Ashton's gaze was fixated on the scythe and the weird aura revolving around it. The weapon was... different, to say the least. But the moment Atlas called out the weapon, Ashton immediately realised, the source of the death wasn't Atlas, but the weapon he was storing within himself.
[Ashton, I'm only going to say this once. Whatever happens, do not let that scythe hit you. I don't care whether you are a necromancer or not, just don't let it hit you.]
'I can feel the weapon is dangerous. But is there a need to-'
[Just listen to me once. I don't have a good feeling about it. If that weapon can kill so many Xyrans, you do not stand a chance against it.]
'Fine... you don't have to lose you shit like this.' Ashton replied while steadying Balmond, 'I wasn't planning on getting hit by Atlas or his weapon either way.'
"I can feel your gaze on me... foolish human with two souls." Atlas snarled, "You will never... succeed in defeating me... with a frail body like yours."
"Oi, stinky breath, could you keep your mouth closed while we fight?" Ashton replied while trying his best not to puke, "Not to sound rude or anything, but your thousand years old breaths will kill me before you get an opportunity to."
Atlas loudly gritted his teeth before launching an attack on Ashton. Ashton could sense that Atlas wasn't the same as before. He had changed and for the better, he wasn't going to have a great time fighting an undead Xyran.
'Damn he is fast!'
Ashton barely managed to parry the attack while only spending on his undead genes. But Atlas wasn't done yet. While Ashton was focused on blocking the scythe, Atlas let go of the weapon and swiped Ashton off his legs. Without a solid foothold, it would be easier to attack the human... or so Atlas thought.
As soon as Ashton's feet left the ground, he created a platform of wind to stabilise himself and counterattack. With a single kick, Ashton found his face firmly planted on the ground.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtWithout wasting any time, Ashton swung Balmond to sever Atlas's head, but the undead Xyran displayed his brute strength and kicked Ashton in the gut to get away in the nick of time, creating some distance between the two.
<Draconic Physique has converted the 50% true damage into physical damage and magical damage respectively.>
<Draconic Physique has reduced the physical damage by 25%.>
<Draconic Physique has reduced the magical damage by 20%.>
'So that's how it works... and I was thinking it would nullify the true damage instead.' Ashton thought once he managed to stop himself from sliding backwards. 'But more importantly, I can't seem to overpower him using strength.'
[Tsk, it's a shame the wolves are already occupied.]
Atlas got back to his feet and appeared to be agitated. Ashton didn't know with certainty why he was behaving like that, but if he had to guess, Atlas' reaction was a result of his HP loss. Even though Ashton lost more HP from his attack.
'I guess he doesn't like getting hit, at all.'
"Pathetic..." Atlas yelled while scratching his face with his claws, "Pathetic weak idiot! You... are... too weak! You are not even as strong as... the Xyrans. Pathetic weak! Getting hit... by you... is humiliating!"
"Oi... aren't you getting a bit carried away now?"
When the day started, Ashton never thought he would have an undead bastard calling him out for being weak. Yet, there he was listening to Atlas rant about how weak he was. To be honest, if ranting would make the bastard die faster, then Ashton had no problem lending him an ear.
[If that were the case, he would have been dead for a long time.]
'True, true... jokes aside, if things keep proceeding at this speed, it'll take a while to beat him.'
Even though they had only exchanged blows once, Ashton realised where Atlas' strength lay. The undead Xyran was thiccer than Mera's butt. Not only did he have an absurd amount of damage reduction, but he also had a high regeneration ability.
These factors not only made it impossible to either one-shot him but also protected him from getting his HP chipped off slowly. Whatever little bit of HP Atlas might lose, he could simply recover it from his broken regeneration ability.
"Kill you... KILL YOU!"
Atlas lunged at Ashton once again, but this time Ashton was prepared. The moment Atlas raised the scythe above his head, Ashton ducked below and immediately targetted the Undead's legs. Atlas had been too focused on striking Ashton down, that he forgot to cover his openings.
Ashton heard the legs getting sliced off, and immediately turned around to launch another attack, hoping to capitalise on the moment. However, by the time he did so, Atlas' legs were already healed.
"Now this is just fucking annoying-"
Before Ashton could even prepare himself, Atlas flung his scythe toward Ashton. Ashton easily dodged the flying scythe. It wasn't until it was too late, did he realised his mistake.
Atlas used the scythe as a distraction to close the distance between them. It was never his intention to hit Ashton with the scythe. He wrapped his hands around Ashton, pulling him into the most disgusting and strong bear hug Ashton had ever faced.
"Now... you die..." Atlas whispered in his ears before biting into Ashton's shoulder.
"Argh! Let me go you bastard!"
Ashton summoned all his strength and began headbutting the undead Xyran, as his head was the only weapon he could use since his hands were tucked to his sides. All thanks to the bear hug.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmIt took well over a dozen attempts before Atlas was forced to let him go. Even then, the damage had already been done. Ashton's skin around the bite marks turned black in a couple of seconds. Soon his entire body began getting numb.
Ashton couldn't feel any pain, but he knew something was seriously wrong. It couldn't be poison as he had already obtained immunity from being poisoned after defeating Hydra.
"Death is a disease like none other..." Atlas smiled when he realised his plan was already working, "I, who ingested the Scythe of death... for millenniums... have become one with death. Being attacked by me... is the same as... getting attacked by the scythe. Your death is now... certain."
"So that's it, huh? You... have made death flow into me?" Ashton sniggered, "I don't think anyone told you this, but... one shouldn't boast about their grand plan before it takes effect."
"Laugh all you want... you are already dead..."
Ashton placed his hand on the wound, "No shit sherlock. I am already dead. More like... I'm already undead, so doing something like this would not affect me at all!"
The next moment, Ashton ripped off the corrupted flesh from his shoulder. As soon as he did that, everything went back to normal. Although he had a gaping hole where his shoulder mass was supposed to be, he was alright.
No... he was better than before. Because now he knew what Atlas was capable of, however, the reverse wasn't true.
"Time to show you what I am truly capable of..." Ashton smiled as his wound miraculously healed, "Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm no human. Neither am I an undead... unlike you, I am one of a kind. A being that was never supposed to exist in this damned galaxy... I am a fucking Zompirewolf!"
<Werewolf (Lvl 56) genes have been activated.>
<Vampire (Lvl 54) genes have been activated.>
<Effects of cumulative levels have been revealed.>
<User's current Cumulative level: 110>
<User's current Cumulative grade: C (intermediate)>