Nightowl's roar erupted with a force so deep and primal it seemed to shake the very core of the earth, causing cracks to form under their feet as the ground trembled. His aura exploded outward, mana surging around him like a violent storm, saturating the air with raw, oppressive energy that suffocated the battlefield.
"SOUL DEVOURING PHANTASM!" Nightowl's voice echoed with a guttural snarl, as his hands shot forward. Pulsing geometric sigils flared to life on his palms, and with a blinding flash, two grotesque, blood-soaked skulls materialized. These weren't mere projectiles—they were twisted aberrations, worm-like creatures with human skulls twisted into their flesh, dripping with malevolent energy as they shrieked through the air toward Alonso.
The air around them distorted, as if reality itself recoiled at their presence. Alonso's instincts screamed danger, not to his body but his very soul. His eyes widened slightly as he calculated the oncoming threat.
"ELECTROMAGNETIC FORCE FIELD!" Alonso's hands moved with precision as he summoned his mana, forming a shimmering barrier in an instant. The phantasms collided with the forcefield with a deafening BANG—an explosion of energy that sent shockwaves through the battlefield. The blast sent Alonso hurtling through a nearby building, the force so immense that the structure crumbled around him, collapsing in a cloud of dust and debris.
Wincing, Alonso staggered to his feet,as chunks of debris bounce off his force field. His eyes immediately caught sight of the hairline fracture snaking across his force field, a warning that even his best defense wouldn't last long against these cursed creatures. The red phantasms screeched, their monstrous forms twisting in mid-air before charging once again with even greater ferocity.
The phantasms surged toward Alonso with terrifying speed, their shrill cries echoing through the air as they collided with his forcefield. CRASH! The force of their impact was immense, like two battering rams slamming into fragile glass. Alonso's energy shield shattered instantly, exploding into shimmering shards that dissolved into the wind, unable to withstand the sheer power of the attack.
The blast sent a violent shockwave through the air, knocking Alonso off his feet. He was thrown backward with such force that he crashed into a nearby stone wall, the collision sending a deep tremor through the ground. The stone cracked under the pressure, and the impact rattled Alonso's entire body, pain radiating from his back and shoulders as he slumped to the ground.
For a split second, his vision blurred, the world spinning in a haze of dust and debris. His lungs burned with each dusty breath, and pain coursed through his limbs. Through the ringing in his ears, he could just make out the blood-red phantasms circling, looming closer to strike again.
Alonso tried to move, but they were too fast, too relentless. Just before they reached him, they shifted—phasing straight through his physical form. His muscles instinctively tensed, bracing for impact, expecting searing pain to rip through his body. Yet, to his confusion, there was no physical damage. His skin remained unscathed, his bones unbroken.
But then came something far worse.
A cold, primal terror gripped his core as the phantasms latched onto his very soul. It wasn't his body they were after; it was his essence, his life force. An invisible, crushing weight settled inside him, as though something intangible was tearing away at his spirit. His entire being trembled as the phantasms fed on his soul, draining his energy. It felt as if a part of him was being consumed, pulled into the darkness they carried with them.
His eyes narrowed in sudden realization. "They don't care about my body... they're after my soul," he muttered, his mind racing. He clenched his fists, summoning his mana, searching for a way to counter this intangible assault.
Alonso's mind raced as he recalled a crucial detail from their previous encounter. His electromagnetic force field had been able to interact with the phantasms, meaning they weren't entirely intangible against its energy. He reasoned that magic might be the key to truly harming them, even knowing that, they would still be challenging to defeat.
With a subtle flick of his wrist, Nightowl summoned the phantasms back to him. They soared through the air, ghostly and swift, merging seamlessly into his body. As they fused with him, Alonso felt a familiar pull—the sensation of his soul being drained. A wicked grin spread across Nightowl's face, his eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure.
"Ohhhh, yeah, that's hit the spot!" Nightowl moaned, reveling in the stolen energy. His power surged, palpable and oppressive, flooding the room with blood red mana.
Without warning, two phantasms burst from his body, their spectral forms now larger and more intimidating. Their serpentine, worm-like bodies stretched out, while their skull-like heads, now the size of basketballs, gleamed with a menacing glow. They hovered in the air, ominously circling, waiting for orders. Nightowl, drunk on his newfound strength, grinned with wild ecstasy, his eyes glinting with unrestrained power."That's what I'm talking about!" he shouted, his voice ringing with twisted satisfaction, as the phantasms circled him like predators ready to strike.
