131 Blood fuelled rage
Lucian laughed, a dark, mocking sound that echoed through the hall. He drew his sword, a wicked blade that glinted in the dim light.
"You'll try, but you'll fail. Just like all the others."
The clock was ticking. Alex had 2.5 hours to save 30,000 lives. He couldn't afford to waste any time. With a deep breath, he activated his Phoenix Fury technique, feeling the power surge through him. His body glowed with a fiery aura, the flames of his talent enhancing his strength and speed. His sword ignited, the blade wreathed in intense flames.
With a burst of speed, Alex lunged at Lucian, his flame-imbued sword slicing through the air. Lucian barely had time to react, parrying the strike with his own blade. The force of the impact sent sparks flying, the sound of clashing steel reverberating through the hall.
Lucian countered with a flurry of attacks, his blade moving with deadly precision. Alex deflected each strike, his movements fluid and controlled. The flames surrounding his sword burned brighter, the heat intensifying with each clash.
Alex pressed the attack, his fiery strikes relentless. Lucian was strong, but Alex's determination drove him forward. He couldn't afford to lose, not with so many lives at stake. He channelled more of his fire talent, the flames licking at his skin but not burning him, instead fuelling his power.
"You're strong, but you can't win."
Lucian continued taunting Alex, his arrogance not waning one bit.
Alex ignored the taunt, focusing on the rhythm of the fight. He ducked under a sweeping strike, retaliating with a powerful upward slash that Lucian barely blocked. The flames from Alex's sword scorched Lucian's arm, eliciting a hiss of pain.
Lucian's eyes narrowed, and he unleashed a wave of dark energy, the force of it slamming into Alex and knocking him back. Alex staggered but quickly regained his footing, the fire within him burning hotter in response to the challenge.
"You underestimate me. And that will be your downfall."
"Leave now! All of you, run as far away from the town as you can! I'll deal with the Count, but ignore whatever he said to you. He was never planning on letting you live, he's going to sacrifice every single one of you if you stick around here!"
As the townspeople emerged from their homes, their faces filled with gratitude and relief, Alex allowed himself a moment of respite. But he gave each one of them a stern look as he roared his orders again.
In the next 10 minutes, the 30,000 people dwindled down to under 15,000. Over half of the people huddled into the town centre had already run outside the walls of the town and continued running madly into the distance.
"Stop you fucker!"
Thud!
A booming voice lashed out throughout the square as the Count made his entrance.
No words needed to be exchanged as the Count immediately launched himself towards Alex in a blood fueled rage.
"Can't summon your precious Variant class beasts if you don't have any people to sacrifice!"
Alex assumed the role Lucien took against him in his previous fight, taunting the Count as he took his still blazing sword and blocked the incoming attack.
"You won't stop me! I can still summon one beast! My son will just have to make do without being a Variant for the time being."
However, Alex let out a chuckle when he heard this.
"I'm afraid your son has already been dealt with."