Zeno, who was still engaged in combat against the Storm Hornet's leader, found himself kicked in the chest, the impact reverberating through his body. Kilo smirked, sensing the upper hand as he dashed toward the vampire, his special armor releasing maximum power in a radiant display. However, Zeno refused to back down; with a fierce determination, he charged forward, and their swords clashed violently, creating a shockwave that shook the entire room.
With a burst of strength, Zeno pushed Kilo away and swung his sword diagonally, aiming for a decisive strike. Unfortunately, the blade could not pierce the special armor surrounding his opponent. Kilo, seizing the moment, returned the favor. He gripped his sword tightly, bringing it down with ferocious intent. The blade cut a deep gash into Zeno's shoulder, and blood sprayed from the wound, splattering across the ground. In a swift retreat, Zeno felt the edges of his injury knit together, as if two crashing waves were merging.
"You're really starting to piss me off, human," Zeno growled, his eyes narrowing with fury.
"Show me what you've got, Zeno," Kilo taunted, beckoning him to come closer.
In a sudden burst of speed, Zeno lunged at Kilo, moving so fast that the mercenary barely had time to react. But then, the unthinkable occurred: Zeno's sword shattered against the mercenary's armor, the fragments scattering in all directions.
"Oh" Kilo said while grinning afterwards.
Undeterred, Kilo used his sword to slash at Zeno's shoulder once more, blood erupting from the injury and painting the green armor with crimson. "Give me your head!" he shouted, his voice echoing in the chaos.
Zeno manged to dodge the incoming attack. Kilo sword travelled a few inches away from his neck.
Zeno managed to dodge the incoming attack just in time, Kilo's blade slicing inches away from his neck. He retreated again, summoning the last remnants of his strength as the wound on his shoulder healed itself at an astonishing rate. With fierce determination, he looked at Kilo, fury igniting in his eyes.
"Hahahaha! Did you really think that pathetic sword could pierce my top-grade armor? You should have known—I took the best armor for myself," Kilo boasted, pointing proudly at himself with a grin
Zeno's gaze fell to the sword in his right hand; only a small piece of the blade remained visible. "Do you feel no shame depending on armor to give you power instead of relying on your own strength?"
"Oh, I feel no shame at all, Zeno. Unlike you, I wasn't born with talent. I am not an immortal, so I use whatever I can to gain an advantage," Kilo replied, a glint of pride in his eyes.
"I see, then get ready—here I come!" Zeno declared, dashing toward Kilo with nothing but his bare hands. To an ordinary person, this might have seemed insane—charging at a man wielding a sword. Kilo stood tall, calming his breathing, and lifted his sword above his head. He channelled his spirit force, attuning himself to detect the exact moment the vampire would be within striking distance.
Zeno came into the danger zone and Kilo brought down his blade, intending to split the vampire in half. The blade came down like a guillotine, Kilo strike was perfect, it was well timed but the vampire did something unexpected.
As Kilo brought the sword down, Zeno caught the blade between his palms. "Impossible, how did you…". Kilo stammered, eyes wide in disbelief.
With a swift motion, Zeno shifted the sword to the side within his grasp and delivered a powerful kick directly to Kilo's face, forcing the mercenary to lose his grip. Kilo stumbled back, a few steps of disorientation marking his retreat. He touched his face with his right palm, shock etched on his features. "I fuckin' hate you, Zeno! Do you even know what that sword is worth?!"
Zeno, seizing the opportunity, stabbed the sword into the ground and, with a single, decisive strike of his forearm, broke the blade as if it were mere wood. He tossed the shattered weapon aside, disdain evident in his gaze. "Come, let us settle this like men."
Kilo's rage flared as he glared at the broken sword; it had cost him a fortune, a monumental portion of his life savings, and now it lay in pieces at Zeno's feet, a reminder of his vulnerability. "You think I can't beat you with my bare hands? I'm going to rip your heart out!" Kilo shouted, fury igniting his every word.
"Blood Punch"
"Blood Punch!" Zeno shouted, dashing forward with incredible speed to deliver a devastating strike. But Kilo skillfully dodged, avoiding the full force of the attack. Seizing the moment, Kilo caught Zeno by the waist, his intricate leg carvings glowing fiercely as he bent his knees.
