Dual Cultivation: Beasts and Women!

Chapter 17: Tough Battle

The tiny creatures of darkness attacked him, targeting his legs, arms, and torso.

As several small, all-black demons formed strange blades on their small bodies and showed the wounded creature's special ability by glaring at him with hatred, Liam doubted the strength of these creatures and attacked the enemy again.

Moving through the air with a deadly leap, Liam kicked Thal'Korr in the face, knocking the demon backward.

But as his powerful kick connected, he felt several parts of his body being pierced by small blades.

"Ugh!"

A painful, clenched sound escaped him as he watched a dozen small creatures disappear from where they had struck.

The dark creatures vanished, leaving a black essence seeping through his wounds, visible to the naked eye.

'Shit!'

Liam immediately circulated his mana, trying to degrade the invading essence, but not as quickly as he needed.

Pain and temporary paralysis gripped him, and Thal'Korr moved in, claws aiming for his neck.

In the ultimate moment before impact, Liam's eyes widened, his heart leaping in his chest.

His hand moved on instinct, striking the demon's forearm with an open palm, pushing it away just in time.

Having narrowly escaped, Liam knew he couldn't retreat. He attacked again, his other hand aiming for Thal'Korr's stomach.

As much as he didn't use a spirit to fight, having had the opportunity to temper his body for days, Liam wasn't as easy as he seemed.

"Human!" the demon shouted as he slid back two meters, feeling intense pain in its abdomen, connecting the pain from the wound and the kick to its face.

"The damn demon who gave you your power will pay dearly for not showing itself!" Thal'Korr snarled, its claws lengthening as its muscles bulged.

Its heart pounded faster, enhancing its strength, speed, and regenerative abilities.

It leaped at Liam, dark power paralyzing its opponent as its claws slashed toward Liam's body.

'Swipe left and dodge him for 20 seconds. This current state of Thal'Korr won't last long.'

The incubus's voice echoed in Liam's mind, his eyes widening in frustration. 'Move? How?'

Struggling initially, he felt a surge of mana as he broke the enemy's restraints just in time to dodge, feeling the air slice past him from a near-fatal blow.

With his mana down to 19%, Liam knew he couldn't afford any mistakes. If he survived Thal'Korr, he'd still be in grave danger.

Five seconds ticked by as Liam dodged, moving into the area shrouded in Mary's black mist, trying to use his ally's power against Thal'Korr to buy more time.

With Mary's help, he saw through the area perfectly and spotted the two enemies of a lower level than his. Deciding to take a chance, he manipulated their minds, consuming 9% more of his mana while dodging another attack.

'It's all or nothing!'

Liam broke into a cold sweat as he saw the two 9-Star Spirit Apprentice demons move, one attacking Thal'Korr's back, the other jumping in front of him a second before another attack from the shadows, orchestrated by Thal'Korr.

As he struck one of its vassals and was struck in the back, Thal'Korr was distracted as it felt the wound on its back grow. Meanwhile, the enemy temporarily disappeared into the black mist.

"Human!"

As the 20 seconds passed, Liam heard the incubus' voice telling him to attack, and he hurried toward the wounded and disoriented Thal'Korr.

Swooish!

His stone dagger quickly penetrated the first wound of this fight, this time reaching Thal'Korr's heart.

"You have a choice now. Surrender and become my second spirit or die here," Liam said, gripping the dagger embedded in the creature's body.

Thal'Korr's eyes fluttered in disbelief. It had never imagined finding itself in such a dire situation. Its body was slipping out of control, unable to move, and its mana leaked from its wounds at a frightening rate.

It had no time to hesitate!

If it waited too long, even choosing to become Liam's spirit wouldn't save it from death on the spot!

'Damn it!' It was humiliating to be forced into this position, but it had no other choice. "All right. I agree to be your second spirit, human. I hope you don't kill us afterwards."

With these words, its aura separated from its body. Semi-transparent runes appeared between it and Liam, connecting their forms.

This time, Liam commanded the process, drawing Thal'Korr's essence into his body. The runes flared brightly as the spirit's power was absorbed, marking Thal'Korr as his own, a controlled entity destined to serve him.

In an instant, Thal'Korr found himself in the same space where the demon incubus had been. He took the second position in the area, standing on the previously empty platform, now bound to Liam's will.

"Welcome, Thal'Korr!" The incubus suddenly appeared beside the newcomer, its face forming a smiling expression as it forced Thal'Korr to its knees.

"You!" Thal'Korr's eyes twitched at the sight of the one who had performed a demonic ritual and given Liam magical powers.

"From now on, you will obey me!" The incubus said with great satisfaction.

On the Eternal Doom Island, it would never have dared to say those words. But in this place, where it was free even from Liam, there was nothing the mighty Thal'Korr could do against it!

...

As Liam's two spirits arranged themselves in that alternate space, Liam felt Thal'Korr's already dead body lurch forward as the runes of a moment ago disappeared.

The mana in the area entered his body, his injuries and magical exhaustion changing as quickly as his breathing.

As one demon realized how it had attacked its leader a moment ago, and the other took its last breath after being attacked by Thal'Korr, Liam felt his muscles tremble and even his bones ache, as if something was changing in them.

Liam's body grew hot, his heart pounding faster. His sweat dried almost instantly as his mana surged to levels higher than at the beginning of the fight.

Feeling the changes coursing through him, Liam allowed a satisfied smile to spread across his face. He had successfully claimed his second spirit.

Just then, he sensed the last opponent still capable of combat lunging towards him.

He moved, but his new speed was so startling that he found himself behind the enemy in an instant.

He paused, briefly admiring his newfound abilities.

"Incredible!"

The demon turned, startled to hear Liam's voice behind it.

Seeing the demon's ugly face, Liam swung both hands. Two-inch claws sprouted from his nails as he attacked.

With just two swift motions, Liam slashed the demon's neck. He didn't even have time to test the full extent of his enhanced abilities, now bolstered by the new spirit in his magical foundation.

"Liam!" Mary shouted as the dark mist dissipated, revealing the bodies of three powerful demons strewn across the mountainous area.

Liam looked at her, but when he saw the look of shock on Mary's face, he wiped away his smile as he asked in doubt, "Is something wrong?"

"Your muscles... They look so big now," she said as her lips curled upwards. "Your aura is different, too. You look like a scary beast!"

Liam turned his attention to himself and noticed his muscles had grown by about 35% in just a few seconds. His aura, capable of scaring others, could easily paralyze opponents up to the beginning of the second cultivation realm.

'Are these the advantages associated with Thal'Korr?' he asked himself as he thought about what he could do from now on.

In addition to the stronger body form, the aura of fear, he also felt that his ability to regenerate had evolved, along with the appearance of two abilities: temporary power enhancement and shadow projection.