131 Blood fuelled rage


    Lucianughed, a dark, mocking sound that echoed through the hall. He drew his sword, a wicked de that glinted in the dim light.


    "You''ll try, but you''ll fail. Just like all the others."


    The clock was ticking. Alex had 2.5 hours to save 30,000 lives. He couldn''t afford to waste any time. With a deep breath, he activated his Phoenix Fury technique, feeling the power surge through him. His body glowed with a fiery aura, the mes of his talent enhancing his strength and speed. His sword ignited, the de wreathed in intense mes.


    With a burst of speed, Alex lunged at Lucian, his me-imbued sword slicing through the air. Lucian barely had time to react, parrying the strike with his own de. The force of the impact sent sparks flying, the sound of shing steel reverberating through the hall.


    Lucian countered with a flurry of attacks, his de moving with deadly precision. Alex deflected each strike, his movements fluid and controlled. The mes surrounding his sword burned brighter, the heat intensifying with each sh.


    Alex pressed the attack, his fiery strikes relentless. Lucian was strong, but Alex''s determination drove him forward. He couldn''t afford to lose, not with so many lives at stake. He channelled more of his fire talent, the mes licking at his skin but not burning him, instead fuelling his power.


    "You''re strong, but you can''t win."


    Lucian continued taunting Alex, his arrogance not waning one bit.


    Alex ignored the taunt, focusing on the rhythm of the fight. He ducked under a sweeping strike, retaliating with a powerful upward sh that Lucian barely blocked. The mes from Alex''s sword scorched Lucian''s arm, eliciting a hiss of pain.


    Lucian''s eyes narrowed, and he unleashed a wave of dark energy, the force of it mming into Alex and knocking him back. Alex staggered but quickly regained his footing, the fire within him burning hotter in response to the challenge.


    "You underestimate me. And that will be your downfall."


    He charged again, this time faster and more aggressive. His sword moved like a blur, each strike aimed with lethal intent. Lucian struggled to keep up, his defence faltering under the relentless assault.


    The heat in the hall grew oppressive, the mes from Alex''s sword creating an inferno around them. Lucian''s face was twisted in a snarl, his confidence waning as he realised the true extent of Alex''s power.


    "Damn you! You''ve been hiding your power all this time!"


    Lucian summoned more dark energy, trying to push Alex back, but Alex was relentless. He broke through Lucian''s defences, his ming sword cutting deep into Lucian''s side. Lucian cried out in pain, stumbling back as blood flowed from the wound.


    "Think what you like, it won''t matter. In the end, you''ll die, your father will die, everyone involved in this horrible plot will die."


    With a final, decisive strike, Alex plunged his sword into Lucian''s chest, the mes consuming him from the inside out. Lucian''s eyes widened in shock and agony before the fire engulfed himpletely, leaving nothing but ash.


    Alex pulled his sword free, the mes dissipating as he took a moment to catch his breath. He had won, but there was no time to celebrate. The clock was still ticking, and he had to save Monty town.


    He turned and sprinted out of the alleyway, his mind focused on stopping the Count. The Count would be his biggest challenge yet, but the lives of 30,000 people depended on him.


    The night time air was cool against his heated skin as he ran, his thoughts racing. He had to be smart, had to be fast. Every second counted. He pushed himself harder, thendscape blurring as he sped towards his destination.


    As he neared the Count''s location, he could see the signs of the impending formation. Dark figures moved in the shadows, preparing for the sacrifice. Alex''s heart pounded in his chest, the urgency of his mission driving him forward.


    He burst into the town square, his sword ready. The Count''s men turned, their eyes widening in surprise and fear at the sight of the fiery warrior before them. Alex didn''t hesitate. He charged into the fray, his sword cutting through the air with deadly precision.


    They were no match for him. He moved like a force of nature, his mes burning away their attacks. They fell before him, one after another, their screams echoing in the night.


    Alex fought his way to the centre of the formation, where the head guard stood with his brows furrowed, oblivious to the chaos around him. With that nuisance taken down, Alex dashed into the centre of the town.


    "Leave now! All of you, run as far away from the town as you can! I''ll deal with the Count, but ignore whatever he said to you. He was never nning on letting you live, he''s going to sacrifice every single one of you if you stick around here!"


    As the townspeople emerged from their homes, their faces filled with gratitude and relief, Alex allowed himself a moment of respite. But he gave each one of them a stern look as he roared his orders again.


    In the next 10 minutes, the 30,000 people dwindled down to under 15,000. Over half of the people huddled into the town centre had already run outside the walls of the town and continued running madly into the distance.


    "Stop you fucker!"


    Thud!


    A booming voiceshed out throughout the square as the Count made his entrance.


    No words needed to be exchanged as the Count immediatelyunched himself towards Alex in a blood fueled rage.


    "Can''t summon your precious Variant ss beasts if you don''t have any people to sacrifice!"


    Alex assumed the role Lucien took against him in his previous fight, taunting the Count as he took his still zing sword and blocked the iing attack.


    "You won''t stop me! I can still summon one beast! My son will just have to make do without being a Variant for the time being."


    However, Alex let out a chuckle when he heard this.


    "I''m afraid your son has already been dealt with." n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om