Chapter 38 — Blood That Draws Beasts
The ruins groaned under the heat of midday. Dust drifted lazily through the sunlight, cutting across the cracked streets and broken walls of what was once a town.
And amid that silence, the sound of slaughter rang clear.
Seth moved like a shadow through the crumbling ruins, his sword whistling through the air in clean, savage arcs. Every swing painted the ground red.
Dozens of initiate-ranked beasts charged him—wolves with bone-lined hides, insect-like creatures that crawled and hissed, twisted lizards with metallic scales—but none lasted more than a heartbeat.
His blade grew with each swing, extending unnaturally as his weapon mastery flowed. Expertly incorporating the sword's skills with every swing. The massive arc of steel cleaved through clusters of beasts at once, scattering limbs and blood into the air like rain.
When they came too close, he spun, using the weight of the sword to clear space in a violent gust. Dust erupted outward, and the shockwave knocked several creatures into broken walls.
The entire street trembled beneath the rhythm of his battle.
The smell of blood thickened the air. Metallic. Heavy. Unavoidable.
And Seth didn't stop. He wanted it to spread. He wanted the entire area drenched in it.
Another pack came from his left. He pivoted smoothly, the One Sword flashing in a wide arc that bisected six of them before the others even saw him move. His steps were calm, deliberate—each strike measured, each motion economical.
His breathing didn't even hitch.
The bodies piled higher, and soon the ground was slick beneath his boots.
He knew what he was doing.
The smell of death was bait—and his prey, the novice-ranked beasts, would soon come.
He killed another pair of lizards, then paused, glancing toward the far end of the street. The air was shifting, faintly trembling.
And then he felt it.
A heavier presence.
The sharp instinct that came with danger brushed against the edge of his mind. He turned his head slowly.
A dark blur shot out from between two collapsed buildings, accompanied by the rush of displaced air.
Seth moved instinctively, sidestepping just in time as something huge slammed into where he had stood. The shock crushed the pavement, sending fragments flying.
It was an insect—a moth the size of a car, its wings translucent and faintly glowing, scattering dust like fine glitter.
Its claws dug into the earth, glowing faintly with a strange light. Energy rippled along its surface—dense, refined.
A novice-ranked creature.
Seth's grin returned. "Finally."
The moth shrieked, a sharp, almost metallic sound, then dove. Its wings beat once—just once—and it blurred forward, faster than the beasts he had fought before.
Seth barely raised his sword in time.
CLANG—!
The impact sent him skidding backward, boots grinding against the dirt. Sparks flew as his blade locked against the moth's glowing claws. The air around them rippled from the force, the nearby initiate ranked beasts were flung away by the force.
"Fast…" Seth muttered under his breath, his arm throbbing from the clash.
The moth pulled back and swooped upward. Its body shimmered with energy, and it began to descend again—faster this time, claws glowing even brighter.
Seth crouched, eyes narrowing. When the claws came down, he didn't block. He rolled aside—just as they slammed into the ground.
BOOM!
The impact split the cracked street open, sending a deep fissure racing forward. A rusted car nearby was torn in half, one half flipping through the air before crashing into a wall.
The moth shrieked again, wrenching its claws free from the shattered earth, wings flaring with a gust that knocked debris everywhere.
Seth was already moving.
He dashed forward, blade raised low, and swung upward in a powerful arc. The edge of his sword caught one of the moth's wings, cutting a long tear through it. The creature screamed, staggering midair.
But it wasn't done. It spun, its massive wing slamming into Seth like a hammer.
He grunted as the blow sent him flying backward, crashing into one half of the same rusted car that had been split earlier. Metal crumpled beneath him, the frame folding in like paper.
He hissed, shaking his arm once before standing.
"That almost hurt."
The moth's body glowed brighter, its claws drawing energy again. It hovered above, ready to dive a second time.
But before it could move, a sound echoed from behind Seth—a deep, throaty growl.
Two shadows padded out from between the buildings. Wolves.
Massive, thick-furred, with pale blue eyes that glowed faintly under the sunlight. Their muscles rippled beneath their skin, and faint scars glowed with residual energy.
He recognized the pressure instantly.
Novice-ranked beasts.
Judging by the intensity, one was Level two and and the other, at least a level six.
The moth shrieked, the wolves growled—and suddenly, the three predators turned their focus toward him.
Seth exhaled slowly. "Tch. Guess it worked a little too well."
The moth dived first, its glowing claws stabbing downward. Seth jumped back, using the car behind him as a launch point, flipping over as the insect struck the ground. The impact split the earth again, and the car was shredded into fragments.
He landed behind it, swinging mid-motion. His sword caught one of its legs and sliced through cleanly. The moth screamed, green ichor spraying across the broken pavement.
But it still wasn't enough.
The wolves lunged next. One came low, jaws snapping for his leg, while the other circled to the right. Their coordination was sharp—almost intelligent.
Seth ducked, twisting his sword and driving his foot into the attacking wolf's chest.
BOOM—!
The impact sent the beast crashing into the side of a building, the concrete wall caving in with a thunderous crack. Dust erupted outward.
The second wolf's claws grazed Seth's arm as he spun, barely nicking him before he slashed back. The sword met flesh—and bone split.
The creature howled, but didn't retreat. Its wound shimmered faintly, the torn flesh knitting itself back together before his eyes.
Regeneration.
"Of course you can do that," Seth muttered darkly, backing away as the moth came in again.
It dove, its claws glowing fiercely, brighter than before. Seth raised his sword—but this time, he didn't defend.
He sidestepped.
The moth slammed into the earth again, its claws cleaving through the remains of the car, slicing it clean in half. Sparks and dust exploded into the air.
Before it could wrench itself free, Seth moved.
He darted forward in a blur, his sword flashing with light.
One clean swing.
The moth's head flew from its body, the severed stump spraying blue blood as the creature's wings twitched violently. It toppled, crashing to the ground with a dull, heavy thud that shook the earth.
Seth exhaled, resting his blade on his shoulder. His eyes flickered toward the remaining wolves, both now standing in the dust, growling lowly.
"Two left."
A small grin curved his lips.
He could already feel the pulse of their energy—the raw strength coiling beneath their fur. This wouldn't end quickly.
The fight was just beginning.