They all watched in horror and confusion as the fresh blood on the ground began to rise.
The crimson liquid lifted slowly, swirling in the air before drifting toward Akhil, thickening into a red mist that pulsed faintly with life.
'This is harder than I thought,' Akhil muttered inwardly, gritting his teeth.
Each movement of the blood drained his strength—it felt like forcing a broken arm to move. But as the mist drew closer, the resistance lessened. Control came easier, smoother, as though the blood itself was starting to recognize him.
And then—
{Ding!}
{Energy source: Blood Essence has been depleted.}
{Skill — Blood Absorption has been activated.}
The red mist curled tighter around him, twisting like smoke before melting into his body.
It seeped through his pores, flooding his veins with warmth—a rush so intoxicating it made his eyes flicker. The sensation was eerily familiar, the same euphoric surge he had felt when he first drew blood from Nibo.
The others could only watch. The scene was both mesmerizing and terrifying.
Samxon was the first to snap out of it, his instincts screaming danger.
"What are you all waiting for?! Shoot the bastard!" he roared, snapping his men from their trance.
Rifles lifted in unison, and without hesitation, a barrage of bullets erupted toward Akhil.
Aria's eyes widened. She didn't waste a second.
"Nibo! Protect him until he's done—whatever he's doing!" she shouted.
"You don't need to tell me!" Nibo bellowed back, stepping forward.
His body darkened, skin hardening into a thick, stony texture as he crossed his arms above his head. The bullets struck him with sharp metallic clinks— ding! ding! ding!—sparking off harmlessly.
Nibo gritted his teeth, the sheer force of the shots rattling through his frame.
Aria moved at that moment, her figure blurring. In an instant, she was among the shooters, her blades flashing. Cries filled the clearing as she slashed through rifles and arms alike, leaving chaos in her wake.
Samxon's face twisted with rage. "Enough!" he barked, turning to the cloaked figure beside him.
"Go deal with her before she ruins everything!"
The man gave a silent nod and vanished toward Aria's direction.
Samxon then turned to his second right-hand man—a giant of a soldier, broad as a wall.
"You," Samxon growled, pointing forward. "Handle the stone brute. I'll take care of their boss myself."
He drew his weapon and took a step forward, eyes locked on Akhil.
But before he made his move—
He threw a poisonous glare at the two hostages who had brought back the information from the orc camp.
The men instantly stiffened under his gaze, their faces pale.
"Didn't you say his ability was hardening?!" Samxon roared, his voice shaking the air.
"S-sir! I was sure—that was what we saw him use earlier!" the plump one stammered, taking an involuntary step back.
Samxon's lips curled into a snarl. "Then you better make up for it. Make sure none of these bastards leave here alive. If they do, you two will pay with your heads!"
Cold sweat ran down their necks. The two men exchanged a terrified glance before rushing forward to join the fight, desperate to avoid the fate promised by Samxon's words.
Samxon turned his gaze back to Akhil. The arrogance that had once marked his face began to fade, replaced by a flicker of caution.
He stretched out his hand toward one of his men. "My gauntlets."
Without hesitation, the man hurried over, carrying two black gauntlets that shimmered faintly under the light. Samxon grabbed them and slipped them on, the metal snapping into place with a mechanical click.
'What kind of ability is that?' he thought, his eyes narrowing as he watched the strange mist of blood swirling around Akhil. He didn't have time to dwell on it. Whatever it was, it reeked of danger.
He began walking forward, his boots crunching on the forest floor. Electric arcs started crawling across his gauntlets, flickering with each step like angry serpents.
Meanwhile, Akhil remained still, lost in his trance as system notifications flooded his vision.
{Ding!}
{A mix of low-quality blood cells found}
{Extracting and filtering…}
{Blood essence: 1500}
{Absorbing gene contents}
{Gene contains healing abilities — Host has earned ability: Healing (Low Level)}
{Gene contains elemental affinity: Darkness — Host has earned elemental affinity (Low Level)}
{Darkness: 10/100}
A surge of raw energy flooded Akhil's veins.
His senses sharpened instantly—his heartbeat thundered in his chest, the metallic scent of blood filled his nostrils, and his muscles tensed like drawn steel. He could feel the system rewriting him, layer by layer, embedding new power into his body.
After what felt like an eternity, his eyes fluttered open. The red glow in his pupils deepened into a darker hue, almost black.
Ahead, Samxon continued to approach, the currents around his gauntlets crackling with volatile energy.
"I don't know what freakish ability you've got," Samxon said, a smirk crawling back onto his lips, "but it'd be stupid to think you can beat me. I'm level twenty already. Not many in this world can say that."
Akhil's lips curled faintly. "For someone who brags this much, that's… quite an achievement."
"You bastard!" Samxon snarled and charged forward.
Akhil's gaze flicked toward the faint red mist circling him. 'If it's closer, it's easier to control… like a second hand. But farther away, it resists me.'
He tightened his grip on his dagger, focusing his will. Instantly, the surrounding blood curled around the blade, coating its edges in a dark crimson sheen.
Samxon's pace quickened—his steps turned into strides, then a full sprint. Sparks scattered around him, and the ground cracked under his speed.
'I don't care what ability you've got,' Samxon thought coldly. 'You won't live long enough to use it.'
As he neared Akhil, he leapt high into the air, both gauntlets raised. The electric charge between them coalesced, forming a blinding sphere of light that hummed with destructive power.
The system flashed before his eyes:
{Skill — Zeus Bolt Activated!}
Bolts of lightning erupted downward, splitting the air with a deafening roar. The sky above flickered white, and for a brief moment, the entire forest was bathed in searing light.
And in that split second, Akhil next move left Samxon in deep regrets.