The group got flabbergasted once seeing how quickly that creature got used to its body.
At least, they wanted that it was already used to it. If that was not the case and, instead, the Dread was still learning to use its power, they couldn't think how amazing its speed could get when he got the hang of it for real.
'This thing... is too fast! It is behind me already! What do I do!?'
After several battles that he fought, going through situations in which every second was crucial, Dean learned how to think faster. Currently, he could think about a lot of things at once in just one second. That was really needed when you were a traveler and needed to fight for your life against opponents several times stronger than you.
Dean was always at the disadvantage in every battle that he had before. He started in a stage where he couldn't really catch up with the others slowly. On the contrary, he was forced to develop himself as fast as he could in order to survive.
Nonetheless, at that moment, he wasn't fighting with any ordinary opponent, but a Dread that just evolved. A being that was miles stronger than him, and faster, and more resistant. He was facing the perfect killing machine. Or, rather, the perfect killing machine was facing him from behind.
'I won't do it in time! Then...!'
Dean was sure that he wouldn't have time to turn and defend its attack. Also, he couldn't count on his instincts since that Scythe became fast enough not to be noticed by him. It was safe to assume that his attacks were just as fast as his movements on the battlefield were.
The boy could think through all these things and concluded that he didn't have any other choice instead of predicting what the Dread would do and pray that his reaction would be just in time to prevent a tragedy.
Dean ducked his body as fast as he could, aiming to low quickly his neck. Meanwhile, he propelled his body forward, throwing himself on the ground.
The time seemed to pass slower while he executed the movements. In his mind, he questioned several times whether it worked or not. His face was stiff, also like all the muscles of his body. He could feel each drop of sweat crossing his body.
Then, after what seemed to like ages, he heard a sharp sound coming from above. Something touched his hair by a few millimeters but passed without harming him.
After falling to the ground, Dean used all the strength on his arms and legs to get up again. His movements were swift and compact, he wanted to save as much time as possible. His hands never let go of his sword. The boy turned immediately, gathering all the courage that he had.
'I won't be the type of guy to dodge and run away. I know that this bastard expects me to keep escaping, but I will show him that, despite the fear I am feeling, I am no one to be underestimated!' He screamed on his mind, stomping his feet on the ground and charging his sword with all his might.
Those strong and resolute movements seemed to wash his fear away and got his mind more focused
Dean rotated his hips and shifted his weight at the same time as he swung the sword.
Meanwhile, "Willpower" was running through his body. High quantities were traveling from his heart to his arms, legs, and hips, strengthening them. However, most of it was passing through his arms and accumulating in his sword.
It was something very similar to what he did when he fought that Lion.
The group felt that the atmosphere changed from a second to another. They barely could believe it, since such a sudden change in the quantity of "Willpower" being utilized needed lots of concentration, also as a big reserve of energy within the heart.
All that action lasted just some seconds, but in their perspective, the seconds turned into hours.
They watched as Dean's sword traveled in the middle-air and struck the Dread that was rushing towards him at an abnormal speed, just as the boy supposed.
The "Willpower" gathered in the blade of his sword reacted once it touched the Dread's body. All that energy exploded at once, an explosion of light with a huge pressure that shook the ground slightly.
It wasn't the same power as when Dean fought the Lion of the 5th generation, but he could deliver an attack with the same technique behind.
'Without the group knowing, I have been hunting these things. I gathered enough knowledge to know their habits and fight patterns. All the Scythes aim to the neck by instinct, and always and horizontal attack. Afterward, they will surely charge recklessly after the prey if they feel fear in the air!'
At the stage of training that he was, he needed to kill Dreads in order to evolve. He also wanted to get used to the Dreads of that region, so he struggled to get to that point.
Dean looked to the hurt Dread in front of him. He delivered a diagonal slash that opened a wound starting from the Scythe's shoulder and crossing its entire trunk.
A black liquid began to pour from that wound and the Scythe looked at it nonchalantly. It wasn't feeling pain at all, just a little discomfort.
One of the quirks that the Dread gained after evolving was to not feel pain from any type of harm.
It didn't mean that the wound wouldn't disturb it while fighting, but the Scythe could move without getting troubled by the excruciating pain.
However, despite its indifferent countenance, Dean had a grin on his pale and sweaty face. He got the first blood, after all.
The boy was feeling weak, his reserves of "Willpower" were too low. That attack didn't have any control behind it, so a lot of energy was spent.
Regardless, the strength of that blow made up for all that energy.
'All that struggle from days ago...' He gripped his sword tightly, 'finally paid off!'