Degrade from Nobility to a Humble Slave novel Chapter 98

Martin teetered on the brink of death, feeling like he would collapse at any second. As he watched the retreating form of the queen blade locust, his chest heaved as profoundly, out of breath after his run. He never thought Zen would lead the queen blade locust away just in time to save his life!

The whistling wind rushed past his ears, and the woods fell away behind Zen on either side as Zen ran. Zen didn't choose any specific way because he had no idea where he was anyway!

Aside from running onward with all his effort, he hadn't had time to think of a plan.

The queen blade locust was chasing after him at a crazy speed. Although she had only one blade left, for Zen, she was still an invincible being.

"Scri-itch!" came the sound as a shadow of red flashed through the trees in the spot where Zen was a moment ago, leaving a ten feet long scar in the ground.

The queen was obviously much faster than Zen. In seconds she would overtake Zen!

"What now?"

questioned Zen looking around frantically as his heart gradually sank. Faced with such a powerful opponent, he didn't hold out for the fight to go his way.

"Scra-atch!"

came the ominous sound as the red shadow fell again, and at the same time the wind whizzed past. Zen surged up, avoiding the attack and rolled forward out of reach.

Colliding into shrubs and bramble as he made his way through the jungle, Zen saw a canyon come into view ahead. He looked around and noted that the canyon was about seventy or eighty feet wide.

'I'll have to jump the gorge!' decided Zen quickly in mind.

Racing to the edge of the canyon, Zen clenched his teeth, directed the strength of his entire body to the feet while pulling himself into the shape of a curved bow, and flexed as he launched.

With the power of his kick off, he thrust himself across the canyon.

Midair, halfway across, the queen blade locust jumped after him, as she spread her wings. She flew at Zen.

"Son of a bitch! The queen blade locust can fly?" yelled Zen into the empty sky, depressed.

In reality, the queen blade locust's body was too large, and she couldn't fly. The wings weren't strong enough to carry her up into the sky.

But, using her strong hind limbs to propel upward, she could use her wings to glide on the air for short periods.

In the meantime, the queen with her remaining red blade outstretched was gaining on Zen, quickly.

"What am I going to do? This will kill me..."

Zen couldn't stop his mind from turning to thoughts of death as he soared through the air. He couldn't dodge the red blade this time and watched as the tremendous red blade bit down on him.

At this crucial moment, a desperate desire rose in Zen's heart to survive.

"No! I can't die now! There's still so much left for me to do!" spat Zen suddenly, his eyes bloodshot red.

Faced with impending doom, Zen pressed his knife against his arm. And as he did, he raised it to block the queen blade locust's blade.

"Kla-ash!"

The violent force connected with the broken knife but didn't break it. Sure enough, the toughness of the knife could handle blocking the attack of the queen blade locust's blade.

"Oa-ff!"

gasped Zen as the wind was knocked out of him from the force of the blade clashing into the dagger. Spitting, Zen sent a large mouthful of blood splattering through the air.

He felt the veins on his forehead throb, and his blood coursing through his body as if his organs were shattered.

Fortunately, Zen's corporeal form was unique. If anyone else had taken such a fierce strike directly, like Zen had, whether they were a master at the marrow refining level or at the nature level, they would be dead.

Zen transformed most of the power he absorbed from this energy into a warm current, which continually penetrated his bones and rinsed his marrow.

Unfortunately, the rest of the power from the blow injured him greatly as it was too much for him to bear.

With the help of energy he could use, Zen flew higher, gliding hundreds of feet above the ground until he was across the deep chasm. Falling fast, he landed on the soft ground below.

"Thu-ud!"

The ground shook from the shock of his impact. The queen blade locust landed on the ground seconds after Zen and sped at him.

Lying on the ground, Zen felt as though his body had been ripped to shreds. He didn't want to move. However, when he saw the queen locust rushing closer, he spat bloody saliva and swore while he forced himself up enduring the pain from his fall, and darted in the direction away from the queen.

Being chased for another thousand feet, Zen came to the mouth of a large cave.

He turned and looked at the jungle, spreading endlessly. When he sprinted away, he'd expected to find a place to duck into. But, there was no place to hide from the queen blade locust.

Without thinking, Zen could only seek refuge in the cave.

For humans, caves were far more dangerous inside than the outside.

Especially caves out in the wild, who knew what powerful creatures called the caves home?

But, Zen had no choice at the moment. It was futile to continue running. Zen could only hope there would be a chance for him to survive somehow in the cave.

When Zen got into the cave, the queen blade locust saw and followed close behind him without any hesitation. Hellbent on killing Zen, she just wouldn't give up.

It was such a spacious cave that even the large queen blade locust was able to walk freely inside. Fortunately, the cave also curved along, so that, although she was faster outside, inside the cave, Zen was quicker.

Therefore, the distance between them wasn't shortened.

As Zen went deeper and deeper into the cave, the thick smell of sulfur penetrated his nose. What was below this cave?