REBIRTH: CHILDHOOD FRIEND OF THE HEROINEC61- Abandon?
So the report stated that a bunch of wolves were advancing towards the Steelhound territory. And Alex knew the reason behind their aggression.
'They are coming here to kill me…' Alex was not unaware of the memory share feature of these mutts. They can send the visuals before their death to their brothers and mates.
Naturally, since it was Alex who killed that wolf back in the labyrinth it explains why they are coming here.
They can smell the death of their comrade on Alex. Crazy beings.
Alex explained the whole situation to the lady so that she could understand that it wasn't her who was getting targeted. However, what concerned Alex was the fact that someone tried to sabotage the message from reaching the Steelhound.
Someone was either plotting against Alex or the Steelhounds. That's why they didn't want them to know about the incoming horde.
"Lady Veronica, I think I should get going," Alex said, startling the lady.
David frowned as he understood why the boy suggested that, he asked, "Are you planning to face them all by yourself? I must warn you that wolves aren't mindless creatures like Minotaurs."
Alex nodded, "I am aware, David, after all, I nearly lost my life while fighting one."
Taking a pause, he told them, "Naturally I won't be fighting them all alone since it would be foolish. I would lure them to the Capital where the strongest warriors must be present. They will take care of them and I will return after a week?"
Alex suggested the safest and most efficient way of dealing with the danger. However,
"That holds a lot of risk. First, they are a lot in numbers. As such, they can easily surround you. Second, the capital is about three days away from here on foot. Third, bringing so many beasts to the Capital can endanger the Majesty's life—and can make you a criminal. Fourth-"
"Okay, I get it." David stopped and Alex accepted that his plan might not be too great.
"Why don't we fight them here?" Amanda, who suddenly made an appearance, asked.
David went to support his sister and helped her sit down.
The lady of the house crossed her arms, and nodded, "That would be the safest option given we can prepare for the incoming lot."
Alex frowned, "Not only is Patriarch away, but even Sir Eric is not around…would it be wise to take this step?"
Veronica heaved a weary sigh, "It's risky but I cannot abandon the child who came here by trusting us."
This statement alone made Veronica a hundred times better parent than Alex's original ones.
Turning her eyes toward the chief of security, she asked, "Shepherd, is there any plan you have?"
The said soldier nodded, "I have, my lady, but the strategy might harm your senses as well."
Veronica frowned, "Go on."
The dark-skinned man added, "The wolfkin often relies solely on their nose to sniff their prey. Not only their distinctive scent but they can smell fear as well. So we can use woodrot scent to distract them."
Amanda cringed; she didn't like that scent at all, and Veronica shared the sentiment.
However, since it was a good plan, she had no other option, "Okay, that works. But don't spread it unless I tell you. Being too early would notify them and they might change strategy."
"As you command, my lady."
Soon the soldiers marched out of the room, leaving a few people behind.
"David, Amanda, I would suggest you two to leave-" Veronica began but was interrupted,
"We are staying…well, I am, since if Alex dies-"
"Then Edric will be sad. I have heard this before." Alex finished what she intended to say.
And naturally, if his sister is staying David is going to stay as well.
Veronica smiled, "You got good friends, Alex." The latter just shrugged, "Well, you can say that."
Now that it was settled that everyone was staying, Veronica said, "Since the danger is high, our preparation should match the danger level as well, right?"
Suddenly the lady pressed her hand against the wall beside her, and a red runic symbol glowed.
Everyone watched in astonishment as the wall shifted and another room, twice the bigger in size of the one in which they stood, appeared. However, not much space was allowed for a person to walk in since most of the space was covered with weapons and artifacts.
Alex's eyes shone, and his lips parted as his feet made their way into the treasure cave.
He was greeted by the heavens.
—-------**---------
Edric was frustrated, "How long?" He asked, to which the other soldiers who were repairing the carriage wheel snarled,
"If you are in such a rush, why don't you repair it by yourself?"
Edric gulped nervously and apologized, "Please continue; I won't disturb you anymore."
Aborne, who wasn't standing much far away, approached the young man and told him, "Impatience is a disease for a knight. Get rid of it."
Edric heaved a sigh, "I am sorry, sir, I won't pester them anymore." Edric gave a brief nod before he looked away into the distant forest. The forest is about a hundred miles long before the territory of the Steelhound begins.
If his calculations were right, then the wolves would reach Chainedvale any minute now, and without proper arrangement, the whole town might get demolished.
Aborne assured him, "Alex is a strong and intelligent warrior. He will survive, trust me."
"I know, sir…but the beings we are talking about here are one of the strongest creatures in existence, and no training or tournaments could prepare a mere student for the danger Alex is about to face."
Forget about anyone else; even Edric—the rumoured strongest student of the Soulforge Academy—would fail to deal with more than two wolfkins at once.
And Alex was in the territory of the unknown. What if after realising the reason behind this ambush, the people of the Steelhound abandon him? No one knows what kind of people they are. And Alex has a great record when it comes to people abandoning him.
'Haah…why do you keep getting into trouble?'
—--------**----------
A/N:- Damn…the side effect of being near to the Protagonist.
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REBIRTH: CHILDHOOD FRIEND OF THE HEROINEC62- Fangs and Steel(1)
"You look rather happy for someone who is possibly going to die?" Near the entrance of the mansion stood two figures, and the question was asked to the boy who was wiping his sword.
Alex paused and looked up at the green-haired girl before asking, "You don't hold back, do you?"
Amanda crossed her arms before asking in a matter-of-fact tone, "Isn't it obvious? We are mere obstacles in their path. Their destination is you. Surely the most danger falls on you."
Amanda doesn't know what was there to hide.
Alex exhaled an audible breath and continued to remove the dust from the katana he took from the arsenal.
"I am happy because I wasn't restricted from taking any weapon, and I had to pay nothing for it," Alex confessed. Although not many, he took around ten weapons and artifacts from the inventory.
Since the Steelhound is filthy rich and Rebecca has a hobby of collecting sharp tools, she has filled several rooms with weapons of every size.
Amanda sat down on the other end of the stairs and suggested, "If you love weapons so much, why don't you ask Celestria to get you a whole forge? I mean, as a Princess she can afford that much easily."
Alex side-eyed her before asking, "Have you taken me as a leech?"
"Not leech but from what I have heard from Edric, it's easy to negotiate with you if the person brings something of your interest."
Alex scoffed, "Your boyfriend has a bad habit of spreading rumors."
As he said, Alex sheathed the black katana in the classic black scabbard and asked her, "Have you written a letter to Edric recently?"
Amanda looked dazed as she shook her head, "Things were a little busy, and considering Edric must have started his internship, I decided not to disturb him."
"Writing a letter can cause disturbance?" Alex asked; unsure how that works.
Amanda looked at him with a small smile, "I know myself—the less I talk in person, on a letter I would become a chatterbox and might as well write something that would make him concerned. As such, I refrained."
Alex was unaware but yes, if she writes something to share her sentiments, then surely it could distract Edric.
'Sarah was different...' Remembering how that girl called any time, even while he was on a mission, he couldn't help but smile. She didn't like to talk much, but rather, she preferred to listen to him.
They usually liked to hear each other's daily life things—buying coffee, train station announcements, Alex cursing at his targets followed by the sound of his blade slicing their heads...they used to share the trivial moments.
Sarah was unlike any other romantic partner he had. She was different.
"Why do I sense I somehow reminded you of someone important to you?" Amanda asked as she witnessed a rare smile, somewhat fascinating, on his face.
Alex was about to respond when suddenly his face turned grim as he gestured, "They are here,"
Numerous fireballs were shot into the air, launched from the back side of the mansion and targeting the forest spread around the mansion.
Alex clutched his blade as he sensed the incoming presence—their bloodlust was thick enough to make the air heavy.
The orbs of flame landed on the incoming horde and a heavy explosion erupted.
**BOOOOOOOM**
The ground shook in succession as the flame orbs landed on the horde—however, as anyone expected, the wolves dispersed immediately when they sensed the danger.
However, the soldiers also were waiting for the chance for them to separate, as they ganged up on the beasts one after another.
Alex's gaze was fixated in the direction of a single wolf who never moved nor showed any sign of receiving any damage by the explosion. Its red eyes bore on Alex, the intensity in them making it certain what kind of emotions the beast carried.
"The leader of the pack?" Amanda asked to which Alex nodded.
"There are twenty-seven of them..." David appeared beside the duo and told them, "Lady Veronica has said, 'Don't engage until necessary.'"
Alex scoffed, "And let those soldiers die because of me? Yeah, sure."
Taking out his blade, Alex launched off, his aim locked onto the nearest pup, its claws inches from tearing a soldier apart.
For a heartbeat, he hung midair, his katana gripped in reverse, the sharp edge gleaming under the moonlight. His gaze burned through the wolf, unyielding and cold.
