Dave took a deep breath as he stood up from his resting spot. His body was fully recovered now, his stamina and energy restored to their peak. The regenerating passive skill had done its job, healing his wounds and restoring him to perfect condition. He flexed his muscles, feeling the strength surging through him once again. It was time to return to the fight.
His new daggers gleamed in his hands, their Noxium blades catching the dim light filtering through the forest. He hadn't had a chance to properly test them out yet, and the thought of putting them to use filled him with a mix of excitement and curiosity.
"Let's see what these can do," Dave murmured to himself, as he set off in search of a worthy target.
He moved silently through the forest, his eyes scanning the battlefield for signs of activity. The sounds of distant fighting echoed in the air—clashes of steel, bursts of energy, and the occasional scream of the defeated. As Dave continued his search, he spotted a group of five fighters engaged in a brutal battle. They were too focused on each other to notice him watching from a distance.
A wicked grin spread across Dave's face. "Perfect," he thought. "Time to test the daggers."
With a single thought, he activated his matter control ability. The five fighters were immediately lifted into the air, their bodies floating helplessly as they struggled to understand what was happening.
"What the—?!" one of them shouted, trying to break free from the invisible force holding him in place.
Before they could react, Dave dashed forward with incredible speed, his daggers flashing as he closed the distance. He joined their fight as though he had always been part of it, his movements fluid and precise.
His first target, a burly man wielding a large hammer, didn't stand a chance. Dave's daggers moved like lightning, slicing through the man's defenses with ease. In a blur of motion, Dave struck—one dagger slicing across the man's throat while the other plunged deep into his chest. The man's eyes went wide in shock before his body went limp, blood spraying in every direction.
The kill had been too quick. Dave hadn't even broken a sweat.
As the man's body dropped to the ground, the remaining four fighters stared at Dave, their eyes wide with a mix of fear and fury. They had just witnessed the speed and brutality of his attack, and it was clear that Dave wasn't like the others they had fought before.
"This guy... he's too dangerous," one of them muttered, tightening his grip on his weapon.
"We need to work together," another said, his voice tense. "If we don't group up, he'll pick us off one by one."
Dave stood calmly, his daggers dripping with fresh blood. He tilted his head slightly, his gaze cold and calculating as he sized up the remaining four.
"You want to group up against me?" Dave asked, his tone mocking. "By all means, give it a shot. It won't make a difference."
The four fighters exchanged uneasy glances before nodding to one another. They knew they had no other choice. Alone, they would be easy prey for someone like Dave. But together, they might stand a chance.
The first of the four lunged at Dave, a swordsman with blazing speed, his blade aimed directly at Dave's throat. Dave sidestepped the attack effortlessly, his body moving with fluid grace. He countered with a quick slash of his own, his dagger cutting deep into the swordsman's side. The man winced but kept moving, trying to circle around Dave for another strike.
Before the others could join in, Dave teleported behind one of them—a woman wielding twin axes. She barely had time to react before Dave's dagger pierced her side, the blade slipping between her ribs with deadly precision. She gasped in pain, her axes swinging wildly as she tried to push Dave back.
But Dave was relentless. He danced around her attacks, his movements so fast they were almost impossible to follow. With a brutal spin, he slashed her across the chest, and she collapsed to the ground in a pool of blood.
The other three fighters froze, watching as Dave dispatched their comrade with terrifying ease.
"He's... he's a monster," one of them whispered.
Dave wiped the blood from his daggers, his expression cold. "Is this all you've got? I expected more of a challenge."
His taunt only served to fuel their desperation. The remaining three fighters hesitated, clearly realizing that their chances of surviving this encounter were slim. But fear and pride wouldn't allow them to back down.
"We'll take him together," one of them said, his voice filled with determination. "We can't let him kill us one by one."
The others nodded, steeling themselves for the fight ahead.
Dave watched them with a calm, detached gaze. He could feel the rush of adrenaline, the thrill of combat coursing through his veins. Each fight made him stronger, faster, more precise. His instincts were sharpening, and his love for the thrill of battle was growing.
The three fighters formed a tight formation, ready to strike at any moment. Dave tightened his grip on his daggers, his eyes flashing with anticipation.
"Come on then," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Let's see if you can last longer than the others."