Super strength and flight were not the only perks that came with becoming a vampire. There were a few other skills Kyle had not used since his awakening.
It was not that he couldn't use them or he was saving them for last. He just had never seen any real use for them.
But now?
Muscular had proved his strength. He had shown that it would take more than his strength alone to defeat him.
Muscular cast a lazy gaze on the crimson halo on his head and frowned. "Is that it?"
He sprinted towards him, driving his fist right towards Kyle. "I expected to see something better!"
Bang!
Kyle took three steps back, the ground where he once stood shattering under the oppressive weight of Muscular's blow.
Muscular grabbed the ground, his fingers digging into the concrete, then propelled himself, driving his feet forward.
Kyle did not move an inch, he just stood still as the foot came right at his face.
Boom!
The wind from the kick cut past Kyle, sending his hood spiraling and his hair billowing back.
But the foot never met him. Instead, it hung in the air, blood as thick as metal bars wrapping around Muscular's leg.
Kyle smiled darkly.
"What the he—?!"
Whoosh!
Muscular was pulled into the air, the blood tightening around his feet like tentacles.
It launched him several feet into the air before bringing him down on the hard pavement. Chips of concrete flew out of the Muscular-shaped hole that formed, dust scattering around him.
Muscular coughed up dirt. "Ouch…"
"That really hurt." He flexed his muscles, a psychopathic look in his eyes and he stood up. "Now I really, really do want to kill you."
Kyle waved his hand towards him and the air trembled. The halo exploded, sending blood strings in all directions.
The strings clung onto everything; lamp posts, buildings, cars, and everything else in sight, creating a labyrinth of webs.
Muscular moved through the webs, making his way forward, and then he reached to grab him.
But just as his fingers grazed his shirt—
Whoosh!
The blood strings condensed and then in an instant, Kyle was pulled away, dragged into the wiry maze.
The wind was filling his ears, penetrating his clothes as he soared through the air, and then more blood strings grew taut, pulling him in different directions.
Muscular stared up at the labyrinth and swung, catching nothing but thin air. Each time he would be so close to landing a hit, Kyle would be pulled out of reach.
"Stay still you fuc—"
In a split second, Kyle appeared behind him. Muscular tried to jump to the side, but several strings blocked his path.
Crack!
Kyle drove his elbow right into his back, his elbow digging deep into his thick flesh. Muscular stumbled forward but caught himself before he could fall.
He twisted his body, his forearm speeding to his back—but Kyle levitated above the punch. Another blood string wrapped around his waist, pulling him right in front of Muscular.
"Shit!" Muscular trying to fix his footing, but Kyle's fist was already reflecting in his pupils.
Bam!
Kyle delivered a series of explosive blows, little shockwaves resounding after every punch. Then he jumped, landing two heavy kicks right to his face.
Stumbling back, Muscular lifted his arms in defense, his body aching from the weight of the assault.
"Damn you!"
He tried to counterattack, but the blood strings wrapped around his body, rendering him immobile.
Kyle reared back his hand, a dark red aura forming on his fist. He supercharged the skill until the energy was wide and uncontained, pulses of steam flowing around him.
Muscular's eyes widened, his jaw clenched as he braced for impact.
'Aura Punch!'
Boom!
His fist dug right into Muscular's gut. Energy exploded from the point of impact, coiling around Kyle's hand and reinforcing the blow.
He bucked, but something was waiting for him—another heavy kick that cracked his head up.
And for good measure, an elbow strike to the solar plexus sent him several meters back, shattering a nearby building to rubble.
Kyle let out a tired breath and shook his hand, his arms aching from the volley.
'His muscles are a problem.'
Because of blood manipulation, he currently had an edge over Muscular. But unless he could drastically boost the force behind his blows, it would take far too long to take him down.
'I have to end this fight fast.'
Cyno could only hold back so many heroes…
Kyle pulled back all the blood strings to his hands and then they solidified, forming two razor-sharp daggers.
What was left of the villain's hideout exploded and Muscular stepped out of the rubble. His muscles were red, multiple bruise marks marring his body as he stepped forward.
"Tired of your little party trick?" He sounded out of breath, and yet he barked, a look of disgust on his face.
Kyle adjusted his mask. "You talk too much."
He might have been surprised at first by Muscular's monstrous strength, but now that he had experienced it firsthand, the match was basically over.
After all, Muscular was not fighting a regular version of Kyle.
He was fighting a supercharged version, even without his bloodline stability.
[—Blood Lust
The host has a maddening drive for blood. When this craving is satisfied, he will gain a 50% all-round boost.]
[—After Dark (Passive)
During nighttime, the host gains a 50% buff to all skills and stats.]
Muscular pushed his tired body in a futile attempt to end the fight, but there was a limit to how much punishment one could take.
He was getting slower.
A fist grazed Kyle's cheek as he closed the distance between them. He swung his dagger, and blood came gushing out.
Another swing, and Muscular's arm fell limp.
In the space of a second, he delivered several other strikes, spewing blood all over the streets.
Muscular stood wide-eyed, unable to move. He could barely walk an inch without collapsing.
"W-what did you do to me?"
Kyle strode towards him, blood dripping down the tip of his dagger.
It didn't matter how strong you were or how much muscle you had.
"Tendons, nerves, blood vessels…"
As long as he got them all, he would be like a machine without controls.
"Useless."
"Don't fuck with me—"
Kyle delivered one last resounding blow right to his temple.
His head rocked back, but before he could fall, Kyle grabbed onto him and sunk his teeth right into his neck.
[Ding!]
[Quirk detected! Muscle Augmentation]
[Do you wish to extract this quirk?]
Kyle smirked. 'Yes.'
As usual, the blood glowed a bright crimson, a red haze surrounding them as Muscular's quirk was copied.
[Success!]
[Congratulations! Mission complete!]
[Bloodline Stability: 100%]
[Energy is coursing through your veins]
•••
[Stand-by]
[You are undergoing an evolution]
The world darkened, and Kyle stumbled, falling flat on his face.