Creed and Dagga stood side by side, facing Jorim with cold expressions. The oppressive aura radiating from the fiend demon's figure made the air heavy.
Clearly, he was extremely powerful and ready for a battle.
Jorim loomed tall and menacing, his fiery horse companion pawing at the ground with its spectral hooves, ready to charge at any moment.
Its burning red eyes locked onto Creed and Dagga, radiating primal malice. The sheer force of its aura was suffocating, a presence nearly equal to its master.
The tension crackled like a drawn bowstring.
Dagga broke the silence, his voice low but firm. "Stay sharp. Jorim's a peak Ashborn, which means he's at the highest level of the first demon stage."
He pointed a clawed finger at the horse beside Jorim. "That thing is a summoned wraith. It's at the first stage of wraith power—the Spectre stage, but it's at its peak.
He's got three other summons, but the horse is the deadliest. It can charge in a straight line faster than you can blink, and when it does, a horn forms to skewer its target.
If you see flames, be ready—it's forming its armour."
Creed absorbed the information, his sharp mind already formulating strategies. "And Jorim himself?"
"Strength specialist," Dagga replied. "Uses a dagger, but don't underestimate him. He'll overpower you in a straight fight. His wraith summons will flank and distract. If we split our focus, he'll overwhelm us. Stick to speed, and don't let him corner you."
Creed nodded, his face calm, though inside, adrenaline surged. His Nyxara Bloodline thrummed in his veins, the shadows around him reacting to his will.
Jorim didn't waste time. He raised his hand, and the flames around him twisted unnaturally.
With a guttural growl, he unleashed his aura, a wave of pure malevolence that crashed over Creed and Dagga like a tidal wave.
The horse reared up, releasing an ear-splitting screech as its flames intensified.
And then they moved.
Swoosh!
Jorim dashed forward with blinding speed, his dagger slashing through the air with lethal precision.
Dagga met him head-on, his elongated claws clashing against the blade.
Clang!
The force of Jorim's strike sent Dagga skidding back, but he recovered instantly, his claws slashing in rapid succession.
Creed hung back for a moment, studying the battle. His new bloodline-enhanced speed allowed him to move with unparalleled agility, but he needed the right moment to strike.
Boom!
The horse didn't give him time to think. It charged forward like a streak, the ground trembling under its hooves. A spectral horn erupted from its forehead, aimed directly at Creed.
'Too fast!'
Instinct took over. Creed condensed the shadows around him, thickening them into a wall. Although this was his first time doing it, he was able to get it done somehow.
The horse slammed into it and it appeared to have entered a swamp, it slowed just enough for Creed to dodge to the side. Its horn grazed his shoulder, leaving a burning cut.
Creed retaliated immediately, forming spikes from the condensed shadows and hurling them at the beast.
Again, this was his first time. But through his creative thinking, he was able to come up with new ways to use this new Bloodline on the spot.
The horse whinnied in pain as a few found their mark, but its flame armour absorbed most of the impact.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Dagga and Jorim's battle raged on, becoming deadlier and more brutal by the second.
Dagga pressed Jorim with a flurry of claw strikes, his movements swift and precise. Jorim countered with brutal efficiency, each dagger swing carrying enough force to cleave through boulders.
As their weapons clashed, shadows and flames writhed around them, the battlefield becoming a chaotic storm of dark energy.
Though Dagga's martial arts were impressive, it was clear Jorim held the upper hand in raw strength. He was also a chosen, so his might was not to be underestimated.
Seeing this, Creed darted in, aiming to flank Jorim. But the WraithMaster was prepared.
With a flick of his hand, he summoned another wraith—a flaming monkey that materialised with a screech, its eyes glowing with malice.
The monkey hurled fireballs in rapid succession, forcing Creed and Dagga to split apart as they dodged frantically.
Creed's mind raced as he dodged the flaming projectiles. He was going through multiple solutions in his mind to defeat Jorim before the Blades caught up.
Suddenly, one fireball exploded near his feet and the force threw him off balance.
"Annoying little—" Creed growled.
As he rolled to his feet, he felt Jorim closing in. The dagger in his hand glinted in the dim light, arcing toward him in a lethal slash.
Creed's heart pounded. 'Think!'
Time seemed to slow. Creed's instincts screamed at him, and his bloodline responded.
The shadows around him seemed to pulse in response, enveloping him in their embrace. Desperation turned into instinct, and suddenly, Creed disappeared into the darkness.
When Jorim's blade reached him, Creed wasn't there anymore!
Jorim turned, his eyes narrowing. "Hmph. Such an annoying ability."
Creed didn't respond. He was already moving, using his newfound ability to teleport between shadows.
He appeared beside the flaming monkey and struck, his speed making him a blur. The monkey used it's exceptional agility to evade the attack.
It screeched in panic and hurriedly put distance between them. Jorim's pounding heart calmed down slightly as he saw that his monkey managed to escape unscathed.
Dagga capitalised on the distraction, lunging at Jorim with his claws sheathed in shadow.
The WraithMaster turned to block, but Creed reappeared behind him, driving his sword toward his back.
Bang!
Jorim twisted, evading the sword attack at the last second and escaping the encirclement smoothly.
From this maneouvre, one can see that his fighting experience was definitely top notch.
Boom!
The monkey hurled a massive fireball, its size dwarfing the previous ones. Creed and Dagga split, the attack detonating between them in a fiery explosion.
Creed shadow-stepped out of the blast radius, reappearing directly behind the monkey.
He drove his blade into its chest, but the creature twisted in mid-air, slashing at him with flaming claws.
Creed teleported away just in time, the monkey's counterstrike missing by inches.
The horse charged again, this time targeting Dagga. Its horn, now aflame, streaked toward him with deadly intent. It's speed was terrifying!
Dagga leapt aside, his shadows slowing the beast's momentum. He slashed at its flank with all his might, drawing a line of blackened blood.
Creed focused on the monkey. Its fireballs came faster now, each one more erratic than the last.
Creed shadow-stepped to its blind spot, striking with his blade. The blade pierced the monkey's chest, and with a final screech, it dissolved into ash.
Jorim roared in fury, his aura surging. "You'll pay for that!"
The loss of his summon only seemed to fuel Jorim's rage. He attacked with renewed ferocity, his dagger strikes heavy and relentless.
Dagga struggled to hold him off, his claws meeting the blade in a flurry of sparks.
Creed darted in and out of the shadows, his movements a blur. He slowed Jorim's strikes with congealed shadows, opening brief windows for Dagga to counterattack.
The horse, though wounded, remained a constant threat. It charged again, flames surging around its body.
Creed shadow-stepped in front of Dagga, conjuring a thick shadow wall. The beast slammed into it and instantly slowed, the duo escaped it's path easily.
Dagga grinned, catching his breath. "Nice save."
Creed nodded, his face calm. "Stay focused."
The three combatants squared off again. The battlefield was scarred, shadows and flames mingling in a chaotic dance.
Jorim sneered, blood dripping from a cut on his arm. "You think this is enough to stop me?"
Creed's golden eyes gleamed, his voice steady. "No. But it's a start."
[WebNovel Rising Star II Entry] ALL SUPPORT is appreciated.
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