Apocalypse Baby

Kato halted his pursuit of Alex, his focus shifting to the swarm of Blight Birds diving toward him.

His hands ignited, fireballs forming in an instant.

BOOM!

BOOM!

He unleashed them, blasting the creatures mid-air.

One after another, the Blight Birds shrieked before crashing into the lava, their bodies consumed by the molten abyss.

The heat from the lava radiated intensely, making the air shimmer with waves of distortion.

Kato's breath came in short, sharp bursts as he prepared for the next wave of attackers.

WHOOSH!

Over to Alex, a Blight Bird blindsided him, slamming into him with brutal force. The tile beneath him cracked under the impact, sending shards of stone flying in all directions.

SHATTER!

But Alex had avoided the attack, already in motion.

With a powerful leap, he launched himself into the air, twisting mid-flight with the grace of a seasoned warrior.

A black flame burned to life in his palm, its dark energy pulsating with an eerie glow.

He hurled it down at the attacking bird.

FWOOSH!

The Blight Bird screeched in agony, its feathers igniting in dark fire. It plummeted, its wings flailing uselessly as it descended into the molten lake below.

SPLASH!

The lava swallowed it whole, the flames hissing into silence.

But there was no time to stop.

More Blight Birds dived toward him—drawn by the cursed mark on his neck.

Instead of dodging, Alex grinned, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous light.@@novelbin@@

He leaped onto the birds themselves, using them as stepping stones instead of the floating tiles, and blasted black flames with every jump, setting the creatures ablaze as he moved.

The air was thick with the stench of burning feathers and the acrid smoke of charred flesh.

One Blight Bird suddenly lunged, its razor-sharp beak aiming straight for his head.

But Alex vanished, a blur of motion too fast for the eye to follow.

Then he reappeared right at the bird's side, his fist cocked back.

CRACK!

His punch crushed through bone, the impact sending the Blight Bird rocketing downward.

BOOM!

The Blight Bird's broken body crashed against the rocky wall, then slid down into the lava below, leaving a trail of smoke and ash in its wake.

Alex landed smoothly on a tile, his movements fluid, but then...

WHOOSH!

Without warning, flames erupted from beneath, consuming the entire platform in a fiery inferno.

For a brief second, Alex vanished within the blaze, his figure obscured by the intense heat and light. Continue your adventure with My Virtual Library Empire

But then he stepped onto the next tile like it was nothing, Aegis Arcane shimmering around him.

The protective barrier absorbed the attack without a scratch, its bluish hue flickering faintly before stabilizing.

Above, the sky darkened as a swarm of aerial creatures dived toward him, their shrill screeches filling the air.

Alex didn't hesitate.

He dashed straight at them, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword.

SCHING!

In one smooth motion, he unsheathed it and slashed.

The blade cut through the creatures like butter, their bodies splitting apart mid-air before they even knew what hit them.

His movements a blur of speed and precision.

He landed on the skull of a Blight Bird, the force of his step crushing it instantly.

Using the momentum, he lunged even higher, straight into the massive swarm of Nightmare Bats approaching from above.

And then, he howled.

A deep, powerful sound erupted from his throat, resonating with a primal energy.

Then...it shifted into a sonic scream.

A shockwave rippled through the air, the vibrations so intense that everyone's eardrums trembled.

The Nightmare Bats froze mid-flight, their bodies twitching violently as the sound waves tore through them.

Then one by one, they dropped, lifeless.

Their bodies rained down from the sky, crashing into the lava below with a series of sickening splashes.

Kato watched from a distance, frozen in place.

A shudder crawled down his spine as he witnessed the sheer power Alex wielded.

What… was this monster?

He had fought powerful people before, but this? This made no sense.

How the hell was Alex so strong?! It was almost unreal.

The obstacles that had taken so many lives already—to Alex, they might as well have been cardboard cutouts.

Kato's body tensed, his muscles coiling like springs ready to snap.

For the first time, a terrifying realization sank in.

Alex could have killed him if he wanted to.

The thought alone was enough to paralyze him.

His grip on his sword tightened, the leather of the hilt creaking under the pressure.

Attacking again? No. That would be suicide.

Yet, even as the fear settled in, it didn't quench his resentment.

Not even a little.

He still wanted Alex dead.

But now… he knew he couldn't face him head-on.

He needed a new plan.

A better plan.

His hatred had transformed into something darker, something twisted.

It wasn't just about revenge anymore. It was ego. It was envy. It was an obsession.

*

Meanwhile…

Far ahead, Onigi tore through the battlefield like an unstoppable force.

Every monster that dared to block his way met a swift and brutal end.

SLASH!

His blade carved through them like paper, its edge gleaming with a cold, deadly light.

Yet, they didn't stop.

The monsters clung to him like magnets, relentless in their assault.

He was close now—so close to the exit.

But no matter how many he cut down, more kept coming, their numbers seemingly endless.

Still, Onigi never slowed.

He never stopped.

He was enjoying the thrill of it.

As Onigi moved, his blade flashed like a streak of silver, carving through the monsters that dared to stand in his way.

Blood sprayed in arcs, painting the air with crimson.

Limbs flew, severed cleanly from their bodies.

But despite the carnage, not a single drop stained his clothes.

He was too fast, too precise, his movements a testament to years of relentless training and battle experience.

Then he felt it.

An insane amount of power.

A presence that sent a thrill through his veins.

Right behind him.

Alex.

Onigi's lips curled into a grin, his teeth gleaming in the dim light.

So, the young one was finally taking things seriously.

His battle style—unorthodox, unpredictable, deadly.

Yet, so effective.

Onigi chuckled, his eyes glinting with excitement.

The kid was special. And—if he was being honest—he looked like he was having fun. Something stirred in Onigi's chest. Excitement.

"Maybe I should have fun too," he mused, his voice low and gravelly.

But just as he took his next step...

CRACK!

The tile beneath him shattered instantly, the sound echoing like a gunshot.

But it wasn't enough to catch the old man off guard.

The moment his foot left the crumbling tile, he had already adjusted, landing on the next with the grace of a cat.

But then another tile cracked. And another.

The tiles had gotten weaker.

Shattering almost as quick as he stepped on one,

Things had gotten serious.

Those without movement skills or insane agility would be at a huge disadvantage.

Good thing he had both.

With a sharp exhale, Onigi blasted forward, his body a blur of motion.

Traps snapped at him, their mechanisms whirring with deadly intent.

Monsters lunged, their claws and fangs bared.

But his blade was faster.

SLASH!

He tore through everything in his path, leaving behind nothing but fallen enemies and shattered obstacles.

The finish line was just ahead, its outline visible through the haze of smoke and fire.

And he was still in the lead.

But Alex...Alex was right behind him.

Moving at the same pace. Never slowing down.

Onigi frowned, his brow furrowing in thought.

At first, he thought it was just chance, but now… it was obvious:

The Nightmare monsters were targeting Alex more than anyone else.

Onigi grinned, a sly smirk spreading across his face.

That just meant less trouble for him.

But then the air shifted, and a dark presence swelled ahead.

The Nightmare Bats stopped attacking individually.

Instead, they swarmed together, twisting and merging into a grotesque, demonic face.

It had no eyes. Only a gaping mouth.

And then it screamed.

A silent, eerie howl that made the very air shudder, sending ripples of fear through the hearts of all who heard it.