Chapter 52: Unleashed Darkness
Zodac stepped forward, Kogestu gripped tightly in his right hand, the blade humming faintly as if it sensed the end drawing near. The ground beneath his boots was cracked and scorched, a battlefield scarred by lightning, fire, wind, and blood. Smoke still clung to the air in heavy curtains, carrying the bitter scent of burned flesh and charred earth.
The beast turned to face him.
Even wounded, even battered, it was still terrifying.
It snarled, saliva mixed with blood dripping from its jagged maw, and then it lunged.
Its massive fist tore through the air toward Zodac's head.
The **war shield** materialized around his left arm in a flash of green light. Zodac raised it just in time.
**BOOM.**
The impact thundered across the battlefield—but unlike before, Zodac barely moved. His boots dug into the dirt, cracks spreading outward, yet his body remained upright.
His eyes narrowed.
*It's weaker.*
The realization struck him instantly. The force behind that punch—once overwhelming, once capable of shattering trees and sending him flying—was diminished.
*At least ten times weaker,* he calculated coldly.
Zodac did not waste the opening.
He pivoted and slashed.
Kogestu cut deep into the creature's forearm.
"**ROOOOAAAARRR!**"
The monster screamed, staggering back, clutching the bleeding limb. Blackened blood sprayed across the ground as it roared in pain and fury. Enraged, it retaliated, swinging its other fist wildly.
Zodac blocked again.
Then slashed again.
Another roar.
Each exchange chipped away at the beast's strength, its movements growing more erratic, more desperate. Zodac advanced slowly, deliberately, like a predator cornering wounded prey.
"Kogestu—**Whirlwind**."
He swung.
A sharp crescent of energy tore through the air toward the monster. It twisted its body, barely dodging, but the edge of the slash grazed its chest. Flesh ripped open. Blood sprayed violently as the creature stumbled backward, claws digging into the dirt to keep itself upright.
Zodac pressed forward.
He thrust Kogestu straight toward its chest, aiming to finish it.
But in a sudden burst of instinct, the monster slammed its fist into the blade itself.
The impact knocked Kogestu from Zodac's grip.
The sword spun through the air, clattering far across the battlefield.
Before Zodac could summon it back, the beast snapped.
It exploded into motion.
Like a berserk boxer driven by adrenaline, it unleashed a storm of punches—left, right, downward smashes—each blow ferocious despite its injuries.
Zodac brought the war shield up, absorbing hit after hit.
**BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.**
Each strike rattled his bones, pushed him backward inch by inch. His breathing grew heavier, chest burning. Then—without warning—the monster changed rhythm.
An uppercut.
Zodac barely twisted aside, the fist grazing past his jaw.
But it wasn't done.
Its massive hand shot forward and clamped around Zodac's throat.
Everything went tight.
The war shield vanished instantly as the grip crushed his windpipe.
Zodac's feet lifted slightly off the ground.
He gasped, fingers clawing at the beast's arm as darkness crept into his vision.
In desperation, **RAYGUST** materialized in his right hand.
"Flame… thrust…"
The blade ignited in roaring fire.
Zodac drove it into the monster's wrist.
The beast growled in pain—but it did not release him.
Instead, it reared back and slammed its other fist straight into Zodac's stomach.
The pain was indescribable.
Zodac's eyes went wide. Blood exploded from his mouth as the force ripped through his core. His body folded inward, strength draining in an instant.
Roxy screamed his name.
She raised her staff, desperation flooding her face.
"Typhoon!"
The orb glowed faintly—then went dark.
Her arms trembled.
"I… I don't have enough mana…"
She watched helplessly as Zodac collapsed to his knees, blood dripping steadily from his lips.
The monster tightened its grip, now choking him in earnest, pressing down on his shoulder and neck, determined to crush the life from him.
Zodac did not resist.
He knelt there, motionless, breath shallow, vision dimming.
*So this is it.*
His thoughts slowed, drifting.
