Chapter 88 [Bonus ] 88: The Gauntlet Of Heart And Body [1]



"Oh~ Our Knight of Dread Awakens!" 

The melancholy voice sounded as Raven's axe was flicked to his side, crushing the silver helmet of an armoured doll.

His tail curled, like a snake in defence, blocking two harsh blades that sliced down his left side, the countless armours like an ocean's waves rushing towards him, over and over without rest.

Splutter!

Blood began to splatter all over the ground, his body filled with deep gashes and wounds, while the living armours and dolls were fine; unless his axe destroyed their heads, they continued to attack him without care.

"Arise, and slay your darkness to hear victory drums! Bright is tomorrow's dawn as soon as these shades give birth to earthly gluttony..."

The strange voices mused selflessly, the melody causing Raven's head to ache as his fist smashed forwards, cursing the chest of another doll, the bright sparks from his black hand filled with shimmering scales and claws as they easily ripped the living doll apart.

'Fuck they aren't living, so I cannot drain them for extra sustenance!' 

He felt fear; his blood was slowly draining, the healing and recovery of his heart not enough as another spear slipped through the underarm of another doll, poking into his shoulder.

·ƈθm The blade sliced his flesh like a piece of banana under a razorblade as blood and flesh oozed from the wound, several swords taking advantage of this moment.

"...damn it! Let go already!" He snapped out in a rage before he swung the axe downwards on the weapon holding him.

His powerful hack cut the handle clean off the doll's body, sending the other doll falling backwards with a sword embedded through his torso; the doll smashed his lower abdomen before slamming Raven's body through the air.

Sent flying, his hulking body smashed into a stone pillar, crushing it into dust, as he rolled along the ground, grinding his face against the dirt-filled floor, coughing up blood.

Cursing, he grabbed his axe, black hooves digging into the stone floor, his tail wrapped around the pillar's base for anchorage and extra power.

Tightly, he began to tense and tighten his muscles; his thighs, arms and lower body began to bulge, veins and muscles wriggling below his skin. Raven ignored the bloody blades trying to strike him down again as he swung again.

"The night is darkest until its sun rises; your fate is sealed!" He roared as lightning crackled all over his body, covering him in thin black lines. His claws grew ten times longer than they had been, while the light purple scales on his fingers and toes transformed into sharp bone claws.

"And there you have it! The Knight of Dread Awakens~!"

Boom! 

A torrent of explosions from the powerful lightning struck the living dolls, their bodies like dominos blasting away from Raven, who stood covered in wounds, his eyes glowing dark blue.

His face was masked in darkness, with a huge black axe that swayed in the air; slowly, his body crackling with black lightning and strange mist, he stepped closer to the half-stunned living dolls.

"You little fuckers, think it's fun to stab me repeatedly?" He growled with a distorted voice.

Raven's body, like a bullet from a gun, launched forward, his axe held at his waist before his body began to relentlessly spin, round and round, causing a huge torrent of black wind to dance around his body, crackling with steel and lightning, he became death, ripping and tearing the steel dolls apart like toilet paper.

"COME!" He bellowed, kicking away an arm doll's head and stamping hard on its torso, sending the still-living metal puppet flying through the air.

"I am the dominant one now, motherfucking bitches!" He roared.

Before he began to slash and smash all manner of things; swords, armour, the occasional wooden frame or tower, anything he could tear, crush, punch and rip apart without thinking about it, his rage boiling and bubbling until even the shadows couldn't hold back his fury.

Then, Raven noticed his blood and flesh drying up quickly, as if someone had sucked it all out as if he hadn't fed since the night prior.

As his right hand changed shape to that of a clawed dragon or gryphon, his skin became tighter and more shiny.

"...this is so fucking weird."

His body seemed to swell, expanding outwards as his muscles thickened, transforming from bulky biceps and pecs into smooth but powerful shoulders, while his tail grew longer and thicker.

His feet also lengthened and changed, growing claws upon them and a feathered tip. 

Now with a long-haired mane plaited down to his back, his face remained the same, with a more sinister and vicious look.

Raven's boot crushed the final doll's head, and he finally felt a sense of relief, as if the challenge was over at last, taking a deep breath as his exhausted body almost stumbled, the lightning and black mist dissipating completely.

"Fuck... it hurts to exist."

He stretched his back, sighing as his chest heaved; the room around him was covered in blood and torn wounds.

"Where should I begin?" He sighed, picking up one of the living dolls, a small female with pale blonde hair, and smashed her head into another doll's face, throwing the smaller doll away as he waited for the next part of this strange gauntlet.

'What's going on? Why does the voice know my class, and how could a normal human survive this trap!?'

[Stage 1 complete]

"Good work, valiant Dread Knight, he who walks the path of darkness to protect his sunlight." The voices announced, causing Raven's body to shrink like water draining from an empty cup. "The next stage will take you to your true form and purpose!"

Suddenly, all the air rushed out of his lungs, filling his mouth with sand, while a distant bell rang in his brain, sending waves of pain through his mind.

And then he saw what seemed to be the entrance of Hell as a pitch-black lake of fire awaited his arrival.