"Second Step…" The words came like a whisper, and in the blink of an eye, he vanished into a streak of motion.
A flash of steel. A gasp of air.
The wolf's blood erupted in a fine spray as it tilted its head just in time; yet couldn't completely dodge the attack.
"Agh!" The beast growled, smoke erupting from the wound, as the cut was easily healed—showing the insane regenerative ability of the wolfkin.
"Go and help others," Alex told them as he faced the beast, ready to get into another exchange.
The soldiers glanced at each other before they decided to heed his command.
Alex took a deep breath, gazing at the seven-foot-tall beast with long limbs and claws sharp enough to shred steel. Its glowing yellow eyes burned with primal rage, its lips curling back to reveal jagged fangs.
"You....you are the one for whom we came!" The beast roared, its eyes shining menacingly with the craving for revenge and blood.
The wolfkin lunged, claws tearing through the air. Alex sidestepped his movements a blur and countered with a vicious upward slash. Steel met flesh, carving deep into the beast's shoulder.
The wolfkin howled, swinging its other arm in retaliation. Alex ducked low, the claws grazing his shoulder, but failed to land a solid hit.
He surged forward, his katana gleaming in the moonlight, and delivered another precise strike across the beast's ribs. Dark blood sprayed out, sizzling against the ground.
The wolfkin roared, staggering back, its healing factor already working to close the gashes. "Fast," it growled, voice guttural. "But not enough to kill me!"
The beast charged again, claws raised. However, Alex didn't show any sign of moving; rather, he straightened his posture and swung his katana in Linear Slash, making the wolf pause, as it barely dodged the incoming air slash.
However, the side step was a mistake; the incoming dagger penetrated its head, and this time, the beast was not able to dodge.
"FUCK!!! WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!" Even after pulling it, the beast couldn't heal its wound at all, and the blood continued to pour.
Alex took the opportunity and unleashed another Linear Slash.
The heavy slash tore through the beast's torso, a deep, gaping wound splitting flesh and bone alike. The wolfkin stumbled back, its glowing eyes wide with shock as blood sprayed across the battlefield.
"Arghhh!" it roared, its voice echoing with desperation. Smoke poured from its wounds as it tried to heal, but the dagger that stabbed its skull disrupted its regeneration completely.
The wolf was losing its blood continuously, and in the desperate need to inflict damage, the beast closed its body in a ball—making the ground tremble with the promise of something devastating—before its body exploded with a deafening roar.
**BOOOOOOOOM**
The night sky brightened and the ground scorched under the effect of the explosion.
Alex, who didn't have the time to back off, was still unharmed as, just in time, a thick ice wall appeared before him, however, the intensity of the explosion was quite heavy—breaking the ice wall immediately.
Alex backed off just in time to save himself from getting crushed under the heavy boulders of ice as he stood beside the chanter and said, "Quite overhyped you are for your sorcery."
"Shut up and be thankful." Amanda spat as she launched an attack to assist the nearby soldiers.
Alex scoffed before he stepped forward and took the dagger which helped him finish the battle before it would have.
The same dagger which Rebecca offered to hurt her, would now be used against these mutts.
Alex took out the spear he was carrying and using a thin but strong rope, he tied the dagger on the other end of the spear.
In this battle, this dagger would be most beneficial. These beasts heavily rely on their regenerative abilities, often letting their enemies attack them before they land a lethal blow.
Having a tool that not only prevents regeneration at the spot where it is struck but hampers the ability as a whole, is a gem.
'For once, I don't regret meeting you, Rebecca....'
With such thoughts, he turned toward the forest and jumped toward the next beast
The night is long, and lots of opponents to deal with. And the most satisfying part: Alex would be able to cultivate a whole lot of Soul Energy.
This was the perfect opportunity for him to gain some much-needed level-up.
-------**-------
A/N:- Thanks for reading. Drop a few comments and PS to support. And also, I would appreciate it if you leave a review.
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REBIRTH: CHILDHOOD FRIEND OF THE HEROINEC63- Fangs and Steel(2)
"Ah!" Celestria woke up from her sleep—an audible exclaim leaving her lips.
Her breathing was unsteady, proof of the unsettling dream she just had. Sweat accumulated on her pale forehead as she stared at the duvet in a daze; unable to discern what she just saw and where she was, for a few moments.
A foreboding sensation disturbed her sleep and pushed her to look at her wrist where the beacon she planted.
She felt...danger. Alex is surrounded by danger, and Celestria is not able to help him. The intuition was so vivid that she had to double-check if the beacon was signalling anything. Fortunately, it wasn't.
'He is with the people of Steelhound...although they are infamous for their wild hunting style, I hope they keep you safe...' Joining her hands in prayer, Celestria requested every god in existence to take care of her best friend.
--------------**--------------
Although there were two people—Edric and Celestria—praying for Alex's well-being, seeing the condition around the battlefield, it doesn't seem the prayers were effective.
The wolfkin was naturally too strong, and combined with their unique skills and a vast amount of SE, which they accumulated through numerous hunts throughout the years, they became extremely formidable.
There were about three hundred well-trained and high-ranking soldiers engaged in battle, and the rest were guarding the city and the mansion. However, despite the overwhelming number—if considering the number of beasts to be only around thirty—it seems the human side has taken quite a bit of a toll.
More than a hundred soldiers were slaughtered by the wild beasts—their skin shredded, heads removed and blood pooling all around. These hunters were ruthless and quite thirsty to reach their goal of butchering that being who dared to hunt their comrade.
Alex stood at one side after he was done dealing with another wolf. His body was bleeding and aching. It has been only half an hour and the number of beasts he was able to kill was two—in return, he received several shallow wounds and a deep wound down his chest.
As he gulped the potion, he saw that the soldiers were able to take down six wolves somehow by sacrificing their comrades and receiving life-threatening wounds in return as well.
The size of the beast, their durability, their self-regeneration and their unique skill were like a combination made for massacre.
"This looks insane..." David, who was performing the role of supportive by utilising his 'Limit Break', stood beside Alex and continued to watch the overwhelming battle between tired humans and adrenaline-boosted wolves.
"Their natural constitution is way above in comparison..." Alex heaved a sigh, this was hopeless. There were still more than fifteen of those beings alive, and on the other side, the final boss was seated with its eyes continuously fixated on Alex.
'I need to take down the numbers, or they might end up slaughtering every soldier, and all will jump at me at once.'
Alex formed a strategy before turning his head towards Amanda, "Amanda!"
The mage, who was taking a breather after helping out a soldier to recover from a lethal blow, advanced towards Alex
"Do you have something?" She asked to which he nodded and told her,
"You see those eight wolves, they are almost aligned, right?"
Amanda looked at whom he was pointing at, and nodded, "Yes...they are. What about it?"
Alex offered her a Soul-enhancing potion and told her, "Restrict their movements and lock them with ice walls from either side. I want them to stand in a straight path even for a second."
"That's impossible!" Amanda voiced with her eyes widened, "They can easily break my ice and they aren't foolish to not understand that something is up."
Alex clicked his tongue, not because she rejected it, but rather because she was right.
Just then, the lady of the house stepped in, "Let me handle that."
Veronica narrowed her eyes, and, using her skill, 'Sensory Apex', she sent the message through the soldiers fighting the beasts at whom Alex pointed.
The only message she was able to send to many minds was, 'Lock them in a straight path'.
And the soldiers immediately began to work, pushing their limits and showing sudden aggression, They began pushing the battle to a position where they could align the wolves in a straight path.
Alex glanced at Amanda before the girl huffed and took the potion. Using her free hand to chant the spell, she consumed the potion in one big gulp before throwing away the vial.
"Here goes nothing." Taking a deep breath, she readied herself and gave a nod to Alex.
Alex turned towards the elder Lockwood and told him, "Enhance me as much as you can."
Saying so Alex dropped the extra weight from him and snatched away the dagger which he had tapped on the spear.
Veronica frowned, "What are you going to do?"
"There is no time to tell," Turning towards Amanda, Alex said, "When I say 'Go' lock them." The green-haired immediately nodded
David took a long breath before he directed his SE in Alex's direction—making the latter feel a sudden surge of heat penetrating through his skin and wrapping around his body.
Alex didn't have to check his stats to tell that his Soul Energy and his physical stats had been boosted.
'But still....this will inflict considerable damage...' There was no point in pondering since, from what Alex could see, this battle would favour the opponent if they continued at the same tempo.
Holding the dagger tightly, Alex bolted toward the far side of the mansion, his abrupt retreat startling Veronica and David.
"Where did he go?!" David exclaimed, his tone a mix of confusion and urgency.
Amanda, standing nearby, merely smirked. She had seen Alex's methods during his trials. "Trust him," she said simply, her confidence unshaken.
