I took a deep breath and raised my left hand toward the incoming fire pillar.
Heat washed over me, but I stood firm.
"Blazing Sfera."
Essence churned in my core, then surged out through my palm. A burst of purple fire flared to life, swirling and compressing into a rotating sphere. In seconds, it morphed into a roaring blaze, crackling with raw energy.
I gave the command, and the fiery sphere unleashed a concentrated beam, a lance of pure destruction, straight toward the incoming fire pillar.
Boom!
The two attacks clashed midair, sending a shockwave rippling through the battlefield.
Flames scattered, sparks raining down as I kept pouring more Essence into my attack, intensifying the heat, condensing the fire even further.
A rush of air.
My instincts flared.
The bat I had kicked moments ago was already charging, iron pillar swinging down in its right hand.
I didn't turn.
Keeping my left hand extended, I raised my right, pointing my staff directly at the incoming Abomination.
Essence flowed into the staff, doubling its weight.
I tossed it slightly into the air, then pulled my right hand back, activating another skill.
[Seismic Burst]
Strength and Essence surged into my palm. The moment my hand struck the base of the staff, a shockwave exploded outward, rocketing the weapon straight ahead like a missile.
The air whistled as the staff shot forward, slamming into the bat's chest with a sickening crunch. The force sent it flying, crashing through rubble and skidding to a stop in the distance.
I turned back to the fire still roaring from my left hand and cut off the flow of Essence. The flames flickered out instantly.
Then, I looked toward the Level 43 Abomination, the one that had unleashed the fire pillar.
Its left shoulder and arm were gone. Charred blackened flesh replaced what should have been muscle and bone.
It shrieked, eyes locking onto me with fury.
'Did I miss? Or did it dodge in time?'
I locked eyes with the Abomination and rushed toward it. It shrieked, its mouth opening wide as flames gathered at the back of its throat.
My gaze stayed sharp, tracking every movement as I closed the distance. The bat's jaw stretched fully, and in the next instant, it unleashed another fire beam straight at me.
But the moment it fired, I activated [Seismic Burst].
A surge of Essence exploded through my legs, and I shot forward, ducking low beneath the scorching blast. Heat brushed past my back, but I was already closing in.
My right fist snapped forward, slamming into the bat's gut with the full force of my momentum. The fire beam cut off instantly as its body lurched backward, crashing through rubble in a cloud of dust and shattered stone.
I straightened up, turning around just in time to see the Level 37 Abomination charging at me.
I grinned.
"Kid, looks like you just hit puberty."
I glanced quickly to the side, my staff lay across the road, too far to grab in time.
"No problem."
Essence surged through me as I stepped forward, meeting the bat's charge head-on. Its wings flared, and with a screech, it lunged.
I focused, channeling Essence into my right hand. A deep purple glow flared to life, wrapping around my fist like living fire.
With a powerful push, I lunged as well.
The bat's right claw swiped at me, slicing through the air. I didn't stop. My fist rocketed toward its chest.
A split second before impact, its claws raked across my chest, sharp pain cutting through me but then my punch landed.
Boom!
A shockwave rippled through the Abomination's body as my Essence-infused fist crashed into its muscle, driving deep toward the bone. I felt resistance, its bones barely holding under the force, but I hadn't gathered enough Essence to break through.
Still, the bat's body launched backward like a broken doll, slamming through the remains of a collapsed building.
I exhaled, rolling my shoulders.
"As I said, kids should stay out of adults' business."
I turned around and walked over to retrieve my staff.
As my fingers wrapped around the familiar grip, I gave it a quick spin, drawing back the Essence I had infused earlier. The staff's unnatural weight faded, returning to normal.
I did a quick check on my Essence reserves.
13/35.
I had really drained myself with that fire attack.
Without hesitation, I redirected every drop of remaining Essence into Strength, temporarily boosting it to 137. My muscles tensed, energy surging through my limbs like wildfire.
I decided to end the fire-breathing Abomination. Without wasting another second, I rushed into the ruined building it had crashed into. Walls crumbled under my momentum as I tore through the wreckage, closing in on my target.
Inside, the bat staggered, struggling to rise to its feet. Blood dripped from its burned shoulder, its breath ragged.
I didn't stop.
My body shot forward, and with both hands gripping my staff, I spun, twisting my waist for momentum. The staff swung in a powerful arc, smashing straight into the bat's chest.
Crack!
The impact caved in its chest, and with a boom, its body rocketed out of the building, slamming into the ground outside. A spray of blood and shredded organs burst from its mouth.
I followed immediately.
The moment I landed beside its crumpled form, I spun my staff vertically, tightening my grip. My teeth clenched as I raised it high—
And then I brought it down.
Boom!
The ground cracked. The bat's head didn't exist anymore.
A notification rang in my head.
I ignored it.
Lifting my gaze, I met the stares of the remaining three Abominations. Their bodies tensed, wings flaring, eyes locked onto me with raw hatred.
They looked at me like I had just killed their family.
[Level 46] [Level 42] [Level 37]
I didn't give them time to think.
I lunged forward, targeting the Level 37 first. It screeched and flared its wings, trying to leap back, but I was faster. My staff shot out, the tip slamming into its gut. The air left its lungs in a choked wheeze as it folded around the impact.
Before it could recover, I twisted, swinging my staff sideways and smashing its ribs. Its body spun mid-air like a broken doll before crashing through a crumbling wall.
One down.
A shadow loomed over me, the Level 42 diving from above, claws extended. I shifted my grip, raised my staff, and spiked it upward.
Boom!
The bat's jaw snapped shut as the staff slammed into its chin, launching it skyward. I bent my knees, jumped, and met it mid-air. My foot crashed into its chest, sending it spiraling straight back down. The street shook as it hit the ground hard enough to leave a crater.
Two down.
The Level 46 came next, charging at me with the iron pillar swinging wildly. I barely ducked under the first swing, the wind slicing past my face. The second swing came faster, but I raised my staff, catching the impact. My arms rattled, feet sliding back from the sheer force.
I gritted my teeth.
I wanted to fire a [Seismic Burst] but I was out of Essence.
Gritting my teeth, I twisted my grip, absorbed the force, and pushed back.
Both of us locked into a contest of strength.
I grinned, suddenly let go of my staff, and twisted out of the way. The bat stumbled forward, momentarily thrown off balance.
"Dumbass."
I turned, grabbed one of its wings, and with a roar, I hoisted it up before slamming it back down.
Boom.
A crater cracked beneath its body.
I leaped, bringing my knee down hard into its chest, burying it deeper into the ground. The impact sent a sharp tremor through the air, and the Abomination wheezed, its ribs audibly cracking under the force.
Standing up, I picked my staff and glanced around.
My eyes locked onto a perfect vantage point.
Without hesitation, I sprinted toward a nearby building and scaled it with quick, effortless movements. Once I reached the top, I crouched low and waited.
Two of the Abominations lay near each other, broken and bloodied, while the Level 37 was crumpled further away, slumped near a shattered wall.
I remained still, watching.