Varian felt his heart race for a moment and an ominous feeling flash in his mind. But he quickly suppressed it and focused his gaze back onto the Undead.
Due to their battle, the ground was filled with cracks, craters and even chasms. In fact, some of these holes were so deep and wide that the geography itself changed.
The former plains had become highlands and the areas affected by the battle were crushed. Many new mountains were formed along with a few lakes.
Varian's unhurried and strong breath pushed through the smoke in the air as he rushed toward the Undead.
The Undead kept a neutral expression and ran towards Varian.
'I feel something is off…' Varian had no idea why. But as the Undead got closer, Varian shifted his focus onto him.
The distance between the two was reduced to an arm's length and the fists were about to clash.
Right then, the Undead twisted his body, put force into his legs.
'A kick?' Varian changed his stance to guard against the potential kick.
But instead of kicking out at him, the Undead kicked the ground and took off like a rocket. Due to the sheer speed and momentum, a fierce wind slapped out in all directions. The ground started to crack like cobweb and the cracks were spreading.
"What?!" Varian's space sense locked onto the Undead who was rushing away from him at a breath taking speed.
All of a sudden, the white and dark lights covering his body went off and his speed skyrocketed.
Enigma and Sarah staggered back as they felt a huge sense of fatigue fill their bodies.
The suppression was incredibly tiring. The Undead had already crossed the range they could properly focus in. Now, they could either wait for him to return to their range or chase after him.
Enigma looked at Varian and waited for his choice.
Without waiting for even a moment, Varian teleported immediately to catch him. But the Undead was already a hundred miles away and reached his target location—the periphery of the battlefield between Humans and Abyssals.
And the Abyssals, as if they were instructed prior to his arrival, started throwing the corpses, Abyssal and Human, at him.
"You! Damn Zombie!" Varian roared in anger as he realized what this guy was about to do.
"Fuck off." The Undead smirked and intangible black tendrils spread out from his body and entered the corpses.
The thin tendrils pulsed as they seemed to be 'suck' out something from the corpses. The corpses, on the other hand, started to shrivel.
The aura around the Undead started to rise.
It was so significant that even the Human army engrossed in fighting the Abyssals noticed it. And panicked.
"Quick! Stop that Undead!"
"Wasn't he a Sovereign? Then how is he?"
"Just do the fucking job! Attack him! If not possible, attack the corpses!"
The Human army's attacks were all thwarted by the Abyssals. "You aren't going anywhere, leech!"
The intense battle between Humans and Abyssals intensified further. Blood started to literally rain from the sky and the ground was now painted red and green.
Amidst such dangerous conditions, thanks to Abyssals' help, the Undead faced no problems in continuing his 'absorptions'.
But the clever Undead knew that if the desperate humans go the chances, they'd kill him even at the expense of their own life. So, he got away from the location and was about to go farther when he suddenly felt a black and white light envelop him.
The familiar suppression came again, souring the Undead's expression. "You wanna die!"
Sarah and Enigma remained motionless in the distance as they focused on suppressing the Undead.
Their faces were growing paler with each second and it was clear that they couldn't hold on for much longer.
The Undead's killing intent locked onto Sarah and Enigma. Bending his body slightly, the Undead clenched his fists and was about to attack the two women. But right then, he turned back and waved his hand fiercely.
The huge wind knocked the corpses to his left and the next second, the space there cracked and created a huge pit. Had the corpses remained in that position, they'd have been severely damaged.
"Do you think I'll fall for the same trick twice?" The Undead sneered at Varian who teleported in front of him and had a face full of disappointment.
"Maybe."
Varian's response only inflared the Undead's anger, causing the black tendrils started sucking out the energy faster.
Despite suppression, the Undead was growing strong and growing fast.
'As long as I keep him engaged until I can absorb these corpses, it's enough.' The Undead decided.
With a simple kick to the ground, he reached Varian and punched out. Varian punched back and the battle between the two resumed.
With every single punch thrown, it was clear that the Undead was growing stronger. This should've been a source of despair for Varian. But the young man only grinned and smashed his fists.
The Undead was initially confident. With every second, he could feel his strength growing. Even Sarah and Enigma felt him growing stronger and were helpless.
But…
Nothing seemed to have changed?
Varian was fighting him on an even ground. No, Varian was fighting him with an edge!
But his strenght should've already increased by at least 10% by now! This increase itself was more the full strength of a peak level 8!
So, how was Varian able to maintain the same balance?!
Ten more minutes passed and the Undead was now damn certain that he was at significantly stronger than before!
He's reaching the end of low level 9!
But—
The Undead staggered back as his bones creaked under Varian's fists.
'Wait, what?!' That jolt of pain finally forced the Undead to confirm his worst suspicions.
Even in the most classified documents, Varian's growth wasn't this fast. The only change that's possible was himself.
He was actually helping Varian's growth!
The Undead felt like dying after realizing this. But he already died once…so, he wasn't very keen on doing that again. Of course, if it's necessary, he wouldn't hesitate.
"Time to end this farce." Varian twisted his neck and relaxed his arms.
The Undead's instincts kicked in as he hurriedly raised his arms. But he was still slow as Varian's punches struck his chest and blasted him off. The Undead's chest bones snapped and blood gushed out of his large wound.
Varian didn't stop at all. He even used the situation to time the perfect follow up as he continued punching in the same area.
The Undead learnt his lesson and defended himself from getting hurt in the same area. But he couldn't save himself from more injuries.
Under Varian's display of might, he was quickly filled with injuries and was bleeding from all over his body.
Alerted by the Undead's situation, the Abyss army stop Varian. The Human army stalled them.
Despair Queen nearly attacked them once, but Irene, already very injured herself, appeared in time and neutralled the attack.
With Enigma and Sarah supporting from behind, and making this battle a possibility, only Varian and the Undead were the players.
Varian took a deep breath and walked to the Undead who was bowing his head as blood covered his face.
The Undead looked at Varian with hatred before he roared and ran away. Varian chased him and they both ended in the same location as the World Tree—which no longer existed.
…And the holy altar at the base of the World Tree.
The Undead was about to approach the holy altar, but Varian threw a lightning bolt and caused him to nearly trip.
Perhaps realizing there's no other way, the Undead turned around and faced Varian with burning battle intent.
It was like the look of a warrior before death.
The Undead roared and threw one last punch. Varian punched back. "It's time to end this drama."
As the two fists were about to clash, a strange voice sounded. "Indeed, time to end this drama."