Blood Online: Evolving Endlessly

Up on the rock, Gregory's team was frozen in a state of pure shock.

"Boss... look at his feet," one of the scouts whispered, his voice trembling. "He's not just fast. He's predicting their movement before they even make it.."

Gregory didn't answer. He sat with his chin resting on his hand, a wide, satisfied smile spreading across his face.

His eyes lingered on the timer, 'It's only a minute left for the emblem to accept him as the leader.... they just had to take a beating before that happened' Just the thought of it made him laugh.

He watched as the lady leader tried to cast a binding spell, only for Akhil to vault off a nearby tree with feline grace, closing a ten-meter gap in a single bound and shattering her staff with a roundhouse kick.

"Hahaha!" Gregory suddenly burst into a loud, boisterous laugh that echoed over the sounds of breaking bones and desperate shouts. "Look at that! She's a level four caster and she can't even track his shadow! That's gold!"

The lady leader, clutching her bruised arm, and the scarred leader, who was struggling to stand after a rib-shattering punch, both glared at the cowboy on the rock.

"Shut your damn mouth, Gregory!" the scarred man roared, spitting blood. "If you aren't going to help, then stop laughing at us!"

Gregory just leaned back, blowing a leisurely ring of smoke into the air. "I told you to stand back, didn't I? Now you're getting your asses whopped and you're mad at me for enjoyin' the show? Focus on your fight, boys and girls. Though, if I were you, I'd be focusin' on how to run away."

Akhil landed in a low crouch, his eyes glowing with a feral intensity. He had only spent a fraction of his essence, but the ridge was already littered with groaning adventurers.

He hadn't killed them—he couldn't afford to waste the time—but he had systematically dismantled their ability to fight.

He stood up slowly, the beast-like traits receding as he deactivated the skill to save the last of his energy. He looked at the remaining adventurers, who were now backing away in genuine terror.

"Anyone else?" Akhil asked, his voice calm, but carrying a weight that made the air feel heavy.

Gregory hopped down from the rock, clapping his hands together. "Well played, kid. Truly well played."

The shift in the mountain air was palpable as the pressure of the fight dissipated. Akhil deactivated his mimicry, his features smoothing back into his human form, though the exhaustion beneath his skin was humming like a live wire.

He didn't look at the groaning adventurers on the ground; his mind had already shifted miles away... Back to the settlement and what was possibly waiting for him there.

He turned to Layla, his expression grim. "I'm leaving now," he said, his voice clipped. "I want to use my ability {Air Walk} to clear the distance to the settlement. If you stay with me, it'll only drain my essence faster trying to carry the weight. I have to get to Seth."

Layla looked at him, seeing the desperate flicker of worry in his eyes.

'So he can fly as well? There's no end to surprises around this guy' She let out a sigh of resignation.

She needed a hoverboard to fly, and the speed compared to that of Akhil who could fly naturally would be leagues away from matching.

To make things harder, she even had Fang with her.

"Go," she said, nodding firmly. "I'll make my way back. Don't let whatever is inside Langdon finish what it started."

Without a second word, his boots left the rocky earth, and he shot into the dark sky, a streak of crimson fading into the moonlight.

Gregory, still perched on his rock, watched the flight path with an eyebrow raised. He hopped down, walking over to Layla as the other two groups started to limp away in shame.

"Who's that guy?" Gregory asked, lighting a fresh cigarette. "I've seen high-levels before, but that... that was something else. He's strong. Too strong for this district."

Layla watched the spot where Akhil had vanished for a long moment. "He's the best player," she said softly, before turning to lead Fang down the mountain path.

High above the jagged terrain, Akhil pushed his limits, moving at air breaking speed.

Every second of {Air Walk} was eating into his dwindling reserves. He was running on fumes, his chest tight with the realization that if he ran into another ambush now, he wouldn't have the blood essence to cast use a major blood skill.

But right now, he was more worried about Seth, he could remember what the masked boy had done to Ronald.

He didn't want that to happen, especially not to Seth.

'Just a little further,' he hissed through gritted teeth. 'Seth, hang on. I'm coming.'

Southern District — Administrative Block

The chime of the system echoed through the sterile, blood-stained halls of Langdon's workshop.

{The Emblem of Authority for the Southern District has been acquired by player: Nexus}

Langdon stopped his pacing. He stared at the blue holographic text for a long minute, his jaw tightening until the bone nearly popped. The victory he had worked so hard to delay had been snatched up by the very man he sought to eclipse.

Slowly, his gaze drifted to the center of the room.

On the table, Seth's body jerked. His eyes snapped open—not with the warm, familiar light of a friend, but with a cold, jagged violet glow that mirrored the beast crystal in his chest. The organic growth over his heart throbbed, sending ripples of dark energy through his veins.

Langdon's frustration melted into a dark, hysterical grin. He adjusted his glasses, the reflection of the terminal screens masking his eyes.

"So, you've got the crown, Nexus," Langdon whispered, his voice trembling with a mix of malice and excitement. He reached out, his hand resting on Seth's now-cold shoulder.

"But let's see how well you wear it when your 'biggest fan' is the one trying to take your head."

He tapped a final command into the console. Seth stood up, his movements fluid.

"Go," Langdon commanded. "Welcome the King home."