Chapter 21: The Blood Mist
"Oh, it seems we can properly start," Tor said, his voice calm as he turned to meet the blood ape's gaze. For a fleeting instant, hesitation flickered in the beast's eyes — as though Tor's stare alone carried weight. But hesitation was fleeting; the ape's massive body was already in motion, its momentum unstoppable.
The spiked fist thundered forward, tearing the air apart. Tor tilted his head and upper body, evading cleanly, his movements sharp and precise. His left leg lashed out with speed so sudden the beast had no chance to react. The strike landed with a dull plop, sinking into the ape's flesh as though the creature sought to absorb him whole.
The elder's laughter rang out, manic and cruel, echoing through the forest.
"Hahaha, you little idiot! You came here talking big, acting like you know everything. But this ape's physique is changing — the sacrifice is modifying it into armor! I'll help it swallow you whole, make it stronger! Hahahaha!"
His rage boiled over. Determined to punish Tor for stealing Frostbite and ruining his plans, the elder launched forward in a supersonic burst. A cyclone spread across the forest, sealing the battlefield, trapping Tor within.
The ape roared in Tor's face, its massive fist descending once more, spikes gleaming with blood‑red menace.
The elder closed the gap, wind and mana layering over his fingers to form a Cyclone Spear. He aimed for Tor's ribs, intent on piercing him from the side.
But Tor vanished, spatial displacement leaving only empty space. The elder and ape's attacks collided with nothing, shockwaves blasting them apart.
The ape's glare shifted toward the elder, suspicion flashing in its bloodshot eyes. The elder's heart clenched — if the beast turned on him while Tor struck from behind, he would be finished.
Tor's voice cut through the chaos, mocking and sharp.
"What a stupid elder. You don't even know who your enemy is, yet you jump in like an idiot. No wonder your clan sent you to Fortress territory to die."
The words struck deep. The elder faltered, unease creeping in.
The ape switched back, glaring at Tor with fury. It hesitated, wary now of his escape.
"Wait… don't tell me you're from the Fortress," the elder said, apprehension in his voice.
Tor's reply was calm, almost sage‑like.
"Mhm. But there's no reason for you to regret what you've done today. Why? Because my time to play is already up."
He appeared before the elder, foot coated in mana, swinging out. The elder raised a wind shield, fortifying his arms.
The moment Tor's kick connected, the shield shattered like glass. Alarm bells screamed in the elder's mind — retreat! But too late. Tor's leg smashed into his right arm, the one meant to block. Bone cracked, and the elder was hurled backward once again, crashing through trees.
The blood ape seized its chance, lunging for Tor in a deadly sneak attack.
"Oh? Did you get worried I'd forgotten about you?" Tor said, vanishing before the blow could land.
The ape's fury exploded. It pounded its chest, roaring with a voice that shook the world. Shockwaves tore through the battlefield, trees ripped from the earth, soil scattered like dust in a hurricane.
Tor stood unmoved, the storm passing through him. His voice was sharp, mocking.
"Ah, so noisy. Why don't you just shut the fuck up? Or better yet, offer me your bloody core and die."
When the winds settled, the battlefield lay barren — no trees, no grass, even the sand stripped away. Only Tor remained, amused, the fuming blood ape glaring, and the elder flung too far to rejoin the fight.
The ape quieted, its eyes bloodshot, body trembling with rage. Sharp, blood‑red spikes erupted across its surface, growing from every limb and edge.
Tor's gaze sharpened. He knew the beast was adapting, evolving into something more dangerous. But its absorption had ended. The remaining blood now filled the air, thick as mist, choking visibility and cloaking the battlefield in crimson haze.
The mist clung to the skin, heavy and metallic, the stench of iron saturating every breath. The ground trembled under the ape's weight as its spikes lengthened, tearing through flesh with grotesque sounds.
Tor tilted his head, amused. "So you've finally stopped feeding. Now it's just you, me, and that pathetic elder crawling back from wherever he landed."
The ape's roar was lower now, guttural, vibrating through the mist. Its eyes glowed like molten rubies, locked on Tor.
Tor flexed his fingers, mana swirling faintly around him. "Come then. Show me what your sacrifice bought you."
The elder staggered back into the clearing, blood dripping from his mouth, his arm hanging limp. His eyes darted between Tor and the ape, fear gnawing at his arrogance.
"This… this isn't how it was supposed to go," he muttered, voice trembling.
Tor's smile was cold. "No, elder. This is exactly how it was supposed to go. You fed your beast, you mocked your enemies, and now you'll watch your creation turn on you."
The ape banged its chest again, spikes rattling, mist swirling violently. Its roar split the air, and the crimson haze thickened until even the elder could barely see Tor's outline.
But Tor's voice carried, calm and sharp.
"Your clan breeds trash. IK proved it. You prove it. And this beast? It's just another failed experiment waiting to be harvested."
The elder's face twisted with rage, but his body betrayed him — trembling, weakened, desperate.
The ape lunged again, spikes gleaming, mist swirling like a storm.
Tor vanished, reappearing behind it, his foot already swinging.
The battlefield was stripped bare, the crimson mist choking every breath, the elder trembling, the ape adapting, and Tor standing calm, detached, amused.
The fight was far from over.