Chương 38: Until Fate Brings Us Back Together

Lunar Flare struck the already bleeding and exhausted Amy. The white light slammed her into the ground, further breaking her battered body before setting her ablaze. Amy screamed and roared in agony as the flames began devouring her body. Her skin paled before turning a sickly purple as it blistered and cracked.

The more the cold flames spread through her, the less she could feel, her entire body growing numb until, after what felt like a full minute, she finally stopped breathing, yet the flames continued to consume her. You have defeated [Human Assassin Lv. 23] Battle Tokens earned: 200 Ignoring her, Maximus rushed toward Oscar, who lay collapsed on the ground while Embi hovered anxiously above him, emitting a low, distressed hum.

His back was riddled with dozens of stab wounds, and the ground beneath him was soaked through with blood. Maximus paled, his heart tightening as he cast Focused Treatment over the cluster of wounds before carefully turning Oscar over. He quickly uncorked the strongest healing potion he had and forced it into his mouth, gripping his jaw and massaging his throat to make him swallow.

"I can… swallow on my own, you muppet," Oscar muttered weakly, managing a faint, crooked smile.

"Properly done myself in this time, eh?" He whispered.

"Don't speak, damn you!" Maximus snapped, his voice cracking as he poured more potion over the wounds, trying to accelerate the healing from both inside and out. Before he could do anything more, the ground suddenly shook, and Andre screamed just as Felix finished off the last jackal.

"Toby, get the fuck up! Amy and Brock are dead!" Andre roared as shadows beneath his feet twisted violently, slithering across the ground at terrifying speed before merging into the corpses of Amy and Brock. With a pulse of dark energy, both bodies jerked upright, screaming in unnatural agony.

"Shut your traps and help me, you useless shits!" Andre raged as he barely managed to parry Maria's relentless assault. Brock's corpse turned toward Maximus and began to lunge, only for the Blood King to suddenly hurl his broken body forward, biting into Brock's leg with savage fury. Bone snapped audibly as Brock collapsed, only to rise again moments later, his missing limb replaced by a writhing, shadowy appendage like liquid ink.

He turned and descended upon the wounded wolf, slamming his fists down repeatedly over its head with brutal force. The wolf growled, lashing back with its blood-covered claw and sinking its fangs into Brock's neck as the two monsters grappled wildly on the ground, each tearing into the other without restraint. Maximus froze for only a heartbeat as he took in the chaotic, blood-soaked scene before acting.

He summoned Static Vines and lashed them toward Amy, who still stood disoriented, struggling to regain control of her own movement. The vines wrapped tightly around her torso, binding her arms as lightning surged through them. She screamed violently, her body convulsing as the shadow within her rippled, nearly tearing free from the corpse. Lightning is effective against this type of dark magic… Good! It works as it should…

Maximus's eyes sharpened as he drew Brock's falchion, channeling Static Strike into the blade. He bent his lupine legs and launched himself high into the air before bringing the weapon down in a decisive arc. Swish. The strike cleaved cleanly through Amy's reanimated body, splitting it apart with brutal efficiency. As the corpse collapsed, the shadows erupted violently, writhing as they tried to force the flesh back together.

Maximus exhaled sharply and cast Static Surge, dispersing the shadows with crackling arcs of energy, breaking their hold completely. Without hesitation, he turned toward Felix, whose face was flushed deep crimson, pupils white, and veins bulging along his temples as he roared in fury while fighting alongside Sprout against the shadow spider and lion. Felix leapt onto the lion's back and began stabbing repeatedly, each strike freezing deeper into the creature as ice spread rapidly through its shadowy form.

"He used Enrage. Damn fool… Why is nobody listening to me…" Maximus muttered as he Gale Stepped to Sprout's side.

"Can you handle this fine?" He asked as Sprout squealed happily. Sprout had just bound the massive black spider with its vines and was attempting to crush its torso.

"Let me help you!" Maximus shouted as he morphed his arms into those of a bear. He gripped the sword with both paws, barely holding onto it, before slashing down with overwhelming ursine strength. Sprout pulled its vines back just as the blade descended, cleaving the spider cleanly in two. The lightning still coursing through the weapon surged into the creature's split body just as Embi darted in and released a rain of fireballs, setting the remains ablaze.

