“You shouldn’t antagonize our allies. I am sorry. My companion is just very eager to test her strength.”


    Oh, I see. They are playing good cop, bad cop. One would play nice and the other play rough.


    "Champion," he said softly, "I expected resistance, but you are a warrior who understands strategy. Sometimes, one must make alliances with those they despise to survive the greater war."


    I tilted my head as he pulled a sword from his cape.


    “This is our gift, whether you accept our offer or not. It is a sword capable of imprisoning shadows, a counter to Moloch. A sign of our goodwill.”


    I eyed it warily, the promise of power mingling with the stench of deceit.


    “A weapon forged in darkness, yet capable of harnessing it. You must understand, Champion, that not all shadows are evil, and not all who wield them are your enemies.” His voice was smooth, but there was a thread of something sinister beneath.


    I could feel Aurora''s apprehension next to me, her mana humming faintly as she prepared for any sudden moves. Thalia, still simmering with righteous anger, glared at Aldric and his companion, while Artemeni''s expression was unreadable.


    “A gift from a demon is rarely just that,” I replied, keeping my tone steady. “What’s the catch, Aldric? You think I’ll simply accept this and your offer of alliance without a second thought?”


    He smiled as if my words were just a challenge to overcome. “Of course, I expect skepticism. That is wise. But consider this: Moloch''s threat looms larger than our differences. You’ve felt it, as have I. It’s only a matter of time before he makes his move.”


    “Very well.”


    I said as I demanifested my sacred sword. Thalia looked at me with shock and betrayal, opening her mouth to protest.


    “Champion, you cannot!”


    “I agree with the priestess, Champion.”


    Despite disagreeing most of the time both Aurora and Thalia were against it. Artemeni kept looking at them, waiting for a signal.


    “Poyraz, demons are not to be trusted.”


    Blanche whispered from behind me. With a deep breath, I stepped forward.


    “If it is going to decrease the innocent lives lost, I am willing.”


    I extended my hand out to shake, my gaze locked into Aldric’s wide smile. I could see his smug satisfaction. He grabbed my hand and gave it a tight squeeze. But when it was time to break the contact, I tightened my grip and gave him the same smug smile he was giving me and threw him towards Artemeni.


    “Kill him!”


    I roared as I ran towards the female. I could see Artemeni and Blanche surrounding Aldric. I needed them to at least hold them until I got rid of the weaker link.


    (Ferocity of Wolf King is activated. Your speed and reflexes increases by 20 percent for 3 minutes.)


    I used 5 stacks of Ferocity of Wolf King to blitz the female. Her skin was rippling, wings and a tail popping out of her body as her nails grew into razor-sharp claws. Or at least, they were in the process of it.


    But I wasn’t about to let her transform. I manifested Bite of Binding Centipede, aiming for her throat. She barely raised her arms to block, my dagger piercing through her forearm. I didn’t bother to pull the dagger, ducking under her claw swipe and manifesting my sacred sword. I channeled my mana and Armor Collapsing Claw into it and swung it to her stomach, releasing all of it with Mana Erupt.


    As my sword connected, a brilliant flash erupted, the air around us crackling with energy. The force of the blow sent shockwaves through the ground, and I felt the resistance of her hardened flesh give way beneath the weight of my mana-infused strike. The moment felt almost surreal as if time itself had paused to witness the clash of our powers.


    The female demon staggered back, her eyes wide with surprise and fury. Her blood and guts fell to the ground with a disgusting noise but I could see the life in her eyes. She would heal. She would regenerate. Quick. Kill her!


    I tightened my grip on my sword and charged forward, focusing my energy on another strike. The Seventh Apostle’s wings unfurled fully now, casting a shadow over me as she snarled, revealing sharp teeth. The blood that pooled at her feet sizzled, the ground reacting to the heat of her demonic essence.


    “Fool!” she spat, her voice a guttural growl. “You think you can end me so easily?”


    I smiled under my helmet.


    “Yeah.”


    My sword blurred as I surged forward, the weight of my strike aimed directly at her throat. Her wings flared wide, but they couldn''t shield her from the raw speed of my attack. The blade sang through the air, enhanced by the force of Armor Collapsing Claw and Mana Erupt. Thanks to my training with mana control, the activation of my skills was faster and smoother.


    She tried to block, her claws coming up at the last second, but it was too late. My sword cleaved through her defenses, biting deep into her neck. Her eyes widened in disbelief as her body convulsed from the force, dark blood spraying the ground.


    With a wet gurgle, she collapsed to her knees, her wings twitching, spasming as if they refused to acknowledge defeat.


    (You collected the Soul of the Seventh Apostle of Asmoneal.)


    (Asmoneal will be hostile as you stole a soul belonging to him.)


    A deep voice rang out from behind me.


    “Is this what a Champion is? Tricking us and attacking without giving us a chance to use all of our power?”


    Aldric. He had risen, already breaking free from Artemeni and Blanche. I narrowed my eyes as I saw them struggle against several demons. Bastard. He must have a way to summon them.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.“Bark!”


