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nBehind the Blooder’s mask, a smile began to form. He smacked away the needles at once. They exploded, corroding his javelins, but that didn’t worry the vampire in the least.

nAhead, was the shortest one wielding two blades of differing heights. To his side, was the wind boy. On his flank, the fire girl. Further ahead were the two others, but Vxich knew they were incapable of fighting.

nAt once, the three converged on the vampire’s figure and let their blades collide.

nCLANG!

nA series of loud clangs, booms and shockwaves shook the spire floor.

nAmazingly, the vampire’s prowess was not normal.

nAs they fought, he made sure to get up-close and personal with Nord, since his wind wasn’t exactly useful against his hardened armor.

nAll the while, he kept his distance against Rin’s fire blades and spells, doing the same with Liam’s darkness.

nNiveh wasn’t providing much cover since she worked on finishing her cocoon, but wafer-thin strings would sometimes block the vampire’s most fatal attacks.

nVixch was fighting against three of the strongest students of the Royal academy, including another vampire… and holding his ground!

nLiam knew exactly why that was. Vampires aged differently compared to humans.

nVxich must have gained massive amounts of experience during his long life, there was a reason he was in the third Rank, after all.

nAt first, Liam attempted to chip away at the javelins the vampire wielded, but the Blooder replaced them with the flick of his wrist.

nHowever, Liam quickly noticed that while the armor didn’t receive any heavy damage, it didn’t regrow and mend its dents.

nFire was particularly effective in wearing it down, but Vxich made sure to avoid Rin’s attacks at all cost, even subjecting himself to blatant attacks by the other three.

nLiam activated Cartilage Brace and began using all three of his martial art forms in quick succession bolstered by Lethality Mantle.

nHe snapped forward with Fleeting Foot and focused on chinking the armor on the Blooder’s arms, finding minute opportunities between Rin and Nord’s attacks.

nThey smoothly communicated through their mental link, with Liam dishing out the orders and points of focus.

nMetallic sounds of metal smashing against hardened blood-armor echoed and reverberated the air.

nNessa and Gerald watched in horror from a distance.

n“Why do I cultivate?” Gerald said with a somber tone as Nessa hurriedly tended to his shoulder wound, applying a thick blue salve. His face was distant and bitter. “Why do I try so hard?”

nNessa didn’t have anything comforting to respond with. “You don’t compare a hill to a mountain.”

n“Glorious!” Vxich shouted as he shoved away Liam with a dual swing of his javelins, then threw one at Nord and the other at Rin. They deflected the strikes but were skittered away by the impact.

n“This is a true battle!”

nAlthough Rin and Nord panted heavily, the corners of their lips curled upwards to form little smiles. They weren’t without their wounds.

nNord’s inscribed clothing had been chipped away, revealing the boy’s defined but wounded body. Rin had the least wounds, but used the most spells among them, giving her a pale complexion.

nMeanwhile, the Blooder looked practically woundless, besides a few dents in his armor here and there.

nLiam’s cold eye flashed as he looked at the large chink in the vampire’s arm.

nThe membrane under his skin shot a pang of power through his blood, the speed of his heart quickened, and his form blurred.

nVxich saw that attack coming from a mile away, fixing his javelins to block with ease, only to find that his weapons went straight through Liam’s misty body.

nKRRSH!

nLiam reappeared behind Vxich.

nShards of armor paired with dazzling blood flew midair as the Blooder’s sleeve shattered, his arm severed clean off with the third form of Liam’s art.

nBefore the Blooder could react appropriately and defend himself, a wall of fire boosted by wind blocked his escape, and his right foot was bound by a dark chain, holding him still.

nFrom above, the cocoon was finally done.

nNiveh smiled crookedly as she let loose her crimson threads.

nFinally, a different emotion grew in the Blooder’s eyes.

nFear.

nTime appeared to slow down.

nVxich could clearly see each individual threat. There was nothing he could do at that moment to defend any of them.

nThe short one that severed his arm didn’t relent for even a moment and shot another four needles at his lower body in case he decided to duck.

n‘Ah. I’m gonna die,’ the Blooder bitterly realized. ‘Against humans.’

nAnger churned within him.

nThere was no peace before death!

nAll those aspirations rendered moot!

nAn entire century down the drain!

nRight as he felt the strings, fire and needles inch closer to him, his eyes fell on Gerald and Nessa.

nIf he was to die, he would take at least one with him! 𝙚𝙙𝙤𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝒎

nHe put all the remaining blood he held in his body on his final attack, sending it flying at the boy with all the strength in his limbs.

nTime resumed.

nThe flames, needles and cocoon crashed down at the Blooder’s body at once, but not before a javelin escaped the line of attacks and burst through the wave of fire.

nLiam could only watch as the javelin shot through Gerald’s right eye, killing him instantly.

nBlood washed over Nessa’s incredulous face, her screams of shock filling the spire a moment later.

nExhausted and tired, Nord and Rin could only send pitiful looks towards Gerald’s corpse.

nLiam scowled, but his focus was still on Vxich. He wasn’t sure their attack did the job.

nAs the debris cleared, Liam saw that Vxich was still alive, judging by the blood-red energies still radiating from his heart.

nInstantly, he shot towards the Blooder’s corpse and promptly severed his neck. Liam was still afraid the man might grow out another head… but there was no such occurrence.

nHe put a hand on the vampire’s chest, and to his delight, the Nexus was still in studiable condition.

nA slight smile found its way to his face, but he quickly caught it before anyone else noticed.

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