Chương 410: Resistence of a soul

Vale charged with his blade already in hand. Everything had changed in the few moments he had been gone. Korin had finally snapped, and whatever control he had left was gone. Something else had taken over his body. Something violent and hungry that seemed to live only to kill. It had already taken Shade, and that alone told Vale how dangerous it was. Shade was much stronger than him, yet the thing inside Korin had torn through him with ease. Vale could not make the same mistake. He had to be careful.

A small, nervous smile pulled at his lips.

'Don't think. Just move.' Korin's arm slammed down. Vale moved aside at the last second, and the fist crashed into the ground, sending dirt and stone flying. Vale took a breath and rushed in, swinging his blade toward Korin's side. Slash. The blade cut through Korin's clothes, but nothing else. Vale's eyes grew as the weapon bounced off his body and threw his arm wide. That was all Korin needed. His fist slammed into Vale's side, and Vale barely got his arm up in time. BOOM! The hit sent him flying.

His back crashed into a tree, cracking the trunk, and pain shot through his ribs. Vale gasped as he forced himself back up, only to see Korin already coming toward him.

"Oh, how wonderful!" The voice was not Korin's. It sounded like many dead voices speaking through the same mouth, all mixed into one twisted voice.

"Prey that fights back is so much better!" The creature laughed, sending a chill through Vale. Korin charged again, moving faster than before. He was too fast. He tried to move, but he was too late. Korin raised his fist, ready to bring it down. Then— BOOM! A black shape slammed into Korin from the side. Vale stared for a moment before a wide grin spread across his face.

"Alright, Shade!" Shade stood between them. His mask was gone, leaving only the dark shape beneath it. No face could be seen, only emptiness. Red cracks spread across his body from his chest to his arms and legs, making him look like he could fall apart at any moment. Yet he was still standing, and he was furious. Shade turned toward Korin. The corrupted man slowly rose from the ground, a loud and twisted cry escaping his throat. His hands moved at once, tearing into his own arms and chest.

Blood ran from the wounds, but they closed almost as soon as they appeared.

"Yes! Fight me! Hate me! Try to kill me!" His grin grew wider, and his voice shook with joy.

"It makes this even better!" Before he could say more, a chain wrapped around his body. Nym stood at the other end.

"Now!" The forest drake came down from above and crashed into Korin. Its claws tore into his side, shaking the trees around them. Korin barely moved. Instead, he smiled and grabbed the chain. Snap. The chain broke in his hand. Nym's eyes widened as Korin struck the drake's claw, forcing the beast back. He then punched it in the jaw. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. BOOM!

The drake flew through the forest, smashing through tree after tree before vanishing into the darkness with a painful cry. Nym grimaced.

"We need to get him past the barrier." Vale rushed to her side.

"How far?"

"Ten meters." Vale stared at her before giving a nervous shrug.

"That's not too far." Nym rolled her eyes.

"Then you can tell him that." She pointed ahead, and Vale looked. Korin had grabbed a nearby tree. His fingers tightened around the trunk before he ripped the whole thing from the ground. The roots tore free as dirt flew into the air. He lifted the tree and rested it on his shoulder like a giant club. His grin returned. He was not human anymore. Whatever had taken over Korin had turned him into something else. A monster that had to be stopped. Vale's face hardened.

"Not this one." He charged.

"Shade! Armor!" Shade reacted at once. His body turned into black mist and rushed toward Vale, covering him in dark armor. Plates locked into place as Vale ran forward. Korin raised the tree and swung it down. Vale jumped aside as the trunk slammed into the ground. BOOM! The impact broke the tree apart. Pieces of wood flew in every direction and filled Vale's view. He summoned his helmet, but it was already too late. He blinked. Korin was gone. Vale's eyes widened as he searched for his killing intent. Nothing.

Not even a trace.

'What?' Then Korin appeared right in front of him. Vale ducked as the fist passed over his head. BOOM! A shockwave struck him from the side. Vale planted his feet, refusing to be thrown away again. He turned and drove his fist into Korin's side. The attack hit with a loud blast, but Korin barely moved. He looked down at Vale and smiled.

"I like you!" His fist came down. Vale jumped back, avoiding the attack, but Korin was faster than he expected. His foot snapped upward and struck Vale in midair. CRACK. Vale flew through the forest and smashed through several trees before hitting the ground. He rolled twice before stopping. Blood ran from his mouth as he coughed and forced himself up. His helmet faded away, and his legs shook beneath him. Korin walked toward him. Vale raised his blade.

"I'll kill you first." Korin took another step, but Nym appeared behind him and attacked. Her power began to read Korin. His strength, speed, moves, skills, and even his instincts were all laid bare before her. She saw almost everything, but there was one thing she could not find. A weakness. There wasn't one. Nym gritted her teeth. Korin turned toward her.

"Don't get in my way!" His fist came down. Nym moved before it hit and slipped under the attack. Another punch came, then another. She kept dodging and waiting for a chance to strike. Finally, she saw one and attacked. Nothing. Her hit did not even make him move.

"Dammit!" She jumped back, but Korin became faster. Then faster again. Every second made him harder to deal with, and every fight seemed to make him stronger. Nym saw his next attack clearly. She knew where it would land and how to dodge it, but her body could not move fast enough. Her eyes widened.

'Too fast.' The fist tore toward her. Then— BOOM! A huge tail slammed into Korin. The forest drake had returned. Korin flew through the air, but he caught himself against the ground. His fingers dug deep into the dirt as he stopped. He slowly looked toward the drake. His smile was gone. Only rage remained. His teeth clenched so hard that they broke. He spat the pieces onto the ground, and they grew back almost at once.

"I'll kill you." His voice shook with anger. His fingers curled into fists.

"I'll kill you." He bit into his own hand, and blood ran between his teeth.

"I'll kill you." Then he charged. This time, he did not go for Nym or the drake. He went straight for Vale. Vale moved at once. He tore through the air and changed his armor as black chains burst from his body. They wrapped around Korin before he could reach him. Vale landed several meters away, his grip tightening around his blade.

'I'll use Nirvana.' His eyes narrowed.

'It's the only way.' The chains shook around Korin.

'They'll hold him.' Vale stepped forward. His breathing slowed, and his mind became clear as he prepared to enter Nirvana. Then— Snap. The chains broke. Vale's heart stopped. Korin tore himself free and looked down at him. His face was almost animal-like as his hand opened and his fingers curled into claws. Then he brought them down. Vale's face went pale.

'This is it.' The claws moved toward him.

'I can't stop it.' The attack was too fast. Too strong. If it hit him, he would die. And if Vale died, nothing would stop Korin from killing the others. They would all die. Vale braced himself. But the claws never reached him. Instead, CRACK. Korin's own hand slammed into his throat. His fingers tore into his neck, and blood burst from the wound. The creature stumbled back and grabbed its throat and ripped it out as blood ran from its mouth. Its eyes widened. It could not understand what had happened.

Then the shock turned into rage. It stared at the hand that had betrayed it.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Its voice rose into a twisted scream.

"Father killer!"