Apocalypse Baby

The axe cleaved through Alex, slicing him clean in half.

A perfect, brutal cut with powerful force

BOOM!

A shockwave erupted, tearing through the battlefield, ripping apart the air itself.

It barreled forward, slamming into a ruined building in the distance—

KRA-KOOM!

The entire structure detonated, debris scattering like shrapnel.

Khan—the gigantic gnoll—stood tall, his massive battle axe raised.

He huffed, exhaling a deep, guttural breath.

That should have been enough.

But then—he frowned.

Something was wrong.

Because the split Alex… turned his head.

With a grin.

And then—His body dispersed into a blur.

Like mist.

Like an illusion.

THUD.

Khan's ears twitched.

He looked down.

And saw his arm—his entire right arm—the one gripping his axe—

Was on the ground.

Severed.

Still clutching the weapon in lifeless fingers.

For a long, frozen second—Khan just stared at it.

Then—he chuckled.

A low, rumbling growl, almost amused.

He turned, slowly, deliberately—

And saw Alex.

Both hands in his pockets.

A grin on his face.

"You thought you did something special, didn't you?"

Alex's voice was calm. Almost amused.

But the Beast Lord didn't reply.

Didn't even flinch.

Even with its severed arm lying at its feet.

Alex's grin widened.

This thing… was different.

It stood tall—ten feet of raw, unshaken ferocity.

A hulking, battle-scarred gnoll, its body wrapped in black iron armor, plates dented and slashed from countless wars.

Its fur, streaked with crimson markings, pulsed like they were alive, shifting and twisting with power.

And those eyes.

Glowing. Blood-red.

Fixed on him.

Not in rage.

Not in pain.

But in calm, ruthless intent.

Its clawed hands flexed—

CRACKLE.

Demonic energy surged around its fingers, sparking against the air, making the very atmosphere feel heavy.

Alex could feel it.

The sheer, suffocating power radiating from the Beast Lord.

It was more than anything he had ever faced.

More than any foe. Any creature.

This… was an S-Rank monster.

...

"Dissapointing."

Khan then spoke.

His voice was low. Guttural.

Like thunder rumbling through his chest.

"A worthy adversary… I've been waiting so long for your arrival."

As the words left his lips—Flesh twisted. Bone snapped.

And just like that—his severed arm grew back.

Like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Alex barely reacted.

Of course, it could do that.

So could he.

This type of beast—the ones that refused to die easily—was the most troublesome.

But also the most fun to kill.

A single thought danced through his mind.

How many times can I slice it up before it finally stays down?

He almost couldn't wait to find out.

Then, with a casual shrug, he responded.

"Really? You've been waiting for me?"

He cracked his knuckles, eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"Then I'm glad I'm here."

Khan didn't hesitate.

His guttural voice rumbled through the battlefield.

"Soon, you'll regret saying that."

A pulse of dark energy flared in his palm, swirling like liquid shadow.

Then—like a nail to a magnet—his fallen axe ripped off the ground and snapped back into his grip.

And with one slow, deliberate motion, he raised the weapon high.

A deep, unnatural red glow pulsed around his entire body.

Then—

The sky darkened further.

The moon bled crimson.

The air itself became heavier, thick with an eerie, choking pressure.

And then—

The corpses on the battlefield twitched.

At first, just a subtle squirm.

Then—a full-body spasm.

But they weren't coming back to life.

Something worse was happening.

The blood of the fallen gnolls oozed from their bodies, slithering like living tendrils.

Their flesh shrunk—withered—until all that remained were dry, empty husks.

And the blood?

It flowed.

Not randomly.

Not chaotically.

It moved with purpose.

Pooling—rushing—toward the Beast Lord.

Toward Khan.

The blood tendrils slithered up Khan's body, wrapping around his limbs, his torso—seeping into his flesh.

The Beast Lord groaned—a low, guttural sound.

He was growing stronger.

Muscles swelled.

His armor creaked under the sheer expansion of his body. His claws elongated, crackling with dark energy.

His voice came out deeper, heavier—dripping with arrogance.

"I'll bathe in your blood. With it, I will evolve—become the true king."

Alex watched, completely unmoved.

King...of what exactly?

He was confused but decided to focus on the fight.

With a casual roll of his shoulders, he locked his fingers together—

And activated [Exploding Touch].

He didn't hesitate.

The deadly explosion disk transferred straight into Khan's body.

The Beast Lord exhaled sharply, his transformation complete.

And then...

He howled.

A deafening, bestial roar tore through the battlefield—

WHOOOOOM!

A sonic wave of necrotic energy blasted outward.

And Alex recognized it instantly.

It was the same cursed ability Gorehowl had used.

Oh…

Alex let out a slight gasp as his body blurred out of the way, avoiding the incoming attack with inhuman speed.

He had seen it coming with [Omni Gaze]

So when Khan's attack came—it wasn't a surprise.

But before Alex could even land, a shadow loomed behind him.

Khan.

The Beast Lord was already mid-swing, his massive battle axe cleaving downward.

BOOM!

The ground erupted on impact—stone and debris exploding outward like a volcanic blast.

But once again, the attack missed.

Alex had already repositioned.

A deep, rumbling growl tore from Khan's throat.

And then—the Beast Lord charged.

A reddish blur, moving at terrifying speed.

His massive axe slashed through the air in a relentless storm—

Each swing unleashing a crimson arc of energy—Blood Blades.

Each one crackled with lethal power, slashing through the air like death itself.

BOOM!

BOOM!

Each impact shattered the ground, cratering the battlefield.

Husk corpses—already lifeless—were sent flying, torn apart by the sheer force of Khan's relentless onslaught.

His slashing storm of attacks was insanely fast.

Insanely powerful.

But…

Not fast enough for Alex.

WHOOSH!

A searing crimson blade came for his throat.

Alex's body barely moved—just the slightest tilt.

The attack missed by a hair.

Then came the flurry.

Dozens of slashes—faster, sharper, deadlier.

Alex moved like a phantom, weaving between the attacks with inhuman precision.

Then, he leaped back.

Midair, his hand lifted, fingers flicking, he activated [Spectral Barrage]

And hundred glowing energy blades ignited into existence, hovering around him like a celestial storm.

Then, ike a predator unleashed, they rushed toward Khan, locking onto their target.

The Beast Lord swung his massive axe, deflecting the first few energy blades with ease.

CLANG!

CLANG!

Sparks scattered.

But then—more came.

Dozens. Hundreds.

They rained down from all directions, a relentless storm of spectral steel.

Khan growled, his muscles tensing as he fought them off.

Then—he roared.

A sound so deep, so powerful, it shook the very air.

The force of it rippled outward, a shockwave that shattered the energy blades—snuffing them out like dying embers.

Then—he bolted.

Faster than before.

A reddish blur, cutting through the battlefield in an instant.

"Quit running and fight!"

His voice thundered as he swung his axe down, aiming to split Alex in two.

And Alex's grin widened.

Alright. If you say so.

His hand flashed—his sword drawn in a single, fluid motion.

And then...