Selithia's feral grin faded as she felt the searing pain from her wound, yet determination burned in her eyes.
She hurled the dark orb of her own blood towards Alex, hoping to weaken him with her last ditch effort.
Alex, seeing the blood orb hurling towards him, raised Virtue's Edge and summoned a surge of Phoenix flames.
The flames roared to life, and surrounded the blood orb as its momentum was slowed to a near halt by forcing Virtue's Edge to block it.
"HAAH!"
Alex let out a deep groan as he felt his muscles tense and he stood his feet digging into the ground, putting his absolute utmost into stopping the blood orb from making contact with him.
But it was like the orb was driven by a mysterious force to keep its momentum moving through the air, like the laws of physics didn't apply to it in that moment of time.
'Fuck!'
Alex felt his mind becoming strained this time, as the closer the blood orb came to his body, the weaker he started to become.
The effect of blood manipulation, especially when using the manipulator's own blood, didn't even need to come in direct contact for its effects to show.
It only needed to come in close contact, which would have a weaker effect than direct. But it was still a very noticeable change when in the midst of battle.
However, right as Alex felt himself become weaker and weaker by the second, to the point where he could only exert 50% of his normal strength, he felt something change within him.
More specifically, he felt something change within his Phoenix Flames, that were attached to Virtue's Edge and surrounding the blood orb in all its glory.
His Phoenix flames always contained a mixture between destruction and healing, with the ratio being 50:50 both ways if he didn't put any conscious effort into skewing that ratio to one side.
But when he did put conscious effort, the best he could manage was 55:45 either way.
However, this time, he felt himself breach past that limit as the ratio soared to 60:40, with destruction energy being the one receiving the 60%.
Alex reigned in the momentary happiness and relief of defeating one of his opponents, but he quickly regained focus as he shifted his gaze back to the battlefield.
Gormak, Rakul, Xulthar and finally Varkoth behind them all.
They were all still waiting, watching him.
Gormak and Rakul looked enraged, with bloodlust thicker than air surrounding them in every step they took.
Xulthar and Varkoth didn't seem too bothered by her death though, which formed a sort of rift between the two pairs left in the Red Demon fray.
And Alex intended to make full use of this rift, if possible.
It was clear that Xulthar just didn't seem concerned with anyone but himself, which Gormak and Rakul exhibited signs of, but it was clear that they were friends of many years.
They would have each other's backs.
Seeing this, and knowing how both Gormak's and Rakul's talents worked, Alex decided to target Xulthar next.
He, other than Varkoth, was the only elite that he had no clue about so far.
Xulthar hadn't shown any talents, nor had he even participated in any fights with Alex yet, so Alex was clueless regarding him.
But since he was most likely going to be able to force a one on one with him, he decided to go with his gut and target him first.
With a burst of speed, Alex dashed towards Xulthar, who stood apart from Gormak and Rakul.
Xulthar's eyes widened slightly in surprise, as he didn't think he would even need to join in this battle, but it quickly shifted back to a smug smirk.
Alex tightened his grip on Virtue's Edge, his Phoenix Flames still roaring like they had a life of their own.
He hadn't deactivated them at all since killing Selithia, in fear that if he did so, he might not be able to regain that 60:40 ratio of destruction to healing energy, and lose this power boost.