David hesitated but didn't question his sister. Instead, he focused on channelling more enhancements into Alex, trusting her words. Veronica, however, expanded her senses, her eyes narrowing as she tracked Alex's rapid movements.
"He's circling back," she murmured, astonished by his blistering pace. She stepped aside instinctively, ensuring there was enough room for his return.
Amanda readied herself, her spell circle glowing faintly, her focus unbreakable. Then she heard the signal.
"GO!!"
The atmosphere shifted violently.
The air turned frigid in an instant, frost creeping over the ground. A deafening rumble shook the earth as every allied soldier instinctively leapt back in perfect unison, their movements almost too smooth to be coincidental.
Before the advancing beasts could comprehend the sudden retreat, towering ice walls erupted on either side of them. The narrow pathway left no room to manoeuvre, trapping the creatures in a frozen corridor.
"GRRRR..."
"What's happening?!" one of the beasts snarled.
"Cheap tricks won't save you!" another spat.
But their taunts faded into silence.
A suffocating wave of energy blanketed the battlefield, thicker and heavier than any they had encountered before. It wasn't just magic—it was pure, unfiltered malice. The wolves stiffened, their instincts screaming at them to turn.
Behind them, Alex stood could be seen airborne, his silhouette bathed in the pale moonlight. His arm was cocked back, his hand gripping the dagger so tightly his knuckles whitened. Soul energy coiled around him, surging into the weapon like a storm brewing in his grasp.
Then, he launched.
"TEMPEST DART!!"
The air howled as the dagger tore free from his hand. The force of the throw wrenched his shoulder violently, tearing at his muscles and cracking bones with an audible snap. But Alex didn't falter—his gaze burned with unyielding determination.
The projectile erupted with a deafening boom the moment it left his hand. It moved with terrifying speed, slicing through the air like a meteor, leaving a searing trail of destruction in its wake. The ground beneath its path burned, the sheer force carving deep scorch marks into the earth.
The first wolf had no chance to react. The dagger struck its skull with devastating precision, the impact so violent that its head exploded in a spray of blood and bone.
But it didn't stop there.
The blade's momentum was unrelenting, each strike an echoing boom of death. It tore through the next wolf, and the next, each time punching through skulls, snapping spines, and shattering bones as it carved its way down the line.
Blood painted the icy walls, staining them crimson as the dagger continued its rampage. Limbs flew, and howls of pain cut short before they could fully form. The once-coordinated pack was reduced to chaos, their formation crumbling as the dagger claimed one life after another.
By the time the dagger finally buried itself deep into the frozen ground, silence reigned. The beasts lay motionless, their bodies strewn across the battlefield like broken dolls.
Alex staggered forward, his arm limp at his side, blood dripping from his fingertips.
His vision was blurry, and the numbing pain was shutting off his senses—when suddenly he found several other wolves, with much more aggression, advancing towards him.
Alex's breathing was shallow, as he tried to grab something to attack them...however, he failed.
'Fuck...where is my backup?'
"Here I am!" Like the person heard his whisper, someone dropped before Alex, containing similar features as the wolves, but Alex knew that this one wasn't a foe.
Reinforcement has arrived.
--------**-------
A/N:- Thanks for reading.
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REBIRTH: CHILDHOOD FRIEND OF THE HEROINEC64- Fangs and Steel(3)
With Edric, the soldiers from the Capital, along with Aborne, charged at the beasts at once. The once dying down defending side suddenly gained vigor upon getting reinforced by the elite soldiers and the strongest commander of Grimland.
Edric helped Alex to sit down first as he took out several potions to help him recover his lost arm and blood. Just by looking at his torn arm, Edric winced
The muscles were pulsating, the cracks in the bones were visible and his skin had melted and was clinging to his bones, signifying how much heat that sole attack radiated just now.
It was terrifying to think that Alex could launch such a devastating blow—something no student and numerous teachers could dodge. It explains that Alex, indeed, is stronger than Edric, and he was holding back during the assessment.
Edric saw his muscles healing but getting his whole arm healed would take time and a medic.
"Ed!" Suddenly an unexpected voice greeted him, making Edric's eyes widen, as he exclaimed,
"Amanda?! What are you doing here?" He could have never expected his girlfriend to be involved in this war as well. Although her home was not far away from Chainedvale, surely the ripples of the battle wouldn't have gotten her attention.
Amanda explained, "I was going to the capital when I came across Alex...anyway, what are you doing here?"
Although she was relieved to see her beloved here, to the point tears welled up in her eyes, she was concerned to find him here.
Edric first pulled the girl in his arms and calmed her down, "It's okay, Amy...I am here." Seeing her cry made his heart wrench, so he thought she must be scared and injured.
Although not injured, it was true that Amanda was scared, and having Edric here helped her feel much more calm. She closed her eyes and relished the sensation that only this guy could provide her.
Alex watched with a blank gaze before saying, "I am dying here...and you guys are getting all cosy."
Amanda huffed as she glanced at him, "Find another spot to die."
Edric chuckled at that before he parted from Amanda and knelt before Alex, "I think you should rest now—Sir Aborne would possibly handle the situation."
Alex nodded before, with Edric's help, he got up from the ground.
The trio advances towards the mansion so Alex can rest there, before Edric returns to the battlefield and help his comrades.
However, while they moved Edric noticed something—his long ears twitching...
"Alex..." He slowly murmured, and the silver head nodded,
"...yeah, it's...unnaturally quiet," Alex uttered what Edric was about to say.
Amanda also noticed the fading sound of the battle from behind—showing that either the battle has ended or...
"----!!" As Edric looked over his shoulder, his eyes parted to their widest reach, witnessing the sight that awaited.
David, who had just helped Lady Veronica inside—given she was tired after using her skill repeatedly—also came out and was shocked upon seeing the sight awaiting.
A graveyard.
Alex's pupils dilated as he saw the leader of the pack currently licking its paw and cleaning off the blood that it gained from killing those many soldiers.
Behind the leader, the red-haired man was staggering on his feet and could barely support his weight by leaning on a tree.
"...Sir Aborne....?" Edric's eyes couldn't believe that they were witnessing such a strong man in such a dire state.
Finding the gaze of the humans on it, the wolf leader raised its paw over a dying soldier's head.
"NOOO!!" Edric shouted, however, it changed nothing.
**SQUELCH**
The head of the soldiers was crushed into bits and pieces as the beast stomped over the withering soldier and claimed his life.
Edric's eyes blurred with tears, but those tears were not of grief but anger. Sheer agitation!
"Edric, no!" Alex warned, but it was too late.
Transforming into his berserk state, Edric launched forward. His roar echoed through the battlefield as his feet left the ground with explosive force, cracking the earth beneath him. His fists glowed faintly, the sheer power radiating off him sending chills down the spines of those who watched.
The wolf leader, towering and blood-soaked, turned its glowing yellow eyes toward him, unflinching.
CRACK!
Edric's steel-clad fist slammed into the spot where the wolf had been standing a fraction of a second earlier, the force splintering the ground and sending shards of rock flying in every direction. But the beast was gone—darting to the side with inhuman speed, its massive paws skidding across the dirt.
Edric twisted his body mid-motion, his other fist lashing out in a wide arc.
WHAM!
The strike grazed empty air. The wolf ducked low, its movements eerily fluid, and retaliated. A massive claw lashed out, raking across Edric's ribs with a sickening sound.
SHRRIP!
Blood sprayed as deep gashes tore through his side. Edric grunted but didn't falter. His body, surging with rage, refused to acknowledge the pain. He swung again, this time aiming for the beast's skull.
The wolf leaped back effortlessly, landing with a heavy thud, its eyes cold and calculating.
Edric slammed the ground again in frustration, the shockwave enough to send dust flying. Without pause, he lunged forward, his fist cocked back for another devastating punch.
The wolf charged to meet him, its hulking form faster than it had any right to be. The two collided like a crashing wave against a cliff.
THUD!
Edric's fist smashed into the wolf's shoulder, and for a moment, it looked like he had landed a solid blow. But the beast twisted mid-air, absorbing the impact and ramming its massive head into his chest.
Edric staggered back, smoke erupting from his body and blood flowing down his mouth and nose.
His vision turned blurry as he gazed at the bigger wolf, who had yet to show a single sign of being affected by the confrontation.
The golden eyes of the wolf glistened with a predatory gleam as it flexed its claws, and launched forward.
**SWOOOSH**
Just in time, a flame wall was erected before the beast, urging it to screech its feet in the path, and just then, a streak of silver crossed by Edric, removing the target from Wolf's vision.
"Grrrr..." The beast growled as it glared at the redhead before changing its target.
Aborne braced himself, his battle hammer ready to strike the beast even at the cost of his life.
The wolf inched closer and closer; however, before it could land the final blow, someone appeared in the path and held the beast by its claw.
