[there! it's happening again. The fox speed have reduced, now's our chance.] Nodding, jack had already been fed through by the system about the plan. He was to act like he was on his last legs, to get the fox to let it's guard down. So he could strike a deadly blow to it's chest.
His face was covered with the blood flowing from the cut on his head. But he gritted through the pain, and nausea seeping in.
Hearing the fox speak in the foreign language, it then darted an insidious look at him. He could tell it was trying to finish him off, as it stared at it's bloody claw.
'Bam!' The fox took the bait preparing to finish him off. Dodging the first strike, he allowed to be hit by the second on his own will.
'Let's finish this.' He pinned the fox left arm, while the right claws was stuck deep in his chest. Activating decay, he made sure the fox vision was blocked by the sudden change. And with no restraint he attempted to end it. But the fox was fast dodging, thus leading to him hitting his shoulder.
'Damn!' Jack cursed seeing he'd missed. He could see the fox still standing, and even attempting to move which was weird.
'It's slow.' Jack could tell the decaying process on the fox was slow. As it took time to envelope it's whole left shoulder, and spread to it's whole body.
Usually, the humans he'd inflicted with decay usually perished fast before 5 seconds. Which made him wonder why this was any different.
[Humans are considered to have low to none resistance to magical attacks. Whereas mystical beings such as foxes, orcs and the rest are bound to have more resistance, depending on their power level.] The system explained.
'Then I guess I have to finish him off.' Jack grinned clenching his fist. He could see the fox writhing in pain on one knee. It's left arm, was completely engulfed in the black gooey substance. While some thin black lines, running across it's neck.
Shooting out jack attempted to end the fox life fast, utilizing his speed. He could tell the fox was in no condition to fight, battling with it's decaying body.
"Got fer dam!" It suddenly yelled a crazed look forming on it's face. Before Jack's eye, he watched in disbelief as the fox swiped it's right claw. Cleanly severing it's left arm completely from the socket.
'D-did it's power just increase?' Jack wasn't sure, but he could feel a new surge of power rising in the fox. Even the ground testified, as the dust beneath the fox was swirling along with some little stones.
Sensing danger jack instincts told him to retreat but he refused, going forward. 'I have to end this.'
About three meters separating the two, the fox suddenly did something strange. Swiping it's claw at jack confusing the latter a bit.
[Get out of there!] The system inwardly screamed but it was too late. The air in jack's front suddenly changed, turning more fiercer and sharper. Hitting jack directly in the chest, with five deep slash marks appearing sending him flying back.
[-7hp]
[-4 body state.]
The system notification flashed across jack's view, while he coughed up fresh blood.
'What was that?' Jack wondered, feeling his chest hurting in pain by that phenomenal hit.
[It's an air skill that manipulates the air into slash marks. This fox is more tricky than I expected.] The system spoke in an angry and disappointed tone.
'Hey! don't be too hard on yourself. You've been more than helpful.' Jack smirked earning a light mhm from his system.
[I can sense an immense surge of power rising in it. Though it's not certain, it's speed seems to be dropping drastically from it's vitals.]
"San fru menra!" The fox yelled releasing a burst of shockwave. It's eyes contradicting, staring with killing intent at jack. It shot out like a bullet, though not on the same level of speed as before but slower.
'I should have a bit of advantage since it's fighting with one arm.' Jack thought not waiting, but heading out to meet the fox. He'd hoped to have somewhat edge now as the fox was slower, and fighting with just an arm. And not to mention the fact his decay skill was slowly eating away at the fox body.
'Bam!' The two clashed at the center, both their fist sent forward. Jack's eye widened a bit, seeing his fist being push back by the fox fist.
"It's stronger." Before, jack could tell the fox was surprisingly strong like him. But now the fox strength surpassed his by a wide margin.
'It doesn't matter am faster.' Using his leg he attempted to kick the fox. The attack connected, but it wasn't the outcome he'd expected.
"Mhm." He grunted in pain feeling a bone snap in his leg. It looked like he'd kicked a solid wall instead of a fox. Leaping back a bit he tried to regroup, but the fox would let him.
