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Chapter 14 - Almost Dead

“Ugh…” Stark spat blood from his mouth.

His body was riddled with scratches and wounds, blood and sweat mixing as they dripped onto the white sands. Despite the pain, he kept his grip tight on the sword.

He was facing a new beast this time.

The beast hissed, its dark eyes fixed on him. It stood on four legs, its dark fur glistening under the harsh sunlight. Two small, dark horns poked out of its head, and its spine protruded out from its back like spikes.

It was a desert Guki.

Unlike the Stilo, its attacks weren’t particularly strong, but they were precise and deadly. Its sharp claws had already left gashes on Stark’s skin.

I need to find a way to attack. Stark’s eyes darted around, scanning the surroundings for an opening.

The Guki screeched and lunged at him.

It was far more agile and quicker than the Stilo. Stark raised his sword over his head, blocking its swipe. He shifted his weight to the side, redirecting the beast and throwing it off balance.

The Guki quickly turned and charged again, spearheading toward Stark with ferocious speed. It collided with him, forcing him back several feet. Fortunately, Stark managed to lift his leg just in time, absorbing most of the impact.

Stark’s wounds hissed as wisps of smoke rose from them.

The Guki’s claws were laced with poison, but as a nocturnal hunter, its venom wasn’t potent in the sunlight. The heat evaporated the toxin within seconds, leaving only the gashes behind.

Gukis were rarely seen during the day, but Krul had captured one specifically to serve as a test for Stark. Daylight was the safest time to train against them, as the poison wouldn’t spread and threaten Stark’s life.

Stark charged at the beast, swinging his sword low toward its legs. The Guki darted back, easily dodging the strike.

Stark flicked his wrist, redirecting the blade into an upward slash. The edge missed by a hair’s breadth as the Guki leapt back, creating more distance between them.

The beast began circling him, its speed increasing. It darted to the side, accelerating as it used its agility to its advantage.

Stark stood his ground, gripping his sword tightly, focusing on his senses.

Listen… Listen… Feel its movements.

A blur of motion came from behind as the Guki swiped its claw at his neck. He could feel it. Stark stepped aside just in time, the attack grazing his cheek and leaving a thin line.

In the same instant, he swung his sword downward quickly.

But the blade struck the Guki’s spiked back, but the impact rocked Stark’s grip. The blade recoiled, sending a shiver through his entire body.

Stark clicked his tongue in frustration as he stepped back. “I missed again.”

The Guki was relentless, pressing its advantage. Stark defended as best he could, but his injuries were piling up, and the blood loss was taking its toll. He needed to find an opening to end the fight.

The Guki charged at him, and Stark raised his sword, anticipating another swipe. But the creature darted to the side and lunged, sinking its large canines into his left shoulder.

“ARGH!” he screamed in pain.

The fangs pierced through his leather armor, clamping down tightly. The Guki shook its head violently, its strength sending Stark flying.

He hit the ground hard, bouncing like a rag doll before landing in the sand. His head struck the ground with a sickening thud, leaving a gash that spilled blood across his forehead. Blood poured from the wound in his shoulder, dripping steadily down his arm.

Gritting his teeth, Stark forced himself to his feet. He picked up his sword with his right hand, gripping it tightly despite the pain, and pointed it at the hissing Guki.

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The beast crouched low, ready to strike again.

One chance… focus… Stark.

Blood began to dull his vision, his breathing growing ragged. His legs trembled, running out of strength. Yet, the fire in his heart never faltered.

The Guki stepped forward, hissing, its dark eyes gleaming with confidence. It knew Stark was at the end of his rope.

I will win…

Clenching his jaw, Stark let out a roar and charged at the Guki. If there was no opening, he would create one. His eyes locked onto the beast, his mind working in overdrive.

Startled by the sudden charge, the Guki stepped back. It was unusual for prey to fight so ferociously on the brink of death.

It tried to retreat, but Stark was faster. Closing the distance, he stepped into range and thrust his blade at its face. The Guki deflected the strike with its claws, sparks flying from the impact.

Stark didn’t relent. With the momentum on his side, he spun and swung his sword, the blade slicing deep into the beast’s side. The Guki let out a blood-curdling screech and retaliated, swiping its claws toward Stark. He blocked the strike with his blade but was pushed back by the force.

