NOVEL NEXT Chapter 89: It’s about to get worse
But then, it stopped.
The Hellbeast stood unnaturally still, its glowing red eyes dimming for a fraction of a second. The ground beneath them vibrated as if the earth itself recoiled from the creature.
"Why do I feel like it's about to get worse?" Liria muttered, clutching her sword tightly.
"You just had to say it out loud," Enara snapped, her darkfire flickering in her palms. "Next, why don't you suggest it grows wings while you're at it?"
As if responding to her sarcasm, the Hellbeast let out a guttural roar, its body crackling with dark energy. Pulses of shadowy light surrounded it, and the grotesque form began to shift. Its claws elongated, blackened veins bulging along its muscular limbs, while its already massive size seemed to double. The glow in its eyes intensified into a blinding crimson inferno.
[Status Update:]
Hellbeast (Empowered Form)
Level: 25
Health: 15,000/15,000
"Seriously?!" Liria shouted, staring at the updated stats in disbelief. "Fifteen thousand health?! We haven't even scratched it yet!" Experience exclusive tales on empire
"What are you yelling about?" Enara demanded, hurling a blast of darkfire at the monster's head. The flames struck true, but the Hellbeast barely flinched. "Focus!"
"Sure, princess," Liria grumbled, rushing forward to slice at the beast's legs. "Just keep throwing sparkles at it while I do all the hard work!"
Enara's jaw tightened. "If we die out here, I'm haunting you first."
"You're assuming I'd let you haunt me!" Liria shot back, dodging a swipe of the Hellbeast's claws. She managed to land a strike on its side, but her sword barely left a mark on its enhanced hide.
The Hellbeast retaliated with a massive swing of its tail, sending both girls flying. Liria hit the ground hard, coughing as dust and debris filled her lungs. She groaned, pulling herself to her knees.
"This is officially the worst day ever," she muttered.
"Stop whining and get up!" Enara snapped, limping toward her.
Before Liria could respond, the Hellbeast charged, its movements now impossibly fast for something its size. Liria barely had time to push Enara out of the way before the claws slashed downward.
"That's the second time you've thrown me today!" Enara shouted from the ground.
"You're welcome!" Liria shouted back, gritting her teeth as she deflected another blow with her sword. The impact sent shockwaves through her arms, but she held her ground.
Enara scrambled to her feet, summoning another blast of darkfire. She hurled it at the Hellbeast's face, temporarily blinding it. "Do something useful for once!"
"Watch and learn," Liria growled, leaping onto the beast's back. She drove her sword into its shoulder with all her strength. The blade sank in, but the creature bucked violently, throwing her off.
She hit the ground hard, pain radiating through her body. Yet as she struggled to get up, something strange began to happen. Midnight-black scales crept along her arms and hands, their glossy surface shimmering faintly in the light.
"What the—" Liria whispered, staring at her hands in shock.
Enara's eyes widened. "What is that?!"
"I don't know!" Liria snapped, panic rising in her voice. The scales felt cold and unyielding, like armor that wasn't entirely her own. For a moment, her vision blurred, the world twisting into shades of red and black.
The Hellbeast roared again, seizing the moment to charge. Its claws came down in a deadly arc, aimed straight for Enara.
"No!" Liria shouted, surging forward with an unnatural speed. She blocked the blow with her sword, sparks flying as steel met claw. The force of the impact should have sent her flying, but she stood firm, the scales along her arms absorbing the brunt of the attack.
"Liria, what are you—" Enara began, but the Hellbeast interrupted with another attack.
Liria's movements were almost feral as she countered, her strikes more powerful than before. She dodged and weaved through the beast's attacks, landing blows that left faint cracks in its tough hide.
The scales began to spread further, creeping up her neck and down her legs. Her vision sharpened unnaturally, every detail of the Hellbeast's movements coming into focus. She felt stronger, faster but also dangerously out of control.
"Liria!" Enara's voice broke through the haze, sharp and commanding.
Liria hesitated, her grip on the sword faltering. The pause was enough for the Hellbeast to slam her with its tail, sending her crashing into a tree.
"Liria!" Enara shouted again, rushing to her side.
"I'm fine," Liria said through gritted teeth, though her body screamed in protest. The scales began to recede as quickly as they'd appeared, leaving her feeling strangely vulnerable.
The Hellbeast loomed over them, ready to deliver the finishing blow.
And then, a familiar voice cut through the chaos.
"Enough."
Daena appeared, stepping into the clearing with an air of calm authority. Her eyes glowed with violet fire, and her obsidian skin shimmered ominously.
The Hellbeast hesitated for a fraction of a second just enough time for Daena to act. With a single, fluid motion, she raised her hand and unleashed a wave of dark energy. The force of it was immense, slamming into the Hellbeast and sending it crashing into the ground.
It tried to rise, but Daena was faster. She summoned a spear of crackling black energy and hurled it at the beast's chest. The spear pierced through, pinning the creature to the ground as it let out one final, agonized roar.
The Hellbeast dissolved into a cloud of ash, its power vanquished.
The Hellbeast dissolved into a cloud of ash, its power vanquished. The heavy silence that followed was almost suffocating, broken only by Liria's labored breathing as she clung to her sword for support.
Enara stumbled to her side, her face pale but defiant. "Well," she huffed, "that wasn't horrifying at all. Just another casual day of near-death experiences."
"Speak for yourself," Liria muttered, glancing down at her arms. The black scales had vanished, leaving her skin unmarred but tingling with a residual energy that felt alien. She clenched her fists, trying to shake off the memory of how they had felt cold, unyielding, wrong.
Daena stepped into view, her expression neutral but her glowing violet eyes locked on Liria. "You did well," she said, her tone measured.
Enara scoffed, pointing an accusatory finger. "You could have stepped in sooner! Instead, you played damsel and left us to fight that thing alone!"
Daena ignored her, her gaze still fixed on Liria. "Are you going to explain what that was?"
"What what was?" Liria asked, feigning ignorance as her heart raced. She couldn't tell if Daena's tone was laced with concern, curiosity, or something darker.
"The scales," Daena said plainly. "This isn't the first time I've seen them."
Liria's stomach dropped. "Excuse me? What are you talking about?"
Daena took a step closer, her towering presence making Liria feel both defensive and cornered. "The last time this happened, you don't remember because you lost control entirely. But this… this was different. Controlled. Brief. Fascinating."
"Fascinating?" Enara interjected, crossing her arms. "We just almost got eaten by a Hellbeast, and you're fascinated?"
Daena ignored her again. "You don't remember anything, do you?"
Liria hesitated. Should she admit the truth? That she had no idea what had just happened, only that it felt both empowering and terrifying? Her pride and suspicion warred within her, but finally, she shook her head.
"No. This is the first time I've ever seen… whatever that was," she admitted.
Daena's lips curled into a thoughtful smirk. "Interesting."