Kael rushed forward.
The creature met him halfway.
Its claws came down in a crossing motion, forcing Kael to twist his body between them before bringing his sword upward.
CLANG!
His blade caught one claw while the other passed dangerously close to his face.
Kael immediately turned his wrist.
"Ripple Slash!"
SHING!
The first slash opened a cut across the creature's forearm.
The second followed from the opposite direction.
The beast pulled back just enough to avoid the worst of it, but the blade still cut across its chest.
Blood splashed onto the stone.
The Mark pulsed.
Kael felt the connection instantly.
He reached through it.
The blood trembled.
For a moment, he felt like he had it.
Then the beast's Silver aura surged through the blood.
The connection nearly snapped.
Kael's expression tightened.
The creature roared and swung.
Kael barely raised his sword.
CLANG!
The impact threw him backward.
He landed hard, his injured leg nearly giving out beneath him.
The beast charged before he could recover.
Kael pushed himself up.
Mirage Step.
He vanished just as the claw tore through the space where his chest had been.
He appeared several meters away.
The creature turned.
Kael was already moving again.
He couldn't let it dictate the pace.
He rushed in, waited for the first claw, then shifted around it and drove his sword across the creature's side.
SHING!
Another cut.
The beast snarled.
Kael immediately followed with Phantom Edge.
SHING!
The slash opened another wound across its thigh.
The creature staggered.
Kael's eyes sharpened.
More blood.
The Mark pulsed harder.
The beast's wounds began closing.
Kael watched the blood disappear back into its body.
"Damn."
He couldn't keep doing this forever.
The creature's wounds were healing faster than he could accumulate damage.
It suddenly raised its arm.
Blood gathered around its claws.
"Blood Fang!"
The crimson blades shot toward Kael.
This time, he didn't simply move.
He reached through the Mark.
The blood immediately resisted.
Kael gritted his teeth.
He could feel the beast's Silver aura wrapped around every drop.
It was like trying to pull a weapon out of someone's hand while they were gripping it with everything they had.
Kael forced harder.
The Blood Fang trembled.
Its trajectory shifted.
One blade veered away from him.
Another still came straight toward his chest.
Kael twisted.
SHING!
The blade tore across his torso.
Blood poured from the new wound.
Kael staggered.
The creature followed.
Kael barely blocked the next claw.
CLANG!
His sword shook in his hand.
The beast pushed forward.
Kael's boots dragged across the floor.
He couldn't match its strength.
The claw forced his sword closer toward his body.
Kael's eyes narrowed.
He suddenly released the pressure and stepped aside.
The creature stumbled forward from its own momentum.
Kael turned.
"Mirage Draw."
SHING!
His sword left the sheath in a flash.
The blade cut across the creature's back.
Before it could turn, Kael followed with Phantom Edge.
SHING!
The second slash struck the same area.
Blood sprayed across the chamber.
The Mark pulsed violently.
Kael felt the connection surge through his palm.
This time, he didn't try to take control immediately.
He waited.
The beast roared and turned.
Blood began gathering around its body.
Kael could feel it.
Every drop.
Every wound.
Every movement.
The connection was becoming stronger.
But so was the beast's resistance.
The creature fired another Blood Bullet.
Kael stepped aside.
The bullet changed direction in midair.
Kael felt the Mark pulling.
He pulled back.
The beast pulled harder.
The bullet trembled between them.
For a fraction of a second, neither side controlled it.
Kael's eyes widened slightly.
Then the Silver aura overwhelmed his control.
The bullet snapped back toward him.
Kael threw himself sideways.
BOOM!
It exploded against the ground.
Stone fragments struck his back.
Kael rolled several times before stopping.
His breathing was heavier now.
Blood ran from his side, shoulder, thigh, and back.
The creature stood across from him.
Its wounds were already closing.
Kael slowly pushed himself up.
He looked at the blood covering the floor.
Then at the beast.
Then at the Mark.
He understood.
Drawing blood wasn't enough.
He had to draw enough blood.
Enough that the beast could no longer maintain perfect control over every drop.
Kael tightened his grip.
The creature lowered itself again.
Kael smiled despite the pain.
"Then let's make a little more."
The beast charged.
Kael charged with it.
Their weapons collided.
CLANG!
Kael redirected the first claw and slipped beneath the second, but the creature twisted faster than before.
Its claw struck his shoulder.
SHING!
Another cut opened.
Kael gritted his teeth but didn't retreat.
He stepped inside the creature's reach.
"Ripple Slash!"
The first strike cut its arm.
The second tore across its abdomen.
Blood poured from both wounds.
The Mark pulsed.
The creature staggered.
Kael moved immediately.
Mirage Step.
He appeared at its flank.
Phantom Edge.
SHING!
The blade opened another deep cut.
The beast roared.
Its Silver aura erupted.
The blood scattered around its body began rushing back toward it.
Kael reached for it.
The beast resisted.
Kael pulled harder.
The creature's aura pushed back.
For the first time, Kael felt something change.
The beast's blood stopped moving.
Only for a moment.
But it stopped.
Kael's eyes sharpened.
He had felt it.
A weakness.
Not enough yet.
But it was there.
The creature suddenly broke the connection and slammed a claw toward him.
Kael raised his sword.
CLANG!
The impact sent him crashing backward.
He rolled across the stone and stopped on one knee.
The Mark continued pulsing.
Kael looked at the beast.
More blood was dripping from its wounds now.
More than before.
The creature was still healing.
But slower.
Kael wiped the blood from his mouth.
A faint smile appeared.
"Almost."
The beast roared.
Kael rose again.
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Use arrow keys (or A / D) to PREV/NEXT chapter