Reincarnated As The Side Character

Blood dripped down Maxwell's forehead, he stood firm, bracing himself for what he knew would be the final round against Malacosteus. The creature's large body towering over him, the markings on its body pulsing with unrestrained energy. Malacosteus, a being forced into this monstrous existence, carried only one wish to reclaim his humanity, no matter the cost.

Maxwell tightened his grip on his mace as the aura of his Ornament glowed brightly, engulfing his battered body in a faint outline. He took a steady breath, ignoring the pain. His opponent's glowing eyes were calculating his every twitch, every shift in stance, waiting to counter any move he dared to make.

Maxwell knew this was it, there would be no second chances.

Suddenly, without warning, Gladiolus appeared right behind Malacosteus. Malacosteus hadn't noticed the ample shadow behind him, perfect for Gladiolus to teleport to. In one quick motion, Gladiolus grabbed Malacosteus by the head with both hands and drove it forcefully into the ground.

Malacosteus growled, his long arms already coiling to strike back, but before he could retaliate, Gladiolus vanished into the shadows. It was as if he had become one with the darkness itself, his form flickering and dissolving like a ghost.

Malacosteus glowing eyes scanned the area, "You think hiding will save you?" his hands clawed at the ground in search of his ghostly opponent.

Maxwell, not wanting to let up the pressure, ran forward, gripping his mace tightly as he closed the distance to attack Malacosteus. His movements, though slower due to his injuries, were calculated. He knew he couldn't rely on brute force alone; he needed to anticipate his opponent's next move.

As expected, Malacosteus lashed out with one of his arms, a whip-like motion aimed to knock Maxwell off his feet. Maxwell narrowly dodged, his body twisting to the side. Just as he anticipated, the creature's other arm stretched out to grab him, but Maxwell was ready. He swung his mace, striking the arm and forcing it away with a loud crack.

Malacosteus growled in frustration, opening his mouth to unleash another blast of void energy. Maxwell reacted quickly, raising his mace and deflecting the deadly energy back toward its sender. The attack hit Malacosteus in the chest, causing him to stagger backward.

Gladiolus emerged from the shadows, exiting his ghostly form. He wrapped his arms around Malacosteus in a powerful grapple, lifting the monstrous creature off the ground. Gladiolus threw Malacosteus into the air before slamming him down with a impact that left a small crater on the ground.

Malacosteus flailed his arms as he tried to counterattack, but each time Malacosteus attempted to retaliate, Gladiolus went back into his ethereal form, blending with the shadows and evading the attacks. The teamwork between Maxwell and Gladiolus seemingly began to wear the creature down.

With a sickening rip, Malacosteus tore both of his arms off. The grotesque sight stunned Maxwell and Gladiolus for a brief moment. Almost immediately, new arms began to grow, twisting and pulsating unnaturally until they were fully restored, as if the act had cost Malacosteus nothing.

The severed arms, however, did not remain lifeless. They began to contort and convulse, their flesh bubbling and warping as jagged mouths filled with rows of needle-like teeth formed at the ends. A low hiss escaped from the appendages as they began to slither across the ground like snakes.

The first arm lunged at him jaws snapping inches from his face. He swung his mace hard, sending it flying to the side, but the second arm took the opportunity to strike. It darted low, aiming for his legs. Maxwell barely managed to leap back, the snapping jaws missing his shin barely.

"Not enough that you grow them back," Maxwell muttered, "you had to give them teeth too?"

The arms moved faster than he anticipated, Maxwell swung his mace again, this time shattering one of the mouths and sending fragments of jagged teeth scattering across the ground. But even as he landed the blow, the limb recoiled and began to reform, the shattered teeth regenerating almost instantly.

Gladiolus was nearby, stalking Malacosteus but not yet engaging. The two monsters observed one another, like two predators waiting for the right moment to strike. Maxwell knew he was on his own for now, with no backup to rely on.

The arms lunged again, this time in unison. Maxwell swung his mace hard, striking one mid-air and sending it crashing to the ground. The other twisted its path, dodging his strike and darting for his side. Maxwell pivoted, using the momentum to deliver a crushing blow that shattered the jaw of the second arm.

