The next thing I knew, jagged spikes made of darkness rose up from the ground, accelerating toward me at an unreal speed.
"EX Combat Mode Activate: All stats multiplied by 7."
I jumped out of the direct path of the spikes, but they somehow redirected themselves and kept pursuing me. I envoked a fire blast which seemed to erase the attack. The blast had a bit of recoil which caused me to spin through the air for a bit, but I managed to land on my hands and feet.
"What are doing?! I don't want to fight you!" I protested.
"Neither do I, but you're in the way!" Merlow snapped.
I teleported behind Merlow and tried to knock him out in one swift blow, but I only ended up hitting empty air.
He had ducked under my attack and was in the midst of uppercutting me now. I dodged his move, but a foward jab came out of nowhere before I could counter.
He was strong enough to push my EX Combat Mode to a multiplier of 7, even now, he's keeping up. No, he might even be faster than me.
"What the!?" I exclaimed as I blocked it by grabbing it.
It vanished in my grasp.
"Now I've got you," A voice said from behind.
Merlow had somehow gotten me into an arm locked. I looked over my shoulder to see a shadowy figure that had risen from my very own shadow.
I couldn't shake him. Not only was he strong, but it felt like my mana was being drained as well.
"Get off of me!" I yelled as a numerous amounts of tendrils shot out of my back, piercing Merlow.
Crap, I didn't mean to do that.
Merlow vanished into a cloud of pitch black smoke and reassembled in front of me. The areas that my tendrils had just punctured seemed to fill in with that strange darkness of his. It's like it has a mind of its own.
"Analyze your opponent, break down all obstacles," Erythro said.
If I want to take him down safely, I'll at least have to know the full extent of his abilities.
Merlow and I began to circle each other, waiting for the other's next move; like two predators locked in mortal combat.
Appraisal.
"Failure: Obstructed By Foreign Magic."
Damn, if that won't work, then I'll have to settle for telepathy. It should work since it's independent of magic.
I concentrated on Merlow, trying to read his mind; it worked to my surprise.
"Tch. Blood manipulation? Guess this is going to be tougher than I thought."
As I focused on Merlow's thoughts, something unexpected happened. I heard another voice. It chuckled before speaking.
"That's not quite it. You two may be more similiar than I initially anticipated. He's hosting something inside his body as well."
The voice was chilling, yet comforting in an odd sort of sense.
"It must be a real monster, if it managed to make him this strong," Merlow replied to the voice.
The otherworldy voice spoke again. "Indeed, but there is something strange about this."
"What is it Drelmoth?" Merlow asked to the voice.
So its name is Drelmoth? Sounds...demonic. I'll ask Vanessa about it when I get the chance.
Drelmoth laughed maniacally. "He can hear us. How amusing."
A splitting pain shot through my head, and I suddenly could no longer hear the voices inside Merlow's head.
Luckily, the pain quickly subsided to my benefit.
Merlow's expression changed to one of pure rage now. "You bastard, you were in my head," he growled.
"So what if I was?" I nervously questioned.
While I was feeling nervous on the inside, my acting skill didn't allow me to show it.
Merlow didn't even reply to my questioned before his fist was in my face.
However, I managed to hit him at the same time, resulting in a massive shockwaves of proportionate forces. We were sent flying in opposite directions, but quickly recovered, flying back at each other.
"You think this will solve anything?!"
"Well, doing nothing won't!"
Merlow turned one arm into a sharp blade darkness.
I did the same, but mine was a crimson blade of biomass.
We clashed for several rounds, but Merlow wasn't letting up. At this rate I won't get anything done. He's even managed to slash at my vitals a few time, luckily, I heal fast.
I pushed Merlow back using wind magic and turned to Erythro for guidance.
"Erythro, any ideas as to what I should do?"
"A few," Erythro state.
The familar red slime spread all over my body. This time adding more to my exterior than before. My form was changing.
"What the hell's going on with you?" Merlow stammered.
After a while, I looked down at my hands to see that they were now white and fluffy. Not just that, my legs are strangely rabbit-like. What just happened?
"This is the full extent of shape-shifting. Shape-shifting cost no mana to maintain, making it a viable option in battle. When you assimilated the Devil Jack Rabbit, I analyzed its structure and replicated it. Your speed and strength should be greatly intensified, just try not to get hit."
This is good, I might be able to do something with this.
Let's test out this new power. I dashed behind Merlow, my speed was almost too much for even me to track. I delivered a blow to his back which actually managed to connect without a trade-off.
I then caught up with him as he rag-dolled through the air. I grabbed him by the head, flipped over him, and flung him away.
Merlow was sent flying through several buildings, one of which collapsed on him.
He erupted from the rubble with yell of frustration and rage.
It seemed I had knocked him out of his dark aura, as he now looked like a normal person.
I appeared in front of him with one powerful leap.
Looking closely at him, one of his arms was twisted in the completely wrong dimension, and he was bleeding from his mouth a bit.
"Merlow, stop this meaningless rampage. It won't end well for anyone. Look at yourself."
Merlow looked at the ground in silence for a while.
Merlow slowly tilted his head up to me. "Meaningless? Is that what you think?"
I didn't respond, standing firm by my conviction.
Merlow reared his head back and sighed. He placed his unbroken arm on the broken one, and twisted it back into place, resulting in a loud crunch.
"You really can't see a thing, but like I said, I never really expected you to understand," Merlow said.
"You're sick, you need help," I insisted.
"Tell me, how many people are forced to grow up without their parents? How many people have had their lives taken from them without the grace of justice."
To be honest, I couldn't say anything to that.
Merlow continued. "Sorry old man, I really didn't want to sully your art." Merlow said solemly to no one in particular.
After this, darkness flowed from his arms and into his hands, lingering there. He put his hands up, adjusted his feet, and took a deep breath.
Is that a fighting pose? He really wants to fight in the condition he's in?
I dashed at him, ready to land the finishing blow. He muttered something under his breath before I managed to reach him though.
"Fist of the Gentle Demon."
After hearing those words, it's like time froze for a second before continuing. Merlow was now standing behind me, I turned around to face him, but waves of pain instantly shot throughout my entire body.
I felt bones breaking, but couldn't hear them; organs being destroyed, but unmoving. I fell to the ground, returning to my base form.
Inspite of my efforts to heal myself, it was like my body couldn't, like I was still taking damage. What is this?
I looked at Merlow with what little strength I had left. Apathy. That's the expression he had on his face. Cold and unforgiving blood red eyes.
"This last strike will finish it."
Damnit, I can't move! There's something wrong with my mana as well, it feels like it's completely gone.
As my mind raced, I suddenly felt a large amount of mana fast approaching.
Possibly the largest and most refined I've felt. Merlow must've noticed it too because his eyes widened.
Merlow scoffed. "Damn, they sent out an S-rank!? Guess that's enough for now. Looks like you get to live a little while longer."
His mana vanished along with him in a trail of darkness.
I can barely breath, I feel so heavy. It's getting dark and blurry, am I going to die again?
What is that, an angel?