Lilith took a step forward, her eyes glued to Quinn and the swirling darkness beneath him. But before she could take another step, a sudden, searing pain exploded in her back.
She felt a presence behind her, and then a cold, metallic taste flooded her mouth. Blood gushed out from her lips as she stumbled forward, her vision blurring.
'Shit....' her thoughts screamed.
But she knew she was too late.
She had let her guard down, and now, she was paying the price at a cost that was agonizing.
The Darkling's laughter rang through the hall, a chilling sound that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Emilia's eyes gleamed with carnivorous intention as she stepped forward, her hand still grasping the shard of glass that had pierced Lilith's back.
'Splendid.....' the Darkling thought, feeling the magic coursing through Emilia. Its eyes were glued on Quinn, staring with excitement at the magic that surged from him. It grinned, its tongue brushing against the fangs in the mouth.
The only thing that lingered in its mind was blood.
More blood.
More blood.
And more blood.
With a cruel shove, the Darkling sent Lilith crashing to the ground. Her body landed with a sickening thud, her blood spreading out around her like a dark halo. With a grin, it licked the blood that stained its fingers—Emilia's fingers.
*
Quinn could feel his magic burning through his veins, his twin pairs of foxes growling bitterly as they stared at the Darkling, eager to attack it. He was fascinated by the changes that had taken his his spells, after the level up. And grin spread across his face, knowing he was supposed to defeat this creature.
If it was the System that commanded him, it meant it could be destroyed. Somehow. He wanted to get her free, to deliver her. To deliver Emilia.
"Come at me, Darkling!" Quinn mumbled. "I know you want to."
The darkness beneath him started churning and bubbling. And out of the blues, a bony hands clawed its way out of the shadows, followed by a skeletal figure draped in tattered, black robes. The creature's skull-like head was ablaze with purple fire, flames dancing across its surface with an eerie glow.
In its bony hand, it grasped a massive scythe, its blade gleaming with a malevolent energy that seemed to make the very air around it vibrate. It let out a low, menacing growl, its eyes burning with an unholy intensity as it fixed its eyes on the Darkling.
'Something is not right....' Ares thought, narrowing his eyes. '...but who am I do interfere? Let's see just how powerful these kids are...'
Quinn flinched back, startled by the sudden appearance of this monstrous entity. His pulse quickened with excitement. The foxes of flames by his side seemed to sense the unease, their growls growing louder.
«[ Demon Lantern Lv2 : Undead Knight]»
«[ Description: The Undead Knight is a skeletal warrior summoned from the depths of darkness, fueled by dark magic. Equipped with a scythe that reaps the souls of its enemies, it is a formidable ally in battle, bound to serve the One True King. ]»
'Awesome....' A grin forced itself on Quinn's face, his eyes staring at the Undead Knight he had conjured. '... can't wait to see just what you're made of....'
*
"DIE....!" The Darkling growled, its voice a sharp snarl that sent chills through the air. The skeletal Undead Knight, stood resolute, its bony fingers tightening around the massive scythe.
With a rough motion, the Undead Knight charged forward, the scythe slicing through the air with a piercing whoosh. The Darkling reacted quickly, twisting its body to the side, narrowly avoiding the deadly arc of the blade.
As the scythe missed its mark, the Darkling countered, summoning purple streams of lightning that crackled ominously around it. It unleashed a bolt aimed directly at the Undead Knight. The air sizzled as the lightning zipped through, but the knight quickly raised its scythe in defense.
The bolt collided with the scythe, creating a blinding flash of light. Quinn's heart raced, his grin wide as he watched the fight unfold. Each pulse of excitement coursed through him, his blood pumping faster with every clash. The Darkling's laughter rang, but Quinn could swear he noticed the creature's confidence faltering.
"Come on, show me what you've got!" Quinn shouted, urging his summoned warrior onward.
The Undead Knight, unshaken by the lightning, swung its scythe again—this time, with murderous intent. It moved with surprising speed, its skeletal form weaving through the air as it aimed for the Darkling's midsection. Just as the blade was about to connect, the Darkling leaped back, like a shadow slipping away.
But Quinn wasn't done.
The foxes of flames, enticed by their master's excitement, darted forward in a similar attack. They passed through the chaos, their fiery forms flickering with intensity. With a collective howl, they exploded upon impact with the Darkling, creating a massive blast of smoke and fire.
The Darkling let out a furious scream, partly blinded by the explosion. It stumbled back, landing on its feet but visibly shaken. Quinn's grin widened as he witnessed the opening.
"Now, Knight! Finish it!" he commanded, his voice stained with adrenaline.
Seizing the moment, the Undead Knight attacked once more, its scythe raining down. The blade glinted in the light as it struck true, cutting through the air with a sickening thud. The Darkling barely had time to react, raising its arms in defense.
The scythe connected, carving a deep gash through the Darkling's defenses. Magic erupted in a cascade of dark sparks, illuminating the hall with a flickering glow. The Darkling staggered back, shock etched across its twisted features as it tried to regain its footing.
Quinn could hardly contain his excitement. This was it—a true test of power! His power! The exhilaration surged through him, fueling his desire to see something more than just an exchange of blows.
He wanted to see blood.
"Let's see how long you can last now!" he taunted, eyes gleaming with a thrill of excitement. He bit his lower lip, his teeth sinking into his gentle flesh.
«[ Mission Complete: Darkling Defeated ]»
«[ Level Up +2 ]»
«[ +200 Xp ]»
'Didn't think I'd be that easy....barely broke a sweat!' Quinn thought. 'But these new feats are so fucking amazing.... it's like I'm a god of some sort. And I love it.'
«[ New Spell Unlocked: Extract ]»
Extract?
«[ Description: Enables the user to extract spirits or essence from various sources, including living beings, objects or environments. The extracted essence can be used to enhance the user's abilities, create new spells, or imbue items with magical properties. ]»
'Now this sounds like something I can work with,' Quinn thought, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. His hand extended towards the defeated Darkling, his fingers splayed wide.
"Extract!"
He mumbled, his voice low and commanding. The system sprang to life, its synthesis process humming as it began to extract the Darkling's essence. A pool of darkness gathered beneath the creature, its inky tendrils snaking around its body. Hands emerged from the darkness, grabbing the Darkling with an unchanging grip.
The Darkling's eyes widened in terror as it screamed, its voice cursing. "Die... die... die..."
"I'm already doing that." Quinn's smirk deepened, his eyes glinting with amusement.
Emilia's mouth gaped, her eyes rolling back in her head. A flame-like figure emerged from her mouth, its fiery form writhing in agony. It ruptured, its energy dissipating into the air.
«[ Extract Complete]»
Quinn's eyes never left Emilia's limb form. He felt a rush of excitement, his heart pounding in his chest. The darkness beneath Emilia faded, dissipating into nothingness. Quinn's smirk widened, his eyes gleaming with a devilish intensity. He was enjoying this, enjoying every moment that came with this experience. He wanted to do it again, until an interface disturbed his moment:
«[ WARNING: POWER SURGE IMMINENT]»