Chapter 12: Mental Breakdown
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Status
Name: Kai Ember
Title: The Progenitor of Vampires
Rank: High Tier Warrior
Attribute Points: 0/5
Vigor: High Tier Warrior
Mind: High Tier Warrior
Endurance: High Tier Warrior
Strength: Low Tier Elite
Dexterity: High Tier Warrior
Intelligence: High Tier Warrior
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With his strength now at a low-tier elite level, Kai felt a surge of power. Though he knew he still couldn't face the anaconda directly, his chances of success had risen.
Kai crept back towards the main cavern, where the anaconda's rampage continued. Symon was backed against a wall, his face pale with terror as the massive serpent loomed over him.
"System Control Battle Mode," Kai commanded.
Instantly, the system took over. His movements became more precise, more powerful. He felt like a spectator in his own body. The system prepared an attack, channeling half of his mana into a single, potent strike.
"[Innate Skill: Blood Magic: Blood Spear]!" the system intoned, his voice a blend of his own and the system's. His hands moved swiftly, cutting his palm to draw blood.
The anaconda, sensing the bloodlust, turned its attention from Symon to Kai. It hissed, eyes locking onto its new target.
Kai's body moved fluidly, every motion optimized for efficiency. He leapt to the side, narrowly avoiding the anaconda's lunge. The Blood Spear materialized, a crimson weapon crackling with dark energy. With a swift motion, Kai hurled it at the anaconda. The spear flew true, piercing its thick hide and embedding deep within.
The beast roared in pain, thrashing wildly. Blood sprayed from the wound, splattering the cavern walls.
Seeing his opportunity, Kai's body reacted instantly. He rushed forward, nails lengthening into sharp claws. He aimed for the creature's eyes, its most vulnerable spot.
With a decisive plunge, Kai drove his claws into the anaconda's eye, twisting them to maximize the damage. The eye burst in a shower of blood and viscous fluid, coating Kai in gore. The creature let out a final, earth-shattering roar before collapsing, lifeless.
Kai stood over the fallen beast, panting heavily, his body trembling with exhaustion. He had survived.
But as he turned, he saw Symon standing there, his face twisted with anger and frustration.
"Why were you hiding your power?" Symon snapped. "If you had that strength all along, why didn't you save me earlier?"
Kai glared at him. "I saved you, didn't I? Isn't that enough?"
"No, it's not!" Symon shouted, his eyes burning with frustration. "What if I had died? You could have killed the anaconda from the start."
Kai clenched his fists, but before he could respond, the ground shook again, and the anaconda let out another furious roar.
"Shit," Kai muttered.
He searched for Symon, but the man had disappeared. Then he heard a mocking laugh. Symon, now near the exit, had other plans.
"You know," Symon said, a sinister smile creeping across his face as he began to charge a powerful attack, "if I kill the anaconda and you along with it, I can take all the credit."
Kai's eyes widened in shock. "What are you talking about?"
Symon unleashed his attack, a massive energy blast aimed at both Kai and the anaconda. "Goodbye. This will make me famous."
The blast hit them both, sending Kai flying and severely injuring the anaconda. Kai felt a searing pain as he was thrown across the clearing, his body battered and bruised. The anaconda, now enraged, went berserk, its roars echoing throughout the cave.
Symon's eyes widened in horror as the anaconda turned its wrath on him. "No... no!" he screamed, but it was too late. He turned and ran, abandoning Kai to face the creature alone.
Kai struggled to his feet, vision blurred from pain. The anaconda rampaged, eyes filled with fury. "System... Flask," he whispered.
He drank two health potions and one mana potion. Even with his health and mana restored, his mind was still reeling. "System Control Battle Mode," he activated again.
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System Control Battle Mode Activated: Host's actions will be optimized for maximum efficiency and effectiveness in combat.
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He dodged the anaconda's attacks, striking back with claws enhanced by his remaining strength. Despite overwhelming odds, the system fought on, every move calculated to exploit the anaconda's weaknesses.
The battle raged on, and Kai felt his body reaching its limits. The anaconda was relentless, but so was he. Drawing on every ounce of his strength, he launched a final, powerful strike, driving his claws into the creature's head. The claws tore through flesh and bone, sending a spray of blood and brain matter across the cavern.
The anaconda let out a final, agonized roar before collapsing, defeated.
Kai stood over the fallen beast, panting heavily, his body trembling with exhaustion. He had done it. He had survived.
But the betrayal lingered in his mind, fueling his resolve. "I'll make you regret this, Symon Nuballs."
.....
The next day, a young man wrapped in bandages lay asleep, his body resting after the grueling battle. The piercing ring of his phone broke the silence, waking him up. Groggily, he reached for it and saw Hanabi's name on the screen.
After yesterday's harrowing events, Kai had managed to rest for a bit before dragging himself to the campsite outside the cave. There, he bandaged his wounds and drank potions, restoring his physical health. However, his mind remained exhausted. He had slept for 15 hours straight and now, at noon, he felt the weight of the past day settling on him.
He fixed his hoarse voice by drinking water. When he answered the call, he tried to contain his tears. "Hello, my dear little sister."
His mind was jumbled. What if I had died? What would happen to Hanabi? What if I survived but was left paralyzed for life? Questions swirled in his head.
I'll kill that guy. I'll make him suffer. He was on the verge of a mental breakdown. His transformation into a vampire progenitor had boosted his emotions to an overwhelming level.
All those thoughts vanished when he heard his little sister's voice.
"Brother, when are you coming back?" Hanabi's voice made him tear up.
"I miss you already, brother," she continued.
"Brother?" she asked, concerned. "Are you okay, brother? Are you sad Hanabi isn't with you?" she asked innocently.
Kai took a deep breath, forcing a happy voice. "I'm fine, just... tired. It was rough. I really miss my sweet little sister."
"Heheheh," she laughed, making Kai feel a little better.
Kai took another deep breath. "I'll be back tomorrow, okay? I'll buy you your favorite ice cream."
"Yay! I love you, brother. Bye-bye," she said excitedly.
"Love you too, my dear little sister," he said before ending the call.
........
In a large room in a hospital, Symon lay on a bed, his body wrapped in bandages. The sterile smell of antiseptic filled the air, mingling with the faint scent of apples. A woman sat beside him, carefully peeling an apple with a small knife, the rhythmic motion oddly soothing.
She glanced at Symon, her eyes sharp and probing. "I sent people to the cave," she began, her voice calm and measured. "They found the anaconda. Apparently, they said it died due to the cave collapsing from a strong attack... from you."
Symon's heart skipped a beat, his mind racing. He forced himself to remain calm, schooling his features into a mask of composure. "Yes," he said, his voice steady. "I killed it."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone