Mutant awakening: My evolution knows no bounds

Chapter 164 Nightmare Shroud

Silas straightened up, his expression cold and triumphant. "You're probably wondering why it isn't trying to kill me." He paused, letting the tension hang in the air. "It's because it's mine now."

Ozivox's eyes went wide. The realization hit him like a dagger to the heart.

"No wonder," he whispered, his voice hollow. "I felt the bond break the moment he touched my pet. How... how is this possible?"

Silas's grin spread wider, like a predator closing in on its prey. "Because your power isn't as absolute as you thought."

When Silas had told Ozivox to get off his pet and face him one-on-one, it wasn't because he was losing. He had a plan. He needed Ozivox to move away from the creature so he could strike him with his scythe, drain a bit of his soul, and steal his skill card.

Silas knew Ozivox had a mutant-taming ability, but he didn't understand how it worked. However, when Ozivox bragged about the method he used to tame mutants, Silas decided to try it for himself. He touched Wing Razor just as Ozivox had explained, and now the beast was under his control.

"Time to give you a taste of your own medicine," Silas said with a smirk. He stretched out his scythe, signaling Wing Razor to attack.

Read latest stories on empire

Wing Razor flapped its wings and shot forward, slicing through the air at incredible speed. In a blink, they were right in front of Ozivox. Without hesitation, Silas swung his scythe.

Ozivox barely managed to raise his axe in time. The weapons crashed together with a sharp clang, and the force shoved Ozivox back several steps. Before he could catch his breath, a laser beam blasted toward him.

Ozivox wasn't quick enough. The beam hit him dead-on, sending him flying back into a wall. Stone cracked around him, but he didn't drop to his knees. He stayed on his feet, his body showing only a few scrapes.

"Using my own pet against me... That's clever, I'll admit," Ozivox said, locking eyes with Silas, who was charging toward him with Wing Razor by his side.

As they closed the gap, Silas gave a quick order. Wing Razor's eyes glowed, and another laser beam shot out. This time, Ozivox was ready.

He sidestepped, the beam missing him by mere inches and smashing into the rocks behind him. Dust and debris exploded outward. Without wasting time, Ozivox swung his axe at Wing Razor.

He's not trying to hit me. He wants to take out the pet, Silas thought, his eyes narrowing.

Ozivox's axe struck Wing Razor's side with a sickening thud. The creature screamed in pain as dark purple blood poured from the wound. Ozivox yanked his axe out, blood dripping from the blade. He swung again, but Wing Razor flapped its wings hard, lifting into the air just in time to avoid the blow.

Silas seized the chance. He leaped off Wing Razor's back, gripping his scythe tightly. As he fell, he raised the weapon high above his head, ready to strike with all his strength.

Ozivox saw it coming and sprang back just in time. Silas's scythe slammed into the ground, sending cracks racing through the stone. The impact kicked up dust and shards of rock. Silas landed smoothly and dashed forward, not giving Ozivox a moment to recover. He swung his scythe again with all his might.

Ozivox barely blocked it, their weapons clashing with a sharp metallic clang. The force pushed Ozivox back, his boots scraping across the ground.

Silas didn't stop. He unsummoned his scythe and activated his Lightning Dash ability. Time seemed to slow down for Ozivox, his movements sluggish compared to Silas's blinding speed.

Clenching his fist tightly, Silas activated Soul Jab.

[Soul Jab has been activated]

Blue energy crackled around his fist, building in intensity. The air hummed with power. With his target in sight, Silas swung his glowing fist straight at Ozivox.

BAM!

The sound exploded like a gunshot as Silas's fist slammed into Ozivox's chest. A shockwave rippled outward, making the air vibrate and snow swirl around them.

Ozivox's eyes widened in shock. A mouthful of dark purple blood burst from his lips, splattering through the cold air. The force of the punch sent him flying backward, his body hurtling through the darkness until he crashed into the ground, several meters away.

