Morris lunged at Seth with terrifying speed, aiming to cleave him in half. But Seth's bond with Peaches had already begun to show its power—the baby dragon wasn't just a weak creature anymore. Naming it had awakened something inside, and even now, it had grown stronger than its original form.
Peaches screeched, flapping its tiny wings with fierce determination. It surged toward Morris's greatsword, and from its mouth burst massive purple flames, swirling like liquid shadow fire. The inferno struck the blade, forcing it to halt for a split second.
Morris's eyes narrowed. With a swift adjustment, he redirected the sword, sending a razor-sharp slash humming through the air. A wave of brilliant blue energy followed the swing, slicing toward Seth's head with lethal precision.
Time seemed to slow. The energy wave screamed toward him—then, in a heartbeat, Peaches dove into its path. With a flash of crimson and violet light, the dragon created a shimmering barrier, pure and unyielding.
The slash slammed against the barrier with a deafening clang, sparks flying in all directions, but it didn't break through. It bounced harmlessly away, leaving Seth staring in awe at the small dragon that had just saved his life.
Peaches hovered in the air, wings beating furiously, eyes blazing. The little dragon wasn't just cute anymore—it was a force to be reckoned with.
Ohhh. So it seems the Dragon leveled up.
"No matter, I'll just have to increase power."
Morris shifted into a deadly stance, the tip of his massive greatsword aimed directly at Seth. The forest seemed to hold its breath as a brilliant blue aura surged upward from the blade, crackling with raw energy.
Bam!
The ground shattered beneath Morris's feet as he propelled himself forward with terrifying speed. In an instant, he appeared behind Seth, ready to strike him down.
But Peaches wasn't about to let that happen. The baby dragon's eyes glowed deep crimson, and from its tiny body erupted a radiance of burning red light. Six massive spheres of concentrated purple flame materialized above Morris's head, each pulsating with destructive energy.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The spheres detonated simultaneously, each explosion sending waves of scorching heat rippling through the air. Morris's stance wavered, though his aura remained fierce.
Peaches didn't stop there. Flames licked outward again, more controlled this time, each one sharper and more concentrated, striking with pinpoint precision. The concentrated fire roared against Morris's aura, forcing him to parry frantically, sparks flying as the two forces collided.
Seth gripped Peaches tightly, his heart pounding. This little dragon… she's more powerful than I imagined. If we keep this up, maybe we can survive this… maybe even turn the tables.
The forest trembled around them, leaves swirling in the chaotic storm of fire and energy. This was only the beginning.
All of a sudden, a cold, sharp pain tore through Seth's back. A blade had pierced him from behind. He coughed up blood, the metallic taste filling his mouth, and spun around, glaring at the attacker.
It wasn't Morris—he was still locked in combat with Peaches, his greatsword flaring with blue energy.
The figure before Seth was a woman, moving with lethal grace. She wore a hooded outfit that left both thighs exposed, sleek and practical for an assassin's deadly work. Every movement was precise, almost fluid, as though she were dancing between shadows.
In her hands, she wielded two daggers—one that had struck Seth and the other held ready, glinting ominously in the dim forest light. Her eyes, barely visible beneath the hood, shone with cold calculation.
Seth gritted his teeth, staggering slightly but refusing to fall. His mind raced. Two assassins at once? No… one mercenary and one assassin… and Peaches alone can't hold them both. I need a plan… fast.
Peaches screeched, sensing Seth's danger, and flames licked around the dragon once more, its eyes blazing with crimson fury. The forest seemed to contract around the three of them, the air thick with tension, fire, and impending death.
Blood continued to gush from Seth's wound, staining the forest floor and burning his vision with pain. Every heartbeat throbbed like a drum of warning.
Then, suddenly, a sound pierced the chaos.
Ding!
Purple messages appeared in the air before Seth's eyes, glowing like runes against the dim forest light:
{Blood has been shed.}
{Blood shall be absorbed.}
{Innate Strength increasing.}
{Innate Agility increasing.}
{Innate Endurance increasing.}
{Innate Intelligence increasing.}
{Unique Skill: Necromancy has fully awakened.}
A surge of raw power coursed through Seth, radiating from the wound and filling every fiber of his body. Pain twisted into energy, the blood he had shed fueling something ancient and dangerous within him.
His eyes blazed with newfound determination, and a chilling aura began to ripple outward. Peaches shrieked in excitement, flames dancing around her tiny form, sensing the awakening of Seth's true potential.
The assassin froze, sensing the sudden shift, and even Morris's grip on his greatsword faltered for just a heartbeat. The tide of the battle was about to change, and Seth—once the victim—was becoming something far more terrifying.
Seth's dull red eyes darkened, deepening into a molten crimson, slitted like a predator's. His silver-white hair whipped around his face with the wind, flowing like a ghostly banner of imminent death.
He bent down and plucked the knife from his wound, crimson-stained, and turned his gaze back to the assassin.
In the blink of an eye, the woman's head vanished. A gaping hole remained where her skull had been, a living outline of blood marking her death. Her body crumpled to the forest floor, and silence fell—a heavy, unnatural quiet that swallowed the rustle of the trees.
Seth straightened, letting the aura of power radiate from him. His expression was deadly serious as he fixed his gaze on Morris, who stood frozen, gripping his greatsword. The forest seemed to hold its breath, the air thick with tension and raw energy.
Then, without warning, Seth disappeared.
Morris's eyes widened as the wind shifted, leaves swirling around the spot where Seth had stood. A chill ran down his spine—the hunter had become a shadow, a predator unseen, and the balance of the battlefield had already shifted.