CHAPTER 11: | THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU AND ME
---
Time passed as I stalked another Obsidian Hulk, intrigued by a Volcanic Sentinel leading this bunch.
It's been hours since I've followed them, and now they were clashing with a group of Jungle Stalkers, moving like fleeting shadows in the darkness as they've hunted like grim reapers.
A metallic tang of blood filled the currents as crimson mist erupted everywhere.
The Obsidian Hulks were at a disadvantage because a cloud of sediments blocked their vision.
But it was useless, since the Volcanic Sentinel could easily disperse this fog with a single magma blast.
However, it seemed to be waiting in the dark for the Jungle Stalker leader to appear.
The fight was in a standstill.
The Jungle Stalkers waited for an opportune moment to deal a massive blow to the Volcanic Sentinel, knowing of its danger.
The five remaining Obsidian Hulks surrounded the Volcanic Sentinel, having also discerned the Jungle Stalkers plan and the crucial importance of their own leader for their survival.
Then I saw it, a Jungle Stalker with a massive stature, yet still a Jungle Stalker at its core.
It let out a howling command, and the other Jungle Stalkers followed, unleashing 'Thorn Spittle.'
A thick, acrid greenish mist billowed, burning the very currents.
The Obsidian Hulks howled in pain as their flesh disintegrated from the acid.
The Volcanic Sentinel, however, ignored the pain, smiling like a fire demon as it unleashed hell.
Shieeek!
The battlefield was enveloped by an orange light for a split second as molten magma flew across it, hitting all of the Jungle Stalkers.
They thrashed in agony.
The Obsidian Hulks charged with renewed fervor, their leader having destroyed the morale of their enemies.
But the leader of the Jungle Stalkers, now half of its face devoured by the magma, let out a loud bellow.
It reorganized its army and charged into the forefront, the other Jungle Stalkers following its commands.
A bloodbath erupted as the Jungle Stalkers fought their final battle, but it was futile.
Another magma rain struck their figures in a split second, as the Volcanic Sentinel wiped out their group's morale with ease.
The Jungle Stalkers' morale was shattered, their leader was dead, magma devouring its skull.
The Obsidian Hulks didn't even give them time to mourn, striking while the iron was hot as blood clouded the battlefield.
The battle ended just like that as I pondered how I would find the opportunity to have ten seconds to kill the Volcanic Sentinel.
I looked for answers.
While I could easily kill it with my overwhelming strength alone, I needed mere seconds to assassinate it.
I needed chaos, a chaos that would leave the Volcanic Sentinel alone for even a few seconds.
So I looked around, then smiled as I found it, the perfect tool that would buy me the time.
A devil's smile crossed my face as I gazed at a group of Jungle Stalkers that seemed to be looking for an opponent.
'I could use those guys.'
I murmured internally.
Then minutes turned into what felt like hours as I waited for them to discover each other and fight to the death.
And in that brief moment of chaos, I would assassinate their leader, the Volcanic Sentinel.
Then, after assassinating it, finishing the rest would be a breeze, since the only demonic beast that could truly threaten me was the Volcanic Sentinel itself.
But not entirely, as its magma blast, or whatever skill it possessed, was the only thing that held the destructive power to finish me in one go.
I couldn't help but find the irony in my situation again.
I'd said earlier that I wouldn't hide, but here I was again, hiding and scheming to assassinate the Volcanic Sentinel.
It was truly ironic.
But I'm a natural-born strategist, a villain whose words couldn't be trusted, so what did you expect from me?
Shieeek!
The battle started with the magma blast of the Volcanic Sentinel.
But, unlike the earlier Jungle Stalkers who were exhausted from their drawn-out battle, this new bunch easily dodged the falling debris as they charged towards the Obsidian Hulks, keeping them busy.
That was my moment to strike.
My form turned into a blur as I vanished from sight, then reappeared inches away from the Volcanic Sentinel, its eyes following my movement.
It smirked, having anticipated me since earlier.
'Damnit!'
Magma erupted from its maw as I shouted internally with surprise.
Instead, it was I who was caught in a trap.
Magma covered my form, but I smiled as my armor blocked its attempt to devour my flesh.
I bit through its gills.
'Sunder Maw!'
I shouted internally.
A raw, tearing power surged through my jaw muscles as I tore through its obsidian plating and through its gills.
Black blood clouded the water.
The Volcanic Sentinel opened its maw, trying to let out a howl to recall its subordinates, but it was too late.
My tail smashed against its jaw, slamming it shut.
Tears welled in its eyes as it saw me devouring its gills.
It tried to open its maw again and again, but was met with my tail slamming it shut, over and over.
Then it tried to run away, but it was futile.
I reeled my body and brought it to the ground, pinning it before I activated 'Sunder Maw' again and again, devouring its gills.
I felt the flow of its mana gathering in its throat as killing intent gushed out from its eyes, but it was futile.
I ripped its throat apart, causing its accumulated mana to explode.
Its eyes bulged unnaturally as they then exploded along with its skull, now covered in magma, as a hologram shimmered in front of me.
But instead of celebrating my victory, my expression was firm as I muttered internally.
'The battle is not over yet.'
Then my form vanished into the shadows, and like the grim reaper in the abyss, my form reappeared next to a green-eyed Obsidian Whark.
I opened my mouth.
'Sunder Maw.'
I muttered internally.
My maw easily tore through its obsidian plating as I killed it with a single bite.
The other Obsidian Hulks, noticing me, looked around for their leader.
But to their dismay, they found their leader dead, headless.
Some charged with rage while others fled in horror as the Jungle Stalkers intercepted all of the escaping Obsidian Hulks.
Blood clouded the currents as I vanished, then appeared again and again, my maw tearing through their gills with a single bite.
Then I glared at the remaining Jungle Wharks.
They didn't plan to run away from me and charged with fervor.
But it was a foolish move.
My 'Predator's Gaze' tracked all of their movements, and like a demon dancing in hell, my form turned into a streak of black lightning, passing through them as their gills exploded with blood.
All of that happened in a split second as I smiled, then gazed at their floating corpses as I muttered internally.
'This is the difference between us.'