The shadows twisted, and Barbara's skeletal wings spread wide, releasing a chilling gust of cursed energy. Her hollow eyes gleamed with malice, a cruel grin curling on her lips.
Krad's muscles tensed. He felt it. The faint pull of the Moon Eater's presence, like a whisper at the back of his mind. Power. It begged him to let go. To awaken. But Krad clenched his fists, forcing the temptation down.
No.
He wouldn't be a slave to that power.
Not again.
"I don't need you," Krad growled under his breath, planting his feet firmly on the cracked stone floor. "I'll win on my own."
Barbara's laugh echoed like nails scraping against bone. "Foolish. You reject the strength that could save you."
Krad didn't respond. He had made his choice.
DING!
Battle Initiated
Opponent: Barbara, The Cursed Elf Fairy
Threat Level: S-Extreme
Her skeletal claws twisted, dark tendrils slithering from her fingertips. The air thickened, and a ghostly hum reverberated through the ruins.
"Come, vessel," she sneered. "Let me carve regret into your soul."
With a scream that shattered the silence, Barbara lunged.
Krad's eyes locked onto her every movement. His pulse quickened. He saw the way her twisted wings flicked, the slight shift in her feet. Anticipating. Calculating.
There!
Evade!
In an instant, his body blurred, an afterimage lingering where he once stood. Barbara's claws slashed through the air, tearing apart nothing but mist. The cursed tendrils twisted wildly, striking at the illusion.
But Krad was already behind her.
"Too slow!"
Barbara snarled, her wings flaring in frustration. She spun, black energy crackling along her limbs. But Krad had no intention of standing still.
Evade!
Again, his body flickered. Another ghostly form of him remained in place, deceiving her. The subtle glow of the skill's effect lingered for half a second, and Barbara's cursed strike once again hit empty air.
Her shriek echoed. "You think mere tricks will save you?!"
Krad's chest heaved, sweat trailing down his brow. Every second counted. He could feel the strain on his body. Evade wasn't an ultimate attack. It wasn't flashy. It didn't deal massive damage.
But it was enough.
Barbara shot forth a volley of cursed tendrils, the shadows twisting into jagged spears. They hissed through the air, aiming straight for him.
Evade!
Krad ducked low, the afterimage left behind as the tendrils pierced through it. A half-second window. It was all he needed.
He charged forward, closing the gap. Barbara's glowing eyes narrowed in disbelief.
"Why won't you kneel?!" she screeched.
Krad grit his teeth. "Because I'm not afraid of you."
With a sharp pivot, he used the momentum of his dodge to strike. His fists connected with Barbara's side, sending a shockwave through her corrupted form. The impact caused the dark energy surrounding her to waver.
Barbara staggered. "You!"
But Krad was relentless.
Evade!
Each time she retaliated, he slipped through her attacks, leaving nothing but echoes. The ruins became a blur of shadows and afterimages. Barbara's frustration grew with each failed strike.
"You pathetic insect!" she roared. "You cannot defeat me!"
Krad didn't respond. His breathing was ragged. His legs burned. But his determination remained unshaken.
He didn't need overwhelming power.
He just needed one opening.
Barbara lunged once more, her cursed energy surging with raw malice. But Krad's eyes caught it. The hesitation in her movement. The moment her body tensed just before the attack.
Evade!
He shifted, the afterimage lingering once more. But this time, Krad didn't retreat.
Barbara's claws passed through the illusion. Her eyes widened in shock.
"Impossible!"
Krad was already upon her. His fist ignited with the sheer force of his will.
"You're not taking anyone else!"
With one, devastating punch, he struck her chest. The impact echoed like thunder, cracks splintering through the cursed energy that clung to her.
Brutal Hit!
Damage Inflicted: 900
Barbara screeched, her skeletal wings thrashing as she stumbled back. Dark energy pulsed from the cracks in her form, leaking like mist. But even as the blow landed, Krad's heart sank.
She's still standing.
A guttural laugh escaped her cracked lips, eyes burning with malice. "Fool. Did you think your mortal fists could bring me down?"
Before Krad could react, her twisted wings flared. The shadows beneath her warped, slithering like serpents. Then...
Night Pulse!
A shockwave of corrupted energy exploded outward. Krad's body tensed. He sprang to the side.
Evade!
His form flickered. The ghostly afterimage of himself lingered just long enough to deceive the blast, but the force still grazed his shoulder.
He gritted his teeth. "Tch."
The price of relying on skill alone was beginning to show. His breathing was uneven, his body trembling from the constant strain. Every time Evade activated, it drained more than just stamina.
Then...
DING!
System Alert!
Remaining Skill Uses: 4/10
Cooldown Initiated Upon Depletion
A sharp knot twisted in Krad's chest.
"Four left…"
Barbara's grin widened. "Ah… your Player System tires. How pitiful."
Krad clenched his fists. The looming pressure of the system warning gnawed at the back of his mind. Each dodge pushed him closer to the limit. He couldn't afford to waste a single move.
Then...
A soft voice echoed across the battlefield, light and innocent, like the chime of a child's laughter. It was surreal, almost out of place amidst the ruin and corruption.
"Player 143…"
His eyes darted around, scanning the misty air. "Wait---what the hell? Is there a kid here?!" He spun around, frantically searching. "Oi, little guy, it's dangerous! Where are you?!"
Barbara paused mid-step, her skeletal wings twitching. Her glowing eyes narrowed. "A child? Are you kidding me idiot?"
Krad ignored her, still looking around. "Seriously! Who brings a kid to an S-Extreme boss fight?! Tsk, irresponsible parents!"
"Pffft!" The voice burst into laughter. "You really are an idiot, huh?"
He stiffened. "What?"
"I'm not a kid, dummy! I'm your system!"
He froze.
"Hah?"
"You heard me!" the voice huffed. "I'm the super-intelligent, hyper-efficient, totally adorable system that's been managing your interface. And by the way, I've been keeping track of your terrible decision-making. Nice job wasting half your Evades."
Krad's eye twitched. "Why do you sound like a bratty kid then?!"
"It's my user-preferred voice setting! Blame past-you for thinking it would be 'less stressful.' Genius choice, huh?"
Krad facepalmed, groaning. "Of all the dumb things I could've done…"
Barbara snarled, her patience clearly thinning. "Are you seriously arguing with your own system?! I'm right here!"
"Shush, Boney!" the system chirped, clearly unfazed. "Grown-ups are talking."
Krad's mouth fell open. "You're not even a grown-up!"
"And you're not even winning!"
Barbara screeched, dark energy pulsing wildly. "I will shred you to pieces!"
The system's voice chimed brightly. "Oop! That's your cue! Remaining Evades: Four! And remember! Your mana is depleting rapidly. Continuous use of Evade is not advised."
"I know," he growled through gritted teeth.
"Be warned idiot. The strain on your body may result in system backlash. Severe mana exhaustion is likely."
"Yeah? I'll deal with it."
"The more you rely on Evade, the faster your mana burns. Without mana, Evade will fail. And if you push further…"
Krad's fingers twitched. "…Then what?"
A pause. Then, the system's voice dropped to an ominous whisper.
"Then, the unknown power will awaken."
His breath caught. The whispering presence stirred once again, brushing against the edge of his mind. That power. That hunger.
No. Not again.