I moved in a flash—so fast, in fact, that Elrodan and Rena didn't even have time to react.
My shadow seemed to vanish from view.
I appeared right in front of Elrodan.
My right hand was imbued with dark magic that swirled like a deadly vortex.
BOOM!!
My punch struck Elrodan hard in the gut.
His body was sent flying, shattering the trees behind him before hitting the ground with an earth-shaking thud.
Wasting no time, I grabbed Rena's hand.
With all my might, I threw her into the air like a lightweight corpse.
My hand glowed black again. Demonic aura condensed around my fist.
[FOREFIST PUNCH]
A straight punch filled with pressure and destructive power.
The energy slammed into Rena midair with devastating force, creating a shockwave as my fist collided with her.
The sky seemed to shake as Rena's body flew back like a meteor falling from the heavens.
"HAHAHAHA! This body is incredibly strong!" I shouted with a gleeful laugh, feeling a surge of power coursing through me.
Suddenly, Rena appeared behind me.
[PHANTOM SLASH]
Her body moved as fast as lightning—and vanished. Only a faint shadow remained in the air.
I turned and managed to block her attack, though her energy blade nearly pierced my shield.
But from behind the cloud of smoke and chaos.
ZRAKK!
Elrodan unleashed his attack.
[SNIPE]
A magic arrow shot sharply, aiming precisely for my weak point. The precision and power of the moon magic within it were enough to pierce even a demon's hide.
[DEMON HAND]
My demonic hand struck the air, creating a wave of force that stopped Elrodan's arrow mid-trail. A small explosion erupted as the moon magic and demonic magic collided.
I stared at them with a lopsided smile. My body began to feel lighter, as if new power was constantly awakening within me. My muscles, reflexes, and magic—all of them were developing faster and faster.
"The longer I fight, the more perfect this body becomes."
I taunted them with a sharp glare.
"Is that all? Is this your power, Hero?"
Overwhelmed with emotion, Elrodan attacked recklessly. Arrow after arrow shot toward me, each imbued with deadly moon magic. Rena followed from the other side, her magic sword gleaming with a piercing moon aura.
Their combination was brutal.
Rena slashed from below, Elrodan rained down blows from above. They protected each other, filling in the gaps. But I remained in the storm—smiling, relishing the pressure that was further evolving me.
I parried Elrodan's attack, then darted behind Rena in the blink of an eye. My arms wrapped around her neck, gripping her tightly from behind.
Rena was startled and tried to break free.
"Let go of me, demon!" she screamed, struggling furiously.
I grinned. My grip tightened, restricting her movements.
[BLOODY BITE]
My fangs sank deep into her neck. Holy Elven blood flowed freely into my body—warm, strong, and filled with the power of light magic. Rena's body went limp for a moment, her magic power starting to become unstable.
Her breathing was heavy, her face pale.
"Your blood is truly extraordinary," I whispered in her ear.
Seeing this, Elrodan roared in rage.
[FATAL SHOT]
A glowing arrow shot out at incredible speed, heading straight for my head.
I immediately released Rena and took a few steps back, grinning as I stared at Elrodan.
"Why do you always get in our way, Elrodan?" I said quietly, but sharply.
Elrodan stared at me with piercing eyes, as if he no longer recognized who stood before him.
"You're not the same Neil as before. You've changed."
I laughed lowly, my voice echoing like the deep echoes of hell.
"Changed?" I stepped forward, a dark aura surrounding me. "You're the reason. You betrayed me. You burned my trust to ashes."
I clenched my fists, my rage burning the night sky.
"And because of that, I will kill you slowly. So slowly that you'll beg for death."
My rage reached its peak. This was no time for play.
[LION RAGE]
A dark aura exploded from my body, enveloping my entire being with brutal power like a wild lion unleashed.
[RAVING STORM]
A roaring wind aura swirled around me, my speed soaring—my movements becoming a blur that was hard for the naked eye to follow.
