~ Baby's Pov ~
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The second lunge came faster than the first, and I barely had time to react. Its claws grazed my side as I twisted, the sharp sting of pain flaring instantly.
"Damn it!" I hissed, staggering back as the creature pressed the attack.
It wasn't giving me any room to breathe, every strike coming harder and faster than the last. I ducked under its claws, then jumped back as its tail whipped toward me like a spear. The air itself felt heavy, charged with the intensity of its movements.
This thing is insane!
I gritted my teeth, focusing ki into my palms as I tried to counter its relentless onslaught. When it lunged again, I sidestepped and thrust my glowing hand into its side. The ki blast erupted on contact, sending the creature skidding a few meters across the blood-soaked clearing.
But when the smoke cleared, it was already back on its feet.
It snarled, its fiery orange eyes narrowing as it sized me up. Its sleek frame showed no sign of slowing down, no hesitation, just raw, unyielding focus.
I wiped blood from the corner of my mouth, my breathing heavy. "Alright, Melian, you want to play rough? Let's play rough."
Gathering energy, I charged forward, the ground cracking beneath me as I closed the gap in an instant. This time, I didn't hold back. My fist collided with its armored chest, the impact echoing like thunder.
The creature stumbled, but its recovery was immediate. It retaliated with a backhanded claw strike, and I barely managed to block, the sheer force sending shockwaves through my arms.
We exchanged blows in a blur of movement, each strike shaking the ground beneath us. My enhanced reflexes kept me in the fight, but I could feel the strain building in my body. Melian wasn't just strong—it was precise, its movements fluid and deliberate.
I jumped back, creating distance, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath.
This isn't going to be enough. I need more power.
Melian's lips curled into a snarl, as if sensing my hesitation. It crouched low, the air around it shifting as its muscles tensed.
It's about to come at me again.
My mind raced. I couldn't keep trading blows with it—my body wouldn't last. I had to find an opening, a way to turn the tide in my favor.
As it charged again, faster than ever, I made my move. Channeling every ounce of energy I had left, I launched myself upward, flipping over the creature as its claws swiped through empty air.
"Gotcha!" I twisted mid-air, unleashing a focused ki blast straight at its back.
Vwosh!
The explosion sent it sprawling, its massive frame skidding across the clearing. This time, it didn't bounce back immediately.
I landed, my knees buckling slightly from the effort. My vision blurred for a moment, but I forced myself to stay upright...
The creature stirred, growling as it rose slowly to its feet. Its orange eyes looked as if they were burning brighter now, filled with fury. Looks like I only pissed it off more. But...
It's still standing? That damned armour it had was nothing but a hinderance.
"Tch! Guess we're just getting started then?" I said, wiping the sweat from my brow.
Melian let out a deafening roar, and I felt the ground tremble beneath me. The real fight looks like it was just beginning...
And I haven't even done any real meaningful damage to it... Blunt attacks don't work much... I need something sharper, or something to pierce through that damned chitin it had.
But what? I would run out of energy before I could actually put a dent in it...
And that's when it hit me...
"This fight is now as good as over you swift monster." I concentrated, hoping this would even work. Instead of blasting the damned thing. I could focus all that energy in my fingers...
Fwish!...
Vooom~
My energy surged to my fingertips, condensing into glowing, razor-sharp extensions. Mock claws, shimmering with a faint blue hue, I don't know why, but it was oozing raw power. I flexed my fingers, feeling the concentrated ki vibrating wildly.
This'll definitely do the trick.
A grin spread across my face as I stared down at Melian. "Alright, you swift bastard," I said, my voice low and steady. "Let's see how you handle this." Using my experiences I had gained from the creature's memories I siphoned, I got into a low stance, my right hand forwards...
Melian's molten orange eyes narrowed, and it crouched low, its muscles rippling as it prepared to charge again. The ground trembled beneath its weight, the blood-soaked clearing eerily silent save for the faint crackle of my ki claws.
"Damn..." I steadied my breathing, lowering my stance. Every fiber of my being screamed was screaming with fatigue...
With a deafening roar, Melian lunged, its speed almost impossible to track.
Swish!!!!
I sidestepped at the last possible second, twisting my body to avoid its claws. As it shot past me, I lashed out with my ki claws, aiming for its exposed flank.
The impact was immediate. My claws easily sliced through its sleek musculature, carving deep, glowing gashes into its side. Melian howled in pain, skidding to a halt as dark, viscous blood sprayed from the wound.
"Not so tough now, huh?" I taunted, raising my glowing claws...
But the Melian wasn't done. It turned to face me, its fiery eyes blazing with fury. The wounds I'd inflicted were deep, sure. But definitely not debilitating. If anything, they only seemed to enrage it further.
It roared again, much louder this time, and charged me once more.
I met its attack head-on. My ki claws flashed in the dim light, slashing and parrying against its wild and relentless strikes. Each time our blows connected, shockwaves rippled through the clearing, tearing up the ground and shaking the trees.
Melian's speed was still a problem—its fluid movements made it nearly impossible to land a clean hit. But now, I had just the slightest of means to fight back. My claws were sharp enough to pierce its chitinous armor, and I focused all my energy on exploiting any opening I could find.
It swiped at me with its massive claws, and I ducked, retaliating with a quick upward slash that caught its arm. The beast roared in pain, staggering back as more of its dark blood splattered across the clearing...
I pressed the advantage, launching forward with a flurry of strikes. My claws tore into its chest, its shoulders, its legs—anywhere I could reach.
But the effort was taking its toll. My breaths came in ragged gasps, and the strain of maintaining the ki claws was beginning to wear me down, and fast too. I needed to finish this, and soon.
The Melian snarled, its movements slowing as the accumulated damage began to take effect. Its once-fluid attacks were starting to grow sluggish, its steps less precise.
"Almost there," I muttered, clenching my fists as the ki claws flared brighter. "Just a little more..."
I charged one last time, pouring everything I had into the attack. Melian lunged to meet me, its claws outstretched in a final, albeit desperate strike.
Time seemed to slow as we collided, my ki claws plunging deep into its chest. The force of the impact sent us both crashing to the ground, the beast letting out one last guttural roar before falling silent.
I staggered to my feet, my vision swimming as I looked down at the motionless body...
"Finally," I muttered, a tired grin spreading across my face. "That... was one hell of a fight."
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Thud~
My legs are dead tired from fighting that thing... That week of practicing my ki helped me in that fight... If I didn't have it, I wouldn't have stood even a slither of a chance to win, talk about luc-
No... I need to give myself some credit for actually training my ass off...
"Alright..." I stood up, still a bit fatigued. I looked over at it's corpse, "Time to body hop again..." I activated my ability, launching myself in it's body...
BOOM!!!
My ki's flaring out like lightning! That hasn't happened before. Not to mention my power now... It's ridiculous... It grew so much stronger.
'Status!'
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Name: Michael Murphey | Baby
Race: Bio Android parasite / Tuffle
Host: Melian
Height: 115.41 cm ⇛ 425.2 cm
Power Level: 1,263.2 ⇛ 7,534.5
Potential: 18.9 ⇛ 29.2
Latent Potential: 20.1 ⇛ 33.5
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Yeah, that boost is insane... Is it because we were close in power? The jumps were never this high. Regardless, I feel nearly unbeatable! Like I could wipe out the planet... Well, I could already do that.
Now, I'm definitely going to go after those other beasts, and I know just where to find the next one.
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END