I had no armor on. No protection whatsoever from what could happen next.
Tch! How could I be so careless, I was so focused on keeping my secret identity that I forgot about being the hero.
In that split second, I thought it was the end of my journey with the Forever Core. Maybe I wasn't cut out to be the 'worthy vessel' Q'urtona was hoping for.
My brain suddenly went on autopilot and jerked backwards barely evading the slashing attack of the villains sharp claws.
His claws caught me right on the cheek with a dreadful slash and blood began to dribble out.
I staggered back in pain, holding my face as if preventing it from slicing in half.
A while had passed since I felt raw pain originating from my flesh. Since my second enlightenment event, since the faithful day i died. Almost.
I glanced up at the villain as he began to take slow, controlled steps towards me.
Seemingly elated by his attack, he grinned from ear to ear exposing his razor sharp teeth.
I had to do something to save my life, If I want to evolve infinitely I sure as hell wasn't going to loose my life to a B-Class villain.
"Initia..." I tried to speak, but then something kicked in.
A hot surge of foreign object pulsated through my body.
Like the feeling of adrenaline coursing through my veins but this time it didn't feel good.
My eyes turned blood red and my joints suddenly became weak. So weak I became unable to hold up my own body weight and fell to one knee.
Blood pumped up my throat and bubbled out of my mouth.
"What the hell is this..." I said to myself, struggling to get to my feet.
The villain inched closer and closer his eyes blazing with murderous intent.
[Poison detected in host body, INITIATE to begin detoxification process immediately!]
A notification flared with urgency before my eyes.
"Poison?! What kind of evil bastard laces his claws with poison!"
It was starting to become all too familiar, Change. I never had to deal with the same circumstance twice, only new ones. But this, this could very well take my life.
"In..."
"...!"
It's really hard to talk when blood keeps oozing from your mouth.
With one last final push, I took in a hard breath and yelled at the top of my lungs.
"Initiate!"
The Forever Armor immediately manifested around my body.
"Ohhh, Fancy suit..." The villain said as he loomed over me with a terrifying aura.
This is the power of a B-Class villain, it was all new to me and I had no idea I could be so unprepared.
"...Not that it's going to do much, I conjured that poison myself and guess what, I didn't bother to create an antidote!"
The villain said with an eerie, guttary laugh that sent hot shivers down my spine.
Fear. I was afraid! I hadn't felt that since I acquired the Forever Core.
[Toxin Damage: 50%]
[Begin Detoxification Process?
>YES
>NO ]
I stared at the the notification on my HUD, my vision began to blur but luckily I could read what information was written on the notification.
"What kind of question is that?!"
"Yes..."
[Detoxification Process Has Begun]
[Estimated time for complete detoxification> 1 Minute]
[Toxin Damage: 45%]
The relief was almost instant as the blood dripping from my mouth siezed immediately and my joints began to loosen up.
"I don't know where you came from, human. But you'll die just as fast as you came!" His claws slashed the air as he raise his limb to slash me.
He brought it down with so much force. Luckily, the detoxification process moved rapidly and my joints were free enough for me to raise my left hand and successfully block his shot.
Dust kicked up from the impact and the ripple effect could be felt several feet away.
The villain was surprised to see that his kill move was blocked and this enraged him even further.
WHAM!
Without hesitation, he flung his leg at me, hitting me square on the chest, sending me flying backwards and tumbling violently till I came to a screeching stop.
It hurt. Without the armor I was sure to have a few broken ribs from that attack.
[Detoxification Process In Progress]
[Estimated time for complete detoxification> 10 Seconds]
[Toxin Damage: 15%]
"For crying out loud..." I said softly as I dragged myself to my feet.
[Detoxification Process Is Complete]
[Toxin Damage: 0%]
[Host is fully healed and has now developed an immunity for this specific poison.]
"Alright, let's begin..."
I could now feel my strength flow into me almost like as if I was a battery feeding off of the energy provided by the Forever Core.
I stared at the villain before me, he was a reptile-like creature with rough, scally body.
He towered at least eight feet high, it's body a grotesque fusion of man and beast. A thick layer of scarred, red skin covered it's muscular frame.
Jagger black bones protruding from its shoulders like a crude armor.
Its face resembled a gorilla and a shark with massive jaws, serrated teeth and a never ending water fall of saliva dripping like molton wax.
[Compass Needle Activated]
[Target Name: Blood Jaw
Class: B-CLASS
Category: Brawler/Mutant ]
"I see... Blood Jaw..."
[Blood Jaw's History]
[A failed experiment from the underground labs of Sector G. He escaped by killing the entire facility staff.]
[Since then, he had been tearing through districts, feeding on humans to satisfy his never ending hunger for blood]
[—Energy Levels: 70%]
[—Targets strengths: Estimated B-Class.]
[—Recommended combat strategy: Evasive maneuvers, slashing attacks and precision strikes.]
I glared at him from my position as he cracked his neck taking short, slow steps towards me.
'... My Compass Needle senses a powerful killing intent '.
*Gulp
I swallowed dry saliva.
Blood Jaw clenched his fist and dropped into a fighting stance.
My eyes grew wider.
'I thought he was a villain to rampage through everything with reckless abandon...! '
Was this thing going to fight me with a combat style?
"Tch!"
I bit my lower lip and dropped into a fighting stance of my own.
"I can blast him to thy kingdom come from here... He's just the first villain, I haven't even seen the rest"
"What if they attack me while I'm fighting with Blood Jaw here? No, Compass Needle would activate so I would know when their coming to attack".
"In that case..."
I shot out my hand and a blast of golden energy pulse blasted out.
'Incinerate'.
The blast made its way towards Blood Jaw with incredible speed and I thought it would take off his head and that would be all.
But, I was severely mistaken. Blood Jaws image blurred with amazing speed and he evaded the attack with lightning fast reflexes.
I had never been surprised like that in my life.
Bam, bam, bam, bam!
The speed he produced was so fast that it wasn't naturally possible for someone his size.
"How can you move that fast with so much weight!"
He was closing in like a sniper bullet.
I spun on my heel towards the opposite direction and...