The Axe Death was a Stage 1 weapon. Although it had several unique traits, it wasn't particularly strong. It might have been powerful for an average human being, but it wasn't nearly strong enough to withstand a head-on attack from a Stage 5 Paragon.
This was Alex's first time channeling his bloodline power into the axe, and he had no idea what the effects would be. He hadn't even had a chance to check the system for details yet.
At the moment, both Alex and the humanoid wild pig stood frozen, staring at each other, equally stunned by what had just happened.
Quickly, Alex stepped back to a safe distance, his mind racing. He looked down at the axe in his hands, seeking answers.
The system responded instantly.
[0.000001% Bloodline Power has been shared to Death.]
[A few changes have been made:]
[Cancel Out: When used to block attacks, the weapon Death will cancel half of the power and force behind the attack. This effect varies based on the stage of the attack.]
[Call Ability Amplified: The host can now call Death back to their hand no matter where it is located on Earth. Note: Earth only.]
Seeing the updates, Alex's eyes widened in amazement.
The modifications made to the axe were incredible. He now understood why he hadn't been sent flying the moment the beast's Stage 5 attack connected. The axe had absorbed and neutralized a significant portion of the attack's power.
For a moment, Alex allowed himself to marvel at the weapon. But the looming threat of the wild pig brought him back to the reality of the situation.
He tightened his grip on the glowing axe, preparing for what might come next.
Through the system, Alex learned more about the wild pig humanoid standing before him. The creature had originally been a Stage 2 human who had evolved using a Stage 5 Shape-Shifting Stone.
While the stage of the stone itself didn't directly boost the man's power, the stone had been fused with a Stage 3 beast. Combining the man's original stage with that of the beast had automatically elevated him to a Stage 5 powerhouse.
This revelation intrigued Alex. He had recently picked up some knowledge about Shape-Shifting Stones and their mechanics. Their stages determined the compatibility and power gain of the user, often producing unpredictable results.
However, Alex didn't have much time to think further about the Shape-Shifting Stone or the other new abilities of his axe. The wild pig had already charged at him, closing the gap with incredible speed.
Reacting instinctively, Alex activated his Phantom Body ability. He knew there was no way he could keep up with the sheer speed and raw power of the beast without it.
As the beast lunged, Alex phased through its body, avoiding the direct impact. Spinning around in one fluid motion, Alex swung the axe horizontally, aiming for the creature's exposed side.
A large gash appeared on the beast's muscular chest, black blood dripping from the wound.
"Arrhrrg!!!" the wild pig roared in pain.
"I will kill... you!" it shouted, charging at Alex again with renewed rage.
Each time, however, Alex easily phased through the beast's attacks, countering with precise slashes from his axe. Each strike left another deep wound on the creature's body.
With every hit, the wild pig cried out in pain, but it kept coming, driven by its primal fury.
'I think it's best if I end this quickly,' Alex thought, noticing the beast's body now covered in countless slashes.
Alex stopped moving and locked eyes with the creature. "Unfortunately for you... I can't let you leave here. I don't have the ability to wipe your memory, so there's only one way to silence you," Alex said coldly.
He spun the axe in his hand several times, the weapon gleaming with a faint glow.
The wild pig, undeterred, let out a guttural roar and rushed at Alex with everything it had.
"Arghhh!!!"
Alex, calm and focused, waited until the last moment before bringing his axe down in a devastating swing.
---
Meanwhile, in another part of the mansion, Lucius and the rest of the Wyndham family were deep in their cultivation.
Suddenly, Lucius's concentration broke.
He opened his eyes, his senses alert to something unusual.
Without hesitation, he pulled out a chest from a concealed compartment nearby.
At first, the chest appeared empty, but moments later, a faint glow began to emanate from within. A ring with a green gem materialized inside, pulsating softly with energy.
Lucius's eyes narrowed as he stared at the ring, the glow reflecting on his face.
"Someone is here… Quick, close down all gates and doors! All security personnel, head to the gym! An intruder is here!" Lucius shouted, his voice filled with urgency.
Immediately, alarms blared throughout the mansion. Red warning lights flashed, casting an eerie glow across the hallways.
Several men dressed in black robes began running in all directions, moving with precision and purpose as they followed Lucius's orders.
Meanwhile, in another part of the mansion, Anna and Sera were in Anna's room, unaware of what was happening.