[CLASH OF ENMITY]
I pulled Elrodan with brutal magical force. His body was pulled forcefully, hurtling toward me without any resistance.
"ARGHH—!"
As soon as he was in front of me, I struck him.
My first punch slammed into his stomach. The second into his face. The third, into his hand. Then it all came crashing down—without pause.
Bugh! Crack! Blarrgh!
Elrodan tried to block, but he wasn't a melee fighter—he was just an archer. His body wasn't built to withstand this kind of brute force.
"You can shoot, but you can't survive hell!" I shouted, smashing him deeper into the ground, making the ground beneath us crack and tremble.
Blood spurted from Elrodan's mouth, but my anger wasn't quenched.
I kept pounding away—blow after blow mercilessly pounding his body, sinking him deeper into the ground like a worthless carcass.
Rena tried to step forward to help him, but her body was trembling. Her instincts screamed that I could kill her at any moment.
Despite her trembling, Rena tried to stand. Her hand still gripped her sword, though it was unsteady.
Elrodan was losing consciousness. His breathing was labored, his eyes half-closed, and blood flowed from his wounds.
I pulled his right hand up—that hand, the symbol of an archer's power.
CRACK!
The sound of bones breaking. The arm was torn from his body in one brutal slam.
Blood sprayed onto the ground, forming a thick, dark red puddle.
"An archer's hand is everything. And now, you are nothing," I said coldly, mockingly.
Elrodan screamed—a heartbreaking scream that echoed throughout the village, now transformed into an elven graveyard.
Suddenly, a hail of arrows fell from the sky, blanketing the battlefield.
I leaped back, leaving Elrodan's body lying there. But strangely—the arrows didn't harm him in the slightest.
Does moon magic only target demons? I thought sharply.
I turned in the direction of the attack.
My eyes widened.
Ten... twenty... thirty... one hundred... one thousand...
More than two thousand elven knights emerged from the forest, their armor gleaming, their weapons at the ready. The ground trembled with their footsteps, and the air felt heavy with the pressure of their magic.
A dashing elf in silver robes and the royal crest on his chest stepped forward. His aura of leadership was striking.
"My Lord, we apologize for arriving late!" he said, kneeling before Elrodan. His voice was firm yet filled with respect.
I looked at him—their leader. It was so clear.
He helped Elrodan to his feet, while Rena supported his other side.
"Ugh—it's all right, Roger," Elrodan said hoarsely, blood still dripping from his mouth.
Roger glared at me, his eyes burning.
"Better late than never," Elrodan muttered. He then looked at his troops. "Help me kill this demon—the creature that has destroyed our village!"
"YES, MY LORD!" Roger shouted, along with thousands of elven knights, in unison, creating a battle cry that shook the heavens.
I stood there with a cold smile on my face, while my demon army began to gather neatly behind me.
In front of me, thousands of elves prepared to attack—but I felt no fear whatsoever.
"We are only 200 demons. Our enemy has over 2,000. Isn't this just fun?" I said sharply, looking at my troops one by one.
Zereth grinned, his eyes gleaming with bloodlust.
Selena gripped her axe with a sadistic smile.
Nana twirled her sword and shield, the wounds on her body not dampening her spirits in the slightest.
Malrik laughed softly, like a wild animal.
"Exactly, My Lord," Zereth replied firmly.
I opened my arms and raised them into the air.
"Remember... in this world, only the strong deserve to rule."
My wings spread wide—dark, towering, like those of an angel fallen from heaven. A black aura blazed from my body, enveloping the entire field.
[ULTIMA LION RAGE]
Instantly, a dark aura spread like a storm. My troops' bodies trembled—their bones hardened, their muscles swelled, their strength increased manyfold.
Their smiles now became bloodthirsty fangs.
I leaped into the air, piercing the sky. From above, I assumed a stance.
[DRAGON SHOT]
My right hand pointed downward—and from my palm, an aura shaped like a giant dragon's head shot out, roaring ferociously.
BOOM!