The wolf growled seeing the being in front of it, before its voice was heard,
"This has nothing to do with you, bloodsucker. Move!"
The wolf tried to push the man away however, the red-eyed man remained rooted at his spot—showing no sign of moving away at all.
Eric, very calmly fixed his glasses with his other hand and responded, "You are in my domain, and every person here is my guest. So yes, it has to do with me."
The beast sensed danger and instinctively opened its maw, preparing to unleash an Ultra Sonic wave to incapacitate the man.
But Eric moved faster. With a lightning-quick motion, he clamped the beast's maw shut with his bare hand. Without breaking stride, he leaped back, hoisting the massive creature as if it were weightless.
CRACK!
The vampire slammed the wolf into the frozen earth before the mansion. The ground exploded on impact, sending chunks of dirt and stone flying like shrapnel. Fissures spiderwebbed across the courtyard, shaking the very foundation of the mansion.
The shockwave rolled outward in a deafening roar, bending trees and scattering loose debris. Even Alex, took a step back, his eyes widening at the devastating force unleashed in that single moment.
Eric took off his glasses and calmly began to clean them as he saw the wolf getting back up on its feet.
Edric was shocked beyond belief to see the same beast whom he couldn't even scratch was bruised and blooded by Eric in just a simple slam.
'Is he even a human...' Edric muttered inwardly but he was not complaining here. A reinforcement like Eric was all they needed.
The wolf got back up on its long limbs before glaring at Eric. This was not unexpected, the pack leader expected to face the young master of the Steelhound clan here.
That's why, it came with all the preparation.
"DEVOUR!!!" The wolf howled, its arms stretched and eyes glowing.
Eric frowned, however, before he could have stopped the wolf from initiating whatever it was, several bodies of the dead soldiers and its own comrades began to get sucked into the leader's body.
Suddenly the air turned hotter passing each second as Aborne unleashed a torrent of flames on the beast, however, like an invisible forcefield was protecting it, the beast remained unfazed.
With his fist clenched Alex watched the ugly beast turning into an abomination.
'Quite an internship this is….'
—------**---------
A/N:- Thanks for reading. Leave a comment.
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REBIRTH: CHILDHOOD FRIEND OF THE HEROINEC65- Fangs and Steel(4)
Devour: As the name suggests, it's a skill that allows the skill user to assimilate any being around them who doesn't carry a will or the strength to resist. Although there weren't any living beings in the current era who were reported to have similar skills—until now, that is—from the recorded knowledge, one could only derive a single weakness of this skill.
Time limit.
Devour heavily tolls on the body of the skill user, given not only the remaining Soul Energy of the beings but their skills and remaining vitality is absorbed through this skill. As such, for a single mind to process so many things gravely affects the user.
Now how long can this specific wolf maintain this form, is a mystery. However, if they don't do anything then everyone here will surely die.
....
Alex gulped in apprehension as he gazed at the tall being that had transcended the form of a beast and entered the realm of a demon.
Its massive frame loomed over the treetops, its shadow swallowing the ground below. Its fur bristled like sharp needles, and its dark body seemed to devour what little light the sky offered. The air grew heavy with its presence, thick with a suffocating dread. Crimson eyes burned like molten embers, and a jagged mark etched into its forehead pulsed like a wicked third eye, seething with malice.
The creature's sheer existence oozed power, demanding not just respect but raw, primal fear. Amanda's face drained of colour as cold sweat dripped down her temples. Her legs trembled violently, ready to give way, and if not for her brother's steadying grip, she would have collapsed under the crushing weight of its presence.
And it wasn't just her; no one before the monster had faced something like this ever before. Even the strongest one, Eric, narrowed his eyes and removed his glasses.
This situation has turned ugly.
The wolf scratched its feet on the ground before raising its maw,
*OWUUUUUUUU*
A chill ran down everyone's spine as Eric muttered under his breath, "Here it comes..."
In an instant, four people vanished.
**DHAK**
Eric met the Wolf's claw head-on, using his bare hands to stop the beast in its track somehow. His feet dug inside the ground, the weight of the beast added to the enhancement skill it must be utilizing; Eric felt he might get overwhelmed.
On the other side, Edric moved to catch Amanda and David in his arms and bring them far away from the battlefield.
Alex mirrored the task and rescued Aborne before bringing the man to the other side of the mansion.
"Edric....!" Seeing Edric going, Amanda tried to stop him.
Edric just turned to look at her, his gaze holding those words which only Amanda could comprehend.
Tears rolled down her eyes, as the girl loosened her hold on his sleeve as she uttered, "Take care."
Edric smiled and after giving a brief nod, he returned to the battlefield.
"Goddamn...." Edric exclaimed upon hearing several blows ringing throughout the forest, but he was barely able to see anything.
Switching to his elven form, the teenager finally saw it—the clash between two monsters.
Eric's blood spear crackled with energy as he charged, tearing through the forest like an arrow. The wolf's massive paw slammed down, ripping apart the ground and sending shockwaves that flattened trees in all directions. Eric leapt over the impact, spinning mid-air as his spear extended, stabbing deep into the wolf's shoulder.
The beast howled, shaking the earth, and with a violent twist of its body, it flung Eric off like a toy. He smashed through a tree, splinters exploding around him, and hit the ground rolling, already springing back to his feet. The wolf didn't wait—it lunged, claws tearing through the air.
Eric ducked under the swipe and drove his spear upward into the beast's chest. Blood sprayed, but the wolf didn't slow. Its other paw came crashing down, and Eric barely twisted away in time, the shockwave throwing him back.
The beast disappeared, and the next time Edric spotted the beast, it was hovering over Eric, its maw open wide.
Before the man could have jumped away, ripples of sonic waves rained upon him.
"*OUUUUUUUUUUUUU*"
The sheer pressure of those sonic waves made Eric's blood spear disintegrate as the man clutched his ears to spare himself from the torture.
The earth around the man sunk in, a proof of the relentlessness the beast carried.
Eric gritted his teeth before a single drop of his blood transformed into a massive sword that pierced the wolf right in its chest.
The scene was out of a horror book where an airborne wolf was stabbed by a glaring red sword. Under the moonlight, the scene looked majestic.
However, Edric's daze was broken when Alex harshly pushed him from behind and shouted, "Find that dagger with me, you dumbass!"
Edric hurriedly nodded, "Yes! Dagger...wait, what dagger?"
Alex explained as he continued to search the whole place, "It's a silver blade dagger with brown leather wrapped around its handle. The alloy of that dagger prevents these mutts from regenerating."
Edric was startled to hear that. If there was such a thing why doesn't everyone have one such treasure?
But then, it was so useful, especially against inhumane beings, that it must be very valuable. No doubt why even the young master of the Steelhound clan doesn't have one either.
"Kukuku~do you think we would let you play around with that dangerous thing?" Edric and Alex instantly straightened their backs and glared at the still-alive wolf standing a few meters across from them.
The most concerning fact was that it had found the dagger.
Alex was about to take a step when suddenly, "Ah-uh! Take another step and I will devour this dagger."
Edric scoffed, "You know it's nothing but a lethal poison for you, right?"
The grey-haired inhumane shrugged, "Doesn't matter if it takes our lives. Until we can have our revenge against you...I will be more than happy to sacrifice my life."
Alex gritted his teeth; he needed that dagger at all cost or who knows how long it will take to take down that massive creature?
He was devising a plan when suddenly the wolf froze...or more like it was prevented from moving.
A stream of blood shot through its head and the beast was lifted into the air.
Alex and Edric watched in astonishment as the wolf got swung up and down; every time its body landed, a strong slam was heard along with a loud cracking sound.
The wolf was killed and healed several times before the dagger from its hand was snatched and was stabbed in its back—ceasing the life of the beast in an instant.
Once the wolf was thrown away a woman appeared from the shadows, while smiling at Alex,
"Hello, Darling~missed me?"
Edric, who was just beside Alex, nudged him as he asked,
"Bro...tell her I already have a girlfriend."
Alex rolled his eyes.
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A/N:- Thanks for reading.
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REBIRTH: CHILDHOOD FRIEND OF THE HEROINEC66- Fangs and Steel(5)
"How did you know we were under attack?" Alex asked as Rebecca handed him back the dagger.
Rebecca froze for a moment, and then, with a shy smile, she responded, "Actually, we didn't make it much far away since, en route, I suddenly decided to run away from the carriage."
Alex raised his brows, "You...didn't intend on going away in the first place, right?"
Rebecca just smiled shamelessly, proving his hunch to be right.
Edric, who failed to comprehend what they were talking about, asked Alex, "You aren't into her, right?"
Alex heaved a sigh, "Does it matter now? Let's get there and-ah!"
Alex's eyes slowly parted wide as he spotted the figure of the two finally appearing in clear sight as they stood across each other.
