Chapter 177: Settle the scores (13)

"Biggie?!"

That was Biggie’s old form, before Malrik evolved him into a new race known as the Starfall Warbeast. He stood there in his massive gray form, swinging his axes ferociously.

But Malrik soon remembered something else.

Ah... it’s Lokris!

Yes, that was Lokris. He had merely used Biggie’s form, which he had copied previously during the first Morveth wave at Blackthorn.

Lokris had only copied the forms or abilities of three creatures of the Fallen and Ascended ranks.

The first was Biggie, back when he was still alive, before Malrik killed him and evolved him into a new race.

The second was Zarvok, during their infiltration of the Blackthorn Forest.

The third was the knight Lokris had copied during the test of his Law [Shapeless] in the training grounds of the Vesperion Duchy.

It seemed the black parasite decided to use Biggie’s old form in this situation.

So that’s why I felt such a massive drop in my power... he severed the fusion to protect me from that monster.

Malrik finally understood why his body felt so weak. It wasn’t just the mental attack; Lokris’s separation had also reverted his stats to their original values.

Meanwhile, Lokris, having taken Biggie’s form, continued his relentless assault on the short Morveth.

His axes cleaved through the air with tremendous force, but the Morveth somehow repelled every strike. Not a single blow reached him; each one stopped in midair before touching his body, as if an invisible barrier were protecting him.

It’s a good thing I always keep Lokris with me... otherwise, I would now be nothing but a puppet in the hands of that despicable parasite.

Malrik thought about this as he began to regain his composure. Then he turned his attention to the battle before him, attempting to assess the situation.

But suddenly, the short Morveth’s gaze shifted toward him, even though he was still busy fighting Lokris.

At that very moment, Malrik’s instinct blared a sharp warning.

He felt killing intent targeting him from two directions at once; one coming from behind him, while the other descended from the sky directly toward him.

Not this time, you bastard.

This time, the attackers were far enough away, and he had time to act before they reached him.

Malrik placed his hands on the scorched earth, and five magic circles immediately appeared around him, glowing a dark green that bordered on black.

And after about five seconds, a different creature began to emerge from each circle.

The creatures moved the moment they appeared.

The first had a massive muscular body covered in pitch-black skin, glowing greenish-blue markings sprawling across its chest and arms. Two long horns rested atop its head, giving it an imposing appearance.

This was the real Biggie!

Biggie immediately swung his massive axes at the two enormous horns, their broad blades crashing against them with tremendous force.

The attacker was the red-horned guard. Despite his severe injuries and his mangled body, badly burned and crushed by Lilith, he had yet to stop fighting and continued his assault savagely.

At the exact same moment, another creature moved from a nearby circle. It had a head resembling a raven’s, and as soon as it appeared, it spread its wide black wings and shot into the sky like an arrow.

The raven gripped a long black sword and intercepted the hybrid bird swooping down from the sky toward Malrik. The two blades clashed in the air, but this time, the fight was far from equal.

With a single swift motion, the raven cleaved the hybrid bird cleanly in two, sending its severed parts and blood scattering through the air.

The raven was Fallen-rank, while the hybrid bird was Awakened-rank. The difference in their strength was immense.

Below, the three remaining creatures moved and lined up in front of Malrik, forming a barrier to protect him from any attack.

The first was a short woman with glowing green eyes and a massive mushroom-like hat. She held a staff in her right hand that was relatively long for her height. That was Lady Mushroom.

The second was a humanoid creature with a pale, ice-like body and long white hair blowing back in the wind. Its icy green eyes glowed from its strange-looking face. This was Winter.

As for the third, it was a reptilian creature with draconic features, its long slender body covered in dark crimson scales, while sharp horns protruded from its head. Its glowing green eyes made its predatory appearance even more intimidating.

That was Zarvok, to whom Malrik had not yet given a new name, just like the raven.

Perhaps he had been too lazy to bother...or too busy trying to stay alive.

Ever since awakening, all he had done was fight opponents stronger than himself, and most of those encounters could easily have cost him his life.

Through the soul link connecting him to his souls, Malrik issued his commands as he pulled something black and curved from the void...

It was his black scythe.

"Winter, go and wake Lilith!"

Upon hearing Malrik’s command, Winter’s white body immediately transformed into a ghostly form before shooting forward through the forest.

It glided in a straight line toward the giant demoness, passing effortlessly through the trees without anything obstructing its path.

With Winter on its way, Malrik turned his attention to the remaining souls and issued his next commands.

"Lokris, get back!"

"Lady Mushroom! Lizard! Raven! Crush this vermin!"

"Biggie, finish that thing off, then join them!"

The souls immediately responded to Malrik’s commands.

Lady Mushroom and the lizard dashed like two beams of light, while a massive heat emanated from their bodies, melting the rocks in their path. In the sky, the raven smoothly changed its course, then swooped down like a black projectile to join them and share in the attack on the short Morveth.

Meanwhile, Lokris, still in Biggie’s form, retreated from the battlefield after the others gave him an opening to withdraw.

Malrik raised his black scythe high.

At that very moment, Lokris returned to his side in the form of the black bull.

Malrik whispered in a cold, sharp voice as he focused mana within his body and scythe:

"Reaper’s Blessing"

"Black Shroud"

Immediately, a blackish-green light began to emanate from Malrik, his scythe, and all his undead souls.

Suddenly, Lokris’s body erupted in a wave of thick black liquid that surged toward Malrik like a raging dark tide. It wrapped around his body and swallowed him entirely, then the black mass began to flow over him rapidly, as if it were a living creature devouring everything it touched.

The black substance extended outward from his body in long, twisted tendrils that writhed in the air and coiled around him like living shadows. At the same time, it began to gather around his shoulders and head, forming a long black cloak and a hood that completely hid his features.

Then, the mass shrank around his face and hardened into the form of a sharp, featureless silver mask. From the depths of the darkness, two emerald eyes lit up, their green gleam piercing the gloom with a cold and terrifying stare.

The black threads danced around him for a few moments before settling in the air as if they were an extension of his body, while the dark green light continued to glow amidst the folds of his cloak.

The Black Reaper had returned.

Meanwhile, the real Biggie, empowered by the [Reaper’s Blessing] skill, needed only a few seconds to finish off the red-horned guard, who was already severely weakened by his injuries.

He swung his massive axe in a powerful horizontal arc, severing the guard’s head from his body. The head rolled across the ground, its shattered horns scraping against the rocks, before Biggie turned and rushed back to join Malrik and the other undead souls.

The four souls took their positions around the short Morveth, surrounding him from several directions.

Malrik raised his scythe and aimed its curved blade at his opponent. His voice emerged from behind the silver mask, cold and devoid of emotion:

"You had the chance to snuff me out while I was still a Mortal, or flee like a dog while you still could. You chose neither. Now, you will learn the true meaning of regret."