Path of BlooDld

A strange silence took over the place...

A silence so heavy that even the black birds circling above stopped cawing.

Ashen stood at one end of the arena, his shoulders bare, his body tense as if every cell was ready to explode. His eyes were blazing, yet he observed carefully, like he was inspecting prey, not an opponent.

On the other side, the mysterious figure held his spear calmly, moving it gently, as if the weapon was part of his breathing. But his eyes emitted an intent so sinister it would make envy tremble.

The mysterious figure muttered to himself, "Demon Eye."

Suddenly, his eyes turned dark purple, engraved in the center with a four-pointed star that spelled doom.

Ashen felt as if he was being scanned, as if someone was looking through him, reading all his secrets.

Mysterious figure: "Amazing... to think you've broken through the 10,000-kilogram barrier. You're indeed special. On top of that, your bloodline is vast—like an ocean. It feels like a fusion of many bloodlines, not just one."

"But if you think strength alone makes a difference, you're mistaken."

Ashen growled calmly,

"It may not make a difference..."

"But it's enough to shatter your bones."

A faint smile appeared on the mysterious figure's face. Then he replied coldly,

"Try me."

Ashen didn't wait any longer.

With one step, he vanished from his spot.

He charged at the figure like a panther, but it was as if the figure could see the future—he easily blocked Ashen's strike with his spear.

What followed was a fierce battle. Fist against spear. Blood against blood. Will versus will.

"Damn it... what's wrong with this guy?" Ashen thought. "None of my attacks are working. It's like he can predict every move."

"Hmph... Ashen, are you already losing hope?" the figure taunted. "Come on, we've only just begun. This level isn't even close to shaking me. My eyes are stronger than you think. To me, you're painfully slow."

"Slow, huh?" Ashen smirked. "Then let's increase the speed."

Sky Panther Rune—Activate.

A blood aura shaped like panther paws enveloped Ashen's feet, and then... he vanished again.

The mysterious figure was caught off guard. "Now this is getting a bit more interesting."

BOOM!

A direct hit to the chest sent the figure flying several meters, leaving a trail of destruction behind him.

Then suddenly, Ashen vanished again.

BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.

The mysterious figure was thrown again and again like a broken doll, crashing through several trees.

"Hmph." The figure wiped the blood from his mouth. "Entertaining. Show me more."

Suddenly, his spear began spinning at an insane speed, and he hurled it toward Ashen like a missile.

Blood Crocodile Rune—Activate.

Iron Skin—Activate.

Ashen's skin turned into black iron, covered with blood-red scales like a dragon's.

BOOOOOOM!

The spear hit him straight in the chest like a massive bullet, leaving a spiderweb-shaped crack in his skin and sending him flying dozens of meters.

"Hmph. What thick skin... but how long will it hold out? Come on, Ashen. Entertain me."

"You asked for it."

Ashen, like a panther chasing its prey, charged at the figure with blinding speed.

Blood Control—Direct Manipulation.

Countless blood threads shot out, binding the figure and hurling him toward Ashen.

Blood Bear Fist.

A devastating punch blew off half of the figure's body, throwing him into a pool of blood.

"Hah... was it over that quickly?" Even Ashen didn't understand what was happening. He approached the corpse...

"ARGH!" A sharp pain surged through his abdomen.

"What? What's happening?"

The body disappeared. What shocked Ashen was seeing the mysterious figure completely unharmed—his spear now stabbed into Ashen's gut.

Mysterious figure: "Surprise, isn't it?"

Ashen activated the Panther Rune again and instinctively leapt dozens of meters back.

"Damn it... what just happened? I'm sure he was... How did this...?"

Then suddenly, Ashen found himself surrounded by dozens of giant monsters.

"What... what is this? Where am I?!"

Slash. Slash. Slash.

Three bloody holes appeared in Ashen's chest as he suddenly found himself face-to-face with the mysterious figure again.