Even with scratches covering his face and blood dripping down, Alex laughed, a sound that unsettled Tessa and Seraphine. Arin, however, remained calm—he knew exactly what was going on.
Alex steadied himself, his gaze locked on Seraphine, who had already closed the distance between them.
Seraphine's eyes scanned his body, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Of course, that wouldn't kill you. You're stronger than that…"
She was right, of course; it would take more than that to bring down Alex. She was surprised his face was even injured—he certainly had spells that could counter her attack. Focusing, she recalled their previous clashes, and realization dawned on her. "It was almost like he was…"
"Heh… You're not looking too good yourself," Alex interrupted with a grin.
She scowled. He was right. Her body, covered in shallow cuts, was bleeding—though her vampiric healing was already kicking in. Alex's wild, relentless swings had forced her to take a few hits.
Without another word, Seraphine dashed forward, claws raised to strike. She moved with deadly intent, her steps light but lethal.
In an instant, she reached Alex and swung, her claws slicing through the air. Alex staggered back just in time, but her claws still grazed his chest, drawing fresh blood. Gritting his teeth, he leaped further back, raising his hand to summon his Elemental Spikes, but hesitated. He remembered that there was someone here who could stop it… or worse, turn it against him.
He glanced to his left, where Arin stood, hands casually behind his back. 'He's the real threat here…' Alex thought, shifting his attention back to Seraphine. 'I'll save my mana for when he steps in. For now, I'll use 'this' to fight this Vampire.....'
Arin watched him intently, his expression unreadable. "Seraphine's done her part. Time for phase two."
Seraphine looked to Tessa and Arin, who both gave a nod. Understanding, she lunged at Alex again.
Seeing her charge, Alex's grin widened.
Instantly, flames ignited beneath his feet as he propelled himself forward, blasting towards her and leaving scorched earth in his wake. As they closed the distance, Seraphine's fist glowed with energy, and Alex's rock-encrusted sword ignited with fierce flames.
They headed towards each other like two meteors. Seraphine's fist pulsed with Blood Energy, and Alex's blazing sword bore down on her with terrifying speed.
But just as the two attacks were about to clash, Alex heard Seraphine's taunting voice. "See you later, darling."
A deafening explosion shook the forest, the trees bending from the shockwave. Dust and smoke filled the air, and Alex felt the force but… no impact.
"What…?" he muttered, stunned. "But I didn't feel—"
Before he could finish the thought, a figure appeared in front of him. It was Tessa, moving faster than he could track.
In one swift motion, she swung her sword, slashing his chest in the same spot Seraphine had wounded him.
Before Alex could even react, Tessa spun her body, and then....
The back of her right foot hit his chest, sending him backwards.
"Ugh...." Alex groaned as he coughed a mouthful of blood while clutching his chest.
There was only one plausible explanation for what happened just now.
Before Seraphine's attack collided with Alex's attack, she exploded her own Blood Energy that was swirling around her fist, causing a loud explosion.
Tessa absorbed the loud sound from the explosion, increasing her speed exponentially, before she dashed towards Alex and attacked him.
Alex pretty much knew what happened, but he didn't know one thing.
"Ugh..." He groaned once again as he struggled to stand up. "Where the hell is that Vampire?"
But he couldn't think about that now, because he had other things to worry about at the moment.
Meanwhile, Tessa gripped her sword, ready to attack again, though she couldn't shake off a certain thought.
'Alex receiving much damage.....?' She thought. 'It's just too surprising.....'
Yes, they came here with a single goal: killing Alex, but they had other plans in case it didn't work out and things got out of control. But at this rate, and from the look of things, it wasn't even looking impossible.
'Just what the hell is he up to.....?' Tessa thought.
Alex got up as quickly as he fell down, and instantly gripped his sword and took his stance.
The ground suddenly began shaking as spikes began popping out from it.
Tessa instantly noticed this, and began dashing towards Alex, using the sound of the ground shaking to increase her speed.
Alex could cast far more Spells, even stronger ones, but he didn't yet, because of a certain someone.
'Tch... He'll be the one to bear the consequences.....' Alex thought. 'I'll show him...'
'..... Why I'm Humanity's Strongest Mage.'