    G?kb?rü’s warning exploded in my mind, making me turn. The corpse of the Seventh Apostle had turned into pitch black and hands ending with claws exited out of it. The dark claws burst forth from the corpse, ripping through the air as shadows writhed around them. I instinctively took a step back, manifesting my shield and channeling my mana into it.


    Horned forms of demons exploded out of her corpse and I threw my shield to them while signifying it. I had to form a barricade and get to Alric. Low-tier demons could be dealt with, got to sever the head of the snake.


    I didn’t even look back as the demons exiting out of her corpse got trapped under my massive shield. Through the chaos, I spotted my group still fending off the horde that Aldric had summoned. They looked unharmed but the demons were more than mere distractions—each strike they landed was precise, calculated to wear them down. Aldric watched with a cold smile, his eyes burning with malicious satisfaction. He was waiting for them to falter, to lose focus.


    I launched myself toward Aldric with G?kb?rü. He saw me coming, and his expression shifted from smug confidence to grim determination. With a flick of his wrist, a wave of dark energy erupted from the ground, tendrils of shadow lashing toward me.


    “Not impressive.”


    I muttered as I activated Mana Erupt once more. My mana surged in response, flaring outward and obliterating the shadow tendrils in an explosion of light and force. Aldric snarled, his demonic form rippling beneath his robes as his wings unfurled. He wasn’t holding back anymore. With a sickening crack, his transformation was completed, his once human-like face now fully that of a monstrous bat.


    “Damn. He really is the Count Dracula.”


    Aldric’s newly transformed face twisted into a malevolent grin, the bat-like features gleaming with a predatory hunger. His wings stretched out, casting a wide shadow over the battlefield as he took a slow, menacing step forward. He was easily over three meters, towering over me. The demonic energy he exuded grew even more suffocating, giving me the sensation of walking in a sandstorm.


    “Where is your honor, Champion? Are you afraid that I would destroy you in a duel?”


    He was trying to get under my skin by questioning my honor. Too bad for him, I wasn’t so easily stirred up. I smirked beneath my helmet, rolling my shoulders to loosen up as I felt the weight of my sword in my hand.


    “It is worthless to treat a parasite with honor. So stop talking and come.”


    Aldric’s eyes flared with fury, his wings beating powerfully as he launched himself into the air. His claws gleamed under the fading sunlight, and I could see the malice dripping from every movement he made. The sky seemed to darken further as if the air itself was suffused with his corrupt aura.


    (You resisted the effects of Gloom Eclipse.)


    “You’ll regret underestimating me, Champion!” he roared, descending like a vengeful god, his clawed hand raised to strike.


    "Bring it."


    I planted my feet firmly on the ground, drawing in mana from the earth beneath me and channeling it through my body. My muscles burned with power as I prepared for his attack. The moment he was close enough, I sidestepped his strike, feeling the air ripple where his claws barely missed my face. His wings fanned out to stabilize him, but I was already on the move. I moved to his blind spot, slashing at his neck. His predatory eyes narrowed as my sword was stopped by something invisible.


    His claws burning with violent energy passed above me, barely scraping my shoulder plate as I spun to dodge and reposition myself. Suddenly, the ground beneath me erupted as dark tendrils shot up from the earth, aiming to ensnare me. Aldric''s eyes gleamed with triumph, his form flickering as he used the shadows to try and bind me in place. It would have probably worked if I wasn’t resistant to the darkness element. With a surge of mana, I exploded out of the trap, shattering the tendrils and sending shards of shadow flying in all directions.


    “Nice try,” I said, my voice cold. “Do you have something that’s more original?”


    Aldric''s eyes narrowed as he hissed, his wings flapping furiously, sending waves of dark energy across the battlefield. 6 months ago, those waves would have sent me flying back but now I was able to stand my ground by digging my feet deeper.


    “Mere mutt! Mere pawn of the Stars!”


    His voice had dropped several octaves, becoming a guttural snarl that reverberated through the air. He swiped his wings in the air, sending more focused arcs of dark energy. I also focused my mana on the edge of my sword, intent on parrying them as I got closer. Flying enemies always posed problems but if I made him think that his ranged attacks didn’t work, he would have to come down to me.


    But just as I was about to swat the first arc, the ground beneath me shifted. The very ground seemed to come alive and rise to the air.


    “Bark!”


    G?kb?rü formed an ice shield in front of me, blocking the first arc as I hopped between levitating rocks to reach Aldric. But they moved once again, trapping me between them.


    “This fuck!”


    He is controlling them with some kind of telekinesis! He must blocked my strike before with that too! I cursed under my breath as the rocks tightened around me, forcing me into a constricted space. Aldric''s laughter echoed in my ears, filled with mockery.


    "Is this truly the best you can do, Champion? Your struggle only amuses me."


    I took a deep breath before melting inside shadows, focusing on Thalia’s presence and exiting out of her shadow, leaving Aldric behind. I grabbed one of the demons my group was fighting against and crushed his skull.


    “Champion? Are you okay?”


    Thalia’s worry-filled voice filled my ears.


    “I am okay. Aldric will be here shortly. Group up!”