For a moment, Maxwell thought he had gained the upper hand, but the severed pieces began to regenerate, the grotesque mouths snapping back into shape. He clenched his teeth, sweat dripping from his forehead as he adjusted his stance. "No matter how many times I hit them, they just keep coming," he muttered.

The serpent-like arms widened their mouths, and dark energy began to swell within them. Maxwell cursed under his breath as they unleashed simultaneous blasts of void energy. "Great, another one of his tricks," he muttered, raising his mace. He swung it, deflecting the deadly energy blasts away, each one redirected harmlessly into the rubble surrounding them.

As he prepared for another assault, one of the serpentine arms lunged forward with unexpected speed, its fangs aiming straight for his neck. Maxwell barely had time to react, instinctively stepping back, but the snake was too fast. His eyes widened, certain this was the end, until a sudden explosion of void energy obliterated the creature mid-strike.

Maxwell staggered back, shocked. "W-What the—?" He glanced at the other arm, its mouth still smoking from a poorly aimed void blast. The second snake had accidentally fired on its partner, vaporizing it in the process.

A nervous chuckle escaped Maxwell's lips. "That was way too close..." He tightened his grip on his mace, the faint glow of his Ornament's aura pulsing around him. "Looks like my Ornament decided to finally start working," he muttered, a shaky laugh escaping him as he steadied his stance. His luck had turned the enemy's power against itself, a small victory, but one he wasn't about to take for granted.

"Your luck ends here," Malacosteus growled, he extended one of his arms toward Maxwell. Before the attack could reach him, Gladiolus emerged from the shadows,he grabbed the outstretched arm mid-strike, twisting and bending it with brutal force.

To Gladiolus's surprise, however, the arm didn't snap or shatter as expected. Instead, it writhed like a living whip, flexing unnaturally as if immune to the attack. Malacosteus began to grin.

"Impressive," Malacosteus said mockingly. "But you'll regret that."

Without warning, he leaped into the air, his talon-like feet clamping down on Gladiolus. "Let's take this to the skies!" he said as he began lifting them both high above the area.

Gladiolus thrashed to break free, but Malacosteus's grasp was too strong, they soared higher and higher. Below, Maxwell could only watch as both of them ascended.

"I have to do something..." Maxwell muttered as he deflected another blast of void energy from the serpent-like arms. Each impact vibrated through his mace, but an idea came to his mind.

Dodging another strike, Maxwell redirected the incoming energy blasts, each deflection bringing him closer to the snake-like limb. The serpent hissed and lunged at him, its jaws wide open, but Maxwell was ready. He grabbed the snake by its neck.

The creature thrashed violently in his grip, its dark energy surging as it tried to break free. Maxwell tightened his hold, his mace glowing faintly with the aura of his Ornament. He swung the serpent's head around, aiming it directly at Malacosteus.

"Let's see how you like it!" Maxwell shouted, forcing the serpent's mouth open as it began to charge another blast of void energy.

The serpent's blast of void energy struck into Malacosteus' head, sending a shockwave through his entire body. For a brief moment, his grip on Gladiolus weakened. Taking the opportunity, Gladiolus broke free from Malacosteus hold.

Gladiolus reappeared behind Malacosteus, wrapping his arms around the monstrous creature's torso, locking him in a powerful grip. Malacosteus struggled to break free against the grapple, but it was too late. With a loud crash, Gladiolus used the creature's own body as a cushion, slamming both of them to the ground. Rubble scattering in every direction as the force of the fall crumpled Malacosteus against the earth.

Maxwell forced the serpent's mouth shut, the creature's own energy erupting in a burst as it vaporized itself from the inside. "Not too smart, are they?" Maxwell muttered, wiping his forehead as he watched the remnants of the snake dissipate into nothingness.

He turned towards Gladiolus, his expression softening slightly. "Good work, Gladiolus," Maxwell said, he walked forward and pat Gladiolus the head.

There was no warning, no time to react. In an instant, eight long, jagged tentacles shot out from Malacosteus' body, their sharp tips piercing through Gladiolus body. The creature howled in pain as blood seeped from the wounds, dripping onto the ground. The tentacles dug deeper, twisting cruelly as Malacosteus slowly rose to his feet.

