Chapter 21: The Deadly Duel
After obtaining Roni's vitality, she fell into a deep sleep, while Finn emerged from Sika's domain, following her orders to sit, relax, and absorb the immense energy now coursing through his veins.
[Breakthrough: Beginner Phase, Level 5]
Receiving a sudden surge of immense power could cause internal organs to rupture if the force was too great, or lead to system failure if the energy was insufficient. However, his ability to remain calm, regulate his energy, and control his circulation was extraordinary. He simply sat and listened to Sika's instructions.
Controlling energy wasn't particularly difficult or required vast experience. It was like water in one's hands—you could direct it as you pleased. The challenge, however, lay in preventing uncontrolled surges, as an abrupt overflow of energy could cripple its wielder or even result in death in some cases.
[Breakthrough: Beginner Phase, Level 6]
At first, he was impressive in guiding the energy, but as it increased, so did the difficulty. The steady rise in power required him to accelerate his efforts, leading to a bit of tension.
At a critical moment, he took a quiet breath, closed his eyes, and completely relaxed his body. His senses shut off from the outside world, and he focused all his energy, concentration, and attention on directing the flow. From the outside, he appeared lifeless—his breathing was so faint it was almost undetectable.
[Double Breakthrough: Beginner Phase, Level 8]
A double breakthrough was an extremely rare event, yet Finn felt only the intensified surge of power. His eyelids trembled, revealing the mounting difficulty of his task, while a trickle of blood escaped the corner of his lips, a sign of clear internal damage.
Hours passed. The beast was sprinting at full speed, leaving behind a whirlwind of sand as it followed a green trail in its entirely red vision.
The beast suddenly halted, its head twisting wildly as it slashed its claws through the air, roaring in frustration, searching for something unseen.
From above, a small figure descended, silent as a shadow. Before the beast could react, a crushing blow landed on its back, sending shockwaves through its body. It roared, its claws swiping at empty air, but Finn had already moved—his knee smashed into its jaw with bone-shattering force.
The beast was hurled backward, tumbling through the dust. Finn's hand melted into liquid fire, his arm extending as molten lava slithered toward his foe. The beast, sensing danger, attempted to dodge, but Finn was faster, ducking beneath the lava and launching a brutal counterattack, his clawed hand aiming for the creature's exposed abdomen.
The beast twisted, barely avoiding a fatal wound, but Finn's claws still raked across its flesh, leaving deep, searing gashes. It retaliated instantly, its claws flashing like crimson daggers. Finn dodged, but not completely—three deep slashes tore through his stomach, spilling hot blood into the sand.
Gritting his teeth, he summoned the grass sword and lunged. The beast met his strike head-on, its claws intercepting the blade, the sheer impact sending a shockwave rippling through the battlefield. The two combatants locked eyes, neither willing to yield.
The deadly dance had begun.
Blades and claws clashed with relentless speed, the air vibrating from the force of each attack. Sparks flew, sand whipped into the sky, and the heat of battle rose like a raging inferno. Every strike was a battle of wills, each combatant testing the other's limits.
Unlike before, Finn did not hesitate, did not defend—he was all offense, all fury, his eyes scanning for any weakness, any hesitation. But his foe was a beast of unparalleled agility, its movements sharp and precise, its instincts honed for battle.
They were evenly matched. And that was a problem.
Finn could already feel exhaustion creeping into his limbs. He had assumed his rapid advancement would make victory effortless, but he had underestimated the difference in power between phases. When Sika revealed that his opponent was at Level 9 of the Entry Phase, he realized his mistake.
"Time for a change of tactics."
Finn slammed his foot into the ground and backflipped several meters. The beast charged, but Finn extended his palm. A sudden burst of heat melted the ground beneath them, forming a pool of molten lava. The beast, mid-stride, landed squarely into the searing pit.
A howl of agony split the air as the beast thrashed, its foot sinking into the lava. Smoke rose from its burning flesh, and for the first time, Finn saw hesitation in its eyes. He didn't waste the moment.
His sword flashed upward, aiming for the beast's throat. Victory was within reach—
Pain.
A searing agony tore across Finn's cheek and eye. He barely registered the attack before he was knocked back, tumbling through the sand. Blood poured down his face as he struggled to focus, his vision blurred by the red haze of his own injury.
Before him, the beast stood taller, its claws now glowing a deep, blood-red, its eyes darkened with pure malice.
[Get away from him.]
Sika's voice, calm yet urgent, rang in his mind. Finn obeyed instinctively, leaping backward just as the beast unleashed a storm of crimson slashes in every direction. The air itself seemed to crack under the sheer force of the attack.
Finn twisted midair, parrying the incoming strikes with his sword. But the onslaught was overwhelming. His defenses crumbled—deep gashes carved into his legs and stomach, fresh pain blossoming with every impact. His grip faltered, and in the chaos, his sword vanished.
