Kael stood slowly.
Blood dripped from several wounds across his body, staining his clothes and running down his arms. His breathing had become heavier, and every movement sent a dull ache through his body.
Across the chamber, the beast stared at him.
Its wounds were closing again.
Not as quickly as before.
Kael noticed.
The cuts he had created were beginning to heal, but the process had slowed.
His eyes narrowed.
The connection between the Mark and the beast's blood had grown stronger.
That was the only reason.
Kael tightened his grip around his sword.
The beast suddenly lowered itself.
Dark-red mana gathered around its claws.
Kael's expression hardened.
"Blood Fang."
The beast swung.
Crimson blades erupted from its claws and tore toward him.
Kael didn't run.
The Mark pulsed.
He reached for the blood.
Immediately, the beast's Silver aura pushed back.
Kael gritted his teeth.
The blood fought against him.
He could feel the beast's control wrapped around every drop like an iron grip.
Kael pulled harder.
The first Blood Fang shifted.
Only slightly.
But it was enough.
The crimson blade curved away from his body and slammed into the ground beside him.
BOOM!
The second came from another direction.
Kael twisted away.
It cut through his clothing and opened another wound.
Pain flashed through him.
He ignored it.
His attention remained on the blood.
The Mark was still connected.
Kael pulled again.
The beast's aura surged.
The blood snapped back toward its control.
Kael nearly lost the connection.
"Not yet..."
The beast charged.
Kael raised his sword.
CLANG!
The first claw struck his blade.
He redirected it and immediately stepped away from the second attack.
The beast followed.
Kael moved with it, keeping just outside the creature's reach before suddenly turning back toward it.
The beast swung.
Kael ducked.
Its claw passed above him.
Kael's sword flashed.
SHING!
Another cut opened across its abdomen.
Blood spilled.
The Mark pulsed violently.
Kael felt the connection surge.
The beast recoiled and immediately tried to pull the blood back into its body.
Kael resisted.
For a moment, the two forces collided.
The beast's Silver aura pushed against the Mark.
Kael's will pushed back.
The blood trembled between them.
Kael's breathing became heavier.
He could feel the pressure inside his palm.
The Mark was pulling.
The beast was pulling harder.
Neither gave way.
Then Kael noticed something.
The beast's movement slowed.
Only slightly.
Its control over the blood was affecting its concentration.
Kael's eyes sharpened.
That was it.
He didn't need to overpower the beast completely.
He only needed to interfere with its control for a moment.
Kael released the connection.
The beast immediately regained control.
It roared and attacked.
Kael moved.
Mirage Step.
He slipped past the first claw, but the second caught him across his ribs.
SHING!
Blood splashed onto the floor.
Kael staggered.
The creature continued.
Another claw.
Kael blocked.
CLANG!
The force pushed him backward.
Another.
He redirected it.
Another.
He barely avoided it.
The beast's attacks came faster now.
Kael was being pushed to his limit.
He couldn't keep this up.
His legs were beginning to feel heavy.
His breathing was rough.
The wounds across his body were slowing him down.
But the beast was slowing too.
Its healing was no longer keeping up with the damage.
Kael saw blood dripping from several wounds.
More blood than before.
He smiled faintly.
"Just a little more."
The beast suddenly raised both claws.
The blood around its body gathered.
Kael felt the Mark react.
The creature was preparing both techniques at once.
"Blood Fang!"
Crimson blades formed around its claws.
Then several droplets gathered beside its other hand.
"Blood Bullet!"
The chamber filled with killing intent.
The attacks launched simultaneously.
Kael stood still.
The Mark pulsed.
He reached for the blood.
The Silver aura struck back.
Kael's entire arm trembled.
His teeth clenched.
He pulled harder.
The Blood Fang slowed.
The Blood Bullets wavered.
The beast roared and forced more mana into the techniques.
The pressure became overwhelming.
Kael almost lost control.
Then he remembered the blood he had drawn.
Every cut.
Every wound.
Every drop that had fallen during the battle.
All of it was connected.
Kael pulled again.
This time, he didn't try to take control of everything.
He focused on one point.
One strand of blood.
One Blood Fang.
The crimson blade suddenly stopped.
The beast's eyes widened.
Kael pulled.
The blade turned.
For one brief moment, the beast's own technique moved against its will.
Its body froze.
Its control broke.
The Blood Fang collapsed.
The Blood Bullets scattered harmlessly into the walls.
Silence filled the chamber.
Kael didn't waste the opening.
His hand went to his sword.
"Mirage Draw."
SHING!
His blade exploded from the sheath.
Kael stepped through the stunned beast and completed the draw in one fluid motion.
The creature remained frozen for only a fraction of a second.
But that was enough.
Kael immediately followed.
"Phantom Edge."
SHING!
The slash tore across the beast's body.
This time, the wound was deep.
Blood erupted from the creature and splashed across the stone floor.
The beast stumbled backward.
Its eyes widened as it struggled to regain control.
Kael stood several steps away, his sword lowered.
His breathing was heavy.
Blood continued dripping from his wounds.
But he barely noticed.
The Mark on his palm was burning.
The connection between him and the beast had never been this strong.
The blood spilled from the creature's new wound trembled.
Then—
The black crescent changed.
Kael felt something move through the connection.
Something finally broke through the barrier that had stopped him throughout the battle.
The beast suddenly staggered.
Its aura flickered.
Kael's eyes narrowed.
For the first time, he felt the Mark take hold.
First Blood had finally activated.
The creature stared at him.
Kael slowly raised his sword.
The battle had just changed.
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