The moment she finished speaking, she bent her legs slightly, her muscles tensing.
Then she vanished.
The ground behind her cracked as she exploded forward, her speed even greater than before.I barely had time to register her movement before she was already in front of me.
I knew I wouldn't be able to defend in time. She was too fast. So I did the next best thing.
Locking eyes with her, I activated [Seismic Burst].
Raw power surged through my body, gathering toward my fist. My Essence followed, fueling the skill.
I braced my stance, twisting my body slightly as I pulled my fist back. My muscles coiled, ready to strike.
But she was already mid-motion. Her claws slashed forward, heat radiating from her fingertips.
I launched my punch, aiming straight for her chest—
But she was faster.
Searing pain tore through me as her claws raked across my torso, carving deep into my flesh.
The heat burned through muscle, nearly reaching bone.
I gritted my teeth.
I knew I'd miss. I knew my fist wouldn't reach her.
So I triggered the explosion from my fist.
BOOM.
A powerful shockwave erupted from my knuckles, carrying the full force of my Essence. Even though my punch didn't land cleanly, the impact was enough to blast her backward. She crashed into the ground, her body skidding across the molten rock.
I staggered back, clutching my chest.
Blood dripped down from the fresh wounds her claws had carved into me, the searing heat still burning through my skin.
I examined the injury on my chest. The skin around the claw marks had darkened, as if burned.
Raising my head, I locked eyes with the demon.
She stood up from the ground, blood leaking from her mouth. Her grin stretched wide, her teeth stained red. Her hair was a tangled mess.
"You've grown strong, human. Much stronger than I expected," she said, amusement flickering in her eyes. "You're an anomaly. I'd enjoy opening you up and seeing all your secrets."
Still grinning, she activated her skill.
"Reaper's Rush."
My eyes widened.
I sprang backward, but I was too late.
She was already in front of me. Her knee slammed into my chest.
The impact was brutal. Despite my increased Constitution, blood spewed from my mouth, and my body hurtled backward, smashing into the ground—once, twice, three times.
The moment I came to a stop, I forced myself to my feet, only to see her right above me, her body twisting mid-air, her leg swinging down toward my head.
I threw my arms up, crossing them in defense.
Her kick crashed into my forearm.
My knees buckled from the sheer force, but I held my ground.
She flipped back, landing smoothly.
But I wasn't done.
Channeling Essence into my legs, I exploded forward.
I leaped, driving my foot straight into her shoulder.
A loud crack rang out. Her body crumpled, her knees slamming into the ground.
I didn't stop.
Grabbing her by the hair, I yanked her head back.
She snarled and slashed at my thigh and blood sprayed out.
I ignored it.
With a roar, I drove my knee into her face. Her nose shattered with a sickening crunch.
Then, gripping her tightly, I smashed her into the ground.
I took a step back, shaking the sting out of my leg. Blood dripped steadily from my thigh, my chest ached from her earlier knee strike, and my arms felt the weight of blocking her last kick.
But she wasn't getting up.
I exhaled, steadying my breathing.
Then she twitched.
A violent shudder ran through her body as she planted her palms on the ground. Her shoulders heaved, her head tilting up slightly. Strands of her wild hair stuck to her bloodied face.
Then she laughed.
Low at first. Then deeper. Louder.
Her fingers twitched, her nails digging into the molten rock beneath her. She raised her head completely, revealing her face—her nose, crushed and crooked, still bleeding. Her lips curled into a crazed grin.
"Human," she rasped, her voice thick with amusement. "You actually broke my nose."
I tensed.
She touched her nose, wincing slightly. Then she twisted it back into place with a sickening crack. The grin never left her face.
"You must think you're strong now, huh?" she taunted, licking the blood off her lips. "Come on, then. Keep fighting."
I didn't move.
Her eyes narrowed.
"What's wrong? Weren't you just so eager to throw me around? Why don't you fight now?"
She stood up, slow and deliberate. Then her entire body trembled as her Essence flared violently. Heat rippled off her skin, distorting the air around her.
I instinctively braced myself.
Then she whispered.
"Reaper's Sacrifice."
She used her own hand to draw blood from her wrist, her eyes locked onto mine the entire time.
"You are going to pay for it." She growled at me.
Suddenly heat pulsed around her, and I watched as the molten rock beneath her feet started melting further, sinking under her growing presence.
Then she moved.
I barely saw it, her figure blurred, and in the next instant, my ribs exploded with pain.
Her fist had already buried itself into my side.
I skidded back, barely managing to keep my footing before her clawed fingers slashed toward my throat. I tilted my head just in time, but she adjusted mid-swing, her nails carving across my collarbone instead.
I gasped, Essence surging through my body to strengthen me. I tried to counter, driving my fist toward her stomach.
She vanished.
I dumped another 10 units of Essence into Constitution to prepare myself, and I was right.
As I felt a weight slammed into my back.
I choked as I was sent crashing into the ground. My breath left my lungs in a ragged gasp.
She didn't stop.
A clawed foot stomped down toward my face—I rolled, just barely avoiding it.
But before I could regain my stance, she was already above me again, her knee slamming into my stomach.
Pain.
Raw, unforgiving pain.
I spat blood, my body folding inward from the sheer force.
She grabbed me by the throat and hoisted me up, her blood-streaked face inches from mine.
"Not so strong now, are you?" she mocked, tilting her head.
I gritted my teeth and grabbed her wrist, trying to pry her fingers off me.
She simply squeezed harder.
Then she threw me.
I hit the ground hard, rolling several times before stopping in a heap. My arms trembled as I tried to push myself up.
Many thoughts rushed through my head.
I understood she was using some kind of skill that required her to sacrifice her own blood in exchange for an overall boost.
My core continued to absorb energy, generating Essence as I fought, but it wasn't enough to keep up with the pace of the battle.
Before I could come up with a plan, a sharp pressure pressed down on my back.
"You should've stayed on the ground," she mused. "Would've saved you some pain."
Then she leaned down, her lips just beside my ear.
"But I'm glad you didn't."
Pain exploded through me as her claws raked down, tearing through flesh.
I roared, Essence surging into my hand. Gritting my teeth, I twisted my body and swung in a desperate attempt to knock her away.
It barely pushed her back.
She clicked her tongue.
I forced myself up, panting. Blood ran freely down my arms, my legs, my torso. Every breath burned.
But she was already moving again.
Another knee to my ribs. Another fist to my jaw.
Another slash across my arm.
Another kick that sent me tumbling.
I coughed violently, spitting out blood. My limbs screamed in protest as I struggled to rise.
Her footsteps approached, slow and deliberate.
I barely lifted my head before her foot slammed into my stomach, flipping me over onto my back.
She crouched beside me, resting her chin on her palm, watching me with amused eyes.
"Come on, human," she whispered, tapping her fingers against my forehead. "Where did all that fight go?"
I glared up at her.
She giggled.
"Not talking now? What happened to all that confidence?"
She reached down and picked me up by my throat. My legs dangled in air as she was easily eight feet tall.
"You're not bad, you know," she murmured. "For a human. You even hurt me."
I ignored her ramblings, my mind focused on finding a way out of this situation. Even with my increased stats, fighting her head-on was proving difficult.
I checked my Essence store: 6 units.
She moved her finger, dragging it through the fresh claw marks on my chest. Then, without breaking eye contact, she brought it to her lips and tasted my blood.
A grin spread across her face.
"Yes… such tasty blood. I would enjoy eating you."