1188 Now die

Liam remained motionless, his eyes coldly appraising Rindos. The blood elf's strength was formidable, but he wasn't about to back down now, not when the guardian's blessing was within his grasp.

"No," Liam replied evenly, his voice devoid of fear.

Rindos laughed, a sound that was more a guttural snarl than anything resembling mirth. "You're either brave or a fool." 

"The slaughter that happened here has nothing to do with you. They deserved this. I am warning you again. I do not care if you are a human being or an elf. You have nothing to do with me. So run. Run before I slaughter you too."

His blood axe spun around him, threatening to once again unleash horror onto the world. However, Liam still remained unmoving.

Rindos laughed. "I guess it doesn't matter. You're the last one standing in my way. Now die."

The air around Rindos seemed to thicken, a visible aura of blood magic swirling around him. Liam could feel the oppressive energy emanating from him, fueled by whatever skills the blood elves were using.

This was the chance he was waiting for. He immediately summoned the soul blood beasts to tackle the army and swung his sword at the blood maniac who was coming for him.

Si! Si! Si! Si!

The black dragon sword in Liam's hand hummed with power. He felt invigorated at the moment, perhaps because he was in such close proximity to the world tree. He was currently in his best possible condition so he was not planning to lose this battle.

At the same time, Liam could see that it was highly possible for the enemy in front of him to have several hidden tricks up his sleeve considering how he utterly massacred everyone else. So he did not start with his strongest attack going all out.

The next moment, the red battle axe swerved to meet his sword slashes, blocking each and every one of them, moving at a speed that rivaled Liam's. 

The clash of metal echoed through the battlefield, each blow from Liam met with equal force by Rindos. As their weapons met, sparks and droplets of blood flew in every direction.

The blood elf was not just powerful; he was fast and skilled. Driven by his bloodlust, he fought with a wild abandon. However, when Liam observed closer, it was almost as if two different people were in front of him.

The one blocking him was calm and calculated, meeting each attack with precision while the other one was using an overwhelming pressure and power trying to devour him recklessly.

After a few attacks, Liam even started feeling his black dragon sword tremble in his hands, its aura yearning to be unleashed completely and wanting to go head to head with the blood axe. 

This confirmed his doubts. The blood axe with the elf was possibly a soul weapon just like his own. But unlike his own, it seemed to be somehow capable of acting on its own. Perhaps the blood elf was not even this talented in combat and it was the axe that was fighting him.

Liam did not want to make too many assumptions. For now, he decided to separate the two to test things out. He separated the blood elf from his army and now he was going to do the same with the soul weapon.

He immediately increased his pace, slowly sending out two different sets of attacks. Just like he thought the blood elf was too riled up to notice the shift in his tactics.

When he was not able to get near the blood elf before, he was finally able to close the distance between them. Liam also hadn't used his full power yet. If everything proceeded according to his plan, then victory would be his in a few moves.

However, it looked like the blood elf wasn't all that incompetent. He soon noticed the anomaly. As Liam closed the gap, the blood elf's eyes narrowed, a sinister grin stretching across his face.

"Human, the reason why I am still standing here is because… I have come here prepared. Did you really think I would be defeated so easily? I am avenging centuries of genocide! You dare stand before me and fight me? You should have run when you had the chance!"

The blood elf screamed at the top of his lungs as suddenly blood started gushing out of him like a fountain, his entire being becoming a vortex of swirling crimson. The aura around him grew more intense, a maelstrom of blood that threatened to engulf everything in its path.

Liam braced himself, his instincts screaming of the imminent danger. He could feel the raw, unbridled power emanating from Rindos. He started casting [Freezing Domain] another ice elemental spell but the other side was faster than him.

It only took a single second and Liam was completely engulfed in a storm of blood. It was a swirling, chaotic bloodstorm. The world around him transformed into a blur of crimson, every drop of blood charged with potent magic and destructive intent. 

He couldn't see anything. He was also not able to sense anything. It was as if he was completely cut off. A figure then appeared in the midst of this mayhem.

Rindos, standing at the heart of this storm, seemed more demon than elf, a figure of nightmarish power. He was wielding the blood axe at the moment and slammed it right down at Liam, chopping at him with tremendous power.

For a second all Liam could see was that tremendous chopping beam that came at him with deadly intent. No armor on his body would be able to withstand this attack. Was this the full power of an unlocked soul weapon?

Just as Liam prepared to meet the attack head-on, suddenly another figure appeared behind his back.

Liam did not have to turn to see who it was. Eldrin stood right behind him, wielding his sword high, ready to swing down at him with full power.