Charging forward with rage and malicious intent. Stretching his palm, jack shot out a blood ball but the fox ducked seemingly prepared.
"Gar dam!" The fox sent out it's fist, cutting through the air with a swoosh sound. Crossing his arm jack blocked, but regretted it the next instant as he was sent skidding back.
[-5hp]
[-3 body state]
"Just how strong is he?" Jack frowned, feeling both his arms numb after blocking that strike. He was dumbfounded how the fox intercepted his blood ball, but he didn't have time to think as the fox was upon him.
Sidestepping he lifted the fox up, slamming him to the wall of the canteen building. With his fist he punched forward to which the fox dodged.
'Bam!' Jack's fist connected with the solid wall, creating a fist sized hole besides the fox head. Like before he suddenly felt the air change again, and he knew what was to occur.
[-7hp]
[-3 body state.]
Blood gushed out from jack's chest, with several claw marks plastered on it. Some skin on his chest falling to the floor.
'This will be a headache.' Jack gritted his teeth wiping some blood from his lips. He could see his hp and body state were now getting low, but he didn't care.
The fear of dying was replaced with anger, and adrenaline coursing through his veins. The pain from his injuries fueling his resolve, and strengthening his will more.
"All my life I've been called a loser, weakling, but no more." Jack muttered dodging the fox claw, punching it's head. He then leaped a bit kneeding the fox chest, sending it back two steps.
"I was murdered and turned into a monster!" Jack shouted grabbing the fox hand, sending several strike to the beast chest and gut. Drawing out fresh blood, which the creature coughed up from it's mouth.
"But I learnt to accept this curse and own it, to destroy beings like you." Taking a kick from the fox, it then sunk it's teeth into jack's arm. It's sharp canine teeth barring deeper into jack's flesh. The force equivalent to the force of a spiked clamp.
"Pain is only a hindrance." Jack sadistically said like a madman. Swinging his arm which the fox bit, slamming the latter to the ground. Creating a dent with several spider like crack marks, running along the floor.
The crowd were already gathered long ago, staring at the exchange of power between two powerful forces. At first the battle was one sided, as the dominating party was clear. But now things had taken a sudden shocking turn of events. As the chain of power had now shifted!
"Dumbler.." a voice muttered watching the fight. The female fox with black and white fur had a surprise and intrigued look, staring at jack. Not expecting him to put up this much of a fight at all.
Meanwhile, jack and the village chief clashed a bit away from the canteen building. Both landing deadly strikes to one another. Their bodies in bad shape, and covered with each other's blood. It looked like they would pass out any moment now, but they didn't. Defying all odds and battling for dominance.
[Hp: 40/100]
[Body state: 15/60]
"I-i have to end this soon." Jack panted, staring at the system screen. Not only was his hp and body state running low. He could tell his stamina would soon be exhausted.
His vision was blurry form the blood in his eyes, and the constant pain coursing throughout his nerves. Not to mention his body was numb and heavy to move effectively, from the wounds he'd sustained.
Looking, he could see the fox in much worse state than him. The black gooey substance was now surging more faster, enveloping the fox body.
"Nam back ucktar!" The fox screamed refusing to accept defeat, darting a cold gaze at jack. With a nod of acknowledgement jack ran to the creature. And so did the latter. Their movements slow and sluggish.
'Swoosh! swoosh!' The fox slashed it's arm at jack. The latter tried to dodge but his body was too slow to evade, and was hit by the attack.
[-7hp]
[-7hp]
[-6 body state.]
Slamming his feet to the ground to stop himself from skidding. Jack could see the fox in the air, descending on him with it's claw sent out.
"Argh!" He grunted, feeling three claw marks running along his face. Using the momentum he shoved his hand into the fox chest, as they both feel to the floor.
"You're death is just a stepping stone." Jack coldy said, activating both blood decay and decay simultaneously. The fox eyes widened not staring at a normal beast like it, but a demon.
[Congratulations host on killing a two tailed rank E fox!]
[Rewards will be distributed soon..]
The system notification flashed before his view. But he couldn't keep up as his vision slowly faded, with his eyes going shut from exhaustion.