Maybe.
This was his best moment.
Jung Ilhu was certain of it. He was no longer afraid – after drinking all the blood outside, Vehume’s blessing transformed his body and mind to something much more superb.
“Maybe.”
Jung Ilhu spoke to Dohyuk.
“I’m not the strongest yet in this world.”
‘But I will be.’
What he received was potential, the potential to grow stronger as long as he hunted prey and drank more blood. To him, Dohyuk was no more a symbol of fear. He was just another prey, a source of blood to empower him even further.
“After consuming you, I will take one step further.”
“…”
“I’m not afraid of you anymore.”
“What in the world…” Dohyuk, who was frowning, didn’t understand Ilhu. “Are you talking about?”
He wasn’t taunting him. Every word Jung Ilhu had said until now, was all just weird growls.
“You…” Dohyuk froze. He finally realized what he was facing. The monster in front of him was Jung Ilhu. He had changed to something entirely different. He was blood-red, but not because he was drenched in blood. His new skin was color was blood-red. The muscle and bones under his skin also changed from their original shape to fit him better as a hunter. His eyes could now detect heat and his tall nose had dropped flat to smell blood better.
“It’s another… sick toy.”
Blass spoke from behind.
“Don’t be surprised. That is his taste.”
Vehume, nicknamed as Vampire when he was a human. Sucking blood was his way to become stronger. To suit his needs, he altered his body parts. In the end, he was no longer looked like a human and even his devout followers feared him because of how he looked.
When he finally became a god, he bestowed his blessing to all of ‘his people’. His followers then altered their bodies to have the same physical traits that resembled Vehume’s. It was the birth of a new race.
“Changing your way of thinking doesn’t make you a coward,” Blass advised. “I don’t know how strong he was before he transformed, but he’s different now after changing his body. So…”
“I know what you’re thinking, “Dohyuk said without turning back. “You don’t need to warn me of such danger. I know you can just drag me down anytime you want.”
“…”
“You’re interested, aren’t you?”
He was interested in seeing how Dohyuk would fight, especially if he really learned anything in that short amount of time.
However, Blass did not answer.
Dohyuk changed his breathing. He reminded himself of his countless fights and the knowledge that his skill was telling him.
The beast in front of him was trying to use a skill as well.
‘It’s the same as before.’
Even if the body had changed, the skills that were embedded into its body was still the same. Although Dohyuk did not know of this, the skills Ilhu was using were the ones he had learned even in his previous life. His knowledge and experience of using the specific skills were greater than Dohyuk’s.
‘Different hardware.’
It was obvious that the power behind the skill was also more powerful. Dohyuk and Ilhu both thought the same thing and Ilhu attacked first while screeching, similar to the screech that a bat would use for echolocation.
The effect was immediate. Dohyuk felt a sharp pain in both of his eardrums and he froze for a slight second, but he still had enough room to attack. Ilhu closed in and thrust his fist at Dohyuk. Dohyku barely dodged it, but it was different from how he used to move. It was comical even as he seemed to even have extra time to dodge it.
“Kahee!”
Ilhu let out a laugh and continued attacking. It was the same. Dohyuk barely managed to dodge them all, but his movements were now very different combined with his skills. After he dodged the fourth attack, the fifth one hit his stomach and he was thrown high into the air.
It was a sad sight to see from a 3rd person perspective. Dohyuk was flying back, his arms and legs flailing like a drowning man. Dohyuk slammed against the wall that was across the large hall and dropped to the ground.
Jung Ilhu didn’t chase after him right away. It was a perfect hit. If he had made this attack in the previous fight, Dohyuk would have been killed already.
But why…
“This…”
Dohyuk was standing up. He moaned in pain, and one could see his muscles shaking from various parts of his body. Yet he was okay. Nothing on his body was broken or severely wounded.
“…I see.” Dohyuk mumbled and Jung Ilhu jumped at him again. It was a clean move, but it was the same with all other men Dohyuk had faced. There were some who forgot how to fight after they were revived, but most of them knew how to execute the basic fighting skills with their bodies.
Dohyuk also learned this through his kick skill, but since he lacked understanding, he had a hard time against men with similar stats.
“How could I have known?”
Dohyuk mumbled to himself again and raised his leg. Ilhu scoffed and opened his mouth. Was Dohyuk trying to fight him? In his current state? The reason why he stood up as if nothing happened just now was probably due to his Nature. Ilhu would surely get him this time. He was going to sink his teeth into his flesh and suck all his blood at once.
Dohyuk’s kick flew in, but Ilhu ignored it and reached out with both his arms. He knew the speed of the kick, as well as its direction and range. However, it was quicker this time.
No…
“…?!”
It wasn’t only the speed.