Nobilis of War novel Chapter 50

Stunned, Alison stared at Darren with wide eyes.

But the very next second, she shrugged the thought off her head. With a disappointed face, she mused internally, 'No, it can't be him. Darren entered the Ilmen Sect only half a year ago! It would be impossible for him to reach the Spirit Realm in such a short time and then to dare to fight with a top-level diabolic beast. I have to be mistaking him for someone else!'

"Alison, what are you doing? Hurry up and find a place to hide. Don't get him in trouble," the young man reminded the maiden in a daze, wondering why she was taking so long.

"Got it," Alison replied, snapping back to her senses. Gingerly, she followed her companions with her head down.

This was like a nightmare for her. She kept regretting in her head, cursing herself. 'My self-will not only cost so many guards their lives but also harmed my uncle and brother...'

"I'm so sorry, Uncle, Dale; I'm the one to blame for all this," Alison uttered, breaking into a crying fit as the three of them sat down behind a huge rock.

"Come on, Alison, this isn't a time to cry. We should just look around and see if we can be of any help to him..." Toby Yun said, comforting her.

Top-level diabolic beasts were extremely powerful and strong. Even though he knew that the teenager's battle strength was par excellence, he was afraid he could still get hurt. He watched the fight between him and the beast intently with heart beating nervously. He was on his tip-toes, ready to come in handy if a critical moment occurred. After all, he had reached the sixth stage of the Spirit Realm.

"He is so young. Perhaps his father is an Elder of a big sect," he said, his eyes fixed on the young boy.

Toby was an experienced man. He was convinced disciples as talented and young as Darren could only be so strong if they came from big sects.

"Uncle Toby, I think I've seen him before," Alison said uncertainly, finally stopping her sob.

"Really?" the two exclaimed in surprise, their eyes lighting up.

"Alison, when and where did you make an acquaintance with such a promising young man?" Dale asked, inwardly pleased.

"Yes Alison, how did you come to be friends with such a genius? Which sect is he from?"

Toby asked in confusion, his eyes darting between Alison and the young boy.

Alison looked at the boy again. With a wry smile, she lowered her head and spoke, "Never mind... I was mistaken."

"Come on, Alison, tell us his name," Dale persisted. He was keen, for he didn't want to lose the opportunity of being friends with such a talented lad, even though the chances appeared to be slim.

Alison hesitated for a moment, and replied, "He looks a lot like Darren from the Chu Clan."

Dale heaved a sigh as soon as Alison gave out the name. "No, no. It can't be that guy. I've heard rumors about Darren. And even if the rumors are true and his talent has reached the Black Degree, I don't think he'd have become as strong as this lad is. Looks like you really did get it wrong," Dale said with a look of disappointment.

"Yes, I agree with Dale. That lad of the Chu Clan has just been in the Ilmen Sect for half a year. It is impossible for him to have gotten as strong as this young hero in such a little time. The best he could do is reach the Spirit Realm," Toby voiced out his thought.

"Oh, by the way, the Chu Clan is going to select their Chief tomorrow, and their Chief Elder has sent an invitation to our clan. I will take the two of you with me tomorrow," he continued further.

"Great. I heard Darren will be back and will fight for the position of the chief. I'd like to see how much this so-called genius with the talent at the Black Degree has progressed in just half a year," Dale responded.

All of a sudden, they heard a loud explosion. Hurriedly and secretly they got up and peeked in the young boy's direction, who they didn't know was Darren. Alison was not mistaken. Sadly, she didn't realize it.

"Oh man! Can you believe he broke the flood dragon's scales!" The three of them looked at the scene flabbergasted, their mouths open in awe.

...

But the black flood dragon was now pissed. It heaved hot breaths from its nostrils right at Darren.

'This diabolic beast hasn't reached level nine yet, ' Darren guessed, looking right into its eyes.

After fighting with it for a while, he had surmised the real strength of the dragon easily.

Despite that, he couldn't dare to underestimate it. A level-seven diabolic beast could match a human master at the eighth or ninth stage of Spirit Realm; and as much as he had observed, the Land Flood Dragon was easily at or above level eight.

While he tried to calculate its capacity, the flood dragon started to growl in anger.

Now, it lifted its heavy claw and rested it back down, creating an overwhelming effect, forming cracks in the ground. The impact spread all around them, shaking both the land and the mountains.

"That's amazing!" Darren said out loud in shock and exclamation.

He was forced to take several steps back due to the aggressive force he felt acting opposite him. It was as if the cracks pushed him back with their extending length.