[You have been stunned for 10 seconds.]
The Hatred Demon stood triumphant, its monstrous form looming over the battlefield as it basked in the glory of its victory.
Alex was dead.
His body was torn apart, his head severed into pieces, his torso marred by deep claw marks, his blood pooled beneath him.
There was no way he could come back from this.
And yet, in the very moment that the demon let its guard down, a fist slammed into its face with such overwhelming force that it was sent hurtling backward.
The impact cracked the air like thunder.
Before the demon could even register what had happened, a surge of electricity descended upon it.
[Orb of Thunder] struck true, crackling with divine energy as it sent powerful currents through the demon’s body.
A paralysis-like sensation spread across its limbs, locking them in place.
It was stunned.
But how?
For a split second, confusion flickered across the Hatred Demon’s mind.
It had been sure—certain—that the human had perished.
Its instincts had screamed that it was over, that its claws had landed the killing blow.
Even as the demon’s body spasmed from the effects of the [Orb of Thunder], black tendrils erupted from below, dragging it downward.
The [Orb of the Mountain] had activated, its abyssal force pulling the stunned creature toward the earth, just as it had before.
But what did it matter?
The Hatred Demon wasn’t foolish enough to believe this would kill it.
Even if it was consumed by the abyss, it would regenerate.
In ten minutes, it would emerge once more, completely restored.
The human’s attempt was futile—unless…
Unless Alex knew he could come back to life.
Its crimson eyes widened in realization as it saw something impossible.
Just beyond the swirling abyss, Alex’s broken body began to twitch.
‘No…way…’
The demon’s thoughts raced as it watched in stunned silence.
It had been so sure, so certain, that its prey was dead.
But now, Alex’s severed head reattached itself as if time had rewound, his torn flesh mended at an unnatural speed, his wounds vanished without a trace.
In less than a second, he was whole again, standing tall with a victorious smirk on his face.
The truth became clear: this human had planned everything.
“How?” the Hatred Demon growled, its voice laced with disbelief.
It was too stunned to move—only its mouth remained free.
Alex merely placed a finger to his lips.
“Secret,” he said, his smirk widening before he shot forward.
But of course, it wasn’t truly a secret.
The truth was that Alex had gambled his life on a single, reckless plan.
When he had been struck by the Hatred Demon’s fourth claw attack, he had only 8 Destiny Points remaining.
He had known, in that instant, that he wouldn’t be able to avoid the next strike.
And so, instead of resisting, he had made a choice.
Rather than dodge, he had committed to his final attack—a charged punch he had been saving.
His Destiny Powers dictated that every hit landed on an enemy rewarded him with +2 Destiny Points.
If he could land his punch before or after he died, it would be enough to revive himself.
It was an all-or-nothing gamble.
If he missed, or if the demon blocked, deflected, or dodged—he would have lost everything.
But fate had favored him.
Even as the darkness of death consumed him, the notification arrived.
[+2 Destiny Points]
Destiny Points: 10/150]
And in that instant, Alex seized his chance.
He activated Destiny Shift, undoing the damage inflicted upon him within the past five seconds.
His body was restored, his wounds erased, and he returned to the world of the living.
Now, with the Hatred Demon being dragged downward, Alex had no intention of letting this opportunity go to waste.
He dashed forward, his expression focused.
The abyss would restrain and weaken the demon, but it wouldn’t kill it.
It would still regenerate.
The only way to truly end this was with his own hands.
The Hatred Demon, still unable to move, watched as Alex closed the distance in an instant.
[Bleeding Dragon Claws]
Alex’s right arm transformed—his fingers elongating into razor-sharp claws, bathed in a crimson aura.
Without hesitation, he plunged them into the demon’s chest, striking precisely where its heart was located.
Again. And again. And again.
Each stab sent waves of energy pulsing through the demon’s body.
The claws tore through flesh, cutting through the essence of its being, its regenerative power struggling against the overwhelming damage.
But the abyss was still pulling them downward.
The ground beneath them rushed closer at terrifying speed, and even Alex could feel the suffocating force of the tendrils that wrapped around the demon’s limbs.
“YOU WILL DIE AS WELL, FOOL!” the Hatred Demon roared, its voice filled with frustration and rage, “ONCE YOU PERISH, EVERYTHING IS OVER!”
“Shut up,” Alex said, grinning.
He knew the risks. He knew the danger.
And he knew that he only had one chance to end this before the demon became even stronger.
The abyss was swallowing them whole, darkness consuming their surroundings.
By now, there was no light, no visibility.
The only thing Alex could see was the crimson glow of the demon’s veins and the sinister gleam of its heart.
And then—he saw it: the heart.
It pulsed violently, brimming with malevolent energy.
It was the core of everything.
“Only one left,” Alex whispered mockingly.
Summoning every ounce of strength he had left, he charged his claws with immense energy, then delivered a final, devastating strike straight through the demon’s heart.
Ding!
[You have hit the Hatred Demon’s heart again.]
[It now only has one life remaining.]
The demon let out a deafening, otherworldly scream, its voice shaking the very air around them.
Alex barely had time to react.
Before he could finish it off, it happened.
A surge of crimson tendrils exploded from the demon’s heart, wrapping around Alex’s neck with terrifying speed.
The grip was vice-like, unbreakable, and before he could even struggle—
SNAP!
His vision blurred and his body went cold.
[You are dead.]
Alex’s thoughts slowed.
‘Shit…’
A sense of unease crept into his mind.
The demon’s transformation was accelerating.
Its power was reaching new heights, and if he didn’t act fast, it would soon become unstoppable.
But of course, this wasn’t the end.
BOOM!
The earth collapsed around them, crushing everything within.
Their bodies were swallowed whole, reduced to nothingness.
And then—
Destiny Shift!
[Undoing Alex’s actions…]
A second later, Alex reappeared above the battlefield.
He was back at the surface, standing atop solid ground, as if nothing had happened.
The abyss was sealed.
The Hatred Demon was gone, trapped beneath the earth for now.
Alex exhaled, his hands still trembling.
He glanced at the notification.
[Destiny Points: 12/150]
That had been too close.
He knew he had only a few minutes before the Hatred Demon forced its way back to the surface.
And when it did, it would be stronger than ever.
His original plan had worked, but it hadn’t been enough.
Which meant, he had no choice.
It was time for his last resort.
Alex’s gaze hardened.
He dismissed the [Blood Domain] entirely, sacrificing his domain advantage for the sake of conserving energy and seek what he wanted.
Right now, he needed Destiny Points and fast.
The Hatred Demon’s heart was still pulsing beneath the earth.
The transformation was probably nearing completion.
There was no more time for hesitation.
No more planning.
Only one option remained.
Alex took a deep breath, steeling himself.
The only thing he needed was [World Cleaver], and he would have to find a way to get it quickly.