The Shard Eaters were pacing through a desolate stretch of terrain, their sharp, crystalline forms reflecting a cold, unyielding light. Suddenly, they noticed a fast-approaching figure in the distance, a blur racing towards them with alarming speed. The other Shard Eaters also noticed it but couldn’t clearly make out what was coming.
In the blink of an eye, they realized the figure was a human. Immediately, the Shard Eaters took their stances, instinctively adjusting to the looming threat. Their spindly arms transformed, crystals elongating into jagged, weapon-like spikes ready to pierce through any attacker.
But Cale was faster. He closed in on one of the Shard Eaters with ferocious speed and, without a moment’s hesitation, swung his scythe in a swift, vertical arc. The blade sliced cleanly through the creature, splitting it from head to waist before it even had a chance to retaliate, its crystalline body shattering with a high-pitched crack.
The other Shard Eaters recoiled, taking a brief moment to assess their assailant before launching a flurry of thick crystal spikes aimed at Cale's left side. The deadly shards whistled through the air, but Cale was ready. He raised his left arm, his flesh now encased in a thick layer of deep blue crystal that absorbed the impact, splintering the spikes harmlessly against the hardened surface.
The Shard Eater that had launched the attack hesitated, its intentions shifting as it processed this unexpected turn. It quickly realized its attack had failed and began to back away in growing terror, recognizing the eerie familiarity of its own kin's powers—now wielded by the enemy before it. Its features, sharp and crystalline, seemed to tense as if anticipating its fate.
Cale observed the creature’s reaction, a slight smirk forming on his lips from behind the crystalline armor covering his left arm. He pointed towards the creature, his arm shifting as he formed a long, sleek blue crystal blade extending from his wrist. 'Check this out,' he thought to himself with amusement.
The Shard Eaters could only watch, stunned by Cale’s unorthodox yet effective use of their own abilities. Their shock was, however, brief as Cale’s wrist blade shot forward, instantly piercing through the Shard Eater’s head. The impact shattered the creature’s crystal skull, causing fragments to rain down like shattered glass.
The remaining two Shard Eaters hesitated, but their posture betrayed a volatile mix of anger and fear. Cale sensed the change and swiftly slashed his wrist blade to the right, cleaving the nearest Shard Eater in the stomach. It wasn't a fatal blow, but the creature staggered backward, struggling to regain its footing.
Yet, instead of retreating, the Shard Eater seized the opportunity, using the crystalline structure of its stomach to trap Cale’s wrist blade in a vice-like grip. It clasped onto the blade with both hands, the edges scraping against its crystal palms, but it held on with fierce determination.
Cale let out a low chuckle, mildly impressed. "You're a tough one," he remarked with a trace of admiration. Just then, he noticed the other Shard Eater charging at him, its arm lined with jagged spikes and a single, particularly long spike forming at its center, aimed directly at him.
“Buy one, get one free? Fine by me!” Cale shouted, his grin widening. The Shard Eater lunged forward, aiming its spike with brutal precision at his chest. In response, Cale swung his scythe in a powerful arc, intercepting the spike with a harsh clash of crystal against metal. Sparks flew as they pushed against each other, the Shard Eater pressing harder, its spike toughening under the strain.
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But Cale’s manic grin remained undeterred. He glanced down, and the Shard Eater realized—too late—that Cale's wrist blade had already pierced its body, and its crystalline core was beginning to crack. Desperation flickered in its faceless gaze as it glanced towards its trapped comrade, only to witness fragments of crystal already erupting from its torso as Cale twisted his embedded blade.
With a single forceful push, Cale snapped the trapped Shard Eater’s form into shards, leaving it in pieces as he turned back to his assailant. The creature, still connected to Cale’s wrist blade, gave a weak shudder as Cale tore the blade free. In a fluid motion, he regenerated a fresh crystal blade on his wrist and drove it deep into the creature’s core, shattering it from the inside out.
Cale took a step back, surveying the remaining Shard Eater with a calm, calculating gaze. “You four are stronger than the others,” he mused, flexing his fingers as he adjusted his grip on the scythe. “Guess you’re the elites, right beneath the Shard Eater Boss.” He pressed the wrist blade deeper, watching with satisfaction as it burst through the creature’s back, sending fragments scattering.
The Shard Eater opened its jagged mouth in a silent plea, its cracked and fractured form trembling in what seemed to be a plea for mercy. Cale regarded it with detached amusement. “Not that you’d understand me, but let’s end this,” he said, swinging his scythe in a wide arc. He simultaneously slashed upward with the wrist blade, utterly demolishing the creature as it shattered into dust.
Breathing out heavily, Cale straightened, his demeanor relaxed as if the battle hadn’t phased him. Despite the ferocity of the encounter, he looked as composed as if he’d merely taken a walk through a park.
“Devour,” he whispered, extending his hand as a dark liquid flowed out, engulfing the shattered remains of the Shard Eaters. Within seconds, the remains dissolved, leaving nothing but faintly glittering dust.
Ding!
[Prey (Shard Eater's) have been slaughtered]
[Host has earned Experience (Exp)]
Ding!
[Host has devoured Shard Eaters.]
[Ability: Shard Consumption, Proficiency: 70%]
[Description: The host can use the powers and attributes of all devoured metals and crystals at will.]
“Seventy percent... not bad,” Cale muttered with a nod of satisfaction. “Now it’s the Shard Eater Boss’s turn,” he said to himself, his expression sharpening as he launched forward at full speed, the thrill of battle driving him onward.
After ten minutes of maneuvering through the shattered landscape, Cale came upon a clearing. In the center, the Shard Eater Boss was feasting on crystalline shards, surrounded by four sentries who stood vigilant guard.
[Information (Info):
Name: Shard Eater Boss Level: 37
Status: Feasting and alert
Species: Elemental Parasite
Weakness: Sharp force or stone-based magic
Description: Shard Eaters are crystalline beings that feed on elemental shards scattered across fractures. Small but resilient, they grow stronger as they consume. Their crystalline bodies are vulnerable to sharp force, causing them to shatter under strong impacts or certain earth-based attacks.]
Sensing Cale’s approach, the Shard Eater Boss swiftly rose, alerting the four guards as it formed blue crystal blades from its arms. Cale's approach was marked by an eerie blue glow as he emerged from the large bushes, his scythe glinting menacingly.
With a powerful leap, Cale clashed his scythe against the Boss's crystal blades, the impact resounding through the clearing as the Boss staggered back under the force. Following through, Cale pushed harder, sending the Boss crashing into the ground, creating a small crater where it landed.
Wasting no time, Cale landed as the blue glow and lightning dimmed. He turned around quickly and swung his scythe in a horizontal sweep, unleashing a wide blue arc that sliced through the four guards and cleaved the rock they had been guarding. Cale laughed, his voice ringing with a sinister edge as the Shard Eater Boss rose from the rubble, fury evident in its every crystalline feature.
"Don’t be mad. It’s just you and me now. Fight or die!” Cale taunted as he glanced back at the Shard Eater Boss, spinning his scythe while showing off as he prepared to unleash another attack.
The Shard Eater Boss squared its stance, forming its arms into more jagged crystal blades, clearly intent on fighting to the bitter end.
“That’s more like it!” Cale shouted, dropping into a fighting position, one foot back, the other forward, his eyes alight with challenge.