Kael's ears throbbed with his heartbeat. The battle had already turned into chaos.
Even though Mira and Sera were holding their own against the water mage, the pyromancer was too strong for them to take on by themselves.
And then there was Garth; the werewolf's strength was overwhelming, and his regeneration was a problem Kael had yet to fully counter.
Kael let out a breath and gripped his dagger more tightly. He had thought of a risky move before, but now he had made up his mind. 'It was time to use this battle to push his limits.'
He opened his status window mentally and distributed his previously gained Blood Points.
"Allocate 4 BP to strength, 2 BP to Dexterity, and 2 BP to Constitution."
The system acknowledged his command instantly.
———
[Strength: 23 → 27]
[Dexterity: 20 → 22]
[Constitution: 16 → 18]
———
A wave of raw power swept through his body. His movements felt lighter, his perceptions became sharper, and his muscles tensed. His surroundings grew clearer to him, and he could register every movement of his opponent in sharp details
Kael's voice cut through the chaos. "Sera! Join Mira! You both should handle the water mage. I'll take on both of these guys."
Sera hesitated for half a second before nodding. "Don't die."
Mira smirked. "Don't hold back."
Kael had no such intentions.
The firewall separating them flickered slightly, revealing a small opening. Sera dashed through with air swirling around her fingers. The water mage turned to react, but Sera was faster.
"Wind-Guided Arrows."
A powerful gust of wind curved Sera's arrow mid-flight which caused it to accelerate more quickly than the eye could track.
The water mage barely had time to summon a shield and the force of the impact sent her staggering back.
Kael smirked. Now it was just him and the real threats.
Garth's brows scrunched up and his nose widened in undisguised contempt. "You really think you can take us both?"
Kael rolled his shoulders, making popping sounds. "I don't think. I know."
The pyromancer chuckled, though it was one of growing anger. "Cocky little thing."
Then, from under Kael's feet, flames sprang out. Garth was already in motion like a whirl of raw power and claws, but he jumped back just in time.
Kael just managed to dodge the werewolf's blow. The ground behind him was torn apart by the wind from the attack.
Kael struck back the instant Garth missed. He pushed forward, slashing at the werewolf's exposed side.
The blade bit deeper this time.
"Aaarrrggghh!" Garth staggered and snarled in agony.
Although Kael's dagger pierced deeper than previously thanks to his improved strength, he realized it wasn't enough to permanently put the werewolf down.
Then—
BOOM!
A fireball exploded against his side, sending him tumbling across the dirt. Heat seared his skin as he rolled, barely recovering in time to dodge another attack.
The pyromancer stood calmly with flames coiling around his fingers. "You should focus, boy."
'Fuck!' Kael's jaw tightened from the pain and growing anger.
Their coordination was too good. He couldn't just react according to the situation, he had to take control.
Garth attacked once more, but Kael didn't dodge this time around. He stepped into the werewolf's attack.
Garth's claws raked across his chest but instead of retreating, Kael grabbed the werewolf's wrist. And then he activated Abyssal Pulse.
A burst of dark energy surged through his body, slamming into Garth. The werewolf snarled, stumbling over his feet.
That was all the opening Kael needed.
His dagger flashed upward, slicing across Garth's throat, and blood sprayed like a little fountain.
Garth stumbled back, his regeneration taking over, but something wasn't quite right. The cut wasn't healing right away.
Kael's smirk widened. The Abyssal Fang Dagger was growing and adapting.
The pyromancer frowned as he noticed the dagger's growing resistance to Garth's regenerative ability. "Tch. This is getting annoying."
Flames exploded outward, forcing Kael back. Then the old man raised his hand.
The air distorted, and Kael felt heat gathering and intensifying very quickly. A massive firestorm was forming above them.
Kael's body stiffened. He couldn't avoid this one.
Although Kael's instincts screamed at him to move, the firestorm overhead was too wide and too fast. There was no way out.
As the pyromancer watched Kael's hesitancy, he smirked. "Let's see if you're still so arrogant when you're reduced to ash."
Heat crashed down in a roaring inferno and death seemed inevitable.
But suddenly, the battlefield was ripped apart by a tremendous gust of wind. A barrier of compressed air pushed against the firestorm, causing it to split apart as the flames twisted unnaturally.
"Sera."
She had appeared in front of him with her hands raised. Kael could see the wind forming a protective Wind Barrier around her.
"Get moving!" she yelled.
Kael didn't think twice. He shot forward, diving through the opening in the flames just before the barrier collapsed under the pressure.
The pyromancer's eyes grew wide; he hadn't thought Kael would survive that attack. And that was his last mistake.
Kael closed the distance in a heartbeat. His dagger flashed, piercing deep into the old man's stomach and slicing from one end to the other.
His innards spilled over like the contents of a violently overturned fish tank and a tangle of wet, glistening ropes. He couldn't even register the pain that overcame him.
The pyromancer coughed blood continuously, and his spell ended.
Kael persisted with a deranged upward curve in the corner of his lips. He dragged the blade upward, twisting it continuously as if he wanted to empty the inner chamber.
The site of the grotesque horror made the girls cringe including the water mage. They held their stomach and began throwing up.
Uncontrollable flames burst out wildly from the pyromancer's hands. His body convulsed, and his legs buckled as the life drained from his eyes.
Kael kicked the body away and ripped his dagger free with no expression on his face.
The battleground grew dimmer as the firestorm overhead disappeared.
"One down" he muttered.
But there was still Garth.
Kael turned just in time to see him recovering with his eyes closed. He had missed the spectacular show.
The werewolf's claws dug into the ground, and his whole body shook with rage. Because the Abyssal Fang Dagger had suppressed his regeneration, his earlier wounds weren't healing as they once did.
Garth bared his fangs in a snarl. "You filthy little—"
Mira's lightning bolt struck him mid-sentence. His muscles spasmed forcefully as electricity tore through his body.
Sera followed up immediately by letting loose an arrow enhanced by Wind-Guided Arrows. The powerful gust sent it piercing straight through Garth's shoulder.
Despite his growl, the werewolf wasn't finished yet. He rushed forward despite being injured and partially paralyzed.
Kael didn't move. He waited. Waited for the perfect moment...
Garth swung his claws forward and at the last moment, Kael side-stepped, allowing the werewolf's momentum to carry him past.
Then, Kael's dagger flashed. Making a single, clean cut across its throat. This time, the wound didn't heal.
Garth gurgled, stumbling forward. His eyes were filled with pure disbelief as he clutched at his throat, blood pouring between his fingers.
His eyes strayed to the side, wondering why his partners hadn't come to his aid, and there he saw why—Elder Magnus lying cold in his own guts and Elder Raine, bolting for safety.
Kael watched as the werewolf finally collapsed.
———
[System Alert!]
[You have acquired primal energy of Lvl 10 Pyromancer—Elder Magnus]
[You have acquired primal energy of Lvl 9 Werewolf—Garth]
[Total Essence Gained: +325 EXP]
[Total Blood Points: +4]
[Experience Points: 1150/1300 EXP]
[Level-up Progress: 88.5%]
———
Kael rolled his shoulders and let out a breath. His body ached, but victory felt good.