What the heck? Xerves thought with disbelief at the sight of the demon transformation, it was as though another being had manifested, and the surrounding air was buzzing with the energy she emanated from her body, no doubt, luckily enough there was only farmland around the area, as it is on the outskirts of the land, a human with no enough molecular energy within a hundred-meter radius wouldn't have survived, as they would have had their soul crushed by the energy aura.
She stood, full of vigor as though a battle never took place, only her tattered black leather jumpsuit showed that there was a fight. She took her stance with cracking and buzzing energy emanating from her, brought out an orb from her leather jacket, and smiled at it in a witch-like manner.
"you bastard, you made me use this, you will regret it," she said cackling loudly.
"Suck up!! Gluttonergy!! She shouted at the orb as if it had an ear.
"Lord Verona, you can't do this..... Nooooooo" the two infra demons screamed as they were sucked into the black orb.
"Impudent human, your name?" she asked me with eyes gleaming with a predatory glint, a sinister smile curled on her lips, like a villain with a newfound power.
"Xerves" he replied halfheartedly
"Be joyous, impudent human, it's been long since your kind saw me in my full power" she said cackling like a witch.
In a moment, she slipped the orb through her chest, and a beam of light propagated from her chest.
I suspect that is what is called merging, so she merged with her underlings by thrusting the orb into her energy core to tremendously increase her molecular energy.
That orb is a gem, a common type artifact, and a rare one like my bracelet, I think ... it can suck and store energy, huh ... the energy can also be used anytime, hmm ... something like an energy bank, huh...
Xerves soliloquized as he evaluated the scene unfolding.
Without any room for readiness, a lance of pure energy whistled past Xerves, he instinctively jerked his head to the side, missing his ear by a few centimeters, the heat it emanated singe Xerves' ear, giving him some burns around his auricle.
"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! That hurts!!" Xerves winced.
She manifested multiple energy in the shape of a lance in her hand, throwing them at Xerves.
Another one swished through the air with unbelievable speed, cackling loudly like a witch, she launched a series of attacks at Xerves, Xerves dodged while keeping distance between him and the demon, moving at a tremendous speed at the same time to avoid getting hit.
What should I do now, I should probably avoid getting hit by that, it would spell my end.
A tremendous increase in energy, after getting hit by my secret technique first state, this is bad!!... but.. no doubt — that is her trump card, if only I can manage to win...., I will try to get through her attack to deal the finishing blow... but how? I'm being pressured already —
Xerves thought while avoiding the Lance of energy buzzing past his head. He could feel the heat of the energy Lance singed the air around him as he maneuvered himself through dodging the attacks.
Demons could only be slain by weapons forged from silver, the sole metal capable of connecting to their soul and pulverizing it into nothingness. Mere decapitation wasn't enough; their heads could be severed, and still, they would not die.
Xerves always wore two artifacts: a necklace with a silver pendant intricately carved into the shape of a horn, and a bracelet studded with gleaming gems. The latter was no ordinary trinket; it was a common type artifact of the rare class used for suppressing molecular energy.
Each trinket matched his short hair which was a striking shade of silver-white, catching the light with an almost ethereal glow. It was tousled and slightly unruly, giving him a carefree yet determined appearance.
A sinister laugh echoed through the area.
"Scampering around huh!!!?? A move befitting a creature like you, I wonder how long you would be able to last against my lance of energy!!! she taunted, her voice dripping with malice.
Another burst of that eerie laughter. "Pathetic! Your efforts are futile," the demon sneered, launching another lance of energy, the buzzing lance of energy crackling menacingly. This time Xerves jumped to dodge but suddenly, it veered off its course, twisting in mid-air to meet him. His eyes widened in shock. Impossible! , he was sure to have dodged it but how...?
With a desperate lunge, he threw himself to the side, but the lance was faster. It clipped his shoulder, sending a jolt of searing pain through his body. He grunted, the impact spinning him off balance. I have to keep moving! He pushed through the agony, rolling to his feet just as another lance whizzed past.
"Ah, still have some fight in you, I see," the demon chuckled darkly. "Good. It's no fun if you give up too easily."
He clutched his shoulder, feeling the burn of the wound. His vision blurred for a moment, but he forced himself to focus.
Xerves jumped back a few feet, releasing his technique. Secret technique! First state! fall of a flowing river, waterfall!!!, he launched out multiple energy into the air.
"This is good! That technique you released earlier, let's see which one overpowers the other. Entertain me, even if it's just for a moment!!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the battlefield as she launched attack after attack.
Multiple molecular energy spirals erupted from every direction. The demon unleashed a barrage of attacks, each one shifting trajectory mid-air to intercept and bombard Xerves' released technique, with each collision of energy changing the layout of the surroundings.
Xerves was breathless, his energy nearly depleted from the relentless assault. He could feel the strain in every fiber of his being.
Lances of energy swished through the air, crackling with deadly intent. He dodged desperately, but the lances moved with blinding speed and unpredictable paths. Suddenly, multiple lances pierced him, their searing heat burning into his flesh. The smell of roasted meat filled the air.
Agony ripped through him as the lances pinned him to the ground. He knelt, gasping, his body ablaze with pain, every movement a struggle against the relentless assault.
His vision blurred as the battlefield faded, replaced by a memory from long ago. He could hear his master's voice, stern yet caring.
"Don't remove it, your bracelet... the only thing that makes you you... unless the second state is achieved... you shall refrain..."
The words echoed, growing fainter and more distant.
"I'm sorry... master..." he whispered, his voice barely audible.