With a powerful push, Kilo launched off the ground, carrying the vampire with him. Zeno, however, was not going to let himself be taken easily; he struck back with fierce elbow blows. Yet, despite his efforts, Kilo's grip remained firm, and they burst through the ceiling, landing on the upper floor in a cloud of debris..
Once they had cleared the wreckage, Kilo wasted no time. He delivered a swift kick to Zeno's face, breaking the vampire's nose with a sickening crack. "Did you think I was going to be easy just because I lost my sword?" Kilo taunted, a mix of satisfaction and disbelief evident in his voice.
Zeno chuckled softly, shaking off the pain. "Let me give you a glimpse of what it's like when you're in the big leagues."
"Blood Burst!" he roared, unleashing a massive wave of energy that surged from his body. His veins bulged, and his pale skin took on a vibrant light red hue, glowing ominously as he drew power from within.
With a rush of speed, Zeno bolted towards Kilo, his movements a blinding blur. Kilo, though momentarily taken aback by Zeno's transformation, quickly activated his armor's energy and charged forward to meet the vampire head-on. But Zeno was too fast; he landed a punch that sent Kilo flying toward the wall. Further, before Kilo could even brace himself, Zeno appeared behind him in an instant and unleashed another strike, sending the mercenary ricocheting around the room like a ping-pong ball.
"Blood Punch!" Zeno bellowed once more, this time targeting Kilo's stomach. The force of the punch was tremendous, traveling through Kilo's top-grade armor and damaging his internal organs in the process. The impact blasted the mercenary through multiple stone walls, sending chunks of rock flying and leaving a trail of destruction in his wake.
The power that emitted from his body subsided and his skin returned to their normal pale white colour. He slowly breathed in and out before looking in the direction where he punched Kilo "I best go see if the lad is still in one piece"
====
The giant dark figure loomed ominously in the battlefield; its burn wound still visible on its stomach—an ugly mark left by Caden's earlier attack. Despite its size and power, the injury seemed stubborn, refusing to heal as quickly as the beast would have liked. Now, with anger boiling within, the creature's focus shifted entirely to its number one target who is none other than Caden.
With a thunderous roar that echoed across the terrain, the dark giant charged toward Caden, each step causing the ground to crack and tremble beneath its colossal weight. "Great, it's after me now," Caden muttered
Further, just as the figure wanted to proceed with its assault, it heard a voice from Decker in its mind "Giant, it seems that our allies are losing, I sensed that Kilo and his two subordinates is already defeated." The monster growled it looked at the battlefield and it quickly noticed that Kilo's men are dropping like flies.
"We have to win this war; therefore, I want you to release more of your dark shadow clones to possess the men and empower them. In return, I give you permission to devour their souls," Decker ordered, his voice laced with authority.
The dark giants figure smiled with delight. With a slight shift, its back began to writhe and twist, a grotesque display that signaled the culmination of dark power. Within seconds, hundreds of black slime lumps erupted from its back, pooling onto the ground. The grotesque ooze began to morph, slithering and writhing as it transformed into eel-like creatures adorned with dark wings.
The eel-like creatures flew in all directions, a swarm of darkness seeking out the scattered remnants of the Storm Hornets. As they spread through the battlefield, Decker amplified his voice with spirit force, projecting it to all corners of the fray. "Mercenaries of the Storm Hornets, please allow the dark creatures who are about to come to your aid to enter your bodies. They are of vital importance for us to win this war. You have every right to refuse them, but I strongly recommend merging with them; they will grant you the strength needed to defeat the Crimson Knights."
Some of the Crimson Knights destroyed the eel-like creatures that were flying around, but it was impossible for the vampire knights to eliminate them all. The creatures swiftly reached Kilo's men, offering them the promise of more power. Most of the men agreed without hesitation, and the creatures entered their bodies, merging with them as they embraced the dark gift. However, a few of Kilo's soldiers stood their ground, denying the eel creatures permission to possess them, resulting in the creatures simply turning around to find other willing hosts. Yet, the majority of the surviving men, all too aware of their grim fate against the vampire knights, readily opened themselves up to the eels, happily allowing them to take hold. They understood that this was their only chance of survival in an increasingly desperate battle.