He lay there, gasping for breath. Blood poured from the wound in his chest and trickled from his mouth, staining the snow beneath him a sickly purple.

What kind of human is this? The thought echoed in Ozivox's mind as he struggled to move. He seemed weak at first, but now... it feels like I'm fighting a completely different person.

That one punch had shattered his confidence. If he hadn't been a high-grade mutant, that blow would've killed him.

With a painful groan, Ozivox pushed himself up. His body trembled, his limbs felt heavy, but his eyes locked onto Silas with a mixture of fear and determination.

I can't win like this. I have to use my trump card.

A dark resolve filled him. "You think this is over?" he rasped, his voice trembling but defiant. "The real fight has just begun."

He pressed his hands together, his thumbs touching each other. His eyes narrowed as he uttered the words that would turn the tide.

"Nightmare Shroud!"

The moment the words left his lips, an eerie black mist poured out, spreading like ink in water. The shadows stretched and grew, swallowing the light until everything was plunged into darkness.

The air grew thick and heavy. Breathing felt harder. The cold was replaced by a chilling dread.

Silas turned his head, eyes wide. "What the hell is this?" he muttered, his voice low and tense. He could barely see anything. Shadows twisted and danced, making everything look distorted and wrong.

A sudden scream tore through the darkness. Silas spun around, his heart pounding. His eyes caught the faint shape of a figure emerging from the shadows, its blade sinking into Wing Razor's side.

"NO!" Silas shouted, anger surging through him.

He lunged forward, but before he could reach the figure, it melted back into the shadows. His hands clenched into fists, frustration burning inside him.

A shiver ran down his spine. He sensed danger behind him.

Without thinking, he dropped to the ground.

SWISH!

A blade sliced through the air where his head had just been. He jumped to his feet, every muscle tense, ready to fight. But before he could strike back, another shadowy figure shot out to his right, a blade gleaming in the darkness.

Silas twisted his body just in time. The blade missed him by inches, the cold air biting his skin. His breath came in quick gasps, but he barely had a moment to recover before another figure lunged at him from the left.

CLANG!

Silas blocked the attack with his scythe, the impact vibrating up his arms. But a sharp pain stabbed his back—a blade had found its mark.

He gritted his teeth, a hiss of pain escaping his lips. Blood soaked through his shirt, warm against the icy air. He spun around, swinging his scythe in fury, but the figure vanished before he could land a hit.

"ARGH!" Silas roared, his voice echoing through the endless darkness.

Another blade came for him, this time from the side. He jerked away, feeling the rush of wind as it barely missed. He swung his scythe wildly, but again, there was nothing to hit. The figure melted back into the shadows like smoke.

"What the hell is going on here?!" Silas shouted, frustration boiling over. His eyes darted around, searching the blackness for his attackers.

The shadows felt alive, pressing in on him, trapping him. It was like being inside a nightmare where he could never wake up.

And the attacks kept coming. Silent. Relentless.

The real nightmare had only just begun.

"""

Back at the academy...

Angelica and Vic had just finished a long heart-to-heart conversation, and now Angelica stood by the side and watched Vic eat the organ Silas got from the Blood market.

Vic unwrapped it and glanced at the dry and cold heart. He felt disgusted just by look at it, and at the same time he was dying to eat it.

He brought it closer to his face, opened his mouth widely and bit off part of it before chewing and swallowing. In less than a minute, Vic consumed the whole.

"How do you feel?" Angelica asked.

"Never better. The hunger is completely gone." Vic responded with a smile, and Angelica pulled him in for a hug.

As the duo were busy hugging, a staff arrived on the rooftop and walked towards them.

"There you are. I've been looking everywhere for you." The staff stated audibly, causing the duo to shift their gaze towards him.

"Sir Dominic will like to see you in his office." The staff added.

"""

A/N: Vote with your Golden Tickets and Power Stones when you're done reading..