Malacosteus arms that were split into four tentacle like segments, were hardened into sharp tips, their edges like razor sharp daggers. Gladiolus struggled, trying to pull away, but the tentacles dug deeper.

As Malacosteus retracted his tentacle like arms, they snapped back like whips, striking at Gladiolus with brutal force. Each lash from them leaving deep craters in the ground where he stood. The final blow came as Malacosteus, his eyes glowing, unleashed a blast of void energy directly at Gladiolus. The blast sent Gladiolus crashing through a nearby building, debris flying everywhere.

Gladiolus lay motionless, he was knocked unconscious, his injuries too severe for him to continue the fight.

"Your attempt to defeat me was admirable, but you two were merely delaying the inevitable," Malacosteus said, his eyes glowed brightly as he observed the destruction of the area, the sight of Gladiolus, now defeated, sent satisfaction through him. "Now, you will serve as my fuel for my return to humanity."

He took slow steps towards Gladiolus motionless body.

Maxwell knew that without Gladiolus, the odds of defeating Malacosteus were slim. Every fiber of his being screamed to run, to escape the overwhelming power of this creature. But he couldn't. Not when his friend's life was on the line.

"Don't think you'll get away with this," Maxwell growled, stepping forward, his grip tightening on his mace. His body ached from the battle, but his resolve was unbroken. "I'm not done yet."

Malacosteus turned his gaze to Maxwell, "You think you can stop me?"

Maxwell tightened his grip on his mace and swung it with all the remaining strength he had. But Malacosteus effortlessly dodged the attack.

"Your overreliance on your Ornament of luck is pathetic," Malacosteus said, "You must've realized it by now... you're running on empty. Your mana is about to run out."

Before Maxwell could react, Malacosteus's claws flashed and slashed across Maxwell's chest. The claws tore through his clothes and flesh, blood sprayed in all directions as Maxwell staggered backward, struggling to remain upright. His breath hitched in his throat, his body weakening from the blow.

The pain was excruciating, but Maxwell's eyes remained locked on Malacosteus, fury burning in his eyes despite the pain. He couldn't afford to show weakness, not now.

"You're right," Maxwell muttered through gritted teeth, wiping blood from his mouth. "My mana is low... but that doesn't mean I'll stop." He tightened his grip on his mace, feeling the last bit of his remaining mana surge through him.

Malacosteus chuckled, watching the desperation in Maxwell's eyes. "You're a fool. The more you fight, the closer you get to your death. You cannot win against me."

Maxwell's mind raced as the world around him seemed to blur, but his determination remained clear. He couldn't afford to lose. Gladiolus was down, and the city of Calla Lily, everything was on the line. He had no choice but to push forward, even when every instinct told him to retreat.

Maxwell's body began to glow faintly at first, then brighter and brighter, the yellow aura surrounding him intensifying as his strength surged. The pain in his chest from the slashes seemed to fade into the background, replaced by an overwhelming energy. His breathing grew steadier, his resolve hardening as if his body were drawing from something far beyond what he knew.

Malacosteus narrowed his eyes, observing Maxwell's transformation. The creature's gaze darkened, as if trying to understand what was happening before him.

"Oh...?" Malacosteus murmured, a hint of disbelief in his voice. He took a step back, watching the yellow glow engulfed Maxwell. "This... what is this? Are you forcing one of your powers from your past life to return to you?"

Maxwell, his eyes now flashing with a strange intensity, didn't respond. His aura pulsed, growing in power and stability. The remnants of his mana were replenishing, not in the way he was used to, but in a different form, an ancient power, one he had long forgotten, starting to surface again. Maxwell could feel it; his past life's abilities.

Maxwell had no choice now. It was either this, or he would lose everything.

"Impressive," Malacosteus growled, "But I'm sure you're not even relying on tactical strategies. Your body is merely fighting for survival, isn't it? It's nothing more than instinct taking over. So I'm afraid this transformation won't be enough to save you."

Maxwell's glowing aura pulsed brighter, but Malacosteus seemed unfazed by it. The creature's posture shifted, his eyes narrowing. "You better make good use of whatever little mana you have left," he warned, his tone turning darker. "Use it wisely, because this is your last chance. Let's see if you can truly tap into that power you're awakening."

