The moment the [Hatred Demon] made the arrogant decision to tank the [Orb of Divinity]’s massive blade, Alex knew this was his chance.
Under normal circumstances, even getting close to the [Hatred Demon] without being instantly overwhelmed was nearly impossible.
But now, with its new monstrous form and the confidence oozing from it, it was distracted.
It was now or never.
“GET READY!” Alex roared, his wings bursting with power as he launched himself forward, instantly closing the distance between him and the towering demon.
But the moment he moved, a low chuckle escaped the [Hatred Demon]’s lips.
“Ignorant,” it scoffed, crimson eyes locking onto Alex with amusement. “Do you even understand what a new form means?”
And then—
Fwish! Fwish!
Two additional arms burst forth from its sides, growing right below its existing ones.
In a matter of seconds, it now had four arms, each radiating with a dark, suffocating energy.
“ANOTHER DEATH,” it sneered as it swiped forward, claws slicing through the air with terrifying speed, aiming to tear Alex apart before he could even react.
A sudden burst of pain was inevitable. Another death. Another failure.
But…
‘If I’m going to die anyway, I might as well use my [Destiny Points] for something else,’ Alex’s eyes flashed with determination, no hesitation, no fear.
Destiny Shift.
And this time, he focused on one thing.
[Undoing the Hatred Demon’s actions.]
Time twisted. Reality snapped back.
The [Hatred Demon]’s smug grin faltered as its body suddenly reverted, returning to its exact position five seconds prior, holding the divine blade with both of its original arms, its new ones vanishing as if they had never existed.
“Huh?” Even the demon itself seemed momentarily confused before its eyes darkened in realization. “Ah, that’s right… you can undo things—”
It never got the chance to finish that thought.
Alex was already in front of it.
His [Bleeding Dragon Claws] surged forward, sinking deep into the demon’s chest.
“Just fucking die already.”
With a grim expression, he didn’t hesitate, his claws ripped through flesh, slashing through the dense muscle, tearing apart layers of its body.
The demon’s essence surged against him, resisting, but Alex pushed forward, carving a path to its core.
And then…
Ba-dump! Ba-dump!
The [Hatred Demon]’s heart was exposed.
A grotesque, pulsing mass of hatred and malice, a core forged from the twisted souls of the [Hatred Sect] members it had consumed.
As if sensing danger, the demon’s body reacted. Its severed arms regrew instantly, claws slashing toward Alex in a desperate counterattack.
But Alex had expected this.
He twisted, dodging both strikes, and with one final lunge.
SWASH!
His claws pierced the heart.
[You have hit the Hatred Demon.][1/3 Strikes.]
A soul-piercing shriek erupted from the demon. Its body convulsed, an intense wave of agony spreading through it.
The pain was so overwhelming that its grip on the [Orb of Divinity]’s blade faltered.
BAM!
The massive divine weapon, no longer held back, came crashing down, slamming into the demon’s body with full force.
The impact sent a shockwave across the battlefield, shaking the very ground beneath them.
Alex backed away, watching carefully.
The demon’s form cracked, its monstrous body struggling to hold itself together.
Yet, despite the damage, despite the obvious agony, its flesh twisted and mended at an alarming rate.
The regeneration had already begun.
“You…”
For the first time, the [Hatred Demon] showed its teeth, not in a grin, but in frustration.
Its usually mocking expression was gone, replaced with cold rage.
“You are nothing but a persistent pest… one who believes that stubbornness alone can defy fate.”
A system panel flashed before its eyes.
[Your heart has been hit. It is fragile. Two more attacks, and you will die for good.]
The demon’s eyes darkened.
It had thought itself untouchable, had believed that this body, this form, forged from endless hatred, was invincible.
Yet, the mere fact that Alex had struck its heart proved otherwise.
Had it made a mistake? Was its body still incomplete? Was this weakness something it shared with the [Heart of Calamity] as well?
For the first time in eons, it felt something it had long forgotten: doubt.
And the worst part, it knew Alex wouldn’t stop.
“You think coming back from the future will let you erase your mistakes and save these worlds?” the [Hatred Demon] growled, stepping forward.
Its veins pulsed, glowing with a deeper crimson, and its claws elongated, shimmering with a terrifying aura.
“I will erase you for good.”
Alex’s eyes widened slightly.
It knew, the demon knew about his transmigration.
But he quickly pushed that thought aside. It didn’t matter.
Even if it knew everything he had done, everything he had planned, it wouldn’t change the outcome.
“You’re still going to die,” Alex said, raising his claws. “I hit you once. I only need two more.”
A tense silence filled the battlefield.
Then…
“Enough playing around,” the [Hatred Demon] said, its voice steady, its rage controlled. “Neither of us wants to die before completing our goals, after all.”
It advanced, and Alex felt something unsettling.
The demon, who had always mocked, laughed, and toyed with him, was now completely serious.
Alex took a quick glance at his remaining reserves.
[Orb of Cataclysm, Orb of Thunder, Orb of the Unbreakable, Orb of the Mountain, Orb of Annihilation, Orb of the Storm, Orb of Purity…]
Seven orbs. More than enough to end this.
But would the demon even give him the chance?
No. It wouldn’t.
“Goodbye, hero of humanity,” the [Hatred Demon] said mockingly.
And then it vanished before Alex could react, using one of its three strongest skills.
FULL ASSAULT!
A surge of hatred erupted from the demon’s body.
Its aura exploded outward, distorting space around it.
Alex’s instincts screamed, he raised his [Bleeding Dragon Claws] just in time to deflect.
CLANG!
He barely managed to parry the first strike.
But—
Fwish! Slash!
Before he could register what had happened, a sharp pain exploded in his neck.
[You have died.]
It was instant.
Alex barely had time to process what had just happened.
He had seen the demon move, had blocked its initial attack, but before he could even think of countering, it was already behind him.
Its claws had torn through his throat.
‘What the hell…?’ Alex’s mind reeled.
It was too fast. Too strong.
The [Hatred Demon] slowly stepped back, watching Alex’s lifeless body crumble to the ground.
Then, with a smirk, it sighed, “Come on. Revive so that I can kill you again.”
Alex clenched his fists in the void of death.
This thing wasn’t playing anymore.
It wasn’t just fighting, it was ensuring his complete and utter annihilation.
But Alex had already known this was coming.
No hesitation. No doubt.
He would still kill it, the normal way.
Destiny Shift!
[Undoing death…]