought, arms trembling from the clash. How is he stronger now?

Vael didn’t give her a chance to think.

With a flick of his wrist, he vanished again using Phantomstep, reappearing instantly at her flank, daggers spinning like shadows.

Meanwhile—

Back on Elias’s side of the battlefield, the spikedtail snake charged, its massive body weaving back and forth as it slithered at full speed.

But Elias didn’t back down.

Instead, he ran straight toward it.

At the last second—right before they collided—he jumped, vaulting high and flipping cleanly over the snake’s whipping head.

Mid-flip, he raised his gauntlet.

CLANG!

The clawed gauntlet came crashing down with all his strength. Combined with the boost and the already cracked skull from before, this time—it pierced.

The claws drove deep into the top of the snake’s head with a sickening crunch. Its eyes widened, its body spasmed violently, and its spiked tail flailed in every direction, smashing into nearby trees in blind agony.

Elias didn’t hesitate. He pulled his arm free and leapt off just as the beast began to fall.

[...]

A system notification flashed across his vision to confirm the kill, but he dismissed it without a second thought. He didn’t have time for distractions.

Then he felt it.

The world shifted around him.

A sudden, suffocating chill swept through the forest and crawled over his skin like mist made of ice.

And then it came—a collective scream of rage and agony echoed across the battlefield. The silver-haired woman. The possessed guards. They all screamed at once, their voices distorted and twisted with fury.

Elias’s skin prickled. Every sense he had screamed danger.

It was clear now—killing the spikedtail snake had deeply angered them. But it made sense. The beast’s death had hurt them... weakened them.

These weren’t just separate enemies.

They were all connected, fragments of one soul split between different hosts.

So when he killed the spikedtail snake, it wasn’t like killing an ordinary creature. It was more like cutting off a limb from the main body—only this wasn’t a flesh-and-blood lifeform, but a being made of energy. Killing the snake didn’t just hurt it; it severed a part of its body, a chunk of its energy, weakening the whole. No wonder they were this angry.

Just then, the silver-haired woman turned sharply. Her blue eyes locked onto Elias, flashing with hatred. The killing intent rolling off her hit like a wave.

Elias stared right back, muttering under his breath, "That must’ve hurt, huh?"

As if in response, a cyclone of wind burst to life around her, howling with fury.

She shot toward Elias at terrifying speed.

But—

CLANG!

Vael appeared again—daggers flashing as he intercepted her mid-charge. Their blades clashed, metal shrieking from the force, and her momentum was stopped.

"Not so fast," Vael hissed, pushing her back.

The woman gritted her teeth. She was furious, but she couldn’t ignore Vael. His attacks were too fast and dangerous to just brush off.

Meanwhile, Elias didn’t have time to celebrate. A loud howl rang out from the dire wolf again.

He spun around—just in time to see the undead dire wolf sink its jaws into the arm of one of the possessed guards, tearing it clean off.

But the guard didn’t scream.

With his remaining hand, he plunged his sword into the wolf’s neck, twisted it—and with a brutal yank—ripped the wolf’s head clean off.

Elias’s chest tightened.

[Ding!]

[Notice: Your undead has been destroyed.]

"Damn it," Elias cursed, his eyes flashing with frustration as he swiped the notice away.

But there was no time to mourn.

The axe-man and the recovered swordsman were already charging.

The axe-man reached him first, roaring as he brought his weapon down in a heavy two-handed swing.

Elias raised his gauntlet.

BOOM.

The impact cracked the ground beneath them, sending a burst of dust upward. But Elias stood his ground, bracing with both arms.

Gritting his teeth, he twisted and slammed his shoulder forward, throwing the axe-man off balance.

Then—

CRACK!

A vicious uppercut with the gauntlet caught the man’s jaw. Bone shattered, and the brute stumbled back.

From the side, the swordsman lunged, his blade slicing toward Elias’s neck.

"Not this time," Elias growled.

He ducked, letting the blade pass overhead, then spun with full force, sweeping the man off his feet.

The swordsman crashed to the ground.

Elias didn’t hesitate.

He leapt onto him, raised his gauntlet, and struck down with two powerful punches.

The first punch fractured the man’s skull. The second crushed it completely.

[...]

Another kill notification flashed—but like before, Elias dismissed it before it could finish displaying.

At that exact moment, another roar of pain echoed through the forest. That same warped, haunting sound. Another fragment of the arcane being had been severed—causing more pain, more fury.

But Elias didn’t stop to think.

He was already moving.

The axe-man was trying to stand, barely.

Elias dashed toward him, spun—

CRACK!

A powerful spinning kick crashed into the side of the man’s skull. The bone shattered with a loud crunch, and the body dropped like a stone—lifeless.

Elias exhaled hard.

Three down.

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