Unlike the wolf, who doesn't appear to have received much damage, Eric looked severely injured; several of his wounds continuously bled, making Rebecca frown.
She advanced toward her brother, and before he could receive another blow on his head, Rebecca used her blood to form several long spikes, piercing the Wolf's feet as she pulled her brother away.
"Brother? Why aren't you regenerating?" Rebecca asked in an anxious tone. Her brother wasn't weak enough to kneel before a mutt. And the self-recovery abilities of a vampire far exceed a wolf.
Then...how?
"It seems....the dagger Alex used to kill the wolves...that abomination absorbed the extract of it as well. And now, every strike from it renders me from regenerating."
Alex's frown grew deeper hearing that, "Such a thing is possible?"
Eric nodded, "There are several mysteries of Devour which we don't know."
Edric, who didn't hear most of their conversation, was currently looking at the abomination which sat lazily on its spot without showing any urgency.
"Umm...Alex, didn't you say this transformation is time-restricted?" Hearing Edric's words, Alex also turned to look at the beast and found the scene going beyond his expectations.
"Why...it seems so relaxed?" Alex muttered under his breath, only for Eric to explain,
"It's the skill of the security commander—Brain Split that allows the user to split its intelligence during the time of crisis and use the other subconscious half to formulate plans and tactics. The beast must be utilizing the skill to reduce the toll on itself."
In summary, it is bad news.
Alex looked at the dagger in his hand and realized that to kill the monstrosity; he had only one chance. He has to kill the being with the dagger by damaging its vital organ somehow.
Looking at Edric, Alex said, "Ed, you need to keep it distracted so I can move around and stab this thing in its eye."
"----!!" Edric's eyes widened and what he thought was uttered by Rebecca, "It's impossible to reach its eye, given its heightened senses. And there is a high chance that the dagger might not work."
"Do you have any better plans?" Alex asked with a tinge of frustration evident in his voice.
Rebecca was rendered speechless since she didn't have any idea how to defeat that thing at all.
Eric staggered back to his feet, blood dripping from his forehead, his voice sharp but urgent. "Alex, we'll keep it busy. Get to higher ground and aim for its eyes from a distance—"
His words caught in his throat. His instincts screamed danger. Without a second thought, he shoved Alex and Rebecca aside with all his strength.
BOOOOOOM!
The earth erupted, a deafening roar tearing through the forest as a massive explosion engulfed the clearing. Eric's vision blurred as the shockwave sent him flying into a tree, the impact nearly knocking the air from his lungs.
Flames and smoke billowed, swallowing everything in sight.
Above them, just parallel to the glowing moon, an enormous magic circle shimmered faintly, hidden by the moon's radiance. The wolf's guttural growls echoed through the chaos, its colossal figure illuminated by the eerie glow of its spell. The circle pulsed with energy, a silent threat now unleashed.
Alex looked at the spot where the detonation occurred, and he could see Edric still standing there; his form shifted.
His body was engulfed in smoke and flames, but the teenager held himself to his feet.
Alex thought not even once before he lunged into action, and using his enhanced speed, he brought Edric away from the danger zone.
Rebecca went to check on her brother as the blast just now was devastating enough to take down a whole fort.
"Edric?! Talk to me!" Alex took out a vial of recovery potion and hurriedly fed him.
Edric's whole body was scorched, a testament to the strength of the attack he tanked.
Edric gulped down the potion but he was left with no energy to fight the beast anymore.
If not for Alex supporting him, Edric might have fallen to his knees.
Looking slowly up, the raven-haired teenager warned, "Alex...run...." It was the few last words Edric was able to mutter before he fainted.
Alex held the boy close in his arms before looking at the beast with pure hatred.
The smiling face of the wolf showed that it was completely aware of the misery Alex was facing right now. It was not a mindless beast attacking whatever came in front of it; each action of the beast was targeted to hurt Alex in one way or another.
"Alex..." Rebecca arrived by his side before the silver head handed his friend to her and told her,
"Keep him safe." His eyes never wavered from the beast.
Rebecca took Edric from him and supported the guy over her other shoulder, before asking, "What are you going to do?"
Somehow she already knew the answer, however, hearing it from Alex only brought a faint smile to her lips,
"I am going to slaughter that dog." His whole demeanor oozed with a different scent compared to that time when he fought Edric.
Rebecca could sense it; the primal desire for revenge that Alex possessed at the moment cannot be soothed by anyone or anything.
She leaned forward and pecked on his cheek before wishing him, "Good luck~I will be cheering for you~"
---------**--------
A/N: The next chapter would be the final of this arc. Thanks for reading.
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REBIRTH: CHILDHOOD FRIEND OF THE HEROINEC67- Fangs and Steel(6)
Alex was aware of the difference between himself and his opponent. Someone who is even a noble ranked Vampire couldn't damage; what could Alex do to such a being?
But was it enough to make him surrender and throw away his life? Yeah...no.
Alex wrapped the torn sleeve around his injured shoulder with the Terminator dagger held between his teeth—he named the special dagger that prevents regeneration as Terminator dagger.
With the dagger still pressed between his teeth, Alex summoned one of the swords which he received from the Prince as a reward. It was a classic double-edged silver-blade sword with a length of forty-five inches.
The blade shone under the moonlight as Alex gazed at the wolf with hunger. The hunger for blood and battle.
He retained his composure and lunged into action—his figure becoming a blur as he sped towards the hunt.
The wolf stood at the centre of the devastation, its eyes burning with unnatural crimson light, the pulsing mark on its forehead glowing brighter with every second. The spell circle moved in sync with Alex, tracking his every step like an ominous predator in the sky.
A faint hum warned him. Alex threw himself to the side just as a glowing energy bomb erupted where he would have landed in the next moment, the explosion tearing apart the ground and sending dirt and debris raining down.
He rolled, coming up in a crouch, barely avoiding another blast as the circle fired again, its strikes relentless.
Alex moved through the jungle, his feet never coming to a halt since he knew the consequences of such leisure.
The forest was a maze of chaos—craters littered the ground, smoke clouded his vision, and the once-sturdy trees were reduced to jagged stumps.
Alex studied the wolf while he moved, the blasts occurring around him slowly became predictable. Why? Since Alex was moving in such a pattern that the Wolf could get accustomed.
He realised that the beast hadn't chanted a self-aiming spell; rather, it was sensing Alex's presence and couldn't track him every time Alex hid himself behind a fallen tree or inside a pit.
His SE was so pitiful that not even the beast with such heightened senses could detect him.
The wolf's growl rumbled through the air, low and menacing. It didn't move—it didn't need to. The spell was its weapon, and Alex was the prey, each bomb forcing him closer to exhaustion.
Alex took a break, and hiding from the beast, he decided to first plan what he could do.
'Moving head-on and attacking that thing is nearly impossible.' Alex decided instantly what he could try.
Picking a rather large chunk of stump he took a deep breath and threw it towards his left.
And in the same instance, his figure blurred, utilizing the Second Step, he launched from the right.
The spell could only target one object—Alex had discerned it long ago, and as he anticipated, the wolf attacked the tree stump as soon as a figure emerged from the shadows.
**BOOOOOOM**
However, instantly the wolf sensed something approaching from the left, urging it to move in unison and swat the incoming danger with its long furry tail.
"Guh!!" Alex grunted as he was hit by something hard and heavy before he was hurtled back with double the force with which he lunged at the beast.
**DHAK**
He broke the first tree he hit against, and barely managed to twist himself away before a slanted broken trunk, which surely would have made a skewer out of him.
*Crunch*
Alex softly landed in another pit and clutched his chest. Something... was broken and Alex was now out of potions to heal.
'How can I forget...'Even though Alex used the perfect diversion and trapped the wolf, he forgot that the being was not glued to its place and could counterattack with its body.
"*COUGH*" Alex violently coughed as blood fell out of his mouth and his vision began to turn blurry.
"Grr"
He could hear the wolf approaching, which meant it had sensed Alex already.
Any sword art in his possession couldn't win against this being. He could have tried with the Seventh Stance, but no weapon he fought with contained enough kinetic energy, which he could release as a single explosion.
He was cornered.
"*GRRRR*" Alex saw it...the massive shadow of the wolf hovering over him; his back facing the being who came here to devour Alex.
Alex gritted his teeth and was preparing to launch the stance that the old man warned him about.
However,
**SQUELCH**
Suddenly large spikes grew out of the ground and stabbed the wolf from behind.
The wolf howled in pain, undoubtedly affected by the sudden attack that was directed by a certain familiar raven-haired woman.
"ALEX! GET OUT OF THERE!" Rebecca shouted as she kept on launching several huge spikes, created of her blood, at the wolf. However, anyone could tell that she failed to injure the being, given the blood spikes got easily devoured by it and the gashes healing at a blinding pace.
