Zenith Online: Rebirth of the Strongest Player

Chapter 106 Thin Line Between Victory And Defeat

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Until now, Deranged Spirit was a skill Kieran couldn't activate no matter what despite having received it at the time of his class promotion. Just recently, he had wondered about the criteria to trigger it and if he possessed the current means to do so. Naturally, with the current situation at hand, the answer was yes. Kieran did have the means to gain access to the skill, but it took circumstances he had yet to stumble across until now.

The first requirement of this skill was to have the madness of a True Berserker active in its highest form. In other words, Kieran needed Blood Mania and Tormented Beliefs to reach peak conditions to fulfill this prerequisite.

The second requirement of this skill was a revenge-clouded mind. In this regard, Kieran's desire to seek vengeance deepened the closer Rautori brought him to the brink of death. After all, this ordeal reminded him of the powerlessness he felt up to the moment of his original death.

Deep-rooted emotions like rage, hatred, love or even loneliness were usually the triggers in most emotion-driven acts, which is why the True Berserker Class was one based on a power that most "righteous" figures would deem as a cardinal sin—wrath, rage, fury.

Lastly, to activate the skill, Kieran required an engine to mobilize and consume these raw emotions. In Kieran's case, he possessed more than one, but only one was accessible at this time—his Strengthened Trait. The Vengeful Soul trait was the perfect engine to contain and convert Kieran's desire to retaliate into tangible power.

With all three of these effects combined, Kieran could finally experience the power of one of his most essential passive skills.

Suddenly, the bloody aura surrounding Kieran roiled as his expression contorted in rage. The whites of his eyes disappeared only to be replaced by the most ominous black color. Once this process started, the slumbering blood of Argexes seemed to react and cause Kieran's body to feel as if it had returned to the Ancient Volcanic Ichor Bath.

His muscles swelled, and his skin reddened slightly while his eyes, previously the color of dried blood, turned a vibrant crimson matching that of fresh blood. Finally, Kieran's hair seemed to grow wild as he tensed his arms and pushed against Rautori's axe.

? Deranged Spirit (Lv.1)

Skill Rank: A (?)

Skill Type: Active-Passive/Buff

Mastery (00.00%)

Description: The user is plunged into a state of extreme fury where their reasoning begins to wear thin. In this state, the user gains the buff «Bloodlust». «Bloodlust» increases the effects of all blood skills by 100% and increases Lifesteal's Health replenishment to 0.25% of the damage dealt upon bleeding foes. The maximum number of Bleed stacks temporarily increases to 60.

Consumption: Sanity

Prerequisites: 100% «Blood Mania» «Tormented Beliefs» Phase III

Duration: 1 - 300 seconds (The aftereffects vary based on the active duration.)

Cooldown: 24 hours

Note: This is a skill derived from the power of Argexes' Blood. It is incomplete, but the tools to complete the ability are already present. ?

Deranged Spirit was truly a perverse skill. Although it was treated as a passive, in truth, it was a combination of both an active and a passive skill because Kieran could only use it after actively fulfilling the criteria.

Although having Deranged Spirit active meant Kieran's attacks would be more lethal, it wasn't enough to close the gap in his and Rautori's Strength. For this, Kieran activated the reason his muscle began to swell and writhe in power. However, it undoubtedly came at a cost because using such a skill in conjunction with Deranged Spirit was beyond dangerous.

? Abhorrent Paroxsym (Lv.1)

Skill Rank: A

Skill Type: Active/Buff

Mastery (00.00%)

Description: By channeling and amplifying their emotions of rage, the True Berserker becomes extremely lethal but vulnerable at the same time. Activating this skill allows the user to enter a unique state called «Frenzy». While «Frenzy» is active, the user's Strength is doubled at the sacrifice of their Defense. Both Attack and Movement Speed are increased by 150%.

Consumption: 100% Defense

Duration: 45 seconds

Cooldown: 3 hours

Note: After its usage, the user's Stamina Regeneration is set to 0 for the next hour. Afterward, it will increase to 50% for the following two hours. ?