Alonso locked eyes with Nightowl, his voice low but unwavering. "So that's what they do."
Nightowl's grin stretched wider, dripping with arrogance and dark delight. His fangs gleamed under the moonlight as he sneered, "Ahh, aren't you the clever one?" His tone oozed condescension. "That's right—these little beauties feast on the soul itself. The bigger the soul, the longer they get to dine."
Alonso's jaw clenched, his silence betraying the rapid calculation in his mind. Ten percent of his strength gone in mere moments. If he didn't find a way to counter this, it wouldn't be his body that crumbled—it would be his very essence, piece by piece.
Nightowl's mocking voice sliced through the tension. "I must say, I'm impressed. Most don't survive the first taste. Their souls shatter like glass. But yours…" He cocked his head, eyes gleaming with predatory hunger. "Yours is a banquet worthy of a king."
Alonso's eyes narrowed, his voice a blade of defiance. "Don't think you'll get a second chance."
Nightowl threw his head back, a roar of laughter rolling out like thunder. "Second chance? Boy, you've already lost!" His tone was dripping with superiority as he leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a sinister whisper. "My phantasms gnaw at your soul, weakening you with every second. You'll fight, you'll struggle, and in the end..." His eyes gleamed with cruel pleasure. "In the end, you'll beg for death as I consume the last of what you are."
Alonso remained eerily calm, a flicker of sharp curiosity lighting his gaze. "Hmm," he mused, his voice cold and calculated. "Just who are you? Only vampire royalty can devour souls like this."
For a split second, Nightowl's smile faltered, his eyes narrowing into icy slits. "You don't get to ask me questions," he hissed, his pride flaring with venom. "You refused my invitation... and now? Now you're nothing but a meal waiting to be served."
Before Alonso could respond, two red phantasms shrieked and surged toward him with unnatural speed. Their grotesque forms twisted violently as they tore through the air, hungry for more of his soul. Alonso's eyes flashed with focus, his body reacting on instinct. In an instant, he activated a burst of mana, vanishing from their path in a blur of movement he appeared right in front of Nightowl using minor teleportation.
But Nightowl anticipated the move, sidestepping with a subtle yet fluid motion. He leaned slightly to the left, effortlessly dodging Alonso's strike. In the blink of an eye, he countered, using his right index finger to stab into Alonso's right shoulder.
Alonso gasped as a foreign power invaded his body, an unbearable heat radiating through him. It was as if flames had ignited beneath his skin. He fell to the ground, shaking in pain, the force of Nightowl's attack leaving him reeling.
Nightowl smiled, relishing his perceived victory. "Ha ha, hurts, doesn't it? I've injected my blood into your body. Vampire blood is extremely poisonous; most die instantly. I'm surprised you're still alive."
His grin widened, revealing gleaming fangs. "But it's fortuitous you haven't succumbed yet. This way, I can claim your soul for myself, making me stronger. I can tell you possess a powerful essence."
With a wave of his right hand, the two blood-red phantasms circled back around him, swirling ominously like predatory spirits poised to strike. Nightowl's confidence surged as the phantasms shot toward Alonso, hungry to devour his soul and end his life. He believed his victory was assured.
Yet, just as the phantasms were about to engulf him, an icy blast erupted from Alonso's body, sending shockwaves of frigid energy rippling through the air. The temperature plummeted, and Nightowl was caught off guard, leaping back just in time. But the frost had already begun its work, encasing his legs in a thick layer of ice, rendering him momentarily immobile. If he hadn't reacted swiftly, his entire body would have succumbed to the chilling embrace.
Alonso's transformation was striking. His hair and eyes turned a radiant snow white, radiating an aura of chilling power. The atmosphere of the members' district dropped to a biting -15 degrees, the ground beneath him crystallizing into a breathtaking expanse of ice. He stood tall and imposing, the embodiment of winter itself, exuding a regal presence that filled the air with an undeniable chill.
Nightowl's shock was palpable; he had never encountered a technique as devastating as this. The sheer intensity of the cold overwhelmed him, gnawing at his resolve.
Alonso rose to his full height, his pure white eyes fixed on Nightowl, a confident smile gracing his lips. "I told you I outclass you in every way."
