Chapter 426: Stop Holding Back, Go All-Out!

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BOOOMMM!!!

An explosion of slicing energy tore through Riven as the arm’s five bladed fingers cut his body into pieces.

Vladimir followed through with the slash, swinging his arm past Riven before digging his feet into the ground to stop. The speed had carried him farther than he intended, but he had seen the blades connect.

For once, Riven hadn’t blocked him. There had been no hand stopping his arm, no kick forcing him to jump away.

He turned back to look at what he had done, already grinning.

That was what he had wanted to see. Not Riven standing there and telling him he had gotten stronger, but proof that he could actually reach him.

Vladimir raised the metal hand again, ready to point it at Riven as soon as he recovered.

"HAHAHAHAHA! I GOT YOU, RIVEN CLAYMORE...Huh?!" Vladimir’s laughter stopped abruptly. His eyes widened as he realized he had destroyed nothing but an illusion, and his grin vanished in anger. "You damn sneaky bastard, where are you... GUH?!"

CLAAASH!

A powerful Guillotine Kick struck his back, breaking his spine and sending Vladimir flying into the barrier’s wall. He crashed against it, then fell to the floor in a bloody mess.

Vladimir tried to get up before he had even stopped moving. His metal hand scraped against the floor, but the rest of him wouldn’t follow.

"Damn... it..."

He stopped pushing and struggled to catch his breath. A moment ago, he had been sure he had won that exchange. Now he couldn’t even turn around to look at the bastard who had hit him.

He had spent all that effort getting past Riven’s defenses, only to attack something that wasn’t there.

Vladimir clenched the metal fingers, then let them loosen. The arm still responded, which somehow made it worse. Having more power hadn’t stopped him from falling for the trick.

He forced himself to speak again.

"G-Gaaahaaa...! Haaa...! Haaaa...! I thought this was... just training?!" Vladimir groaned, barely alive.

"And I thought you were stronger," Riven said with a smile. "For once, I imagined I wouldn’t have to hold back... Was I wrong, Vladimir?"

"What...?" At that moment, Vladimir completely snapped.

He stared at Riven, waiting for him to take it back. But Riven was still smiling, and that was enough to make Vladimir forget everything except what he had just heard.

"You were holding back?" he asked.

His metal fingers curled as he raised his head. He had been giving it everything he had, and Riven was talking as if he had expected more from him.

"Say that again."

He didn’t wait for an answer. His body was already changing, his jaw tightening as he tried to force out another word. What came out instead was a growl, and Vladimir stopped trying to speak. He only kept glaring at Riven.

His eyes widened and glowed bright red. His face rapidly mutated into that of a furious wolf, red scales spread across his entire body, and a pair of enormous, burning wings emerged from his back.

Fenrir’s Curse combined with Ignias’ Draconic Heritage, Flames and Shadows merging into Black Fire that engulfed their surroundings.

The Psionic Engine boosted it further, overloading and releasing more power as Vladimir’s emotions intensified. His strength rose to completely new heights.

The flames spread from his body before he made any effort to direct them. Vladimir barely noticed. He could feel the engine responding, pushing more power through the arm each time he thought about Riven’s words.

That was fine. Let it keep going.

He flexed the metal hand, and Black Fire gathered around the fingers. There was no point testing each blade or trying another careful strike now. He was done showing Riven what the arm could do.

This time, he would show him what he could do.

Vladimir spread his wings and leaned toward him. He wasn’t looking for an opening anymore. He intended to crash straight through whatever Riven put in his way.

"YOU THINK YOU CAN HOLD BACK AGAINST ME?!"

The floor exploded, and the entire barrier shattered instantly. Pillars of fire erupted everywhere as Vladimir slammed into Riven, driving him through the earth and all the way to the surface.

BOOOOMMMM!!!

A massive volcanic eruption followed, throwing the Mutants into a panic. But Riven had left a special protection totem behind, so the damage was minimal.

"Get back!" one of the Mutants shouted.

They hurried away from the place where Vladimir and Riven had broken through, shielding their faces as debris fell around them. For a moment, nobody seemed to know whether to run or find somewhere to hide.

Then the totem’s protection held, and the destruction stopped spreading through the workshop.

Several of them looked up, trying to see where the two had gone. They could still hear the eruption above, but neither Vladimir nor Riven was coming back down.

At the surface, Vladimir remained focused on Riven. He hadn’t dragged him out here to stop now. His wings burned behind him as he raised his arm for another attack.

"I’LL TEAR YOU TO SHREDS! THIS IS IT, RIVEN CLAYMORE! I WILL HAVE MY REVENGE!!!"

Vladimir roared, biting Riven’s neck and tearing out a chunk of flesh as he slashed and punched him. Then he planted both feet against Riven’s chest and sent him crashing down.

CRAAAAASH!

RUMBLE!

CRACK, CRACK...!

Vladimir pulled away and spread his wings, watching Riven fall. He had no intention of letting him get up and start talking again.

He thrust his metal hand toward the ground, directing the flames after him. The moment Riven struck the surface, Vladimir was already preparing to follow with another attack.

He couldn’t see exactly where Riven had landed through the dust, but that hardly mattered when he could cover the whole area.

"Come on! Get up!" he shouted.

There was no answer. Vladimir bared his teeth and poured more power into the flames. If Riven wanted to keep fighting, he would have to get through those first.

The entire domain exploded and shattered. Kilometers of terrain cracked open as pillars of fire and darkness erupted everywhere, taking the form of countless coiling dragons and burning wolves that charged at Riven and exploded on contact.

"DIE!!!"

BOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM!

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