Abhorrent Paroxysm, although powerful, was a double-edged sword through and through. Not only did it leave the user vulnerable with zero Defense, meaning all damage received would be unmitigated, but it also seemed like this skill was dangerous since it left the mind susceptible to rage. There was no telling what any individual would do in a state of unbridled fury.

Additionally, the skill took an excessive toll on Kieran's body which manifested as heavy debuffs on his Stamina Regeneration. After using this skill, he wouldn't be able to fight for quite some time if brought to exhaustion.

Nevertheless, Kieran's mind wasn't on the consequences. With Abhorrent Paroxysm and Deranged Spirit active, Kieran was filled with power that players at this level would find unimaginable!

?Battle Alert: Strength temporarily increased to 1,260!?

?Battle Alert: Physical Attack Power has increased to 10,802!?

Boom!

Once Kieran raised Rautori's axe high enough, he kicked him away with enough force to send him flying into the wall. Naturally, with Strength well above 1,000 points, the weight behind Kieran's attacks was astonishing.

Whoosh!

With the boost to his movement speed, Kieran was like a red ghost as he appeared before Rautori. Although he didn't utter a word, Kieran's eyes screamed bloody murder as he unleashed an amplified Wild Crash from overhead.

BOOM!

-99,500

The wall shattered from the pressure of that attack backed by an obscene amount of Strength. And, although the Wild Crash triggered neither the Defense Reduction nor a Critical Hit, Kieran dealt damage that outclassed anything thus far despite Rautori's attempts to defend against it.

It never occurred to this boss that Kieran was in possession of such fearsome power. The diabolical power of True Berserker was even enough to astound Kieran, who had witnessed several spectacular feats. Even in his unbridled rage, he stopped to smirk at Crimson Ashrune.

This damage was only possible with Crimson Ashrune and Deranged Spirit increasing the effects of blood attacks by 20 and 100%, respectively.

After losing almost 10% of his Health from just one attack, Rautori burst from inside the debris and landed heavily. "This is the power! It might not be exactly the same, but it undoubtedly has the making to cut through my restraints. Give it to me!"

Whoosh!

Rautori dashed toward Kieran, intending to cleave him in half and learn the secrets of this power. But, contrary to everyone's expectations, Kieran didn't dodge. In fact, he didn't react at all, merely glancing up at the axe's blade with a cold fury seething in his gaze.

Clang! Boom!

The floor sunk in as a result of Kieran lifting his blade right before Rautori's attack landed. The mind-boggling pressure of the two strikes colliding created a blast of air that swept outward and formed a large crater.

"Disappear," Kieran uttered in a low, deep tone that sounded almost guttural. Quickly retracting his blade, Kieran slashed it up. This action formed six blood blades that swiftly opened six deep gashes on Rautori's arms and legs. Once that happened, he created some room after estimating an incoming counterattack.

Each blade carried enough power to inflict over 40,000 damage and over 60,000 damage when it registered as a Critical Hit.

In mere seconds, Kieran had overturned the tides of the battle with diabolical power.

Of course, Rautori naturally wouldn't take this defeat lying down. Incredulity filled Rautori's expression as he failed to understand how he was losing. 'I am losing to a vermin who barely emits any Mana? All because of the injury suffered by the hands of those vile beings?! Who are they to try and control what I do?! I am a free being! I will not be restricted!'

Suddenly, the axe in Rautori's hand emanated a strange power, one that made the entire labyrinth shudder. In the distance, part of the labyrinth broke apart until stone orbs 3-meters in diameter floated high overhead.

Kieran glanced up and then back at Rautori, who breathed heavily. It was no different from a raging bull releasing steam from its snout with each huff it made. Rautori no longer saw Kieran; all he saw were varying shades of red that drove him insane.

A few seconds later, stone orbs rained down with each cleave Rautori made. Both scars and broken stone filled the ground as Kieran dodged the attacks while steadily moving closer.

