The blue snake-on-legs sped towards him, little legs throwing grass clumps in the air. Its mouth hung open, revealing short but sharp fangs. Drool spilled from its maw.
A long blue forked tongue lolled side to side, periodically licking its lips. The bastard had greed written all over its face, eyes burning with ravenous hunger.
Kai opposed being eaten under any circumstances - but this abomination’s unadulterated greed was especially revolting. If he had to be dinner, he’d rather end up in the stomach of an abomination with a little class and decorum.
Ashes. The greedy bastard countered my best advantage.
Since escape wasn’t an option - he had to fight the disgusting behemoth. He opened his right hand and summoned the Unnamed Blade. It ripped through reality with a hunger for souls comparable to the snake-on-legs’ hunger for Kai’s flesh.
The area dimmed as the dark blade eagerly devoured light.
Then he ran. Distancing himself from the barrier was a no-brainer. His only remaining advantage was mobility. Fighting with a barrier behind and an enemy in front was a death sentence.
The blue snake was still around three hundred feet away. Enough time to plan - but it wouldn’t last long. The snake-on-legs was slower than Kai, but its stubby legs carried its enormous body with frightening haste.
How could those stubby legs support a body that large? He still hadn’t seen its tail end. There was a gruesome possibility the snake’s body went on forever.
He needed more information. Since when could abominations create barriers? His limited education was coming back to bite him in the arse.
Damn Renzo and his information restrictions.
Kai didn’t have the most powerful offense. But he assumed his spatial manipulation made him a god of defence - an unkillable cockroach. The snake-on-legs humbled his lofty assessment.
He cut through easier prey as he ran, converting them into nourishment for his sentient suit, hungering blade, and undead soul. Kai had to destroy or bypass the barrier. He had a feeling a simple cut wouldn’t do the job…but he had a Guardian, didn’t he?
His brother’s guidance was often useless, but he came through when it mattered most. His Guardian might actually do his job in this situation.
Kai kept running through the maze of trees and hidden threats, cutting down the bravest creatures as he spoke. “Kharon…what the hell is this barrier thing?”
Kai gritted his teeth. “The Serpent Mob wanted me compliant, not educated. I know little about the Darklands - that’s why I’m asking you. Do your job and guide me!”
Kharon’s sigh rumbled across Kai’s mind.
“How do I break it?”
Kai bit back a curse.
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Kai bit his lip. Expletives threatened to break free again. Kharon continued.
Kai’s frustration mixed with resolve. If his brother believed in him - didn’t he have a responsibility to prove him right?
The overpowered bastard called him weak constantly. But he treated him better than most - even with the body-jacking taken into consideration. He’d never insulted or condemned Kai for being weak…he merely stated it as fact.
Didn’t he often pair his ruthless jabs with encouragement? Did Kharon…care about him?
Kai tightened his grip on the dark sword forged in love and flame. He stopped running and spun to observe the incoming abomination. Although trees surrounded him, he had ample space to move.
He’d distanced himself from the invisible barrier. Time to stand his ground - his way.
Fighting a head-on battle with the blue abomination was foolish. Why do that when he could use trees as cover, then stab it in the back?
The best attack was one your enemy never saw coming.
A grin tugged at his lips. “Thank you, brother. Your guidance is improving.”
Kai ignored the question.
He stood where the snake-on-legs could easily spot him and waited in calm silence. The abomination soon reached him.
Kai teleported behind the abomination and used a tree for cover - leaving an echo standing where he used to be.
His echo was identical. The only difference was its obnoxious personality.
“Over here, you big blue worm!” The echo said.
It dashed between the trees. “Bet you want a taste of this!” The echo slapped its arse, a ludicrous grin spreading across its face.
The snake-on-legs dutifully followed. Greed drove it, but rage surely played a part. The echo was a convincing and annoying distraction. Kai almost wanted to beat it up himself.
There was no end to the snake-like tail as it rushed past him. But that didn’t matter.
The bigger they are, the slower they turn.
Kai swung his sword with both hands. Before his ominous blade completed its arc, he slipped through space. He emerged in the air. His blade bit into the back of the snake’s…head? Upper body?
His sword hit wherever Kai assumed its brain was - and met fierce resistance. The snake’s head area refused to succumb to the dark blade. Blue scales repelled his attack.
Kai left another echo falling as he teleported behind another tree.
The surprise backstab was a complete failure. A shallow mark marred the blue scales, but he’d dealt no damage. He peeked from behind the tree.
The snake-on-legs turned its head in confusion, now focusing on the new echo. But it was slow to move. Its massive body needed a wide berth to execute a U-turn. It awkwardly stepped sideways before pursuing the echo.
The end of its tail passed Kai.
“Too big to catch up? Sure you need another meal?” The echo maintained its provocation campaign.
Kai sighed. He couldn’t fight or run. His current strength was insufficient. But he hadn’t reached the limits of his power.
Suit? Can you make me stronger?
Smug reassurance drifted into the back of his mind. His muscles grew firmer. His body grew stronger. His mind grew sharper.
But he didn’t stop there.
Thoughts of promised punishment flowed through Kai’s mind. Renzo, dismembered. Dakas, ripped apart. Gideon, skewered.
Blood everywhere. Violence never-ending. Destruction inevitable.
Sharp black claws tore through Kai’s gloves. He gripped the dark blade with both hands once more, claws biting into his palm. Blood trickled down his gloves.
Bloodlust blanketed him like ash rain.
Kai once thought himself a man. A human.
He had no such delusions now.
He was a Demon. Heir to Death God. An executioner.
Stepping through space, Kai materialised in the air again. His dark blade carved an inevitable path. The blue abomination’s flesh parted and surrendered to its fate.
A blue head half a man’s size toppled to the ground. Crimson blood rose and surged toward Kai. He teleported behind another tree, leaving another echo.
The snake-on-legs had crushed Kai’s assumptions with its Domain. He couldn’t assume the abomination was dead. That’s how you get eaten.
“Heading off so soon?” His echo continued its tirade.
Kai studied the blue abomination as its severed torso dropped - then halted mid-fall, suspended inches from the ground.
His hunger remained sharp, but something writhed beneath the skin of his neck. He kept his eyes on the blue abomination while reaching for his throat. Careful not to slice his throat with his claws, Kai pressed his palm to his neck.
His gloves muted the sensation, but he could tell - his death wound was gone.
The headless snake-on-legs pulled itself upright. Flesh around its neck contorted - it rippled and twisted. Kai knew what was coming next.
Cheating reptilian bastards never knew when to lie down and die.
His expectations were wrong again.
The writhing flesh formed two separate mounds. Two new heads crowned the abomination’s neck.
One head locked onto the echo. The other glared at Kai.
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