After their weapons clashed, a shockwave exploded, throwing them both backward.
The ground cracked under the impact.
Alex shouted:
« Andris, go, quickly! »
But Andris replied, his voice trembling but firm:
« No, boss! I have to stay! »
Alex gritted his teeth, rage in his voice:
« Do what I say, damn it! Take the slime and get out, now! »
The monster charged at Alex at superhuman speed.
In its rush, it delivered a devastating vertical strike, slicing through the air with a roar.
But Alex disappeared before the impact.
The ground exploded under the power of the strike, sending debris flying everywhere.
Moments later, Alex reappeared, standing atop a broken log.
Then, like lightning, he propelled himself toward the monster.
With both axes in hand, he delivered a double vertical strike, fast and precise.
The monster barely blocked, holding the long handle of its axe horizontally like a shield.
The shockwave swept around them, raising dust and cracking the walls.
The mining cave shook, threatening to collapse under the violence of the exchange.
The monster looked at the cave for a second.
Alex took advantage and activated Lightning Bond, teleporting to the left of the enemy.
He delivered a double horizontal strike with both axes, aiming at the monster's flank.
But it blocked again, its axe handle firm as a shield, and roared:
« Disappear! »
« Damn… still too slow. I need to be faster, » Alex growled through gritted teeth.
The monster grabbed its axe with both hands and brought it down in a devastating vertical strike.
Alex charged both axes with energy and crossed them to protect himself.
The impact unleashed multiple shockwaves, generated by the special effects of his axes and the raw power of the weapons.
Despite it all, the monster resisted, contracting every muscle in its body like a living rock.
The ground shattered beneath Alex's feet, struck by the monster's power.
The two adversaries exchanged a rain of blows at superhuman speed, in all directions: vertical, horizontal, diagonal.
Each impact generated a new shockwave, like a true storm.
The cave began to crack even further.
They disappeared and reappeared, fighting across space.
Andris murmured, incredulous:
« It's impossible to follow with the eyes… The boss is rivaling a king, it's incredible… »
But the king quickly regained the upper hand.
More and more gashes appeared on Alex's body.
He began to tire, struggling to keep up with the infernal pace of blows.
The monster delivered a knee strike to Alex's stomach.
He spat blood and fell to his knees.
The monster prepared a vertical strike, ready to cut him in half:
« I warned you… You should have left earlier. Now, it's too late. »
Suddenly, the slime manifested and hurled a stone at the monster.
It looked at it, annoyed:
« There are too many insects… »
It advanced toward the slime.
Alex shouted in despair:
« Where are you going like that, bastard! »
Andris, determined not to run when his friends needed help, enveloped the slime with his body, ready to take the monster's blow.
Alex, unable to shout otherwise, screamed with all his strength:
« Leave them alone, bastaaard! »
The monster brought down its vertical strike.
[Next Evolution: ???]
Time remaining before evolution: 30 seconds.
Just before the strike hit, Alex jumped and pushed Andris and the slime toward a tree.
Andris' robustness protected them, but the monster's blow sliced Alex's arm.
Andris' eyes filled with despair.
Alex screamed in pain:
« AAAAAAARG! »
The monster, disdainful, said:
« Pathetic! »
It prepared another vertical strike toward Alex, lying on the ground.
But Andris and the slime stood in front of him.
Andris, smiling despite his fear, said:
« Don't worry, boss. This time, I'm the one protecting you! »
The monster brought down its strike.
[Next Evolution: ???]
Time remaining before evolution: 10 seconds.
Before the impact, Alex jumped toward the strike, charged his right axe with energy, and struck the monster's axe.
The special effect of his axe activated, repelling the enemy's weapon.
Alex said, determined:
« Thanks, now I've got this. »
[Next Evolution: ???]
Time remaining before evolution: 1 second.
Alex smiled slightly.
« It's time to evolve. »
A huge amount of energy emanated from Alex. He shouted.
Andris, astonished:
« Boss! »
[Next Evolution: ???]
Time remaining before evolution: 0 seconds.
[System: Evolution possible.]
[You advance to the next stage.]
[You transform into: Vampire.]
[Transformation time: immediate]
Alex sat down, curled up, knees and arms pressed against his body, head bowed.
Blood sprouted from the ground and enveloped him, forming a giant egg.
The monster sensed immense danger: its heart pounded wildly.
The blood egg cracked and shattered.
Alex emerged from the egg, now with a new appearance: he had evolved.
He now resembled a 13-year-old human boy.
His left arm had regrown, his height was 1.50 m.
His hair was white, and his red eyes were brighter than ever.
His destroyed outfit had been replaced by a perfect white uniform.
The energy he exuded surpassed that of all the kings he had felt.
[Your vampire form grants you new skills]
• Skill acquired: Hemomancy / Blood Control
Description: Allows you to control your own blood or the surrounding blood to form weapons, projectiles, armor, shields, or even more complex constructions like creatures or structures.
• Skill acquired: Blood Regeneration
Description: Your blood allows you to instantly heal your wounds, regrow lost limbs, and heal your allies.
Alex said, a proud smile on his lips:
« Now I remember… I know all my skills. Feels good. Alright… it's time to finish this. »
Andris trembled:
« Boss… is that you? »
Alex smiled:
« Of course… Who else would it be? »
He raised his hand toward the sky.
The blood on the ground floated, forming six long blood spears aimed at the monster.
His red eyes shone with excitement.
« Ready? » he asked.