The spider writhed, still somehow alive for a few moments, before the flames finally consumed it completely. The last beast to fall was the lion, which a frenzied Felix had stabbed countless times before its entire form froze solid and shattered into jagged, frozen fragments of necrotic flesh.

"Fuck… fuck… fuck…" Andre shouted, his scythe and severed arm twitching on the ground, yet he showed no sign of pain.

"What a fucking creep," Maria spat, blood dripping from her lips as her entire body slowed from the strain of overusing her skill and accumulated wounds.

"I'll remember this… All of this!" Andre roared as shadows from the fallen minions surged toward him, swallowing his severed arm and scythe in one swell surge. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. His arm reformed, though this time, however, it appeared thinner, more ethereal, like condensed shadow rather than flesh. He staggered over and pulled Toby up, who was still pale and gasping for breath.

"If it wasn't for the meddling of that damn… I would've ended you here. Next time, you bastard!" Toby screamed as he finally managed to summon a large ethereal white serpent. Andre leapt onto it, grabbing onto Toby as the serpent coiled and then shot forward like a living projectile, vanishing toward the Wildlands at terrifying speed.

Maria and Felix collapsed as their skills faded, while Sprout rushed toward Oscar. Embi hovered above him, wheezing erratically. Maximus ignored the Blood King, who lay in a pool of blood that slowly fused back into it with Brock's corpse pinned beneath him. The beast twitched and growled weakly, which at least meant he was still alive. Maximus cast Rejuvenation again and forced Oscar to drink more potion when suddenly the moon rippled, sending a wave of pale light across the land.

The light enveloped Oscar like a warm, gentle blanket, and his body slowly began to turn translucent.

"What is going on?!" Maximus shouted as he rose to his feet, turning just in time to see the same thing happening to Felix.

"Felix, what is this?! What's happening?!" Maximus shouted urgently. Felix pushed himself up onto his knees and muttered, "Our time has elapsed, it seems… We're being taken to the second stage. What happened to Oscar?!" Felix gasped as he noticed Oscar's unmoving body being taken by the light.

"He wasn't paying attention and got stabbed multiple times. I've tried to heal him. Please make sure he gets the potion as soon as you arrive. He might still make it!" Maximus explained quickly, his voice unsteady.

"God damn it… Don't worry, I'll make sure that idiot lives, or I'll hunt him down in the afterlife myself!" Felix shouted as his body vanished in a flash of light.

"May fate guide us to meet again in this life, my friends…" Maximus said solemnly as he stood there, heart racing, thoughts spiraling. Did I do enough? Will he survive? Have I failed again? Will it always end like this, unable to protect those I fight beside? Tears slipped down from his blue eyes as he turned and walked weakly back toward Maria, Embi trailing behind him with a weak hum and even Sprout letting out a soft, subdued squeal.

"Are you hurt anywhere?" Maximus asked as he knelt beside Maria, who lay staring silently at the moon above.

"I just pushed too far. I'll be fine. What about your friends?" She asked quietly.

"They were taken to the Second Plane," Maximus replied, his voice heavy.

"I see… Lucky bastards. We're still stuck in this hellhole," she muttered as she groaned, trying to push herself upright. Maximus sighed and helped her up, but before he could say anything more, she suddenly shouted, "Why is that thing still alive?!" She pointed toward the blood-drenched wolf struggling to stand.

"We were a little busy dealing with idiots until now, weren't we?" Maximus replied coldly.

"Leave the beast to me. Don't even think about attacking it… Or else." His gaze turned sharp and unyielding.

"Fucking psycho…" Maria muttered under her breath as she stumbled back.

"My offer still stands, oh proud beast king. Let me help you overcome this madness. Let me help you find a path forward, a way to rebuild your pack," Maximus said firmly as he locked eyes with the battered wolf. He offered mercy, a chance to rise again, yet he stood resolute, unyielding, dominant, making it clear who held control here.

"You have lost your pack… and I have lost mine. Join me, let us rebuild together. Or die here, broken and alone." Maximus's voice deepened as One of Us activated almost instinctively, resonating with his words as a soft green light began to envelop the Blood King. The wolf snarled, his blood-soaked fangs snapping wildly as he resisted. Seeing this, Maximus shifted his head into that of a crocodile and snapped back with equal ferocity.

