Dawn of light - Reincarnated as a villain-Chapter 31: Battle in the cave

The atmosphere in the cave was tense, the air thick with blood and anger. The silver wolf, towering and regal, stood like a personification of wrath. Her golden eyes blazed with hatred as she confronted the boy who had slaughtered her kin. Zephyx, with his newly regrown arm, cleaned the blood from his lips and smiled.

The wolf growled, her fangs shining in the faint cave light. She burst into speed, dashing forward with her claws out, intent on pinning him beneath her sheer mass.

Zephyx dodged to one side, barely out of her reach. The impact of her charge sheared the rock floor, sending rocks flying. As the dust cleared, she turned to face him again, her movements fluid and predatory.

Zephyx focused on blood in his left hand and forcefully took it out and formed it into a longsword. He lunged at the wolf, aiming for her head.

The silver wolf dodged, twisting her body with incredible agility. She countered by swiping at him with her claws, forcing him to leap backward. Her claws raked the air, missing him by mere inches but leaving deep gashes in the cave wall.

Hissing in pain, Zephyx retaliated, channeling his wind affinity. His movements became faster, almost a blur as he closed the gap between them. His sword lashed out, managing to graze the wolf's shoulder. Black blood sprayed from the wound, staining the cave floor.

The sight of her own blood angered the wolf even more. She stood back and let out a howl, the sound ringing out in the cavern. The earth shook beneath them, and rock debris rained down from above. Her muscles flexed, her aura darkening and becoming more oppressive as she released all her might.

The wolf charged once more, but this time her speed was even more intense. Zephyx could barely deflect her blow with his sword, the impact of which propelled him back a few feet. He landed against the wall of the cave with a grunt, his breath knocked out.

Before he could mend, the wolf attacked again, her claws directed at his head. He rolled sideways in the nick of time, her claws raking across his armor and scraping deep into the metal.

Summoning his strength, Zephyx conjured 20 razor-sharp ice icicles and fired them at her.

The wolf dodged most, but a few found their mark, piercing her flesh. One lodged deep in her side, and another impaled her front leg. Black blood spurted from the wounds, splattering the cave walls. The wolf roared in agony, her cries shaking the very air.

The ominous aura began bursting from her body, Her previously shining golden eyes became blood-red, burning with a feral, senseless fury.

Zephyx braced himself as he witnessed her transformation progress. "So, this is how berserk mode transformation looks in reality,". he muttered.

The wolf's body appeared to expand, muscles bulging grotesquely as her body shook with unbridled power. Saliva dropped from her bared fangs, her blood-red glowing eyes fixed intently on Zephyx like a predator homing in on prey.

Berserk. A primal state that every beast could access, but only under the weight of overwhelming negative emotions—hatred, rage, despair etc.

For this wolf, the berserk transformation was fueled by a singular, seething hatred for the one who had butchered her family.

Zephyx did not have time to respond. The wolf attacked with lightning speed, her claws ripping into his chest.

His armor was ripped apart like paper, and her talons dug deep gashes into his skin.

Blood flowed out in thick rivulets, but before the wolf could enjoy her moment of victory, his wounds started to heal, the flesh knitting itself back together at an unnatural rate.

He brought up his blood-forged sword, bracing himself. When the wolf attacked once more, he tried to deflect her crushing blow, but was sent flying across the cave like a rag doll.

His body crashed into the cave wall, the force cracking the stone and leaving him breathless.

Frustration ate away at him as he understood his Tier-2 magic was not powerful enough to cut through her berserk-fortified defenses.

Each spell he tried was deflected, each effort to hurt her foiled.

Memories of Zephyx's mother's horrific death came flooding back, with raging emotions of Zephyx's towards the wolf.

Jumping back to make some distance. He activated his ability, Vital Surge, and ordered with gritted teeth: "Use 80% of my blood as a sacrifice."

Agony burst through his body as his blood was drained away, replaced by a flood of raw, brutal power. His veins seared, his muscles throbbed, and his eyesight became acute.

The wolf charged, her huge jaws snapping shut mere inches from his face. This time, Zephyx sidestepped with his new speed.

With a maniacal smile, he ran towards the wolf, his blood sword flashing through the air. The blade struck, cutting a gash along her side.

Black sword sprayed out, splattering on the walls and forming at his feet. The wolf howled in pain, her attacks becoming wild as her berserk mode took over her sanity.

Zephyx pressed his advantage. Each swing of his blade found its mark—slashing, stabbing, and carving through fur and flesh. Blood splattered everywhere, soaking the cave floor.

Slash.

A leg severed.

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Stab.

Her flank pierced, black blood pouring from the wound.

The howls of the wolf subsided into ragged whimpers, her strength ebbing under the ferocious pounding.

Zephyx, his features contorted in a mad grin, completely embracing his [Psycho] trait for the first time.

The wolf's body shook as it attempted to rise, but Zephyx's sword flashed again. A single, vicious slash ended her life, her head separating from her body and falling to the ground stained red with blood.

Her dead body fell with a thudding crash, blood spreading under it.

Breathing heavily, Zephyx stared at the gory scene. Relief washed over him, not just for avenging Zephyx's mother, but for the catharsis the violence brought. His grip on his blade loosened, and he stumbled back, collapsing onto the cave floor.

Pain coursed through his body. The reckless sacrifice of his blood left him pale and fragile, his limbs trembling. "Using 80% of my blood as a sacrifice... what a stupid idea," he muttered hoarsely. "When it doesn't regenerate for 24 hours..."

He extended his mind and called out telepathically, "Sylvia, come in here. Hurry."

There were footsteps within moments. Sylvia dashed in, her eyes locking immediately onto Zephyx. She paid no heed to the wolf's torn corpse and the mayhem about her, only concentrating on his battered, drained-of-blood form.

Her eyes filled with tears as she crouched beside him. "Zephyx, what happened to you? Don't leave me!" she cried, her voice trembling.

"Fuck, I'm not dying," he rasped, irritation evident despite his condition. His voice was hoarse and weak. "Just... give me some blood."

Without hesitation, Sylvia nodded. She pushed her shirt collar back from her neck. She assisted him in sitting up slowly and exposing her neck.

Zephyx clamped down weakly, his fangs sinking into her skin. He drank greedily, her blood pouring into his veins and reviving his strength. His composure started to come back to him as heat coursed through his limbs.

As he drank, a system notification echoed in his mind.

[Ding!]

[Quest Completed!]

[Reward has been added to your inventory.]

Relief swept through him, but before he could fully relax, another notification appeared.

[Ding!]

[You have embraced your trait [Psycho] for the first time.]

[Your trait [Psycho] is evolving due to the Blood of the Sinner.]

His eyes widened. "Blood of the Sinner?" he thought, realization dawning. "Oh, Sylvia's blood..."