If one looked closely, one would see that Kieran now winced with each step he made. Due to the effects of his skills, every step Kieran took felt like seared needles puncturing his flesh. Through sheer willpower and the desire to exact revenge alone, Kieran continued to move at the rapid pace he did.

"I will not fall, for if I fall, this entire place shall be thrown into the pits of hell alongside me!" Rautori bellowed to the sky. From how he attacked, it was clear that he meant what he said. The crater formed during their earlier collision acquired more alarming holes with each stone orb that bombarded the area.

At that moment, Crimson Ashrune radiated a vibrant crimson glow that signified the activation of Sanguine Slashes. Because Kieran's Lifesteal ability had increased to 0.25%, whenever Kieran consumed Health to attack, it quickly rebounded to the 20% threshold through the large amounts of damage inflicted upon Rautori.

After being embroiled in combat for 30 intense seconds, Rautori's Health plummeted to where even he lost all reason by entering the Berserk State available to all boss-level characters.

Rautori ballooned to over 12 meters tall, and his attacks became faster and more destructive to where even Kieran found it difficult to dodge or defend against them. However, roughly 10 seconds remained until Sangiuem Tempest completed its cooldown period, so Kieran could only bear the excruciating pain.

To help dull his mind, Kieran roared like a beast as he unleashed a flurry of attacks interspersed with any skill that came off cooldown during his relentless retaliation.

Unlike normal boss monsters, Rautori didn't lose any Defense. On the contrary, his Damage Reduction increased to 75%. So, while Kieran's attack remained extremely powerful, they gradually succumbed to Rautori's reinforced body.

"Come on, Aatrox! Don't give in now! It's almost done," Bastion roared at the side once he saw Kieran being pushed back even in his current state.

Although his reasoning was sparse and his senses dulled, Kieran could faintly make out Bastion's chant in his darkening world. This was a foreign sensation to Kieran. This type of camaraderie wasn't felt even during his days as the Golden Brigade's Commander. His subordinates didn't revere Kieran, in fact, they envied him—envied his talent.

Why couldn't it be them? This inferior mindset bred contempt that festered and blossomed once Kieran could no longer lead or even play.

Of course, as the leader, Kieran was aware of those vultures who eyed his former position. Thinking about this matter only fed Kieran's current rage as he expressed it in a frantic roar filled with anger, disappointment, hurt, loneliness, and even sadness.

Following his roar, Kieran dodged Rautori's horizontal swing and stabbed Crimson Ashrune into the ground. A dense pool of blood materialized as reinforced blood chains sprouted from within.

Despite Rautori's attempts to break them, they remained intact while Kieran swung his blade around with bated breaths. The fatigue was setting in, and Abhorrent Paroxysm's effects were waning.

In fact, despite being healed by his Lifesteal trait, Kieran's Health began to plummet. At that moment, Kieran could only give it his all to unleash a devastating attack.

The Sanguinem Tempests swirled around Kieran's body just as Rautori broke free from the Blood Binds.

Once he sensed what Kieran was doing, Rautori controlled the remaining stone orbs to fall and interrupt him, but it was too late. By the time the stones fell, the Sanguinem Tempests had pierced forth with a gruesome presence that destroyed the orbs once they came too close.

Defiance filled Rautori as he tried to overcome the twisters to no avail.

-320,225! [Critical Hit]

Rautori fell to his knees with a gaping hole in his chest while Kieran looked at him with a blank gaze. Rautori couldn't speak any longer, but he didn't need to talk to convey his emotions—pure disbelief.

Thud!

Once he fell, numerous notifications sounded, but there was no burst of loot that usually accompanied boss kills. The others found it odd, but Kieran was in no state to care as he stumbled backward. But, just as he fell, Bastion and Nemean ran up and caught him.

They were both stunned beyond belief but chose not to speak about it. Kieran had treaded the thin line between victory and defeat, but in the end, he ultimately emerged victorious.