Gravity took hold. Finn crashed onto the battlefield, rolling to a stop. He gasped for breath, but the beast was relentless. It lunged, claws poised for the kill.
Finn reacted on instinct, reaching for the closest object—his broken sword. He swung. Metal met flesh, and the beast snarled, staggering back. Finn used the moment to propel himself away, his breath ragged, his body battered.
But his opponent was far from finished.
The beast grinned—a horrific display of jagged teeth—as it steadied itself. Finn gritted his teeth. His sword was crumbling, his body screaming in protest. This battle was slipping from his grasp.
No.
Not yet.
Finn bent his knees and launched himself forward, pouring every ounce of remaining strength into one final attack. The beast roared, claws raised, mirroring his charge.
At the last moment, Finn twisted left. The beast's claws struck stone instead of flesh, embedding themselves deep. It snarled, struggling to pull free.
Finn didn't give it the chance.
His arm melted, reshaping into a blade of obsidian. With a single, decisive strike, he cleaved through the beast's trapped arm, severing it completely. A howl of agony shook the battlefield.
Seizing the opportunity, Finn lunged again, his body dissolving into liquid fire as he wrapped around the beast. Flames consumed flesh. Bones burned. Another arm fell. A leg crumbled to ash. The beast collapsed, writhing in agony.
The creature's bones became visible beneath its charred flesh. Soon, its other arm fell away, followed by its right leg, sending it collapsing to the ground.
Finn returned to his normal form, grabbed the severed arm, and plunged its claws deep into the beast's bare chest, forcing out its final breath in a wretched death cry.
[Congratulations]
[Threat Eliminated]
[Reward: 1000∆ + Soul Extraction Ability]
[Abilities: +Soul Extraction]
Finn paid no heed to Sika's words and collapsed beside the beast's corpse to rest. The battle had been far more dangerous and prolonged than he had expected, making a little rest well-earned.
"Sir, sir, are you with me?"
He slowly opened his eyes to the sound of a gentle voice. His blurred vision gradually cleared, revealing a young girl with orange hair staring at him with worried eyes. Her fox-like ears twitched slightly. When she saw his eyes open, a broad smile blossomed across her face.
"Oh, you're okay! You really had me worried." She supported his arm and helped him sit up.
Finn placed a hand on the wounded side of his face, slowly recalling the events before he lost consciousness. Turning toward the beast's remains, he found only a small pool of dried blood—the body had vanished.
"They took the corpse… If they're from the same source," he narrowed his eyes.
"The corpse? Oh, you mean the beast you were fighting. But who are 'they'?" she asked, curiosity evident in her gaze.
"I was hoping you could tell me more," Finn replied, running a hand through his hair. He then looked up at the girl and noticed patches of brown forming on her otherwise pale skin.
"What's this?" He touched her cheek.
[She's been outside the domain for half an hour already. That's too long—her body is deteriorating.]
"There's no danger here. What's harming her?" Finn questioned.
[The air itself. Her body has been exposed to something I can't identify. Even bacteria and the wind are enough to kill her with prolonged exposure.]
Nodding, Finn returned Roni to the domain and, with difficulty, stood up to continue his journey. With the greatest threat now eliminated, his only concern was finding a way out, which was merely a matter of time.
"Hey, Sika."
[Yes?]
"Didn't you say that Roni's vitality would boost me by at least half a phase?"
[That's right.]
"But I only advanced four levels—I'm still at Level 8 of the Beginner Phase." His dissatisfaction was clear.
[I know. It's just that you haven't fully absorbed it yet. We didn't have time before. Also, her vitality is far more potent than I initially thought. Once you fully integrate it, you might even break into the Entry Phase.]
"Whoa," he murmured in surprise. It was astounding how all these benefits came simply from being intimate with such a beautiful girl.
[Speaking of Roni, it seems like you've fallen for her, in a way.]
"You want to know something about me?"
[Not a bad idea.]
"Giving a girl her first time, gaining her trust, love, and devotion isn't something trivial. Since I understand and respect its significance, Roni is no longer just 'something' to me." He looked at his hand, which contained the domain.
"She pledged her loyalty and obedience to me, and from now on, she is both my lover and my possession. My honor and pride will forever be tied to her and her dignity. I wouldn't be a man if I didn't uphold that." His voice was sharp and resolute.
[You sound like someone who's been in this kind of relationship before.]
"I had a lover in my first life," he muttered.
[Really? Was she with you before you died?]
"No… she died." His voice softened, laced with an emotion he didn't want to articulate. Remembering that girl—his first love—whose meeting and parting had been "so bizarre," left an undeniable unease within him.
[So neither Marceline nor Roni… You don't love them, but rather consider them a part of your honor because they love and trust you?]
"Something like that. But you'll never truly understand human emotions."
[Me? Trust me, I understand them better than you do.]
"Are all systems dumb, or am I just unlucky?" he muttered, rolling his eyes in a sarcastic attempt to shake off the weight of his previous thoughts.