The room was decorated with a mostly black theme, creating a peaceful and elegant atmosphere. Sera leaned casually against a chair, enjoying the quiet.
But that peace was shattered when the alarms suddenly went off.
"For God's sake!" Sera exclaimed, throwing her hands up. "Can't things ever be normal here? It's always one issue or another!"
Anna, startled, moved toward the balcony. Sera followed closely behind.
Looking out, they could see the commotion below. Dozens of men in black robes were running around the grounds, their movements swift and coordinated.
"What's going on now?" Anna muttered, her eyes narrowing as she tried to make sense of the chaos.
"Is this place under some kind of attack?" Sera asked, her tone sharp and concerned.
"I don't know... Wait a minute... Alex!" Anna exclaimed, panic setting in.
Without hesitation, she ran toward the door, and Sera quickly followed.
When Anna opened the door, she was met with a man dressed in the same black robes they had seen earlier, standing rigidly in front of her room.
"Sorry, miss, but you can't leave now," the man said firmly.
"Get your damn ass out of the way!" Sera shouted as she stepped forward, attempting to push him aside.
But it was like pushing a rock. The man didn't budge an inch.
"I've been ordered to keep you inside your room until further notice," he repeated, his tone unyielding.
"Get out of my way!" Anna shouted, her voice laced with frustration and urgency.
The man stared at her for a few seconds, his expression unreadable. Then, to their surprise, he stepped aside without a word.
Wasting no time, Anna and Sera dashed into the mansion's hallway.
"Are you sure healing is the only thing you can do?" Sera asked breathlessly as they ran.
"I'm... not even sure anymore," Anna admitted, her mind racing.
After a few moments, they reached Alex's room. Strangely, the door was slightly ajar. Pushing it open, they stepped inside and immediately noticed someone there.
"You… What are you doing here?" Anna demanded, recognizing the man instantly.
"Making sure your son is safe," Eddie replied casually, turning to face them. "Though, from the looks of things, he's not in his room right now," he added with a teasing smirk.
"Alex isn't here? But how…" Anna's voice trailed off as she began frantically searching the room.
"The gym... Maybe he's there," Sera suggested.
"The gym?" Eddie asked, raising an eyebrow.
Neither Anna nor Sera bothered to respond. They turned and ran out of the room, heading toward the gym.
Moments later, they arrived.
The gym was located at the end of one of the mansion's many hallways, a secluded spot within the massive estate.
What caught Anna and Sera off guard was the group of people already gathered there. Among them were the Triple J's, Lucius, and a few others.
But the most shocking part?
Eddie, the same man they had just left behind in Alex's room, was standing there with the group.
'How did he...' Sera wondered, her thoughts trailing off as she and Anna reached the gym just in time to see the door wide open.
Inside, the gym looked intact. All the equipment was in place, untouched. At a corner of the room, Alex stood shirtless, his newly developed muscles on display as he balanced a long weight across his shoulders.
He turned to look at the group entering the gym, his expression confused.
"Alex...!" Anna cried out, running over to him to check if he was alright.
Meanwhile, the Triple J's, Lucius, and Eddie remained silent. None of them spoke a word. Instead, Lucius walked over to a section of the gym, his posture tense.
"Lead them out," Lucius instructed curtly. "And keep an eye on the boy. I'll want to question him later."
Anna, seeing that Alex was unharmed, let out a sigh of relief. She glanced at the Triple J's, her expression wary but calm.
Without further hesitation, Anna, Sera, and Alex left the gym together.
As they passed through the doors, Alex couldn't help but glance back over his shoulder at the group still inside the gym. His unease grew as he saw them gathering near one of the machines.
Once Anna, Sera, and Alex were gone, the atmosphere in the gym began to shift.
The equipment started to change, transforming piece by piece until the entire gym hall was optimized for Paragons. The surroundings seemed darker, heavier, and more ominous.
As the group turned their attention to the newly revealed gym, they were greeted by a gruesome sight.
Lying on the floor was a body, split vertically from head to toe, the clean cut running straight down the middle. Blood pooled beneath the lifeless figure, creating a chilling scene.
"What in the world happened here?" John asked aloud, his voice filled with shock and confusion.
The room fell silent, the weight of the discovery sinking in as everyone exchanged uneasy glances.