The echo of clashing jaws rang through the night, making Maria's eyes widen in disbelief. What the hell is he doing?

"Follow me, you stubborn beast. Let me help you!" Maximus roared, his teeth glinting under the moonlight like silent killers. The wolf paused. Maximus poured more of his spirit into the skill as the taming began to push against the beast's madness-filled mind, slowly breaking through the chaos within. Gradually, the beast lowered its head. Its body trembled… then finally collapsed.

"You've run long enough," Maximus whispered as he stepped closer.

"Welcome home." He raised his hand and cast Rejuvenation over the Blood King's ruined body. The beast has decided to follow the user Maximus Reid. Skill Leveled Up: [One of Us (E) Level 10] Class Trait Leveled Up: [Friend of the Wild (E) Level 20] Alert: Conditions for Trait evolution are missing. Beast tamed: [Bloodlord Lupus (Evolved) Level 30] Bloodlord Lupus (Evolved) | Level: 30 Rarity: A (Prior C) A proud beast that had survived since the very first moment the Astrae system began its trials on Earth.

Through countless battles, it had awakened a new path, discovering a way to keep its fallen pack fighting by its side. Its sorrow and rage had driven its evolution, allowing it to take control over blood itself. Known skills: Swipe, Crunch, Rippling Howl, Bloody Link, Hemoglobin Shell, Necrotic Pack, Crimson Beam, Blood Globe, Hemocrystal Manipulation, King's Clone Traits: Proud, Beast King, Iron Fur, Enhanced Regeneration, Wise, Fearless"Rest now. You are not alone any longer."

Maximus crouched beside the beast and poured potion over its wounds before lifting its weary head and feeding it a few more drops.

"Well, what now? What about the ones attacking the village?" Maria asked.

"As soon as it fell the first time, the spell broke. They're probably already on their way here." Maximus explained calmly.

"Come here. I can give you some potion," Maximus added. Maria let out an annoyed breath, but still walked over and sat down beside them.

"It's almost cute… When it's not trying to eat me." She smirked, extending her arm.

"You know, you're rather rude for a lady. You should work on your manners; you are a leader's wife, after all." Maximus added as he handed her a half-used bottle of potion. Maria scoffed before taking a long drink. Maximus suddenly grabbed her wrist.

"Careful. Too much will harm you."

"I know that much, humph. And just so you know, I'm not his wife. We only met when we got here. We've been together since, sure, but we're not… exclusive or anything," she explained.

"Maria, was it? Life is unpredictable. You never know when you'll lose the chance to tell someone how you feel. You may think you have time, but believe me, even all the time in the realms isn't enough to spend with those you care about." Maximus exhaled slowly before continuing.

"When they're gone, and you're left alone, you'll curse yourself for every wasted moment, every second you could have spent with them. Don't wait. Don't hesitate. Trust me." He gave her a warm, tired smile. Maria stared at him as tears welled in her eyes, just as the wolf beside them raised its head and let out a low, echoing howl.

"I know, wolf, I know. This new friend of yours is surprisingly deep for a psycho." Maria muttered through a shaky laugh.

"I'll keep that in mind. Thank you," She added, wiping her tears. Just then, a familiar shout echoed across the field.

"Maria! What happened?!" Franko called as he approached, Silex charging beside him along with a group of shaken participants. Silex rushed up to Maximus, nudging him hard.

"Hey, buddy, I'm fine. Felix and Oscar are gone, though." Maximus said quietly. Silex stared at him for a moment before turning and snapping at the wolf.

"Stop it! He's our ally now. He's joining us. Behave, alright?" Maximus said, patting the crocodile's slime-covered, blood-soaked head, the scent of iron still clinging to it. Maximus then stood and glanced over, just in time to see Maria pulling Franko into a fierce kiss.

"At least someone listens to me." He muttered with a faint smile. George, the mage, raised his staff and shouted, "Max, move! That beast is still alive!" and others followed, preparing to strike.

"Lower your weapons; the madman tamed it!" Maria pulled away and shouted back, laughing in disbelief.

"What?!" the entire group cried out in shock, while Franko burst into loud laughter before his expression darkened slightly.

"I'm not sure… we can allow that." He muttered.