"Welcome back, young knight. Are you ready to fight?" As Kang opened his eyes, he found himself standing once again before Argon in the shallow sea of blood. The pungent air around them felt both familiar and menacing. Focusing intently, Kang listened carefully as the quest notification flashed before his eyes.
[Ding!]
[Trial Quest: Defeat the 1st Blood Knight]
[Reward: Transcendence and full mastery of the blood]
[Failure: -5000 Blood]
"Absolutely!" Kang responded without hesitation, immediately shifting into his offensive stance, ready for battle. However, his confidence was short-lived. In a flash, Argon closed the distance between them, raising his sword high, aiming for Kang's left shoulder. The sudden assault forced Kang to switch his stance instantly.
As the blade descended toward him, Kang's sharp instincts kicked in, noticing a shift in Argon's trajectory. The sword veered away from his shoulder and, without a second thought, decapitated him effortlessly. Kang could barely register what had happened, though his improved Dexterity allowed him to see the attack unfold. But his Dex stat wasn't high enough to react in time, leaving him frustrated with his prior negligence.
[-500 Blood | Remaining Blood: 4500]
Watching Argon's unrelenting aggression, Kang realized that this was going to be a brutal fight. As another system panel appeared before him, he knew if he wanted to stand a chance, he would have to push himself to the limit, despite being overwhelmed by his formidable opponent.
'Oh boy... and he hasn't even used any of his real abilities yet,' Kang thought to himself, standing back up as the mask reconstructed his body. With his determination reignited, Kang resumed his offensive stance, charging at Argon without giving him a moment to react.
Crouching low, Kang lunged forward, driving his sword deep into Argon's chest. But before he could celebrate, Argon's iron grip closed around him, and the familiar voice rang in his ears.
"Consider the nature of your foe before attacking. Stabbing a Bloodfiend is pointless, don't you think?" Argon's voice was calm, almost mocking. With a swift motion, he swung his sword down, decapitating Kang once more before stepping back.
'Ah, of course,' Kang thought, as understanding dawned on him. 'If I can recover from such injuries without using blood, then surely, he can too. There's no use trying those attacks.' Argon's words rang true, reminding Kang of his past battles against lesser beasts. His tactics would need to change.
Grateful for the insight, Kang dismissed the system's warning and resumed his stance. Argon, watching with a hint of curiosity, immediately began his assault once more, appearing right in front of Kang in the blink of an eye.
Kang, now more cautious, watched the sword coming down toward him. He guessed it was another deceptive strike, likely to change direction at the last moment. He shifted his weight, activating his Crimson Armor to interrupt Argon's momentum, knocking him off balance and buying himself a brief opportunity.
Seizing the moment, Kang aimed to reduce Argon's blood reserves. He targeted Argon's sword arm, swinging his blade with precision toward the nearest point he could reach. His heart raced as he watched Argon's arm and sword dissolve into liquid blood, splashing into the sea beneath them.
But his victory was fleeting. In his excitement, Kang failed to notice the second sword arcing toward his head.
[-500 Blood | Remaining Blood: 3260]
'Of course, he used his ability,' Kang thought grimly as the system message appeared. Though the fight was giving him valuable experience, the cost was steep, his blood reserves dwindling with every misstep.
"That was a decent attempt," Argon said, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. "But you celebrate too early. Perhaps you don't understand how precious your blood is. Such rookie mistakes will cost you dearly if you keep repeating them."
Argon continued, his tone more serious, "Bloodfiends reduce themselves to a simpler form when they fall below a certain threshold. Take my advice—you don't want to experience that."
Kang nodded, taking the warning to heart. He briefly wondered what would happen if he depleted his blood to the point where he couldn't regenerate. Would he be reduced to a formless entity, like a slime? Or would only his mask remain?
Pushing those thoughts aside, Kang refocused on the battle. If Argon was going to use his abilities, then it was time for Kang to do the same.
'Flare, it is,' Kang decided, charging at Argon with renewed purpose. Argon raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his opponent's sudden shift in strategy, and prepared a defensive stance, curious about what Kang would try next.
"BloodAcid!" As Kang closed in, his stomach split apart, revealing a grotesque mouth that spewed a ball of crimson acid directly at Argon. Kang hoped it would destroy his opponent, at least temporarily.
But instead of panicked screams, Kang heard Argon's voice, calm and unbothered. "Are you just going to stand there?" Argon's armor absorbed the acid, leaving him unharmed.
Kang's heart sank. He hadn't anticipated Argon using his armor to counter the attack. Before he could retreat, he found himself impaled on hidden spikes he had failed to notice earlier. Though the spikes caused no real damage, they immobilized him long enough for Argon to casually decapitate him once more.
[-500 Blood | Remaining Blood: 2400]
The system message flashed again, but this time, Kang ignored it. He had a plan, though it was risky. Flare consumed a significant amount of blood—300 units in one go—but if executed correctly, it might turn the tide.
"Flare!" Kang shouted, charging at Argon again. As he neared, he thrust his free hand toward Argon's face and unleashed the ability. A brilliant light ignited from Kang's palm, temporarily blinding Argon.
The attack didn't stagger or destabilize Argon, but it was enough of a distraction. Kang pivoted to the side, swinging his sword in a wide arc aimed at Argon's neck. The strike connected, decapitating his foe.
Knowing that Bloodfiends could regenerate, Kang quickly distanced himself, expecting Argon to retaliate. But instead of immediate action, Argon's body collapsed into the sea of blood, and his voice echoed ominously.
"Congratulations... only nine more times, and you'll achieve what you desire."
Kang's heart sank. Though he had landed a successful blow, he was painfully aware of the disadvantage he faced. With less than 5 attempts remaining, the odds were stacked heavily against him.