He heard her but Alex couldn't respond. He overestimated his tolerance and capabilities. His ribs were torn, one arm completely ripped, and he had several other wounds that couldn't heal even after consuming potions.
He was shaking, from head to toe, swaying left to right. His vision was slowly turning dark, a sign very bad for a warrior.
He tried to grab onto something...anything, however, he failed.
**THUD**
Dropping to his knees he saw faintly that Rebecca was fighting against the wolf with all she had. However, from what he could see in those last moments...it didn't seem Rebecca could continue the battle for long.
'She is going to die protecting...me...how foolish...' His mind was shutting off, his blood pooling around him, making it seem he was kneeling in a pond to confess his sin.
Alex has never been brought this close to death before—not even while facing the Soulless made him feel this miserable...however, now...there was nothing left for him to do.
'....?' However, just as he was about to release the final thread and lose his consciousness, he suddenly smelled something that made him frown.
It was...excessively sweet and tempting, pulling his attention from the pain and the battle completely.
Alex slowly parted his lids...and gazed at it....
A grimoire.
'Looks tasty....'
---------**--------
A/N:- Bro regaining his primal needs. Thanks for reading.
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REBIRTH: CHILDHOOD FRIEND OF THE HEROINEC68- Beast
"Again, I cannot express how thankful I am that you are accompanying me, Headmaster " Inside the carriage, only two people could be seen. One of them was the speaker who just thanked the older man across from her.
The headmaster of the Soulforge Academy, Hector, was currently accompanying the same silver-haired lady who came to ask about Alex.
The reason he decided to tag along was because the lady belonged to a foreign land, and despite the reason, if she caused chaos, the responsibility would fall upon Hector. And also, he was curious to know the whole thing about Alex so he decided to go on a little trip.
They boarded the carriage and were now moving toward the Steelhound's territory.
"It's not such a big favor, Lady Beatrice. And it has been quite a long time since I traveled to a different land other than the Capital." The Headmaster assured her.
Beatrice offered a soft smile before her eyes turned towards the outside scenery. There was a strange tension in her eyes that made Hector curious; urging him to ask,
"Are you okay? You haven't rested the whole day...is there something concerning?"
Beatrice, without moving her eyes, told him, "I...have a bad premonition. I am not aware of the seal and the curse...however, I know for sure a way to weaken the seal."
Hector frowned, "Is there a way to weaken the seal without the spell caster getting involved?" Earlier he heard from her that only the spell caster can break the seal on Alex.
However...now...
Beatrice looked at the man, before telling him, "The reason why I was so hurried to reach him, and was against the thought of letting him get this internship is because of the same reason"
Hector removed his glasses and while wiping them with a dry fabric, he asked, "Please be more clear, lady."
His tone shifted a little, and it was justifiable for him to be stressed. The being they are concerned about here can easily destroy an entity without having the intention to.
Beatrice explained, "Alex's curse would overpower the seal if Alex is pushed to the brink of helplessness. When he accepts defeat....his curse would try to break the seal."
Hector shook his head, "But he never showed such signs of...having inhumane traits when he was facing the Soulless and was on the verge of death. Has the curse disappeared with time?" The last bit was nothing but hope.
However, Beatrice gave him a reason which burned his hopes.
"At that time, Alex might not have accepted defeat. The curse wouldn't come into play until Alex doesn't surrender...and loses his will to fight. Until there is a spark of hope that he could defeat the foe with his own strength, the curse won't show its effect."
The carriage was engulfed in silence after that, and now Hector realized the reason behind her apprehension.
Currently, Alex probably is in the most dangerous territory of Grimland. And facing dangers that could push him to surrender is not impossible.
'I hope you don't end up committing something regretful, Alex....' Read exclusive content at empire
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Eric, for a long time, couldn't hear the loud explosions from the outside. Inside the room, only his mother and Eric were present, and they were getting treated by the servants so they could rejoin the battle.
His mother has overused her abilities, and because of that, her eyes were currently wrapped with bandages, and an artifact was covering her ears to block her senses.
Eric frowned, and after he told the servant to move away, the man got up from the bed.
Limply he strolled towards the window from where he could gaze at the battlefield.
And the scene that greeted his eyes made every strand of his body stand erect, and his eyes widened to their farthest reach.
'The...fuck....'
----------**----------
Amanda was weeping constantly as she applied a thin layer to the ice of Edric's burnt body while David fed him a recovery potion and applied healing gel on his burning skin.
If not for David providing a boost, Edric might not have been able to make it. Edric received the blast head on and despite his berserk state, he wasn't able to completely absorb the effect.
"...I-I...am s-still...h-handsome...right?" Holding her hand weakly, Edric asked in a shaky voice.
Amanda sobbed before scoffing, "You look like a burnt rooster."
Edric's lips stretched ever so slightly as he asked, "Y-You a-ain't gonna dump...me...right?"
"If you don't recover then I might. So just get better already!" She couldn't stop herself from shedding more tears as she covered her face and continued to wipe her tears.
Edric felt his heart wrenching in pain, seeing his lover in such a state.
However, before he could have tried to console her, suddenly David got up from his seat, garnering the other two's attention.
"Brother?" Amanda asked as she saw her brother advancing toward the window.
"...why did everything turn silent?" His question made the other two terrified, as the only conclusion they could land upon was quite disturbing.
David slowly made his way towards the window, and upon looking at the forest, his body shook.
"Brother? What is happening outside?" Amanda asked in anxiety, as she also got up and approached her brother.
David was too shocked to say anything, so Amanda looked at the scene, which made her brother so petrified.
However, once she gazed at the scene awaiting, her eyes parted wide and lips parted in shock as well.
....the hunter has turned into prey.
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Rebecca couldn't believe her eyes, and with an ecstatic smile, she sat on a boulder and looked at the wolf who was running around—crying for its life.
She didn't know how and why, but her beloved went through some kind of changes—his teeth grew sharper and longer, his nails and hair grew longer, shining brighter than the moon. His whole demeanor made her shiver all over, and somewhere in her lower half, something began to salivate.
Currently, Alex was lunging high in the air, chasing the wolf like a ferocious beast who had been starved for months and now was allowed to hunt whatever came in its path.
The wolf howled in pain and fear as it continued to launch destructive spells at Alex. However, none of those attacks stopped Alex, nor did any of those injuries remain on him for long.
Is he a human? This was the question most likely anyone would have thought upon seeing such traits. However, Rebecca wasn't concerned about it. All she knew was that her Darling was hungry and watching him catch his prey was fun~~~~~
"*AWOOOOOO*"
Rebecca grinned; she knew this howl was for help. However, there was nothing in the vicinity that could help the big pup now.
Alex descended like a predator, his body twisted mid-air, his glowing eyes locked on the grimoire. His fingers clawed into the wolf's thick fur as he landed on its back, his weight driving the beast to its knees.
The wolf bucked violently, its roar deafening, but Alex didn't falter. With unnatural strength, he tore into its flesh, his nails ripping through the hide as if it were paper. Blood sprayed, thick and steaming, drenching Alex's face and clothes.
His movements were frantic, feral. He dug deeper, his fingers sinking into the beast's muscle, his teeth bared in a manic snarl. The grimoire pulsed beneath its skin, glowing faintly as if resisting him. But Alex wouldn't stop—he couldn't.
Rebecca watched in horrified fascination, her grin faltering.
From her view, Alex wasn't targeting the grimoire—he was consuming the beast itself.
The true beast is finally claiming its prey.
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A/N:- Thanks for reading.
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REBIRTH: CHILDHOOD FRIEND OF THE HEROINEC69
Hunger…hunger….eat….eat…
This was all going through his mind as Alex continued to devour the being who was terrorizing every person within Chainedvale until a few moments ago.
His true motive was to devour the shining grimoire attached to the beast, completely unaware that he was consuming the wolf itself in the process.
The overflowing Soul energy in his veins was rendering any attack to damage him for more than a few seconds.
The horrifying fact that the wolf wasn't only getting consumed by Alex, its body was slowly fading due to the disappearance of its grimoire.
"*HUFF* HUFF*" The morphed beast was petrified as it tried to swat the human away with all its remaining might.
However, like a parasite, Alex attached himself to the beast with his long claws dug into Wolf's fur and his mouth continuously moving with blood and the insides of the beast getting chewed.
The gory scene made Amanda nearly puke as she advanced toward the battlefield and noticed how Rebecca was doing nothing to stop this….savagery.
"What is he doing?!" The green-haired teenager asked as she stood near the boulder on which Rebecca sat.
Seriously, it was too horrifying to see a small human clawing and biting a big wolf. The beast has already lost half of its body, and slowly, the strength to fight back has diminished.
Rebecca grinned, "Darling is hungry so I ain't disturbing him while he ate."
Amanda looked at the girl in shock, "But why? And how Alex is consuming that flesh?"
