Evolution of the Ruined Heir-Chapter 171: Do Better [GT Bonus - ]

'It had to be the life essence.'

While the others questioned Malakai's sanity, he was already planning his next move.

His mind replayed the scene from the last time he used this energy.

Back then, after the Maugrim man had caught up to him, he had slumped against a tree, only for darkness creatures to burst from the forest behind the man.

They had ignored the Maugrim completely. Their crimson eyes and bared claws had been focused solely on Malakai.

The same crimson glow they had now.

There was no doubt about it. He had drawn them in because he had used the power of the life essence.

But while the others saw death in the approaching tide, Malakai saw something else entirely.

He saw opportunity.

Points.

This many darkness creatures… there was no way he would pass up the chance to earn so much.

'My Vita is still depleted.'

Using the life weapon earlier had drained him. He wouldn't last long at this rate.

However, Malakai wasn't worried.

Surging toward him from every direction was an uncountable number of Vita sources.

As the darkness closed in, Malakai reached for his utility belt and drew out a dagger. He twirled it in his fingers, eyes narrowing in on one of the approaching creatures.

He stepped forward and threw.

The dagger whistled through the air, piercing straight through the head of a darkness creature.

Malakai watched calmly as a greenish wave streamed out from the corpse and surged toward him.

He felt the Vita roar through his body a moment later. It wasn't much, barely a dent in his reserves, but more were coming. This will do for now.

As the darkness poured into the large clearing where he stood, Malakai closed his eyes and focused.

He focused on one thing: the twenty meter radius around him.

He felt everything within it.

The Vita density. The changes in air pressure. The pull of movement. The trembling of space itself.

Then, the snarls of the creatures, the thundering of hooves, the tremors of the earth, everything else faded away.

All that remained… was the field.

And then they crossed it and entered the twenty meter radius.

'Six. Six. Five. Six…'

Malakai's thoughts moved in sync with his instincts, and his body exploded into motion.

Six wolf like darkness creatures came first, fastest of the bunch. Their fangs gleamed. Claws tore toward him from all sides, ready to rip.

But before they could land, Malakai vanished.

A streak of silver.

Six heads flew into the air. Black ichor splattered across the field.

But he didn't pause.

Six more came, six more heads flew.

Then five. Then six. Then four. Then seven.

Malakai's thoughts worked fast. His perception expanded. His movements never once paused.

The darkness came from every direction. Some Grade One. Many gradeless. But as soon as they entered his perception, he noted everything; shape, size, speed, grade.

He classified them all in his mind and moved in the perfect order to eliminate them.

His movements were minimal. Precise. He evaded when necessary. Parried when needed.

His scythe moved like it was born to kill, reaping lives like blades of grass.

Its edge hissed through the air, spinning rapidly in Malakai's grip.

It severed heads. Split torsos. It tore life apart.

Flashes of silver lit up the forest and the sound of blades slicing flesh echoed like a chorus of death.

It was hard to describe the expressions of the onlookers. Even they didn't know what they were currently feeling. Shock? Disbelief?

To the youths watching, to the veins, and to the people of the west, none of them could say for sure.

However, the only thing they knew was:

This should be impossible.

And yet, it was happening, right before their eyes. The region fell into a hushed silence.

And in the midst of that silence, Malakai moved like a warrior bred for war.

Black ichor had drenched the entirety of his body. He looked like a mass of darkness ripping through life.

More darkness creatures poured in. More silver streaks filled the air.

Their bodies were severed, forms split apart without mercy.

Despite what many would've thought, Malakai's movements weren't slowing down.

They were only getting faster.

Before the battle began, his Vita reserves had been depleted to their barest extent.

However, the reason he hadn't been worried… was because of one thing: The darkness creatures themselves.

Each one he killed released Vita that surged through him, filling his reserve. Fueling his every movement.

Malakai had never felt better.

He moved without pause, severed heads and tore through bodies without restraint. Black ichor pooled beneath him, splashing with every step.

But he didn't stop.

…

As all of this unfolded, a particular bread lover was finally plummeting from the skies.

Renlo gazed down at the dark forest rushing toward him. His eyes trembled, but his heart had already been steeled.

'I have to stop being afraid! I have to get to the Ninth Vein!'

He resolved in his heart.

As he neared the trees, he slammed his foot against one, using the rebound to send his body flying sideways.

He crashed into a thick branch, swallowed his pain, then kicked off another tree.

Over and over, he used the trees to slow himself, slamming and rebounding until…

Boom.

He hit the ground in a rough roll, but he didn't stop.

Renlo sprang to his feet and turned toward the direction he had come from. Then he surged forward as fast as he could.

'I have to help him. I have to move faster.'

This was the third time Malakai had saved him.

First from Aurelia. Then from Julius. And now… this.

Renlo gritted his teeth.

Malakai was his first friend, his only friend. And Renlo didn't want that friendship to be one-sided.

He didn't want to always be the one who needed saving. He wanted it to be a relationship of equal weight.

Where both gave. Where both grew. Where both stood tall.

His heart pounded. He was furious with himself, furious that he was still so weak.

'I have to do better!'

He roared in his mind, the fire inside him burning brighter.

Which was why, when Renlo laid eyes on the cluster of darkness creatures ahead, he only clenched his fists tighter.

His steps didn't falter.

He shot forward, thrusting his spear with everything he had.

He had to reach his friend.