Without hesitation, Malacosteus opened his massive mouth wide, the glow intensifying in his throat as a flow of void energy began to surge forward. A blast of pure destruction, a beam of dark energy, shot toward Maxwell.

But Maxwell didn't flinch. He stood his ground, the yellow aura swirling around him, as if it were a shield of pure energy. The void energy collided with the aura, but instead of disintegrating him, it was absorbed. The destructive force seemed to vanish into the aura.

Malacosteus's eyes widened in surprise, his attack completely neutralized. "What...?" he muttered under his breath.

Maxwell's expression was calm as if the void energy had never even reached him. His transformation was complete, but it was more than just a physical change—it was a shift of will, a return to something older.

Malacosteus's eyes narrowed as he observed Maxwell's glowing aura. His claws twitched in frustration, and he unleashed a barrage of void energy blasts, one after another. The blasts came faster, more ferocious, but each one was absorbed by Maxwell's aura.

"Impossible..." Malacosteus growled, "This new power, no, this new Ornament... Could it be energy absorption?"

He backed away, his eyes scanning Maxwell's body as if trying to decipher this new ability.

The more energy Malacosteus unleashed, the stronger Maxwell seemed to grow. It was as though he had become a conduit for the very energy Malacosteus tried to destroy him with.

"No matter how much you absorb, you can't escape your fate. Your mana will eventually run out, and when it does, you will be mine."

Maxwell gritted his teeth, his arm outstretched as he gathered the void energy in his palm. The swirling mass of destructive power began to form slowly expanding. The air sparked around him, the ball grew larger, its dark core pulsating with a force that seemed to draw in everything around it.

Malacosteus eyes glowed brighlt, more intense, as he realized what Maxwell was trying to do. "You think you can redirect my power back at me? You'll regret that!"

Malacosteus opened his mouth wide and unleashed a beam of void energy. The dark beam shot forward. But Maxwell was already ready. He launched the massive ball of void energy toward Malacosteus.

The beam of void energy Malacosteus fired strained against the ball, but Maxwell's attack was amplified. Malacosteus struggled to hold his ground, his talons digging into the ground as he fought to maintain control over his own blast.

The energy from Maxwell's ball surged forward, forcing Malacosteus's beam to weakened. Sweat dripped from the creature's face, and his eyes widened in realization, he was being overpowered. The beam he fired began to collapse under the weight of Maxwell's amplified attack, inch by inch, until finally, the void energy ball surged forward, slamming into Malacosteus with a violent impact.

Malacosteus roared in agony as the blast struck him square in the chest, his entire body engulfed in a burst of dark energy. The ground beneath him cracked and shattered from the force, sending debris flying in all directions. The creature's form staggered back, the overwhelming force of Maxwell's attack pushing him to his knees.

Maxwell stood, panting heavily but determined. He knew he had pushed himself to the edge, but now, with Malacosteus weakened from the blast, this might be his only chance to finish it.

Just as Maxwell raised his mace, ready to deliver the final blow, the aura that had been engulfing his body, the very essence of his Ornament began to flicker and fade. His limbs felt heavy, his energy completely drained. The overwhelming surge of power that had fueled his attack vanished in an instant. His vision blurred slightly, and he staggered, realizing that he was completely out of mana.

Malacosteus, still weakened from the blast, let out a mocking laugh. His body trembled as he weakly stood to his feet. "How ironic," he hissed, "Your Ornament of luck didn't outweigh my own luck. You relied too much on that fleeting power of yours."

Maxwell's grip on his mace loosened as exhaustion began to settle in. His body felt like lead, and he knew, deep down, that he no longer had the strength to continue. Every movement felt sluggish, each breath a struggle. He had pushed himself to the brink, and now, with his energy depleted, there was nothing left.

Malacosteus slowly stood, his torn body still alive. His eyes never left Maxwell, and though he was clearly injured, he took safisfication in the sight of his opponent's weakness. "You were so close," he taunted. "But you never had the strength to defeat me. Now, you'll join the others as fuel for my return."

Maxwell's body refused to cooperate. He had no more tricks left, no more power to rely on. It was all over.

"Time to feast..."