Her tone annoyed Rebecca as she groaned, "Can't you see that Darling is just naturally so wild? He is just giving in to his true side."
Amanda couldn't believe what the woman was saying as she turned towards the battlefield again and found Alex had already devoured three-fourths of the beast.
"We cannot stop it." Eric's presence startled Amanda, however, her focus remained on his words.
"It? He is a human, Sir Steelhound." Amanda rebuked which made Eric scoff,
"If he is human then stop calling other beasts inhumane. In comparison to Alex, they are still too tame."
"Indeed, Amanda…" Suddenly David joined which made Amanda frown. However, before she could have said something, David added,
"Lady Veronica and several other servants are with Edric; don't worry."
Amanda closed her mouth and turned her attention towards Alex
It was surprising to see how the resistance from the wolf has completely disappeared but the hunger from Alex's eyes has yet to subside even a bit.
"Rebecca," Eric called out, "Can you restrain him?"
Rebecca raised her brows, "Inside the blood cage? I think I can…unless Darling decides to eat me out~"
Amanda ignored the innuendo-filled remark and asked the older male, "What do you mean restrain? Didn't Alex save everyone here? Why cage him?"
Eric sighed, "Do you think with the pace he is devouring the being, he would be satisfied just by that mutt?"
Amanda frowned and looked at her friend. His red eyes were shining with unbound desire and hunger as he continued to munch on the wolf's skull.
She couldn't refute that…the current Alex made her anxious. He might as well attack a friend with the vigor he possessed at the moment.
Amanda was momentarily speechless and that was enough of a response to tell that she was in consent.
David couldn't help but comment, "Looking at his current self it seems he is stronger and more wild than the wolf he just consumed. We weren't able to defeat the beast…how will we restrain him?
Eric, whose wounds have slowly healed up, pushed his glasses as he muttered, "We have to try. I can't let an intern run havoc."
"*BURP*" Suddenly, a loud burp was heard as every eye instantly turned towards Alex, who rubbed his belly and let out a ground-shaking burp.
Blood and muscles still could be seen on his once clean face, and his hands were red to his shoulders.
Not even a scratch suggested he was injured and the way he grinned showed his clear intention.
Eric summoned his blood spear and took a battle stance, "Here it comes."
Alex moved like a beast, hunched low, his bloodshot eyes glowing faintly in the dark. His bare hands twitched, fingers clawing at the air. There was no strategy, no thought—just raw, savage hunger for destruction.
With a guttural snarl, Alex lunged forward, closing the distance in an instant. Eric raised his spear, but Alex was faster, slamming into him with enough force to send them both skidding across the dirt.
Eric twisted, jamming the spear into Alex's side. Blood sprayed, but Alex didn't flinch. He grabbed the spear, yanked it deeper into his body, and snarled inches from Eric's face before slamming his forehead into Eric's nose.
Eric staggered back, blood pouring from his broken nose, but Alex was relentless. He pounced, his fists crashing into Eric's chest like sledgehammers. The blows came fast, wild, and unrelenting, each strike forcing Eric further back, his feet dragging through the dirt.
Rebecca sensed that her brother would get overwhelmed in no time since her Darling didn't care about injury; a privilege that was provided to a being who can regenerate in less than a blink.
She raised her hands. Several red threads erupted from her fingers, which approached Alex.
"Sorry, Darling, but this will hurt."
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The threads wrapped around Alex's neck and arms, burning fiercely and causing his skin to burn.
However, Alex didn't yell in pain, which almost anyone would have; rather, he twisted his body and offered a feral grin.
Twisting his body he lunged at Rebecca, each thread shredding his skin and tearing his muscles, yet none of it seemed to be bothering Alex as he advanced toward Rebecca on all fours.
Amanda sensed the growing danger on the woman so with her brother's assistance, she summoned several ice walls in his way—only to be thrashed away by Alex.
He…never stopped.
Each wall was easily broken as Alex never stopped in his tracks.
Rebecca braced herself, Alex lunged into the air, his claws above his head.
However, before he could have grabbed Rebecca's grimoire, Eric slammed into him from the side.
Alex and Eric crashed into the ground like two meteors, the impact shaking the already ruined forest. Dirt and debris erupted into the air as they tumbled, Alex clawing and thrashing wildly, while Eric used his blood spear to pin him down.
"Stay down!" Eric roared, driving his spear into Alex's shoulder. The crimson weapon burned with energy, but Alex's grin only widened.
With a feral growl, Alex ripped the spear from his shoulder, blood spraying, and hurled it aside as if it were a mere twig. His claws slashed upward, catching Eric across the chest, shredding his shirt and, and leaving deep, bloody gashes.
Eric stumbled back, clutching his chest, but Alex didn't give him time to recover. He lunged on all fours, his speed blurring as he closed the distance. He tackled Eric again, his fingers wrapping around Eric's throat.
"He's unstoppable!" Amanda shouted as she raised her hand and froze Alex's body, starting from his arms.
Alex's grin, for the first time, went down, replaced by a scowl as he directed his glowing eyes at Amanda.
Those glowing, bloodshot eyes locked onto hers, and Amanda felt her breath hitch in her throat. His expression wasn't a snarl or a roar of rage—it was worse. He was annoyed. Cold, calculating, and dripping with disdain, as though she were nothing more than a fly buzzing in his ear.
Amanda's legs trembled, her body refusing to move. Her fingers twitched at her sides, desperate to summon another spell, but her mind screamed at her to run. To flee. To do anything but stand there like prey waiting to be devoured.
His figure suddenly disappeared and Amanda was still frozen in her place.
Her eyes slowly moved downwards as she saw his sharp nails inches away from her neck…from her death.
"Ed…" The last name she took was the person she desired to see in her final moments…however, despite waiting for a few seconds, nothing happened.
Amanda slowly parted her eyes and found an unnatural sight awaiting her.
Eric also was stunned upon seeing the ferocious beast suddenly getting manhandled by a strange silver-haired woman.
She had her hand locked around his neck, her legs entangled with his, and his arms remained pressed under her thighs.
She has completely incapacitated him.
"Hector!!" The woman yelled before a figure descended from the sky and released a series of spells targeted at Alex.
Every single spell sent a calming sensation to his brain and Alex was forced to ease his movements. Hector never stopped even once since he knew a single moment of release would be enough for Alex to overwhelm both of them.
Beatrice looked at the glaring black symbol at the base of his neck. She raised her left hand on which a simile symbol was shining before she planted it on him.
"Agh….ah…." A soft cry escaped his throat as Alex's eyes rolled back and the strength behind his resistance began to subdue.
Not so long after, Alex stopped moving.
Beatrice heaved a weary sigh as she heard Amanda asking, "Tell me you didn't kill him."
Beatrice smiled, "Don't worry dear, I won't kill my young master."
—------**-------
A/N:- Thanks for reading. I hope you all enjoyed reading the chapter.
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REBIRTH: CHILDHOOD FRIEND OF THE HEROINEC70- Memories?
[Alex's POV:]
There was seriously something wrong with me.
The last thing I remember was that I was about to fall unconscious after getting beaten black and blue by that wild dog.
For the first time in my second life, I felt helpless and was pushed so close to death.
It was then…some strange memories began to flash in my mind. It was all hazy and blurry however, I could somehow make the outlines out of those people.
I was…a kid. From my perspective, I was short and frail. And unlike the people I have faced in both lifetimes, these people made me feel safe and at home.
I was adored by others and everyone pampered me like some young master of a renowned clan or something.
It was too foggy to discern where I was or how the people around me looked. However, I have a feeling that if I look at them with my conscious mind, I can identify them.
It was strange that I felt familiar with them, unlike those people I met as Alex after reincarnation. It was like I knew them as Ceaser, not Alex. But I knew it was impossible.
My body was not in control for a long time—moving as the little boy moved. I spoke about what the kid desired.
In those memories, I was particularly close to a certain young kid….probably older than me since I called him 'Big Bro'.
However, when I tried to look at his face…or even focus on his voice, I felt a sudden headache.
And before I knew it I lost my consciousness, again.
—------**--------
Since yesterday, Alex had been caged inside a room with Beatrice, who is making sure that the seal remains intact.
The others were just outside the room, taking turns to keep an eye on the woman.
Eric was busy fulfilling his job as the clan head when his father was away. Veronica was getting treated and couldn't move as of now.
Edric was also not in the shape to move around however, after Amanda told him that Alex was safe, the raven-haired finally heaved a sigh and focused on his recovery.
Sitting outside the room were the Headmaster and Amanda.
Seeing the younger one lost in her thoughts, Hector couldn't help but ask, "Are you alright, Amanda?"
The green-haired instantly nodded, "Yes, I am totally fine and healed."
Hector smiled before clarifying his question, "I meant to ask about your mental health. Is everything fine there?"
Amanda…this time, wasn't able to answer immediately.
