Chương 20: Chapter 19- Labyrinth(2)
*Chomp* *Chomp*
'Mm...' Alex frowned with his eyes closed. Faintly he could hear someone chewing something violently and with big bites.
The last thing he remembered was the realisation of the fact that they had entered a labyrinth full of dead beasts. And in the next moment, a very burdensome and irresistible force descended upon them.
"Ah...!" Suddenly Alex recalled seeing a huge black beast advancing towards them—making him realise the cause of his sudden fall.
Turning his head slowly, he opened his eyes. The smell of dead creatures and blood was making the air thick with murkiness.
Alex squinted his eyes and tried to discern the thing his eyes were met with....only to find his eyes widening slightly in shock.
Sitting on a rock, a man could be seen currently munching on the lifeless form of Maria, with his sharp canines glistening the darkness and extruding a life-threatening chill.
The man had long black hair and a pair of white-grey eyes that gave out a very ominous sensation even though they weren't directed at him.
'It...is not a human...' Alex couldn't read someone's Soul Energy, yet without that, he could tell that this person was inhumane.
Looking towards the ground, Alex found that Vlad's upper body was missing and the lower half was thrown away, surrounded by a pool of crimson fluid.
Eve was next in the line and if Alex tilted his head a little, he could see the raven-haired protagonist also lying there beside her.
'Fuck...why a wolfkin came here all of a sudden?!' By that sturdy build, long ears, and excessively long hair, Alex was certain that this being was a wolf.
"I know you are awake." The heavy voice resonated as the wolf continued to eat his meal and nonchalantly spoke.
He had not even once looked at Alex, yet he knew his consciousness had returned. How is that possible?
'I didn't even flinch...' Alex gritted his teeth; the only chance of surprise attack he had was now ceased.
Alex knew that escaping without damaging the inhumane was impossible. Not nearly but simply impossible.
From what Alex received from the former owner's body, dire wolves are the fastest race and, physically, without the addition of magic, are the strongest beings as well.
So, escaping without a confrontation was out of the question.
Alex clenched his fist and was about to get up...when suddenly he paused and saw Edric getting up from the ground.
Alex realized; so the wolf sensed him, not Alex?
Edric remained kneeling on the ground, his head turned towards Vlad and then it went to Maria, whose arm was peeking out of the man's mouth.
Edric's eyes remained lifeless, almost like he didn't care about what happened to them. But someone who knows him closely can tell what fury is brewing within him.
"So you killed them..." Edric voiced; his voice low and hoarse.
Getting up, he patted his clothes and dusted them off.
The wolf took a long burp after throwing Maria's lower half away before he asked, "Do you like the smell of blood?"
Edric remained silent, and very steadily he wore his steel knuckles. It seemed almost like he was going to have a causal spar with the inhumane, however, only Alex knew what was going to happen now.
He has to move away for now.
Extending his hand, he grabbed Valarie and prepared.
The inhumane creature licked his hand, "The smell of blood is no longer a necessity for me. But it feels entertaining to slaughter maggots. Seeing them crawl and beg for their life...it just fills me with a surge of excitement."
The wolf shared his hobbies and fondness towards murdering people.
However, Edric remained silent. He didn't release the firm grip over his emotional stability or this would end unfavourably.
Although his friends were killed and more were in danger, he didn't panic. He knew his role and Edric was well set on fulfilling it.
He has to kill the thing.
Edric clenched his fists, his steel knuckles gleaming in the dim light. He launched forward, striking out with a heavy blow aimed at the wolfkin's chest. But the man, still seated, raised a thick arm and swatted the punch aside like it was nothing. The force of it rattled Edric, but he held his ground.
"Have you guys taken an oath to disappoint those superior to you?"
Edric was not astonished by the fact that his magic erasing skill didn't work, since the wolf was physically quite strong.
Edric narrowed his eyes and opened his left hand. Pressing his thumb on the back of his middle finger, he forcibly pressed it down, and with a crunch, he broke his finger—followed by a strange pattern appearing on his hand that seemed like vines.
