The others joined in the fight, and although their method of fighting wasn't as brutal as Zen's,it was definitely effective. The only issue was that they all seemed to have their... quirks.
Sable and Xavier had constantly shown that they fought just to fight,it was that straightforward . Sometimes they would even slow down for the beasts just to enjoy the fight for a little longer.
Maximilian on the other hand always looked like he was scheming something. Also for some reason he was fighting with his eyes closed. Surprisingly, he hadn't been hit once and was very effective.
All this combined with Zen who was fighting like a wild beast while being surrounded by actual beasts made the entire scene pure chaos.
The only two who seemed to be on edge were Neo and Jade who were playing support, although... for some reason, Jade looked distracted.
She suddenly yelled at the others.
"Guys! Something's wrong with Zen!"
They all heard her and suddenly looked at Zen.
He was surrounded by an ungodly amount of black viscous blood but didn't seem to mind it at all as he simply stood there with his head down.
Maximilian was the closest to him and got to him as quickly as possible, quickly dealing with a beast on the way.
"Zen what's wrong?"
Zen didn't answer and sat on the ground, his face still blocked. Maximilian didn't have time to wait and touched Zen's shoulder, finally getting his attention, however, the moment he saw Zen's face, he took a step back.
His mutated eye was now glowing with even more intensity, and the white ring on his left eye resembled an actual flame as it stared into his soul.
Zen struggled internally as he looked at his system screen.
[Hp: 1/110]
[Warning: Bloodline emergency security fail safe activating]
[Base instincts will soon take over host's mind]
[Duration: Until the danger has passed]
This was the side effect of his mutation.
Zen clenched his fist and fought off the strange urges in his mind as he looked at his exp bar.
"Just.... one.... more"
Maximilian was confused.
"One more what? Zen you don't have to fight anymore, we'll deal with this
"R-run"
Zen managed to mutter before his eyes went dark.
"Zen? Zen answer me! Guys something's definitely wrong"
The others quickly fell back when they heard Maximilian's cries.
"What's wrong with him?" Sable asked, decapitating another beast in the process.
"I think he's unconscious"
"He won't be the last. We can't keep doing this forever they just keep coming"
Maximilian looked around and realized she was right.
"Let's take him with us for now "
Maximilian tried to carry Zen but the moment his hand got close, Maximilian's body immediately reacted as he jumped back, putting some distance between him and Zen.
Maximilian looked at his hands and then the unconscious Zen with confusion. His instincts wouldn't let him get too close .
He suddenly heard a sigh escape Zen's mouth as his eyes opened and he looked up.
The white ring of fire in his left eye had disappeared, perhaps signifying a lack of consciousness.
He immediately jumped up and lunged towards the person closest to him,who happened to be Sable.
"What the?"
Sable immediately rolled out of the way, dodging the attack.
"Zen. What are you doing?"
"Grrrr!"
Maximilian's brain immediately went into overdrive as he quickly realized Zen wasn't himself.
His mind went back to his first meeting with Zen when he lightly touched the topic of Zen's mutation. That's when it hit him.
"Don't hurt him"
"I'm listening" Sable said while trying her best to avoid Zen's attacks. Luckily for her, although he seemed just as strong as before, his movements were a bit sluggish.
"His mutation is based on killing intent and bloodlust. It appears the side effect is as well. He isn't in his right mind"
"I'm open to suggestions" Sable exclaimed, panic in her voice as she realized Zen was getting faster and faster in his attacks.
Zen suddenly took advantage of a moment of hesitation, and landed a heavy blow on Sable's abdomen, pushing her back.
Sable coughed up blood and looked at Zen before snarling menacingly.
"You guys see what you can do about the beasts. I'll try to tire him out"
Maximilian felt like there was a bit too much venom in her voice but didn't have time to argue as he quickly left to help the others.
Sable sheathed her katana and entered a fighting stance.
"Alright. Lets do this. At least you can't hold back when you're like this "
Zen had his back slightly hunched over as he crouched down in a beastly manner.
Without any warning he suddenly lunged towards Sable his hand now in a claw.
Sable had seen what Zen had done to the beast that had impaled him, and had no interest in sharing its fate. She immediately took a step back before throwing a punch straight for his head. Her previous statement of tiring him out seemed to have already been forgotten by her.
She originally expected Zen to try to dodge but was surprised when he took the hit and then opened his mouth wide before biting down on her arm, drawing blood into his mouth.
Sable grunted and in an act of impatience, returned the favor by biting equally hard on his hand, drawing his own blood.
