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In the distance, a low growl echoed, followed by the heavy thud of footsteps drawing closer. When a colossal figure, towering nearly twenty feet tall and resembling a small mountain, appeared on the other side of the valley, I couldn't help but gasp in astonishment. For what had arrived was none other than the mightiest battle beast of the Beastman Alliance – a Beamon.

Chapter 4: Enlightenment into Present Claws

The Beamon, the most formidable warrior species within the Beastman Alliance's battle beast army, were towering giants with bodies like mountains, skin as tough as bronze, and bones as hard as iron. They possessed boundless strength, a bloodthirsty temperament, and once unleashed on the battlefield, they were an unstoppable force. Ordinary human infantry stood no chance against them, let alone elite heavy cavalry or even mounted wyvern knights, who would be defeated in a direct clash with a Beamon legion. The only means to counter them were either through sheer numbers, forbidden spells, or dragon riders.

In truth, "Beamon" was a common term that referred to all giant subspecies of the Terrorclaw Bearbeasts, those standing over five meters tall. Amongst the dozen or so recognized Beamon races, only three could be tamed and utilized for warfare.

The most common were the Luminous Beamons, forming the backbone of the Beamon legions. Standing six meters tall with pure black fur, around four hundred of these beasts were organized to specifically decimate human heavy infantry. Above them were the Earth Beamons, the true mainstay of the army. They reached ten meters in height, with brownish-brown fur, and their numbers were unknown, though it was rumored that just a squad of twenty could defeat a thousand-man heavy cavalry regiment. At the pinnacle were the War Beamons, twelve meters tall with silver-gray fur. Though there were only seven of them, each was said to be capable of sieging a castle single-handedly and engaging dragons head-on, earning them the status of the Beastman Alliance's national treasure.

Aside from these, many other Beamon varieties existed, but either their numbers were too scarce for a formation, they were too unruly to tame, or they resided in inaccessible, treacherous regions.

Legend spoke of a Golden Beamon King, towering over eighteen meters, with a body shimmering in golden hues, and battle prowess comparable to ancient sacred dragons. However, due to the vast difference in power, even with the entire might of the Beastman Alliance, they returned empty-handed.

Overcoming my initial shock at the massive creature brought back by my junior, the Ice Wind, I began to carefully study the beast before me. It stood less than twenty feet tall, and its snow-white fur indicated that it wasn't part of the Beamon military. Instead, it seemed to be a wild Beamon wandering outside the legion. According to the Beamon's rule of "height equals strength," this one likely belonged to a weaker subclass.

Nonetheless, Beamons were renowned as the strongest battle beasts, and even the weakest, the Sand Beamon, was a formidable high-level magic beast. Disregarding any high-level magic beast was a path that led only to death.

In this life, the strongest magic beast I had hunted was merely intermediate level. I had encountered high-level ones before, such as when I found Ice Wind – a giant eight-eyed scaled snake was drawn to him. It was over thirty meters long, thick as a bell, yet moved as swiftly as the wind. My Nine Yin White Bone Claw sparked upon contact, and before I could discern its magical abilities, I was forced to leap off a cliff. Thanks to the Golden Bell Shield protecting me, I narrowly escaped with my life.

From that moment on, I understood a lesson: in the Xinghai Continent, where battles were common and masters abounded, magical beasts with precious crystal cores could survive and thrive not because of the rugged terrain, but due to their own strength, which deterred any who harbored ill intentions. Hence, I never again actively challenged high-level magical beasts... until now.

Have I finally reached a point where I can challenge such heights?

The white Beamon on the other side was unable to see through the Grand Illusionary Demon Array as Ivan vanished, leaving it momentarily stunned. However, Ivan's allure still drew the beast into the array despite its hesitation.

Once inside the array, one's senses, instincts, and even spiritual awareness would be affected to varying degrees. After all, this ability evolved from the White Illusionary Deer's need to survive in the treacherous Everday Sunless Mountains. If it couldn't deceive the myriad of magical beasts with unique abilities, it would have long been devoured.

Similarly trapped by the illusions within the array, the white Beamon struggled to find an escape route. But high-level magical beasts' spiritual awareness, intelligence, and years of survival surpassed that of mid-level ones. Thus, instead of spinning around aimlessly like others, it immediately stood firm, adopting a defensive stance with heightened vigilance.

Any magical beast that had survived for a long time instinctively reacted to dangers that threatened its life. The White Illusionary Deer's illusions were purely for escape, so they wouldn't proactively attack. Their illusions interfered with spiritual awareness, but only to a limited extent. As such, if the opponent remained calm, it would detect my move once I acted.

However, my purpose here was to test my martial progress. Without hesitation, I stepped out of the array's protection and lunged at the white Beamon, ready to unleash the Nine Yin White Bone Claw, aiming for its throat.

Despite its cautious guard, the Beamon didn't anticipate the enemy suddenly appearing by its side, causing its reaction to lag. Nonetheless, if high-level magical beasts possessed merely this level of skill, they wouldn't reign supreme in the Everday Sunless Mountains.

Just as my claws closed in on its neck, a thick layer of ice materialized between us. Although the Nine Yin White Bone Claw effortlessly shattered the ice, the Beamon seized that brief pause to swing its four-foot-long claws downward.

"Certainly, an Iceberg Beamon," I retreated, confirming the creature's species.

As an advanced magical beast, the Behemoth also possesses a crystal nucleus and magical power. However, with its already formidable physical combat strength, the Behemoth doesn't utilize its magic for long-range attacks but rather enhances its offense and defense. For instance, this Iceberg Behemoth, or scientifically named "Frostclaw Ice Bear," can employ the "Frost Armor" and "Clotting Freezing Claw." With the profound magic of high-level magical beasts, it can nearly double its melee combat prowess.

Utilizing the array's transformations, I continually shift positions to launch surprise attacks from all angles at the Iceberg Behemoth. Nevertheless, its Frost Armor covers its entire body, leaving no openings once activated. My Bone Claws, despite their full force, can only scrape away piles of ice fragments. Although the Heart Shattering Palm can penetrate its defenses and strike directly at its organs, the force is weakened by the ice layers and flesh. Moreover, the Behemoth's internal organs seem abnormally resilient; despite my continuous roars, no visible injuries are inflicted.