Not giving the beast a chance to recover, Stark charged again. This time, the Guki was ready. It sidestepped his swing and sank its teeth into his injured shoulder once more.

Instead of pulling away, Stark shoved his arm deeper into its jaws, gritting his teeth through the pain. The Guki shook its head violently, trying to throw him off, but Stark stayed focused.

With his free hand, he raised his sword and drove it into the beast’s eye.

“SCREECH!!”

The blade pierced through through the soft eyelids of the beast, leaving it blind.

The Guki thrashed, trying to break free, but Stark held on. Wrapping his legs around its neck, he roared defiantly and kept stabbing its face.

“Die… Die… Die, you dirty mutt!” he bellowed.

Blood splattered with each stab. Stark’s vision was red; all he could think about was the opponent before him. He wanted to kill the beast at all costs. The red mark on his chest turned burning hot.

Something stirred within him; the blood and the screech of the beast brought a smile to his face. A feeling so primal that brought him satisfaction. Stark’s consciousness was fading and being replaced with this primal feeling.

This is it….Ah….Bliss….Blood…Slaughter.

The mark began to spread through his veins to different parts as he began to lose control over his own body.

The Guki thrashed wildly, and a blade struck its jaw, knocking it from Stark’s grip.

Undeterred, he clenched his fist and began pounding into the beast’s stab wounds. Each punch drove deeper into the already mangled flesh, spraying blood.

AHAHAHA!!! SCREECH!! FOR YOUR LIFE! YOU DIRTY MUTT.

Power rose inside him with each punch.

The Guki’s violent thrashing gradually subsided under Stark’s relentless assault. Finally, with one last ragged breath, the beast collapsed onto its side, its body going numb. Its jaws loosened, releasing Stark’s badly torn and bleeding shoulder.

Stark swayed, his vision returned but blurring. Exhaustion overtook him, and he collapsed onto the beast’s lifeless body. The red mark stopped spreading and retraced back to it’s original place.

“I did it….” He mumbled incoherently.

The world around him faded to black.

Krul descended from the sky swiftly, his eyes scanning Stark’s horrible wounds.

“His wounds are worse than I expected,” Krul muttered. “I should have stopped him sooner.”

He carved Sacrifice into the flesh of Stark’s shoulder wound. Blood-red chains materialized and began wrapping tightly around the injury. The chains writhed as if alive, hissing and darting at Krul’s hands like serpents.

The red chains crept up his arms, slithering to his shoulders, wrapping it wholly. The chains tightened.

SPLATTER

Krul’s arm tore apart, crushed to bits. Flesh and blood sprayed as the chains greedily consumed his blood and flesh.

A red flash followed, and the chains around Stark’s shoulder began to loosen. In moments, his shoulder returned to its original, uninjured state.

“Now it’s fine,” Krul sighed, touching Stark’s shoulder.

Krul couldn’t help but marvel at Stark’s tenacity—his will to win the fight even at the cost of his own arm. Despite this, doubt lingered in Krul’s mind.

He suddenly becomes much stronger, Krul thought. It’s quite odd... and his healing capacity is extraordinary for a human.

Knowing Stark’s shoulder would have been beyond saving in seconds, Krul had willingly sacrificed his arm.

For an ancient devil, regrowing an arm or two was not a significant concern, though the mana cost was immense.

With a calm expression, Krul cast Life. The wound on his shoulder began to close as bones sprouted and extended, forming the skeletal structure of his arm. Muscles grew next, wrapping around the bones, followed by layers of tissue that covered the frame. Finally, his bluish skin spread over the newly formed arm.

His arm was restored, flawless and unscathed.

Afterward, Krul mended the rest of Stark’s wounds with a healing spell and picked him up.

As he flew back to the cave, he hunted down a few Stilos to prepare food for Stark when he woke up.

The human child enjoys this, Krul thought as he carried the meat.

On his way back, a sudden wave of bloodlust swept over him. Krul halted mid-flight, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings.

Detection.

He cast the spell, but it revealed nothing apart from a few wild beasts in the vicinity. Frowning, Krul double-checked, but still found no signs of anyone nearby.

Was it just me? Krul wondered. I’m certain I felt something.

His brows furrowed as unease settled over him.

Perhaps I used too much mana today.

The ominous feeling gnawed at him.

“It must be nothing. I’m probably overthinking,” he muttered, shaking off the thought as he continued his flight back home.