Boom.

Aren and the minotaur collided, Aren's arms pressing against the massive sword. Sparks flew, shockwaves erupted outward, and the ground beneath them cracked under the sheer force of the attack. The cracks spread further, sending another shockwave rippling across the arena.

The ground beneath them finally caved in entirely. Both leaped back to avoid falling into the newly formed pit. Aren landed on the floor, steadying himself, while the minotaur surged forward again. The wind from its massive stride tore through the air, causing debris to explode in every direction.

The minotaur slashed downward. Aren rolled to the side, barely avoiding the blow. The sword struck the ground, releasing a red arc that sliced into the far wall. Explosions followed as the wall crumbled, showering stone fragments everywhere. Aren struck with a punch, but the minotaur's sword met his fist, and the force sent them sliding backward. Another shockwave ripped out, shaking the entire area violently.

For a moment, the minotaur froze, studying Aren. Instead of anger, excitement gleamed in its eyes. Finally, after so long, it had found an opponent who could match it, someone who could actually keep up. The minotaur shifted, taking a new stance, sword at its side.

"You're strong for an insect," it rumbled. "Now, let's see just how strong you are."

The red aura around its sword flared brighter, pulsing like fire. The minotaur slammed its hoof into the ground, the impact cracking the stone beneath it with a booming resonance. Its aura exploded outward, rocks and debris flying in all directions as it roared.

It slashed forward.

This was no ordinary strike. The attack was a wave of force, multiple invisible blades compressed within the single motion. Anything the slash touched would be shredded to nothing. The ground itself was pulverized into fragments, flying in every direction.

Aren's eyes widened. There was no way to dodge this, at least not with a normal move.

Aren unleashed his Shadow Domain. Darkness spread out rapidly, swallowing the ground, walls, and pillars. From the domain, towering walls of shadows rose, intercepting every slash and strike from the minotaur. Aren exhaled, thinking he had finally bought himself a moment of safety.

But then he saw it, a blur of red slicing through the darkness. The minotaur's blade came flying at him like a spear, faster than any bullet or attack Aren had ever faced, glowing ominously.

Aren's reflexes kicked in. He leaned back at the last possible moment. The blade grazed his hair, cutting strands away, but he remained unharmed. He bent a full ninety degrees to dodge completely.

No sooner had his head returned upright than the minotaur's knee slammed toward his face. Aren crossed his arms just in time. The impact sent him hurtling backward. His Shadow Domain shattered under the force, dissipating in an instant.

Aren's eyes widened. Not only could the minotaur move through the domain, it had overpowered it, forcing the shadows to vanish. But there was no time to dwell on that as he skidded backward, one hand pressed to the ground, scrambling for footing.

The minotaur didn't wait. It grabbed its blade midair and brought it down with devastating force. Aren twisted aside, narrowly evading, but the minotaur flowed seamlessly into a counter slash, sweeping upward. Aren dodged again, but the tip of the blade grazed his cheek. Blood streaked across his skin, dripping onto his hands and staining the blade.

Aren stumbled back, touching his cheek. He looked up, and the minotaur had stopped moving, standing still, its gaze locked on the blade.

Then the sword itself began to pulse. Energy surged along its length, and guttural, almost monstrous sounds rumbled from it. Aren's eyes widened.

"I can't believe this," the minotaur muttered, lifting the sword so that it met Aren eye to eye.

"You awakened the soul within this weapon," it said. "Normally, it would take the blood of countless foes, spilled over and over, before it would stir, before the soul would finally awaken to feed."

Aren's heart skipped a beat.

"But somehow… you've done it with a single drop of blood," the minotaur continued, a spark of dark amusement in its eyes. "You are truly special, insect."

Aren knew that whatever was happening with that blade was not good.

He had to end this now, before the situation escalated any further.

He launched forward, charging straight at the minotaur. But instead of counterattacking, the minotaur calmly held the sword out in front of him.

Then, suddenly,

The sword burst forward.

Its metal became flexible, bending like rubber as it shot ahead, its form warping and stretching unnaturally. The blade transformed into something resembling a metallic spinal cord, extending outward. Its tip reshaped itself, forming a head, no, a skull.

A dragon's skull.

The entire construct was forged from the same dark metal as the sword, its hollow eyes glowing a deep, violent red. It moved with terrifying speed, whizzing through the air with raw power.

This was the soul of the soul weapon.

Aren's eyes widened as the metal dragon head rushed toward him. Instantly, he slammed his foot down and broke his momentum, leaping backward just as the head crashed into the ground.

Boom!

A massive explosion erupted. The ground shook violently, and the entire hall trembled from the impact. Cracks spread across the floor in all directions, debris flying high into the air.

Just one attack.

Just one movement from the awakened weapon.

The metallic dragon head lifted slightly, its red eyes burning with hunger as it turned toward Aren, eager to feast.

"This is my soul sword's true form," the minotaur said calmly.

"Its name is the Ancient Devourer."

"When blood awakens it," the minotaur continued, "it desires only one thing, to kill. To harvest the blood that woke it, to feast until it is satisfied."

His grip tightened on the hilt.

"Sadly, it is a two-way weapon. If I fail to offer it your blood…"

His eyes narrowed.

"Then my own blood will have to pay the price."

A heavy pressure settled over the battlefield.

"So in that regard," the minotaur said, taking another stance, "this must be the final stage of our battle."

The Ancient Devourer shifted, coiling slightly, its metallic body creaking as if alive.

"I will kill you," the minotaur declared, "and feed your blood to it, for the sake of my own survival."

He lowered his center of gravity, ready to strike.

"Prepare yourself, insect."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.