*I failed…*
*I failed Roxy.*
Of all the people he had met in this cursed world, she was the one who had trusted him completely. She could have run. She should have run. Yet she stayed—again and again.
His mind betrayed him, dragging up memories he despised.
*Kerra.*
The name burned.
*Did she ever love me?*
The answer came bitter and clear.
*No.*
He remembered her words—sharp, cruel, unforgettable.
*"I've just been using you to make my ex jealous."*
A hollow laugh echoed in his skull.
*Why did I even bother?*
He lifted his head slowly, forcing his gaze up to meet the monster's glowing eyes.
"I don't care…" he rasped.
"Even if I die…"
His voice hardened.
"I'm taking you with me."
The world flickered.
The **system panel** burst into existence before his eyes.
---
**
**
**
---
The orb embedded in his arm ignited.
Not green.
Not blue.
It turned **dark purple**, radiating an eerie, violent glow that made the monster hesitate for the first time.
The beast snarled and hurled its fist toward Zodac's face.
A medium-sized **Hectorgon shield**, blood-red and angular, materialized instantly before his head.
The punch struck it—hard—but failed to break through.
The monster went berserk, pounding at the shield again and again.
Meanwhile, the system panel glitched violently.
---
**Elemental: W—OD LV 24**
**
**Affinity: ???
**Skills: ???
---
The text warped, letters breaking apart.
Zodac raised his trembling hand and placed it against the monster's arm.
The system panel went completely black.
Only one name appeared.
---
**
---
"Dark Source," Zodac whispered.
The orb erupted.
Purple energy surged violently through his body, racing up his arm and spreading across the left side of his face like glowing veins. His jaw, cheek, lips, nose—everything ignited with pulsating violet light.
His left eye turned fully purple, glowing with unnatural intensity.
"Alexia… Blaze."
Purple flames detonated outward.
The monster screamed as fire engulfed the arm gripping Zodac's throat. It released him instantly, staggering backward, clutching the burning limb as its flesh charred and cracked.
Zodac rose to his feet.
He no longer looked human.
His aura was monstrous—violent, oppressive, suffocating.
Fear flickered in the beast's eyes.
It swung its remaining arm in panic.
Zodac caught it effortlessly.
The ground shattered beneath them.
"Alexia Blaze."
Another eruption of purple fire consumed the limb, forcing the monster back with a deafening roar.
Kogestu reappeared in Zodac's hand.
The blade no longer glowed red.
It shone **violet**, blazing like a star forged in hellfire.
"Alexia Blaze… **Whirlwind**."
He swung.
A massive wave of purple energy tore through the air.
The monster tried to dodge.
Too slow.
Its arm was severed clean off.
It howled, staggering, blood spraying violently.
Zodac's lips curved into a cruel smile as Kogestu Vanishes from his hands.
"You're not leaving here alive."
He vanished.
Then—
**BOOM.**
An uppercut detonated against the monster's jaw, lifting it off the ground. Zodac followed with a barrage—left hook, right hook, relentless punches—each strike exploding with purple fire.
The beast was beaten into the dirt, burned, broken, reduced to nothing more than a screaming corpse.
Finally, Zodac raised Kogestu.
One clean strike.
The head flew.
Silence followed.
Zodac raised the monsters head off the ground and a large hectorgon shaped shield appears by his side, he places the monster head on it followed by 2 other normal sized monster head. The Hectorgon shield reduces to nothing and vanishes,
The system panel flickers before him once more,
[New asset Created]
[Cyberus]
Type: Attack,
Form: Extension.
Then the power faded.
The purple glow in his left eye flickered before finally turning off as the purple veins on his face slowly faded away.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
His body failed him.
"Zodac!" Roxy screamed, sprinting toward him.
He dropped to his knees.
She reached him just in time.
"Heal! Heal! Heal!"
Green light engulfed him as her strength gave out.
She collapsed beside him, unconscious.
The battlefield fell silent.
And for the first time since the night began—theu could rest easy now as the monster was truly dead.