Chapter 32 - Doll's Evolution
The notifications came in rapidly and violently, flashing before Lucas's eyes like an unrelenting storm.
"A Rank B Guard has been killed."
And again, another notification appeared, followed by another, and another. The numbers continued to increase until Lucas could no longer keep up with what was happening. His eyes were fixed on Andre, who stood at the front, delivering blow after blow, each one stronger than the last. He was a machine that didn't stop, the true definition of power, moving with grace that concealed the violence of his strikes.
One guard fell after another under Andre's relentless assault, their bodies crashing to the cold stone floor like broken dolls. Ren, Zen, and Lucas stood in stunned silence, unable to believe the display of power before them. Each strike from Andre rang out in the dungeon, sending shockwaves through the surrounding air.
Lucas blinked slowly, watching the destruction unfold. He couldn't help but admire Andre's determination, but something in his mind was nagging him.
"Don't worry,"
Lucas said, his voice calm and cold, "He's only strong for a limited time; that's his skill."
The others didn't respond immediately. They were still lost in the spectacle of Andre's violent attack. Lucas's eyes narrowed as he caught the notifications on his screen. It didn't surprise him that Andre was tearing through the guards like paper, but what did surprise him was the speed with which the numbers were stacking up. Every death, every fallen guard, seemed to feed something dark within Andre, like a primal hunger.
But Lucas kept his thoughts to himself. He felt the tension in the air, the weight of doubts hanging around them like a thick fog. He knew Andre's limits, and he knew what was happening. He didn't want the others to understand, not yet. If they did, the consequences... could be unexpected.
"He's close,"
Lucas thought,
"Closer than they realize... from rank A, but in reality, he's closer to rank S."
Lucas chuckled to himself, the sound of his laughter sounding strange amidst the chaos around them.
"I won't tell them,"
he thought,
"They won't understand. They think they're watching a monster, but they don't know what's coming."
Andre's successive strikes, his punches and light explosions, grew more intense. His movements were so fast, like a mist of power and precision. With every new strike, the air around him crackled with energy. The remaining guards, now realizing the danger, began to group together, trying to surround him. But it was futile. Andre didn't stop; he was unstoppable.
Over twenty guards fell before Andre paused to catch his breath. His chest heaved with exhaustion, sweat dripping from his face. His body trembled from the effort, but his cold, dead eyes were still burning with hunger for more. He was a predator, a beast, and nothing would stop him from tearing them apart.
The next wave came. It was larger, stronger—about a hundred guards, all advancing toward Andre with grim determination. But Andre didn't flinch. He stood firm, indifferent to the army coming toward him. His breath was quick, but his resolve was solid. He was ready. Ready for more.
Ren spoke, his voice unusually tense: "Even though he's so strong, their numbers are overwhelming. Only someone from rank S could fight against this many alone."
Lucas glanced at Ren, a tight smile forming at the corner of his mouth. He was about to respond, but Zen spoke first.
"I won't just stand here," Zen said, his hand already reaching for his sword. "Neither will I."
Both of them started to move toward Andre, but Lucas stopped them with a sharp motion of his hand.
"Don't worry," he said, the tension clear in his voice. "Andre can handle this."
Zen and Ren froze in place, their eyes wide with surprise. Ren opened his mouth, but no words came out at first. When he finally spoke, it was a mixture of frustration and confusion.
"You're not human, are you?" Ren said angrily. "What are you saying? He's fighting alone, and you're saying this?"
Zen's gaze shifted between Lucas and Andre, his expression darkening. "This is madness, Lucas. Do you realize what you're asking of him?"
Lucas's heart was racing, but he kept his face expressionless.
"I know,"
he thought,
"I know what he's capable of. But you fools... you don't understand. He's just a doll, and I want him to evolve. This isn't about saving him, it's about pushing him beyond his limits."
But the others didn't see it. They didn't understand what Lucas was aiming for. To them, Andre was just a fighter. A soldier. They had no idea how close Andre was to something greater. Something far more dangerous.
Lucas felt a slight sense of frustration, but he pushed it away.
"They'll see. They'll understand soon."
Despite his words, Zen and Ren weren't convinced. Without saying another word, they charged into the battle, determined to join it. Lucas let them pass by him, smiling to himself as they rushed ahead. But his mind was elsewhere.
He turned his gaze back to Andre. The young fighter had already returned to the heart of the battle, unleashing his light blasts that tore through the air, dropping guard after guard with terrifying accuracy. Each strike seemed to draw more and more power from the dungeon itself. With every kill, the power surged through Andre's body, his muscles tightening, his energy increasing.
As the remaining guards fell, the notifications came again.
"You have 60 available points."
Lucas's smile widened.
"It's all about power,"
he thought,
"All about power. The more he kills, the stronger he becomes."
Andre felt the flow of power too. He could feel the energy coursing through him, pumping through his veins like fire. It was intoxicating. The world around him seemed to slow down with every strike he delivered, each one more violent than the last. The power was in his hands, and all he could do was grasp it.
His fist collided with the skull of another guard, and the man fell to the ground in an instant. The next guard didn't have time to react before Andre's boot sent him flying aside, sending him soaring through the air like a doll.
But that wasn't enough.
There were too many. Even with his increasing strength, the numbers of enemies continued to press against him.
"I need more,"
Andre thought, gasping heavily with intensity.
"I need more power."
Then something unexpected happened. In a moment of desperation, when Andre thought he might have reached his limits, something changed. A sharp sensation like an electric shock surged through his body, and suddenly, everything went dark.
Lucas saw it. He felt it. The change in Andre's power. It wasn't just a flow anymore. It was an explosion. The air in the dungeon itself trembled as Andre's aura flared, sending a wave of energy throughout the castle.
A terrifying force erupted from Andre, shattering the guards. One by one, they fell under the weight of his newfound power.
Zen and Ren stopped in their tracks, staring at Lucas. Their eyes widened in shock.
"What is that?" Zen asked, his voice a mix of awe and fear.
Lucas didn't answer. He just watched, his mind swimming with thoughts. The evolution was happening faster than he had expected. Faster than he had planned.
Andre was no longer just a doll.