Essence sang around his blades as Leo danced around the Voidlings coming at him from all sides. Each of the monsters received a single cut for their attempt to bring him down, a cut that a few seconds later exploded, severing their heads from their bodies.

It took a lot of control and precision, but thanks to all the improvements he had gone through in the past few days, Phantom Erasure was no longer a difficult skill to use. Hell, he had even managed to combine it with Kiss of Death, giving both of the abilities some extra power.

Now, he just had to learn how to keep those skills active at all times. Turning them on before each hit was getting slightly annoying, even if it was a good way to practice control.

Though, it's definitely getting easier and easier. Leo mused, slicing through the neck of a Cursed Walker. The blade went right through the flesh, negating the need for Phantom Erasure. Muscle memory is doing most of the job at this point...

He leaned to the right, avoiding the meaty palms of a furious Brute. It tried to follow up with its other hand, hoping to grab him. However, despite being among the few level twenty Voidlings in the area, it was all for naught.

Leo still had the advantage.

Grabbing onto the incoming hand, he used it to propel himself forward, leaving a long gash on the limb as he flew. The Brute roared but quickly shut up as three tails slapped its cheek, taking a chunk of flesh along with them.

The beast stumbled, but he gave it no time to recover as he landed on its shoulder. He painted cut after cut on the Brute's body, each one going deeper and deeper. The almost instantaneous regeneration tried to fight him, yet not even it could help when the monster's head blew up like a balloon.

Fucking hell. Those things are getting way too tough to kill. They are regenerating too fast. Leo scowled, once more landing among the sea of Voidlings and continuing the never-ending dance of death. I doubt a lot of people have enough firepower to do this.

However, he also had to consider that this was a Brute from a Tainted Wasteland. When combined with the beast's high level, it was no surprise that it caused more trouble than other Voidlings.

Ah, whatever... I'm not even using my full power. A group of experienced survivors should be able to figure something out.

For a few more minutes, Leo immersed himself in the battle, using every second to perfect his ability to fight. For the most part, he only used melee skills, but with the sheer amount of Voidlings around, shadows often had to come to his rescue.

A Tainted Wasteland, even one on the outskirts of London, was no joke. It easily housed a few hundred, if not thousand, Voidlings, of which only a couple were under level eighteen.

We should probably get going soon. This was only supposed to be a short pitstop. Got to go back to mapping the city. He reasoned and jumped onto the nearest Vetilim vine. Nyx, finish up and meet me at the north border.

'Roger that.'

With screeches and roars echoing in his head, Leo left the scorched ground of the Wasteland behind. He climbed the ruins of a small apartment building and waited, his eyes searching the vast cursed land below him.

Here you are.

He smiled, spotting the dark feline running along rooftops and Vetilim webs. Quite a few flying types followed after her, but it was nothing they couldn't deal with. After all, he had spent most of the morning trying to solve this issue.

Nyx, just get on the top. I will deal with your tail. I need a bit more practice.

The feline snorted. 'Just don't hit me this time, please.'

Leo grimaced. It was just one slip-up, but now she would never let him forget it.

Cheeky cat.

He shook his head and focused on the task at hand as Essence surged out of his soul and into the air. Slowly, about a dozen shadow spears formed above him, yet it was not the end.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Still channeling energy into the constructs, he drew upon his bloodlust and pushed it into the shadows. A few spears almost burst on the spot, but he reigned in the wild power, keeping it contained and bubbling underneath the surface.

And now!

With a single thought, the salvo of long projectiles sailed forward, right at the cloud of Voidlings flying behind Nyx. Usually, he would have waited for the spears to hit, but not now. Now, they just had to get close.

"Eruption," Leo muttered, closing his fist.

At once, every single construct still in the air burst into hundreds of long, thin shadow tendrils. They all instantly dived for the Voidlings around them, seeking prey.

The beasts screeched as not one but multiple tendrils speared their bodies. Most fell right away, leaving a trail of blood behind, while others tried to flap their wings, hoping to stop mid-air.

Good luck with that. Leo smirked as more tendrils pierced those still fighting, finally taking them down. You are in the clear, Nyx.

'Nicely done. I coming up then.'

Nodding, he sat down at the roof’s edge and summoned the System. It had tried to force a notification into his vision when he was forming the spears.

You have successfully mastered the Eruption technique. Fusion assistance is now active. Congratulations!

You have created your first Fusion technique: Shadow Bomb = Eruption + Creation.

Please note that fusion techniques do not have a mastery level, nor are they listed in your status. Their strength relies solely on your skill and power.

Fusion, you say? Leo quirked an eyebrow. Guess that's a fitting name for what I've been doing. I wonder what else I can combine... A thought for later.

Before he could check his newly mastered technique, Nyx finished her climb and sat down beside him. She gave him a questioning look to which he just shrugged.

"Just some system stuff. Fusion techniques. Rings any bells?"

The feline shook her head. 'Not quite. I have an idea what they could be, but...'

He nodded, standing up. "I will explain on the way then. Time to move on from here. I want to go a bit dee-"

Whatever he wanted to say died in his mouth as a muffled, earth-shaking howl echoed all around them. It continued for a good few seconds, freezing the duo in place.

"What in the world?" Leo muttered, looking all around, searching for the source. Just then, a second howl came, and this time, he zeroed in on the direction it came from. Yet, there was nothing in sight.

This can't be good. He shared a quick look with Nyx. They both nodded and broke into a sprint, jumping off the building. The heart of London awaited.

----------------------------------------

The longer they ran, the louder the howls became. It was obvious they all came from a Voidling of sorts, but it was nothing like what Leo had heard before. Not even a Nightmare could make its voice travel for kilometers. Then there were the recent explosions. Though those could be anything at this point.

There! He screamed through the link, nodding towards the massive blurry crimson creature in the distance that towered over all the buildings in the area. We need to get closer.

'Are we fighting or just observing,' Nyx prodded.

The latter. Besides, I think someone already has beat us to the former. Leo observed, just now noticing the small bright explosions impacting the giant. Wait a second. Is that a fucking treant?

Now that the monster grew closer, he had no trouble identifying it, even without skills and Bestiary. He had seen similar creatures multiple times in movies, TV series, books, and games. For some reason, people just loved the idea of massive, walking trees that laid waste to everything around them.

Though this thing is definitely made out of Vetilim. Leo noted, watching the massive beast swipe at something he couldn't see. Still too far. What about Identify?

Crimson Treant (Void Lifeform) | Rank: E+ | LVL: N/A | Type: Surface, Nature, Armor, Unique

That's... new and powerful. And those types... Bestiary? Despite the call, the System didn't answer. Of course, it couldn't be that easy. Maybe if I get even closer?

And so he did. Along with Nyx, he climbed the tallest building a safe distance away from the raging Treant and scanned it again. Only to be met with the same outcome. However, not all was lost; at least now, he knew what the beast fought against.

A group of over ten survivors ran circles around the Treant, using the environment to their advantage. They fought with golden weapons, sending arrows and Essence missiles at the beast that exploded on impact. Even those fighting in close combat carried some sort of glowing blades, burning the monster with each cut.

Without saying a single word, the group still fought like a single unit, covering one another and always targeting the same areas. The Treant, despite its strength, could do nothing against the annoying insects. Or so it seemed for now.

Who are you people? Why does it look like you all have the same affinity? Leo furrowed his brow, only for his eyes to widen when he scanned the seemingly human survivors.

Blessed Emissary | LVL: 19