Perhaps it wasn't the wisest choice to allow someone with a vampirism ability to drink your blood, especially when you have a special bloodline... but Zen wasn't in the right mind to think about that so.....
They both jumped back, creating some distance between them.
Without any other words, they both charged at the other, Zen flailing his arms around and growling in an animalistic way while Sable jumped in,a bright smile on her face as he constantly pushed her limits.
With every second in the fight, Sable felt like she could understand him more. Every punch, every kick and Jab helped her to get closer to him.
He fought like he was being threatened. Unlike his previous predatorial fighting style, this seemed purely defensive despite the savagery in his moves
Zen who was now more of a beast,was ironically also less of the beast he was previously.
Sable believed you could find out a lot about a person by fighting them. The reason she was so interested in Zen wasn't just his strength. Unlike most people, Zen revealed none of his inner self when fighting. Every battle with Zen was both fulfilling and annoying for Sable because although it was obvious he knew how to, he refused to put in his heart and soul into his fighting techniques, only his mind.
Seeing him fight the beasts and now her had been refreshing as she could finally see Zen not holding himself back. She could now say she understood how Zen felt. Zen had the heart of a predator,a beast,a hunter. His soul was dark and wild, unimaginably so, for him, fighting wasn't just something he did, it was all he knew,a part of him. The darkness in his eyes reflect his soul. He isn't the darkness, but at the same time,HE IS.
"Come on. What are you waiting for, show me everything"
Sable admitted that taunting him might not be the best choice, but she had already gotten in too deep, and hell be damned if she was going to stop now.
Zen suddenly crouched down and ran towards her on all fours. Expecting another direct confrontation, she was unprepared when Zen suddenly slid on the ground and tripped her.
He immediately turned around after passing her. His eyes locked on to the figure that was about to fall onto her face, and with a guttural roar he pounced on her his hand finding its way to her head, and putting his entire body's weight on her head ,about to slam her into the ground.
Zen's eyes widened as he realized Sable had stopped moving downward. He instinctively looked at her legs and saw that she had planted her foot firmly on the ground in a wide stance to stop herself.
Slowly Sable's head turned to look Zen in the eye with her now glowing red eyes, unfazed by him using only her head to support his entire body in the air.
Zen quickly pushed himself off her and put some distance between them.
"Interesting . You're unable to think like a regular human but your instincts and reflexes still automatically act within your objective as a predator. Muscle memory? Inherent ability? Natural instincts? Perhaps all"
Sable herself didn't seem to notice her glowing eyes. The vampirism ability came with most of the perks and none of the disadvantages of being a vampire: Increased physical stats,heightened reflexes and senses,an increased affinity and resistance to the blood techniques of vampires,and ironically,pale skin. However that was it. Whatever was happening to Sable was new.
Sable suddenly felt the ground shake slightly.
"This planet has earthquakes?"
However she quickly realized it was something else as she looked at where the others were trying to carve out a path for them and saw something that could make this situation much worse for them.
Approaching the battlefield was another dog like beast, however this one was four times the size of a regular one, and looked like it weighed almost ten thousand pounds. Some parts of its body were covered in rock like scales ,its claws and fangs looked like they could crush boulders in a single attempt, and it didn't help that it was running straight for them. With every step it took, multiple beasts ran or died.
It suddenly raised its armored paw which suddenly started glowing with a brown light and slammed it into the ground.
A visible streak of energy passed into the ground, travelling towards Maximilian and Xavier while destroying the ground behind it and simultaneously creating large rock spikes.
Maximilian and Xavier managed to roll out of the way but the streak of energy travelled through the ground towards Zen and Sable who were now on the edge of the cliff.
"Watch out" They warned but it was too late.
The cliff gave out and Zen and Sable fell into the depths....or at least were about to when Neo suddenly jumped in and grabbed them such that they were hanging from his hands.
"I've got you!"
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief but it was short-lived as another quick seismic attack finished the job the first one didn't and sent the three of them tumbling down to the bottom.
The remaining three could only watch with wide eyes as their friends fell down to the bottom of the cliff.
Xavier growled and was about to attack when Maximilian stopped him.
"We need a plan. We're already too tired from the previous fights" Maximilian said,the sound of heavy breathing proving his point.
"Hey! Guys! I have an idea" Jade suddenly yelled while waving her hands to get their attention.
Jade said her plan, not worried about Maximilian not hearing her due to the distance. Although Xavier couldn't hear what she said,he noticed the thoughtful expression on Maximilian's face which was replaced by a smile.
"Simple enough, and a very high chance of success. Let's do it!"