In his arms, he held the two phantasms, now frozen solid and devoid of life. Their once menacing forms lay lifeless, encased in a prison of ice, a testament to Alonso's newfound power and unyielding determination.
Nightowl stared in disbelief, his mind racing. It should be impossible to freeze the phantasms—they're pure magic! Doubt began to creep into his thoughts as he contemplated the true nature of Alonso's abilities. Who is this boy, and how does he wield such power?
Determined to regain control, Nightowl boiled his blood, melting the ice that had ensnared his legs. He felt the heat surge through him, a reminder of the danger he faced. This fight was no longer a mere game; he would take it seriously from here on out.
In a swift motion, Alonso's right hand transformed into a sleek, cannon-like structure. With a loud whoosh, he fired a mini rocket from his palm, the projectile locking onto Nightowl with relentless precision.
Nightowl, realizing the threat, took to the skies, darting away with impressive agility. But the rocket followed him, an unyielding predator. Panic surged through him, and he spat a small amount of blood from his mouth. The blood coalesced into a sharp, needle-like projectile, hurtling through the air like a bullet. It pierced the mini rocket, causing a violent explosion that painted the sky with icy shrapnel, startling Nightowl with its ferocity.
Unfazed, Alonso unleashed five more mini ice rockets, each one soaring toward Nightowl like a swarm of predatory birds. Nightowl maneuvered through the air, swaying left and right, up and down, desperately trying to evade the relentless projectiles. But they followed him with uncanny accuracy, a relentless force that he struggled to shake.
Frustration boiled over, and Nightowl spat a larger quantity of blood. It flowed from his mouth in a stream, forming a perfect circular shield around his body, an aura of crimson defiance.
BANG! The mini rockets collided with the shield, resulting in a thunderous explosion that sent shockwaves rippling through the air. As the cold mist cleared, Nightowl found himself encased in a round ice ball, but he quickly shattered the icy prison, revealing his body encircled by a protective barrier of his own blood, shimmering ominously.
Alonso gazed upward, his focus unyielding. Drawing upon his mastery of gravity magic, he began to float in the air, channeling mana throughout his body. His cells worked overtime, producing mana at an alarming rate. If it weren't for his cybernetic enhancements, his body would have been torn apart by the overwhelming surge.
A chilling aura radiated from Alonso, so frigid that the very sky above began to change. Dark clouds rolled in, heavy and foreboding, while a thick, cold mist enveloped the area. Suddenly, an intense blast of cold energy shot up from Alonso's form, reaching the clouds and triggering a cataclysmic snowstorm that blanketed the entire slave city.
The air grew thick with swirling snowflakes, and the temperature plummeted, heralding Alonso's impending wrath. He had transformed the battlefield into a winter wonderland, but this was no ordinary storm; it was the prelude to his ultimate strike.
Alonso's Cryokinesis, rooted in the principles of science, had always been formidable. Yet, when he intertwined it with magic, the results astonished even him. A surge of power radiated from him, far exceeding his expectations, and the snowstorm intensified as if responding to his will.
Nightowl, momentarily taken aback, gazed at the swirling tempest of snowflakes and ice. "Impossible! Is this boy a demon lord? Such power…" His eyes darted around, noticing that the storm was confined solely to the slave city. Relief washed over him as he thought, If he were truly a demon lord, the entire forest would be blanketed in snow. So, he isn't—yet where did he acquire such an ability? This is clearly not a mere blessing, and magic shouldn't manipulate the weather like this.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Nightowl's expression hardened. If I want to survive this, I have no choice. I must use my ace in the hole. It will cost me a hundred years of my life, but there's no other option.
With grim determination, Nightowl raised his hands to the heavens and shouted, "BLOODY INFUSION!" Blood-red geometric symbols appeared atop both of his palms, glowing ominously. Suddenly, a surge of energy erupted, and 10,000 blood phantasms materialized around him, swirling like a tempest of malevolence. Each phantasm bore a skull for a head and a long, serpentine body, resembling grotesque worms. They revolved around Nightowl, forming a formidable barrier, ready to unleash their power.
Alonso soared upward, now facing Nightowl eye to eye, the storm howling around them. With his voice steady and commanding, he declared, "It seems it's time to end this fight."
Nightowl met his gaze, his confidence wavering but resolved. "Yes, it is time."