"Huh! Let's call it Blood Art," Damon muttered softly to himself.
In that instant, a wave of clarity washed over him. His body felt lighter, and he sensed a faint, almost imperceptible connection to something greater. He was certain that if he had a system, a notification would have chimed, heralding the creation of a new skill.
A flood of information surged into his mind, though it was fragmented and incomplete. He knew he would refine it later, but for now, he grasped the essence of how to use it. Like the skills described in novels, it had levels—stages of progression that would grow stronger with time and mastery.
As time, which had seemed to slow, resumed its normal flow, the berserk Blood Orc lunged at him once more, fist aimed directly at Damon's head.
Faced with a situation that would have frozen most people in fear, Damon did the opposite—he smiled.
Baring his gleaming white teeth and sharp fangs, he spoke with calm confidence:
"Blood Art, 1st Level: Body Strengthening!"
The moment Damon activated his newly crafted skill, he felt his blood surge like a roaring beast awakening within him. Power flooded his veins, his blood essence rapidly depleting but replenishing just as quickly thanks to his extraordinary regenerative ability.
Not wanting to waste this temporary boost, he focused the energy on specific parts of his body. First, he channeled it into his legs. The skin beneath his pants turned a deep red, his muscles tightening and hardening. Unseen by him, intricate mystical tattoos began to form on his legs—beautiful and enigmatic, radiating an otherworldly aura. Damon felt an overwhelming sense of speed, though he only shifted slightly backward to delay the impending clash. Next, he concentrated the energy into his arms. Like his legs, his arms were soon adorned with the same mysterious tattoos, their appearance startling him but leaving no time for admiration. Clenching his fists, he felt invincible, though he knew it was partly the adrenaline talking. Still, his already formidable body had become even more powerful under the effects of his Body Strengthening skill.
Despite being consumed by berserk rage, the Blood Orc's instincts screamed that something was wrong. Though he had lost his reasoning, he remained confident in his ability to crush the young demon. Ignoring his instincts, he pressed on with his attack. Seeing this, Damon grinned—a fierce, predatory smile.
"It couldn't be otherwise," he muttered.
With his right arm, now covered in glowing mystical tattoos, Damon punched forward.
Crack! Boom!
The air around his fist cracked, and in an instant, his fist collided with the Blood Orc's. One fist was fueled by the raw, chaotic energy of a berserk monster, while the other was empowered by Damon's newly created skill.
The impact was cataclysmic. Space itself distorted around them, and the sheer force of their clash split the lake beneath them like Moses parting the Red Sea. Water surged away, leaving a temporary void where the two stood.
For a moment, time seemed to freeze as the two locked eyes in silence. Then, reality snapped back into motion. The recoil of their clash sent both combatants flying. The Blood Orc's arm ruptured, his bones likely shattered, while Damon was flung backward but remained unharmed. He skidded across the water's surface before coming to a stop, floating effortlessly as if by magic.
Meanwhile, the berserk Blood Orc struggled to comprehend what had just happened. Even in his frenzied state, he couldn't fathom how he had lost the exchange while under the effects of his trump card. It was utterly incomprehensible.
Despite the confusion, the Blood Orc refused to accept defeat. With a savage grin plastered across his bloodied face—his teeth stained red from the blood he had nearly vomited in their last exchange—he charged at Damon once more, driven by sheer determination.
Damon, however, mirrored the grin. Activating the Blood Art 1st Level: Body Strengthening on his legs, he felt a surge of speed as he shot forward like a hurricane. In an instant, he closed the distance between them. Executing a flawless 360° spin kick, he caught the berserk Blood Orc off guard. Though the orc managed to raise his arms to protect his head, the force of the kick sent his body spiraling through the air, crashing far away.
Damon didn't let up. With his legs still strengthened, he tapped his feet violently against the water's surface, sending ripples cascading outward before he launched himself skyward. For a moment, he felt free, weightless, like a bird soaring through the air. Shaking off the exhilaration, he focused his golden eyes—now tinged with a faint red hue—on the Blood Orc's falling form. With pinpoint precision, he shot toward the orc's landing spot, delivering a devastating piledriver kick.
Bam! Kaboom!
The impact was brutal. The force of the kick nearly bent the orc's body into a V-shape as he slammed into the ground, creating a massive crater.
''Gaaahhh!"
The monster let out a guttural scream, his ribs cracking under the pressure. Blood erupted from his mouth like a geyser, painting the ground crimson.
Damon didn't give him a moment to recover. Grabbing the dazed orc by the legs, he spun twice before hurling the massive body toward a towering tree.
BAM! Crack!
The tree splintered and broke under the force of the impact. The Blood Orc vomited another mouthful of blood, his injuries piling up faster than his regenerative ability could heal them. He was reaching his limit.
Like a grim reaper, Damon appeared beside the fallen orc. Strengthening his arms once more, he unleashed a relentless flurry of punches.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
The punches came so fast and furious that Damon lost count. Each blow landed with bone-crushing force, leaving the orc's body battered and broken. The final punch was aimed directly at the heart.
Bam! Crack!
The enhanced punch struck with such force that the impact ruptured the orc's heart, delivering instant death. The berserk Blood Orc crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
As the monster's body fell, Damon also dropped to his knees, exhaustion washing over him. Steam rose from his overworked muscles as he panted heavily, his body trembling from the strain.
"Hah… Hah… Nice ability," he muttered between breaths, "but the recoil is no joke. I need to get used to this as soon as possible."
Determined, Damon vowed to master his newfound skill and eliminate its side effects. For now, though, he allowed himself a moment to recover, his golden-red eyes glinting with resolve.