Chapter 91: Bloodlust
"Now!"
Ren activated gravity manipulation at the very right moment, targeting only two points: the swords.
The massive gravity slammed into the swords, and at the same time, Ren unleashed his dragon’s breath. He compressed it so much it became a beam, slamming into the chest of Aragath.
With both swords pinned by gravity and the powerful force of the flames slamming into Aragath, he was forced to let go of the swords or have his arms ripped out. He was hurled back after taking the attack, bouncing off the ground and rolling until he finally came to a stop.
"It worked."
Ren walked forward and picked both swords up from the ground. He chucked them to the side and looked at Aragath, waiting for him to get on his feet.
When Aragath stood, he looked at his hands. No sword. Then he looked at Ren.
Ren smiled. "When you introduced yourself, you stated that as long as the swords remained in your hands, there was no way for me to defeat you."
Aragath heard those words and immediately understood why Ren had gone for that.
"You are a great contender, but even without my swords, I shall stand against you and refuse you," Aragath declared.
"Fine, let’s see."
Ren dashed, ripping through the air as he moved. Aragath tried to follow his movements. Ren leaped into the air and came down with a full-powered punch. He watched as Aragath tried to raise his hands to block and proceeded to add lightning to the attack.
Bam!
Ren broke through. His fist slammed into Aragath’s chest and hurled him back, causing Aragath to cough up blood and collapse to one knee.
Ren looked at his fist, then Aragath, and then his fist again.
"It worked," he muttered, a slight disbelief in his voice. "Such a weakness isn’t realistic. No one suddenly becomes weaker from losing a blade. But just as I thought, this trial is like a game with rules."
He clenched his fist tight and then looked back at Aragath, who was getting back on his feet. He charged in again, proceeding to throw massive hook punches, each one landing with the force of a small explosion that threw Aragath back, his face getting bloodier with each one.
Ren kept going at it, ensuring his punches packed as much power as possible. He thought this would be the end of it all, but then suddenly, Aragath blocked one punch cleanly. Ren was stunned. He looked at Aragath with complete disbelief as Aragath pulled the hand aside to reveal his face.
Aragath’s eyes had changed. What Ren saw was not the same. They had changed, carrying a rage that was not there before.
"I have fought for my master for many years, defending his legacy.
My master saved me from the depths of the abyss and gave me purpose. He made me the dragon that I am today.
I WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO TAKE WHAT BELONGS TO HIM. YOU WILL NOT PASS!"
His voice thundered. He opened his mouth and, at point-blank range, used flame breath. A stream of powerful orange flames rushed out and slammed into Ren.
Ren had no chance to dodge the attack. The flames blasted him back, the intense heat burning him as he was hurled backward. He gritted his teeth and fought through the pain as he rolled across the ground.
"It hurts."
He struggled to get back on his feet, and as he looked up, he saw Aragath standing there, wings spread out, eyes glowing, and in his hands were ethereal blades made of light.
"My master taught me this. He showed me how to become the sword that I wield." He bowed his head for a second and then looked up, lunging at Ren immediately, both hands ready to attack.
Ren saw him coming in fast and was completely enraged.
"Screw your conviction!"
His chest rose and glowed. He unleashed the strongest dragon breath that he could. The flames tore through the air, getting faster and faster as they moved.
Aragath planted his feet into the ground and swung down with both blades to block the attack. The flames met the swords, and he was pushed back a few feet, struggling to keep himself standing. Even with the swords that he now held, he was not as strong as when he had his real blades.
’My lungs are burning. My mind is a mess. I feel like stopping. I’ve never had to fight anyone this hard.
Never knew that I was this weak-willed. Tch. I guess it takes a serious issue to truly see what you are.
I thought I had it all: strength, wit, willpower. But here I am, feeling pressured.’
Thoughts began to rush into Ren’s mind, each one making his heart race faster and his rage climb.
"Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I am not weak. I refuse to be!" his voice thundered as he stopped the dragon breath. His breathing quickened, and his eyes changed.
[Dragon Rage has been activated]
[Primordial Bloodlust has been activated]
Two skills activated at the same time: one that he had used before and the bloodlust that he had never used.
The moment they activated, a terrifying aura exploded from his body. It surged into the sky and cleared the clouds around them.
Aragath stared at it. He felt something that stopped him from moving.
"Ma-master," he stuttered, eyes wide in disbelief.
Ren looked at him with eyes that were now fully clouded.
"Final round."
As he declared, he blasted into the air, reaching hundreds of feet high in an instant and then shooting down.
Aragath tried to get ready for him, but Ren slammed through every defense with a kick that sent Aragath into a deep crater.
BOOM
A shockwave tore through the entire area. The ground trembled as a spiderweb of cracks spread from the crater.
Ren looked down as the dust cleared, and the moment his eyes spotted that Aragath was still alive, he went in with a punch that shattered his skull entirely, painting the ground red.