The eel-like creatures swarmed around Kilo, sensing the desperation radiating from their leader. He was broken and battered, a shell of the formidable warrior he once was. The last confrontation with Zeno had pushed him to his limits, leaving him covered in blood and barely clinging to consciousness. As the dark shadow eel hovered before him, its voice echoed with sinister promise. "If you want power, if you want revenge, then say 'I give permission.' Power in exchange for your soul, hehehe."
With every ounce of strength he could muster, Kilo fought against the overwhelming pain and exhaustion. The reality of his situation pressed down on him, reminding him that he could very well die at any moment. This was it—his only hope to regain not only his life but also his honor. With his one eye still open, flickering with determination, he rasped, "I give permission."
The moment Kilo uttered the words, the dark shadow eel lunged forward, forcing itself into his mouth. He gasped as the creature slithered down his throat, an uncomfortable but strangely exhilarating sensation surging through him. His eye widened in shock as the transformation began; Kilo's skin started to darken, shadows coiling across him like serpents. Black veins snaked up along his neck, pulsing with newfound energy as a burning sensation spread throughout his body
He gritted his teeth, fighting the urge to scream out in agony as the eels' dark power coursed through him. To his astonishment, the wounds inflicted by Zeno's brutal assault began to mend at an incredible pace. Flesh stitched itself back together, and strength seeped back into his limbs.
"What power is this that is coursing through my veins?" Kilo murmured in disbelief, the sound of his own voice strange to his ears. As he stood up from the ground, he felt an overwhelming surge of strength and vitality. Flexing his hands, he marveled at how the dark energy swirled within him, invigorating his tired body. Yet, amidst this new power, a lingering void echoed in the back of his mind, a sense that something essential had been sacrificed in exchange for this strength.
"This is probably the price I have to pay," Kilo thought, unease creeping in. "This power is not from the living. It feels too demonic."
Then, as if summoned by the darkness within him, he sensed the presence of Zeno close by. An evil smile crept across his face, transforming his features as his teeth, too, had turned black from the influence of the shadow eel. The promise of revenge ignited a fierce determination within him.
"I can't wait to get my revenge," Kilo growled, his voice resonating with a chilling edge. "I am going to rip him limb from limb!""
====
In the room where Raven was still on his knees, a dark shadow slithered forth from the chaos outside, an eel weaving its way towards him, its presence both alluring and terrifying. The creature hovered before the mercenary, its five dotted eyes fixated on him, a silent plea for permission to enter his form. Raven, prideful and fierce, instinctively battled the urge to give in. Yet, in his current state, barely clinging to life, the desperation clawed at him. The fires of vengeance burned hot in his heart, driving him toward a decision that felt like a betrayal to his very essence.
"I give you consent, creature," he finally declared, his voice steady despite the tremors of pain coursing through him. "Give me the power to exact revenge."
Without hesitation, the dark shadow eel surged forward, diving straight into Raven's mouth. He gasped as the creature slipped past his lips, feeling it coalesce into a thick, dark liquid that spread rapidly throughout his insides. As the black liquid coursed through him, it dissolved completely, seeping into every fiber of his being. Raven's skin darkened, mirroring the depths of the void the eel emanated, while black veins snaked across his arms and neck, pulsating with newfound energy.
The burning sensation that washed over him was nothing short of excruciating. It was a pain that transcended the physical—an agonizing phenomenon that seemed to invade his very soul, something he had never experienced before. A primal scream threatened to escape him, but he bit down on his teeth, willing himself to withstand the torment.
Yet, as the pain peaked, he felt something incredible happening. The injuries that had threatened to claim him began to knit together, healing rapidly as if the very darkness he had embraced was mending his broken body. Power and strength flowed through him like a raging river, an intoxicating rush that made his heart race. For a moment, he reveled in the sheer magnitude of the force within him, astonished that such power could exist.
"I probably would have never reached this level on my own," Raven thought, a mix of exhilaration and dark resolve igniting within him. "But now, I will use this power to send the vampires straight to hell."
He looked to the direction Markus went, a faint smile emerged that was followed by a thick killing intent, and he hurriedly dashed towards him, eager to test out his new power.