Lu Jun couldn't recognize what kind of demon beast this was.
The stag-like dark beast wasn't particularly large. It resembled both a deer and a lion, slightly bigger than a six-legged Nightmare Horse. Including its tail, it was about twenty meters long.
However, its body carried the streamlined yet tense musculature of a Dark Moon Fox, packed with terrifying explosive power.
Its spine was covered in white feathers that extended all the way to its long whip-like tail. The tail was as long as its body, with the tip resembling half a feather. The overall appearance was majestic and elegant.
The interweaving of black and white further accentuated the beast's dark night aura and sinister nature!
What shocked Lu Jun was that despite its incredible speed and presence, its aura was only at the Advanced Warrior level it hadn't reached the Commander level yet.
Lu Jun realized that this demon beast's bloodline was anything but ordinary.
Very quickly, under the "gaze of the masses," the mysterious stag-lion beast climbed nimbly. Its straight-line charge was accompanied by lightning, but when obstructed by tree branches, its shadow twisted, allowing it to slip through via Shadow Blink.
Seeing this, Lu Jun's eyes lit up. This technique perfectly utilized its elemental advantages.
He couldn't determine its exact race for now, but its fusion of lightning and darkness, along with its explosive speed, sparked endless intrigue.
In just two or three seconds, the mysterious demon beast reached the halfway point of the Divine Tree, standing silently atop a leaf.
It suddenly let out a long howl, a blend of a lion's roar and a deer's cry. The sound carried an eerie mixture of mental energy and nightmare aura, inducing drowsiness and a peaceful, tranquil atmosphere.
Even Lu Jun's spiritual form was affected. However, thanks to his proficiency in the Mind and Curse elements, he quickly broke free and widened his eyes in astonishment this beast also had Mind Magic!
Moreover, judging by the situation, it had almost formed a Nightmare Domain, enveloping the Divine Tree and putting numerous demon beasts into a deep slumber.
Mind was clearly its primary element, surpassing even Lightning and Darkness.
"Yet another multi-element creature, and each attribute is top-tier," Lu Jun thought, his heart pounding.
However, seeing the beast making such a commotion right under a Monarch's nose, he couldn't help but worry for it.
A high-tier Mind ability could indeed have a notable impact on a Super-level being, but Nightmare Power alone wouldn't be enough to control a Monarch's for long. Time was tight it was literally racing against death.
Lu Jun was curious to see what risk this creature was taking.
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
The noble and elegant demon beast focused, and a hazy mental barrier covered its body. Mysterious energy from all directions rose and gathered around it, thickening its dark aura, suppressing its lightning, and heightening its destructive power.
Lu Jun struggled to understand this energy. It was dispersed throughout the Dark Forest, somewhat resembling dark magic power but also carrying demonic characteristics.
However, he could tell that this demon beast was trying to absorb some form of nourishment from the Dark Forest to advance.
The process was incredibly fast. The stag-like demon's body expanded slightly, and the fluctuations of its three elements surged, its aura climbing higher and higher.
It officially stepped into the Commander level.
Though only at the Sub-Commander stage, its threat level was no less than a Six-Tailed Dark Moon Fox or a Six-Legged Nightmare Horse. Its combat power might even surpass them Mind combined with Shadow was an eerie and formidable mix.
Boom!
The moment the stag-like demon beast finished advancing, it immediately turned to flee.
Its speed, already astonishing, skyrocketed further. In the blink of an eye, it transformed into a streak of black-purple lightning, leaving behind layers of afterimages as it dived down from the Divine Tree and bolted toward the edge of the Dark Forest.
Roar!
At that moment, a furious roar shook the entire Dark Forest. A powerful aura burst forth, sweeping across the land. All creatures fell silent and prostrated themselves on the ground.
Even Lu Jun felt its effects his spiritual form wavered as he looked up toward the towering treetop.
There, a three-meter-tall humanoid Monarch emerged. Its appearance was unclear, but it overlooked the forest, locking onto the fleeing Thunder Dream Beast.
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
The next moment, the Monarch made its move. The Divine Tree's canopy trembled and shattered, releasing an overwhelming force that tore through the void. Accompanied by a piercing whistle, it chased after the Thunder Dream Beast with lethal intent.
If Lu Jun could barely keep up with the mysterious demon beast's speed, the ruler of the Dark Forest was simply too fast disappearing from sight in an instant.
Only the aftermath of their passage remained craters formed by powerful impacts, withered ancient trees marking their trajectory.
The two figures streaked toward the forest's edge, running parallel in a straight line a thrilling race against death.
The Monarch moved gracefully, closing the distance rapidly. Its murderous aura was chilling.
Truth be told, the mysterious demon beast was already absurdly fast. It started at the peak of the Commander level and seemed to be using some kind of demonic technique, its speed accelerating further and further. By the end, it was almost at the escape velocity of a Monarch.
Yet even so, it hadn't fully outrun the threat. The humanoid ruler was right behind it.
From several hundred meters away, it unleashed a devastating claw attack an enormous dark claw imprint materialized in midair, covering the entire area.
Lu Jun held his breath, closely observing the unfolding battle.
Boom!
A deafening explosion echoed through the forest. A terrifying wave of dark energy rolled outward, leaving a deep, claw-shaped crater at the impact site. Its edges were pitch-black, corroded by some eerie force.
In the distance, shadows twisted beneath the trees, and the stag-like demon beast reappeared, unharmed.
It had used Shadow Blink to evade the attack and, instead of continuing forward, abruptly changed direction running off in the opposite direction!
From above, its trajectory formed a sharp "7"-shaped turn.
The Dark Monarch was caught off guard. Charging too fiercely, it couldn't brake in time and slid forward for several hundred meters before adjusting its stance.
By then, the stag-like demon beast had already gained a massive lead.
"That was some expert maneuvering!"
Lu Jun instinctively let out a word of praise.
The Monarch let out a sharp cry and vanished into the shadows, utilizing flight and Shadow Blink to give chase.
But the stag-like demon had already built up momentum. Within a few breaths, it had escaped the Dark Forest, breaking free from the Nightlord's Dominion and dashing into the vast Summoning Plane.
At the forest's boundary, the Monarch came to an abrupt halt, letting out an unwilling roar.
As the ruler of this domain, it couldn't stray too far from its territory doing so would expose it to hostility from other powerful beings.
In the final moment, Lu Jun caught a clear view of the Thunder Dream Beast's full form.
Its mane billowed as it ran, its sharp eyes filled with determination. There was a carefree yet proud air about it.
Taking a deep breath, Lu Jun found himself unable to shake off the thrill of that short yet intense pursuit.
For the sake of advancement, this creature merely an Advanced Warrior had dared to enter a Monarch's lair to absorb energy, then escape right under its nose.
Its courage and composure were awe-inspiring.
Lu Jun suddenly found himself losing interest in the Six-Tailed Dark Moon Fox and the Six-Legged Nightmare Horse.
He was now deeply intrigued by this demon beast.
With a sigh, he muttered, "Summoners are such scoundrels... Falling for a new one every time, unable to choose."
Compared to the other two, this Thunder Dream Beast had both uncanny sorcery and raw physical exploassassin an ideal assassin.
Its Mind abilities also provided excellent crowd control and support.
The more Lu Jun thought about it, the more excited he became.
Although he hadn't left a mental imprint just now for fear of interfering with the beast, it didn't matter.
It couldn't have run too far.
His spiritual form could cover thousands of kilometers in an instant he'd catch up soon.
At this moment, he noticed his soul beginning to fade, signaling that his summoning time was almost up.