Vincent reverted back to his human form, gasping for air as the exhaustion of battle took its toll. But he didn't let it show, not in front of the small creatures that still posed a threat with their sharp claws. They might be weak but he was too exhausted to deal with them .
"I have to appear strong, or they'll surely attack me," he muttered to himself, trying to steel his nerves.
Forcing himself to stand, he walked slowly over to the huge creature's corpse, his eyes scanning for the fragment he had risked his life for.
"Maybe that fragment would instantly heal my body ?" He couldn't help but chuckle at his own thoughts. He hoped he was like one of those video game characters who automatically get a full health bar after leveling up. He wished it was that easy in real life, but alas, no cheat codes could fix his current predicament.
"Nah, that's just wishful thinking" He shook his head and tried to focus on something else, anything to distract himself from the searing pain.
"Maybe I could convince the little creatures to perform a healing dance around me like some sort of magical ritual ?" He laughed at the ridiculous idea but couldn't help but wonder if it would actually work.
As he rummaged through its skull, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of pity for the beast. But he knew he had no choice. It was either him or the creature.
And then he saw it, the fragment he had been searching for.
"This is it ! " He exclaimed as he hurriedly reached out and grasped it tightly in his hands, but as he did, he felt an intense heat seeping into his skin. The fragment began to dissolve, merging with his very being.
"Damn it !" He yelled, not expecting it to act like this.
Suddenly, the cave was filled with an all-consuming light as his whole body glowed, so bright that everyone was blinded. And as the light subsided, he felt a piercing pain in his chest, like multiple hot needles being driven through his flesh.
"My chest hurt !" His heart pounded in his ears, threatening to burst from inside his body. Despite the agony, he gritted his teeth, trying to fight through it with his will power and determination.
But it was all for naught. The pain only intensified as he struggled against it.
Thud
He collapsed to the ground, wracked with unbearable pain. He attempted to stand up, but his efforts were in vain as the agony coursed through his body, leaving him paralyzed.
Adding to his distress was the realization that the small creatures before were now closing in on him, their tiny bodies casting shadows on his blurred vision. Despite his best efforts, his limbs felt heavy and unresponsive, leaving him vulnerable to their attacks.
He wondered if this was the end, if he had sacrificed everything for this one chance at power only to meet his doom.
"I can't hold it any longer " he groaned with a voice filled with exhaustion.
Finally, he succumbed to the pain, and his world went black.
"Screech"
"Screech"
"Screech"
The tiny creatures surveyed the scene with their beady eyes, their small bodies tense with anger and grief. The one who had so ruthlessly slain their mother now lay before them, helpless and unconscious.
Their instinct to avenge her was strong, and they began to edge closer to him, their tiny claws clicking against the rocky ground. Each step was deliberate, filled with the weight of their collective fury.
The air around them seemed to pulse with energy, charged with the intensity of their determination to make him pay for his crimes.
But as this little creatures prepared to pounce on Vincent, they were stunned to see their mother's body suddenly jolting.
And then, to their amazement, they saw her eyes opened up and turned golden, her form began to blur as they were sucked in by an invisible force. It was a breathtaking sight to behold as multiple entities merged into one, becoming a single, powerful being.
That's right ,those creatures weren't her offspring, but mere clones. She had been concealing her true power, and the fragment on her forehead had been the reason for her limitations all along. It was as if a veil had been lifted, and she can finally use the full extent of her strength.
But her transformation was not over yet.
She shrank in size until she was no longer a ferocious beast, but rather a stunningly beautiful woman with curves in all the right places.
Her curvaceous body was a sight to behold, and her face was flawlessly symmetrical, except for the wolf ear that peeked out from her snowy white hair. The strands cascaded perfectly down her shoulders, framing her stunning features, and her piercing golden eyes shone like precious jewels.
She walked towards Vincent, who lay unconscious on the ground. Her steps were silent and graceful as she approached him.
With the fluidity of water, she knelt down and cradled his head in her lap, her eyes scanning his pained expression . Concern etched deep lines in her face as played with his hair.
"Fear not, my dearest Fenrir. I will always be here for you, just as I have been before." She spoke with a gentle voice, filled with love and adoration. "But this time ....we will succeed "
As she placed her hand on his chest, a brilliant light shone from her body, and she began to disintegrate into tiny particles that swirled around him.
In a matter of seconds, her body had completely merged with his, and the pain from before began to vanished.
He now slept peacefully, the agony he had been feeling before replaced with a soothing sensation. It was as if his entire body was enveloped in a warm embrace of tenderness and love.
Sadly, he was oblivious to the fact that a stunning maiden had once again sacrificed herself for his sake.
And that the creature he had almost killed had given him a precious gift, one that would change the course of his destiny forever.
.
.
.
.
.
As he slowly regained consciousness, he felt a strange energy pulsing within him, one that he had never felt before. It was as if he had been reborn, transformed into something greater.
He clenched his fists, feeling his strength surge and undergo a qualitative leap. In that moment, he knew that he was at least twice as strong as before.
"What happened to those creatures?" He looked around the cave, and was shocked to find that he was completely alone. It was as if the battle he had just fought was all just a vivid hallucination. But the damaged sorrounding proved that it was all real.
He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. His hand instinctively went to his chest, where the searing pain had coursed through his body before. But there was no trace of the fragment or any sign of injury. It was as if everything had been a dream.
However, he instinctively knew that he had succeeded.
"Why do I feel so lonely even though I've completed my mission?" His body was buzzing with newfound strength, but his heart was heavy. It was as if something was missing, and he couldn't shake off the feeling of loneliness. He couldn't quite put his finger on what it was that he missed, but the ache in his chest was all too real.
"I miss you " he muttered unconsciously under his breath.
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