Noticing Xavier's impatient expression, Maximilian put his hand on his shoulder.
"We'll check up on them as soon as we can, but this is the only way to do it, and we can't do it without you"
Xavier got his point and nodded.
"Just tell me what to do. What's my job?"
"Bait"
"Huh?"
"Just get it to follow you"
Maximilian said before running towards Jade.
A few seconds later Xavier was being chased by the large beast while Maximilian and Jade were standing a short distance away.
"Just give the word" Maximilian spoke reassuringly to Jade who was getting somewhat nervous.
".... NOW!"
She suddenly yelled as one of her portals opened and another directly behind the beast.
As soon as he heard her, Maximilian thrusting his spear with as much force as he could into the portal.
The spear suddenly appeared out of the other portal, piercing directly into the beast's vulnerable anus, directly stabbing its internal organs.
The beast howled in pain and Maximilian intentionally twisted the spear to cause even more pain.
Maximilian released the spear and Jade closed the portal as they prepared to do it again.
A few minutes later, the beast dropped to the ground, unable to keep going.
Xavier didn't miss the opportunity and immediately struck at its head, killing it instantly.
The thought of taking the core never even crossed his mind as he ran back to Jade and Maximilian.
"What the fuck? Your plan was to sodomize it to death?"
Jade scratched her head awkwardly. It was all she could come up with at the time and she was panicked.
"Good job!" Xavier praised.
"We don't have time for this. Let's go check the others"
They all immediately followed after Maximilian to the edge of the cliff.
"How are we gonna get down?"
*************
Maximilian jumped down from the rocks on the side of the cliff into Xavier's arms, quickly getting down.
"Where's Jade?"
Before Xavier could answer,Jade suddenly shouted out.
"Guys! I found them!"
Xavier and Maximilian immediately ran towards the voice and found Jade kneeling over Neo, Zen and Sable.
Maximilian let out a sigh of relief. He could hear their heartbeats. Upon closer examination, they found out that they weren't gravely injured. There were a few broken bones here and there,a few scratches and bumps, but they would be okay.
Maximilian's ears suddenly twitched.
"We need to get out of here now "
"Why? What's wrong?"
Xavier's question was suddenly answered by a series of howling and barking of those dog like beasts.
"We need to find shelter" Maximilian quickly said
"What about in there?" Jade said pointing to a large menacing castle like structure behind them.
Maximilian gritted his teeth. Of course he had seen it, but the problem was that it was definitely a dungeon, and there was no way to know if what was in there was more dangerous than what was chasing them.
Maximilian gritted his teeth and picked up Zen.
"You guys, take the others. Let's go"
Xavier was about to say that it was a dungeon but swallowed his words and picked up Neo.
Jade carried Sable as well in her arms and followed the two boys into the treacherous dungeon castle built into the side of a cliff.
The doors opened automatically for them, revealing the inside, and luckily, this one didn't have a portal at the entrance.
They quickly walked in, closing the doors behind them.
Examining the inside,it was quite spacious with a bunch of strange items decorating the inside, and an obelisk of around six meters at the center of the room,a glowing orb at the top of the obelisk,and some strange items on the ground surrounding the obelisk. Whether or not there were other rooms, none of them wanted to know.
The inside of the dungeon suddenly trembled causing them all to fall to the ground.
Zen specifically fell near one of the items surrounding the obelisk and it was a small blood red orb.
Zen's eyes slowly opened as he briefly regained consciousness. He slowly reached for the orb with his now bare hands. As soon as his hands touched the orb,he lost consciousness again.
Maximilian,Jade and Xavier quickly got up and regained their bearings.
Jade picked up Sable and placed her at a discreet corner in the room while Maximilian and Xavier placed Neo and Zen sitting on the ground with their backs resist on the obelisk at the center of the room.
"Guys, get ready" Maximilian said.
Some blood from both Zen and Neo managed to get onto the obelisk.
If Zen was awake he would have been confused by the notifications he was getting.
[Ding!]
[Discovered a new soul]
[Assimilating new soul]
[Exp rewarded]
[Level up!]
[Level 10 reached! All other requirements met!]
[Beginning evolution]
[Ding!]
[Identified Mythical tier artifact]
[Obelisk of awakening]
[Awakening process has begun]
Both Neo and Zen were suddenly bathed in a bright white light as the obelisk began to glow.
Amidst all the good news, an ominous message suddenly popped up.
[Ding! Soul is fighting assimilation]
[ Warning! Soul is attempting to possess host's body]
[New quest received]
[Successfully tame and assimilate the errant soul]
[Reward : Legendary tier soul: Lilith]