As Alex dove toward the [Hatred Demon] like a meteor, the creature didn’t waste a single second.
It joined its grotesque, crimson hands together, the veins pulsing with dark energy.
After only a few seconds of charging, when Alex was close enough, it unleashed a massive beam of crimson energy.
Hatred Beam!
The beam was unlike anything Alex had ever seen.
It wasn’t just energy, it was filled with the faces and screams of all those who had fallen to the [Hatred Demon].
Thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of voices echoed within the beam, their cries of pain and despair sending a chill down Alex’s spine.
The [Hatred Demon] had killed so many that it didn’t even remember the number.
Its pride wasn’t tied to the lives it had taken, but the destruction it had caused.
And now, it was using that destruction as a weapon.
But even though the beam was terrifying, Alex had seen it coming.
The [Threads of Fate] had shown him the attack before it happened.
Thousands of threads had moved, indicating the [Hatred Demon]’s next move, and Alex had read them perfectly.
Fwish!
With a powerful flap of his wings, Alex veered to the left, narrowly avoiding the beam.
The crimson energy shot past him, obliterating even in the clouds in their path.
And even though they weren’t hit directly, by the sheer force of the power, buildings crumbled, and the ground was torn apart.
The air was filled with the sound of destruction.
“Hm…” the [Hatred Demon] muttered, its grin widening as it turned its hands, redirecting the beam to follow Alex.
The crimson energy curved through the air, chasing him as he flew through the ruins of [Dragon City].
But Alex wasn’t worried.
Thanks to the [Threads of Fate], he knew exactly where the beam would go next.
He dodged and weaved, his movements precise and calculated.
The beam came close, but it never touched him.
“You can… see where I am aiming…” the [Hatred Demon] said, its voice filled with a mix of curiosity and amusement.
Alex didn’t respond.
He kept moving, his focus entirely on avoiding the beam and closing the distance between himself and the creature.
But what he underestimated was the [Hatred Demon]’s intelligence.
It didn’t take long for the creature to figure out what was happening.
“So the threads are for that…” the [Hatred Demon] said, its eyes narrowing as it looked up at the golden threads surrounding it.
Its grin widened, and it spoke with a tone of finality.
“You lost. Your trump card has been found.”
Alex didn’t let the words get to him.
He couldn’t afford to.
The [Threads of Fate] were his only advantage, and he needed to make the most of them.
With a final burst of speed, he closed the distance between himself and the [Hatred Demon], his [Bleeding Dragon Claws] gleaming with deadly intent.
BOOM!
The impact was thunderous.
Alex’s claws met the [Hatred Demon]’s own “Hatred Claws,” the two forces clashing with enough power to destroy the surrounding buildings.
The ground shook, debris flew in every direction.
The air was filled with the sound of cracking stone and roaring energy.
Neither Alex nor the [Hatred Demon] backed down.
They stood their ground, their claws locked in a deadly struggle.
The [Hatred Demon] took a step forward, pushing Alex back slightly, its grin never fading.
“Do you… believe you can win?” it asked, its voice calm and mocking, “Or maybe you’re just hoping that you could harm me enough for me to not do anything?”
“You’re going to die,” Alex replied, his voice steady despite the strain.
He took a step forward, pushing the [Hatred Demon] back with sheer determination.
“We both know you can’t,” the [Hatred Demon] laughed, its voice dripping with malice, “In fact… let me look at your TRUE goal!”
“What?” Alex muttered, his eyes narrowing as the [Hatred Demon]’s eyes began to glow.
The light was so bright it blinded him for a moment, but the creature didn’t take the opportunity to strike.
Instead, it stared at him, its gaze piercing as if it were analyzing him—his past, his present, and his future.
For ten seconds, the [Hatred Demon] stood there, its eyes glowing as it read Alex like an open book.
Panels appeared in its vision, revealing everything about Alex’s life, his goals, and his next steps.
Alex didn’t know what the panels showed, and he didn’t care.
He already knew what he wanted.
But for the opponent, it was as if it had uncovered a dark secret.
And at that very moment… The [Hatred Demon]’s smile faded.
Its aura grew ten times stronger, the air around it crackling with dark energy.
“You are not normal,” it said, its voice filled with a mix of anger and disbelief.
It was the most serious expression Alex had ever seen on the creature’s face.
It pushed Alex back with a sudden burst of strength, then lunged at him with its claws.
But Alex saw it coming.
He sidestepped the attack and countered with a powerful kick, sending the [Hatred Demon] crashing into a nearby building.
“You’re a demon,” Alex growled, his voice filled with defiance, “Don’t talk to me about what’s normal and what isn’t. I’m going to end you now.”
[You have selected the “Orb of Divinity.”]
[Orb of Divinity: When thrown, this orb marks a target, causing a celestial blade to descend from the heavens and cleave through them with divine judgment.]
Alex activated the orb, and the sky above [Dragon City] began to change.
The clouds parted, revealing a golden light that bathed the city in a divine glow.
And right afterward, a massive celestial blade descended from the heavens, its light so bright it seemed to pierce through the darkness of the [Hatred Demon]’s aura.
The blade hurtled toward the [Hatred Demon], its power undeniable, but the creature didn’t move.
Instead, it stood its ground, its body surrounded by a thick, crimson aura.
It had activated a new skill.
HATRED’S DETERMINATION!
The aura around the [Hatred Demon] grew thicker, transforming its appearance slightly.
Its body became more defined, its muscles bulging with power.
The celestial blade descended, centimeters away from striking, but the [Hatred Demon] lifted its arm, catching the blade with its bare hand.
The impact was colossal.
The ground beneath the [Hatred Demon] cracked and crumbled as it struggled to hold the blade.
Its body trembled, its head almost touching the ground from the sheer weight of the attack.
But then, slowly, it began to rise.
Its muscles strained, its aura flaring as it pushed back against the blade.
“THIS IS… NOTHING!” the [Hatred Demon] roared, its voice shaking the air, “YOU WILL DIE!”
Alex’s eyes widened as he watched the creature lift the celestial blade, its strength defying all logic.
“What the fuck is wrong with that thing…” he muttered under his breath.
But even as the [Hatred Demon] struggled against the blade, Alex saw an opportunity.
The creature’s arms were occupied, leaving its chest exposed.
This was his chance.
If he could strike its heart, even once, he could turn the tide of the battle.
Without hesitation, Alex dashed forward, his [Bleeding Dragon Claws] gleaming with deadly intent.
“GET READY!” he shouted, his voice filled with determination.
The fight was far from over, and Alex knew he couldn’t afford to waste this opportunity.
The [Hatred Demon] was strong, but it wasn’t invincible.
And Alex was ready to prove it.