After thinking for a bit, she decided to trust the man, "Actually, headmaster, when I was fighting Alex, there came a moment when he looked at me. There was no Soul Energy in use nor any kind of skill as from what my brother told me…yet, when Alex looked at me I was frozen at my spot. It was almost like he silently commanded me to remain there."
Hector heaved a sigh as he softly caressed the little one's head and sent a very thin calming spell in her mind.
"It is believed that those beings who have gone through several experiences ... .dreadful experiences where they need to constantly kill someone to ensure their safety. Such beings develop a strange ability to incapacitate those targets which are weaker than them."
Amanda frowned, and the reason behind her confusion was justifiable.
After taking a pause, Hector said what she was thinking, "I know that Alex hasn't been in such situations more than an average student. And it was the first time for him to show savagery yesterday. So I cannot tell you how Alex developed such blood lust at such a young age."
Amanda heaved a sigh, "Just a single day it took me to realize how weak I am. Being in the top five in the academy doesn't matter much in the real world where there resides beings which can easily trample on people like me."
Hector couldn't say that she was wrong, but he didn't hesitate to console her, "You still are within that five percent with such astonishing potential. Just trust the process and keep training until you can be proud of yourself."
Amanda's lips extended in a soft smile.
She was about to check on Alex when suddenly a maid arrived in the hall and informed her,
"Lady Amanda, there is someone who tried to infiltrate the mansion and it seems she knows you and Lord Alex."
Amanda frowned as she instantly rose to her feet and advanced towards the entrance of the mansion followed by the Headmaster.
Amanda had a hunch who it could be…however, it would be ridiculous for her to be here.
…or is it?
"AMYYYYYY!!" Celestria, who was currently blocked by several soldiers from entering the mansion, shouted at Amanda with her hands raised.
"Cela?!" Amanda immediately rushed towards her friend and looked at her up to down, "What happened to you?"
Her clothes were torn, her head was bleeding, she had no shoes, and looking at her eyes, one could tell that she hadn't slept last night.
No doubt why the soldiers didn't recognize her.
Hector gestured towards the soldiers before they immediately dispersed.
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Celestria held her shoulders before asking, "Forget about that…tell me where is Alex?!"
"I am right here." Suddenly a familiar person's voice resounded before everyone turned to look at him.
Tears welled in her eyes as Celestria instantly dashed toward Alex,
"Alex! You are safe….you are safe!" She embraced him tightly and continued to mutter under her breath, seemingly assuring herself that he was fine.
Alex soon realized how she realized that Alex was in danger…the beacon.
However, his focus wasn't on how she got to know about him.
Slowly detaching himself from her, he asked, "What happened to you? Why do you look like this…and…where is your carriage?"
If Celestria had arrived here in her Royal Carriage, then the guards wouldn't have stopped her from entering.
With a soft smile, she responded, "It…actually got caught in an ambush near Helstine, and I was in a haste, so I ran all the way to meet you."
"----!!!" Alex's eyes parted wide upon hearing that. Helstine is a day away from Chainedvale on the carriage. And the route to Chainedvale from Helstine is not well built. Several forests come in the path and there are numerous wild beasts roaming in the forest.
Looking at her bleeding feet and torn clothes, Alex realized the reason.
He looked at the girl silently…with numerous emotions swirling in his heart.
Celestria looked back at him with a smile of relief, never fading, but soon, the adrenaline began to fade—pushing the fatigue to take over consciousness.
Alex swiftly held the girl as he saw her falling to her knees.
Looking at her, he inwardly muttered,
'Why do I always get chased by crazy girls?'
—-------*---------
A/N:- Thanks for reading. I call it good pu
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REBIRTH: CHILDHOOD FRIEND OF THE HEROINEC71- Past(1)
"Was it Celestria?" Edric asked as Amanda entered his room.
The other one nodded, "She sensed Alex was in danger and came right away." Amanda responded as she poured some water into a glass.
Edric smiled, "It was a good idea to let her have the beacon."
Amanda heaved a weary sigh, "I don't think so."
Edric frowned as, with Amanda's help, he sat on the bed and drank a few sips of water, before asking, "Why did you say that?"
Amanda explained how she first saw Celestria and then, she told Edric the reason why Celestria appeared like that.
Edric's expression remained unchanged as he heard his lover saying,
"After seeing her wailing in relief this morning…I realized how deeply she loves him."
Edric nodded, "Yup…that's why I have been pushing both of them to give their relationship another chance."
Amanda smiled faintly as she sat down beside him and said, "Do you think I would have gone to such extreme lengths to see you as well if you had been in danger?"
Edric didn't hesitate while answering, "You might haven't even boarded a carriage and ran all the way to see me."
Amanda grinned, "Quite confident you are."
Edric kissed the back of her hand tenderly as he whispered, "I trust the love we share."
Amanda didn't say anything to that, the smile on her face extending a little before she leaned forward and planted her lips on his.
—------**-------
In a different room, Celestria was told to lie down on the bed as Alex sat near the other end of the bed and rested her feet on his lap.
"I am…really fine-ah!" She winced in pain when his ointment-coated fingers made contact with her wounded feet.
Her once unblemished and fair feet were tainted with clotted blood spots and blue bruises.
She said she lost her shoes somewhere on the path, and she couldn't even remember which beast she fought against since her focus was on reaching her destination.
Seeing that frown on his face, the blond Princess couldn't help but ask, "Are you mad?"
"Yeah, I am." Alex instantly replied. However, his displeasure only made her smile.
Seeing that smile irritated him even more as he said, "Stop smiling."
Celestria instantly controlled her lips…however, she couldn't resist it for long.
His fingers slowly moved up her heel to cover all the bruises. He has already cleaned her wounds and applied antiseptic.
"I don't like when people needlessly care about me," Alex grumbled.
Celestria softly smiled before telling him, "But I am not 'people'...I am your friend and it's my right to get worried about my friend."
Alex looked at her sternly before telling her, "No friend goes to such extreme lengths for their friend. What if you had gotten yourself killed? Your father would have sentenced me to lifetime imprisonment."
Celestria shook her head and assured him, "I wrote a letter before leaving my room stating that I am doing this of my own free will and no one shall be blamed for this."
Alex stared at her blankly for a few moments before an audible sigh left his lips,
"What are you, Celestria?"
"Someone who doesn't want to see you get hurt." She softly held his hand as she got up and looked at him tenderly.
Alex was rendered speechless. This girl…why is she so persistent? This was not because of guilt or pity.
Her dedication and passion reminded him of Sarah. That girl could also go to some extreme lengths when it came to him.
Alex frowned, and after holding her hand firmly, he asked, "Celestria…do you love me?"
Celestria was struck at her place; her expression turned stiff, and colors faded from her face.
She….never thought about it. Maybe in a corner of her mind, she knew the answer; however, she continued to chase Alex in the name of friendship.
However, when Alex asked it directly, she wasn't able to say yes or no.
Alex heaved a sigh before telling her, "Your behavior must be making it seem like you love me….and that's not okay given you have to get married one day to a guy whom your father selects-"
"I don't want that!" Her strong refusal surprised Alex.
With her eyes closed and tears welling in them she repeated, "I don't want to spend my life with anyone else. To let them touch me…to let them call me fondly…to let them know my secrets…I don't want anyone else to have the right over it except for…"
"Me?" Alex asked, seeing that she paused near the end. Hesitant whether she should say it or not.
Celestria slowly opened her eyes and softly nodded. Just after not giving him a proper answer about her feelings, she confessed to him how she felt about Alex.
….how marvelous.
It would be a blatant lie to say that Alex didn't see it coming. Her attitude has changed ever since she returned from her home after Abeth's situation and he didn't know why.
He softly cupped her cheek before telling her, "I am unsure about how I feel about you so give me some time to think about it, okay?"
Celestria held his hand, pressing more firmly against her cheek as she asked,
"You…won't abandon me, right?"
Alex chuckled, "Even if I try to run away, this tracker would lead you to me."
Celestria smiled, "Am I caught?"
Alex slowly shook his head as he softly planted his head against hers and whispered,
"I am completely unaware when the innocent and sweet Celestria turned so crazy."
They remained together for another hour before Alex told her to rest and left the room.
He met David on the way. The dude looked too tired to even have a proper conversation so Alex asked him to rest as well.
"Alex." Just as Alex stood outside the room where the silver-haired lady rested, the headmaster called out.
Hector rested his hand on his shoulder before telling him, "Whatever you hear from her…remember that Soulforge will always be your home where you can return to any time you want."
Hearing those words, Alex was surprised. He realized that the whole mystery behind his unnatural awakening last night must be too severe for the Headmaster to say something like that.
He gave a firm nod before assuring the man, "I will keep it in mind, sir."
—-------**---------
A/N:- Thanks for reading. Drop a comment/review.
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