'Hmm? Elven sorcery?' The wolf tilted his head in surprise.
Edric then hit both his chest plates with his unharmed hand, and soon his muscles bulged, making him seem almost double his previous size.
The wolf was now intrigued, 'The inheritance of those monkey clans?'
Edric heaved a long breath, and his vision settled on his enemy, who no longer remained seated but now was standing above the boulder before he launched forward.
Disappearing in a streak of light Edric appeared right behind the wolf, with his leg raised above his head.
The wolf grinned before he twirled around and took the hit right on his head.
**BOOOOOOOOM**
The labyrinth shook, the surface sunk in and the boulder on top of which the Wolf stood was destroyed into fragments
Alex took the opportunity to take Valarie and Eve away. Inwardly he couldn't deny the fact that he was beyond astonished by the strength and speed Edric just showed.
'Sentinel of Hope...the right title for this guy....'
The dust cleared, not naturally, but by an extreme dash out of the cloud as Edric jumped away just as the wolf was about to tear Edric's leg with his maw now extended menacingly.
Edric paused, twirled on his feet and looked at his enemy, who had gained his beast form.
The wolf's gleaming eyes pierced the haze, catching the faintest glimpse of Edric's movement before lunging at him. Fangs bared, it closed the distance in an instant, but Edric, now in a trance-like state, sidestepped with brutal precision, using his soul-charged hand to land a punishing blow to the beast's ribs.
CRACK!
The wolf was flung into the labyrinth's stone wall, cracking its surface upon impact. But the beast wasn't fazed. In one fluid motion, it leapt off the wall and countered, its claws outstretched, aiming for Edric's chest.
Edric deflected the blow with his forearm, but the force pushed him back. He skidded to a stop, leaving deep grooves in the ground. His muscles bulged even further, his berserk state amplifying each movement, but his breathing grew erratic. He didn't have much time.
With a guttural roar, he dashed toward the wolf again, this time faster—faster than ever before. His fist collided with the wolf's skull, and for a brief second, the creature's snarl was replaced by a shocked grunt. The entire labyrinth trembled from the force, loose stone falling from the ceiling as dust choked the air once more.
Every time Edric's hand touched the wolf, a decent amount of Soul Energy was pulled out. However, none of it was affecting the creature's attacking power.
The creature darted behind Edric, jaws wide, fangs bared, but Edric spun on his heel just in time, the vine-like pattern on his hand glowing ominously. He thrust his hand into the wolf's side, and the pattern flared, drawing out some of the beast's soul energy.
The flesh of the wolf seethed as Soul Energy seeped through his flesh and was absorbed by Edric however, in the name of reaction, all the wolf gave was a smirk.
*Grab*
Edric's eyes widened as suddenly the wolf grabbed his hand.
'Shit!'
With savage speed, the beast lashed out, biting down on Edric's arm. Blood sprayed across the shattered boulders. Edric growled but didn't stop, using his other fist to hammer the wolf's snout repeatedly.
The ground beneath them cracked again, the shockwaves from their battle shaking the entire structure, but Edric knew he had to end it fast. His berserk power was fading, and the wolf showed no signs of slowing.
With one final surge of strength, Edric slammed his foot into the wolf's jaw, knocking it off him.
The wolf flew across the labyrinth and crashed against the wall.
With his chest going up and down violently, Edric returned to his original size.
Clouds of dust erupted; however, not even once did Edric think that the battle was over.
And as he thought,
"Haa~had me lose my cool just now..."
Cracking his neck, the wolf returned to his human state as he walked nonchalantly towards Edric, ready to finish what he started.
**SQUELCH**
However, under Edric and the Wolf's astonished gaze, something pierced through the beast's chest as he came to a pause.
The sword was familiar to Edric as he yelled,
"ALEX?!"
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A/N:- Thanks for reading.
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