Endzone: Simulated Apocalypse

Chapter 122: Blood Baron: Zul'Krak, Thor Spawn

Chapter 122: Blood Baron: Zul'Krak, Thor Spawn

As the beast swiped at Cyanide with its two thick arms made up of rock, charged with electricity, the nimble assassin dodged time and time again. He's already tried all sorts of counterattackssliding underneath, going for the eyes, Soul Arts, Weapon Arts, everything.

Yet unfortunately, the beast was barely taking any damage. Normal attacks didn't even leave a scratch, literally dealing zero damage since the beast nullified physical attacks, and the only thing that really was doing damage to the beast were his Death Affinity Soul Arts, such as [Skulls of Hell] and [Life Drain]. He had yet to try the inside of the beast's mouth, but it was smart enough to not open it.

Little by little, the creature's health was drained down to about 8,000, but Cyanide was running low on Soulforce as well. He couldn't keep this up foreverhis stamina wasn't infinite either. Thankfully, with the help of [Death Infusion], the beast was slowed, making it easier and less energy-consuming to avoid its attacks.

Still, this couldn't continue. Cyanide was getting worn down at a far faster rate than the creature wasand they've only been going at it for less than an hour.

This fight was unwinnablehe'd underestimated this boss's abilities. He definitely didn't know it was going to be a Blood Baron. He needed to escape, prepare, and come back once he was ready.

Thankfully, he was always prepared for the unexpected, so he'd conserved enough SP to use his ultimate escape technique:

[Thunderflight].

Activating his wings of lightning and thunder, Cyanide attempted to fly away off into the horizon and come back to fight another day, but-

"ROOOAR!"

"!"

-The Child of Thor was not going to let him get away that easily after picking a fight. To Cyanide's surprise, he felt himself being pulled backwards, into the creature's wide open mouth, even though it was clearly roaring, not inhaling.

"Ngh!" He struggled to get away, but it was no use. The pull of the beast was too strongupon closer inspection, it was revealed that the beast's sharp teeth were actually rows upon rows of magnets.

And Cyanide was being pulled back by the electromagnetic force.

"Tch!" There was no going back now. As much as he wanted to escape, even if he deactivated his wings now, it was too late. He had no remaining Soulforce left to do any sort of fighting back, and ultimately, he simply gave in.

He had came to this world looking for a challenge, and sure enough, this world gave him one. He may have taken on more than he could handle. But that was fine. In the end, he was satisfied. He had no regrets whatsoeverhe fulfilled his promise to his teacher, gave his creation the physical body she wanted so much, and even met a foe worthy of being called 'formidable' by him.

And this boss would be the first to expose Cyanide's mistakes and clamp down on them hard, never letting go. Out of all the things he foresaw, he simply could not foresee the electromagnets in the beast's mouth, nullifying his last-ditch escape.

But he was satisfied.

This last fight and every fight since coming to this new world was far more intense and thrilling than he could ever imagine back on Earth. The idea of being reborn in a blank slate of a body and working from the bottom back up again was exciting, and sure enough the people who invited him to this game did not fail to deliver the self-actualization they promised.

To Cyanide, death was not a scary thing. Life and death were just two sides of the same coin, and often, he finds it difficult to believe how afraid of death some people are. It's a natural course of nature, much like photosynthesis and the water cycle. To make way for the new, the better, the old ones must go. After all, a world with no future is a world with no potential for evolution.

Now was just his time to go, to make way for the new, the better.

But just as he accepted his fate-

SEEW!

An immensely powerful bullet whizzed past his face, close enough for him to feel the small but violent wind field created by it, and struck the creature directly in its mouth.

The projectile was so strong that it knocked the creature upwards onto its rear legs for a brief moment, and pierced straight through its entire body, armor and all. Cyanide, freed from the magnetism, dropped to the ground and landed before looking around for his helper.

From on top of a nearby mountain even taller than this one, a girl leaped off the side of the cliff and slid downwards, riding the side of the hill. Then, once within range and at the right altitude, she kicked herself off skillfully before performing a trained, deft tumble forwards onto the mountain Cyanide and the beast were on.

Landing with a front roll to soften the impact, she expertly rolled to her feet in one smooth motion, massive sniper rifle on her back, and shot a cold glare at Cyanide.

"What are you waiting for? Finish it off."

Loading her own gun once more, she aimed at the inside of the creature's nostril, and unleashed another bullet with zero hesitation.

"ROARRR!"

Once again, she hit her mark perfectly, and this bullet caused the beast to roar in agony and rage, subconsciously opening its mouth. Cyanide, naturally, did not need to be told twice, and instantly dashed in front of the beast's wide open mouth, holding his blade across his other shoulder.

Then, he used the skill he obtained on the way here using the 1 SP he received from leveling up earlier:

[The Reaper's Cut.]

Black energy erupted from his Anaconda's Fang's hilt, completely encompassing the blade in the venomous gas of death. This Weapon Art allowed him to deal more damage to an enemy the less health it had, with anything below 25% HPmuch like this beast right now being an execute. What's more, this Weapon Art did not cost SF, but rather half of his max HP.

And right now, that HP was worthless if he could end the fight right here.

Teal eyes shining like bright aquamarine gemstones under the moonlight, he swung his death-energy-infused sword downwards, and executed the remainder of the Blood Baron's lifeforce.