54.MADNESS

There were only two choices left in that battle; one is killing him and the other is getting killed by him. The latter is hard and the former is also definitely hard.

Did he have a choice to choose in the first place? Since entering this world he was always driven into a corner and made to face problems simultaneously.

As the saying goes "you live only once". There is no second chance for him but Nix's thoughts were different at that moment as soon as the ability invoked all that was left in his mind was just madness.

His instincts screamed and whispered only two words as he clutched the dagger he took from the Goblin Village.

"Kill him... Kill him..."

Those words kept on resounding inside his mind but, It wasn't that voice that made him push his leg from the ground. It was his whole body that screamed to go on a rampage.

"

[Private ability-Nova Manifestation activated]

[Anterior-Sword energy Activated]

[Anterior-Spatial traverse activated]

[Anterior-Peerless combat mode activated]

[Anterior-Reflexive resilience Activated]

Suddenly, several messages popped up in the air. Ignoring it he continued to perceive fighting.

Arghhh!" Nix screamed like a vicious predator that has set its sight on its prey. He rushed without giving second thoughts despite Razik's dark sword energy speeding towards him.

He didn't dodge the energy released by Razik but, rather pushed himself towards it and continued to dash forward without giving a damn about his shattered armor and the wound he was inflicted by the sword energy.

Razik who was arrogant from the start took a step back without even noticing himself. He came to his senses and steadied his posture and at that moment five more underlings of his entered the temple.

Just when they tried to join the battle Cinzia interjected and helped Nix from getting attacked. It was really appreciating that even though she was injured and had a broken leg. She fought fiercer than ever. More importantly, she was astounded by Nix's monstrous rage that she herself forgot that this was the same guy who had trouble fighting the monsters back during their journey. It was like she was seeing some else as his swordsmanship and everything portrayed him in a different manner.

'Dammit, Why didn't you help us? If you helped me We would have killed these scums.'

Thinking inwardly she continued to fight all the five of them with her blurry vision because of her teary eyes but, she continued to thrust her halberd.

Nix already far surpassed what a level one guy would be able to achieve but what he was doing now has ultimately surpassed even the people who worked hard to achieve it. To put it clearly Nix entered a trance state and exceeded the leveling system.

At that instant, his pain and senses numbed while his muscles, bones, and his magic circuit began to work faster accompanied by the adrenaline rush and a heavy boost. And in this berserk state, it increased his other senses along with his agility and strength adding Wrath's specialty into account and the unknown variable of Nova manifestation he attained the capabilities to fight a level eight guy toe to toe. Even though it was for a split moment it was enough for him.

Razik smiled as he pushed his sword towards Nix's dual bladed dagger.

"Quite a monstrous guy you are huh? At first, I thought you are an extra small fry. I am intrigued. What's your name?"

He started spouting nonsense to distract Nix. But, Nix was pushing his limit for the sole purpose of killing like his existence is made only to fight at that moment.

Even though he tried to make his dagger corrode with his mana, his dagger was still in one piece.

He shifted his eyes towards Nix's eyes in a dumbstruck expression. Nix's eyes didn't waver as he continued to force his dagger with both hands.

Razik's face contoured and he grew frustrated. Just as he was about to stab him Nix disappeared and reappeared behind him with the spatial traverse ability of his past life. As he swung the chains a huge swirl of fire aroused. As he continued to swing it like a mad man the hall caught on fire. He didn't give a single thought about his surroundings or himself.

Razik blocked his inferno strike and asked,

"Who are you? Are you from Agenders?"

" " he didn't answer and continued to attack him and got pushed back. He swiftly used the chain's fire attribute while simultaneously wielding the dagger.

Yes, he was not able to even control the fire attribute and use swordsmanship and he was not even able to use his stats in an efficient way in alignment without any techniques.

But, After getting nova manifestation invoked, it would not be an exaggeration to say that his techniques of the past were something to be looked down upon. As the man opposite him struggling to fight back was enough to prove Dark Nix's skills. It showed how many hardships he endured in his past life.

Suddenly the dagger was enveloped by black smoke just like how Razik did once. Razik was terribly wounded and his subordinates were paralleled by Cinzia.

'With my current condition, I can't possibly win this guy?' Thinking inwardly he tried to outrun Nix. At that flash, Nix inserted his whole force into his leg and kicked Razik's leg. Using his combat ability that invoked.

"Kueekk!"

He shrieked and grunted in agony. It seems like his bone was broke by that kick. He quickened his pace and took a bag that was on the floor and decided to retreat.

"Everyone retreat!" He announced, swiftly Nix teleported before him and tried to cut his face as he slightly backed out.

The cut didn't enter too deep into his face but nevertheless, his left eye was gone for good, as the cut he inflicted stretched from his eyebrow to his chin. It was a long cut on his face. It was almost at least seven inches in length. If it's measured. He started to bleed but he didn't let his guard down as Nix advanced to strike.

"Arghh! you fucker stop it!" He cursed feeling the immense pain.

and continued to scream.

"You damned fucking bitches help me!"

As he screamed for help Cinzia who was barely holding on with Razik's subordinates lost her footing and two men came to help only to get killed by Nix. Razik took the opportunity and was already retreating.

"You fuckers you can't win against him!"

The other men who rushed in followed him and Varde took off along with those chaps carrying a few bags and items they looted. Varde knew there was no place for him to go, so he left with them. Even if he is regretting his decision it is useless now.

Nix was already on his threshold as his pain and his senses began to retain. So In conclusion the ability only stayed active for ten minutes during their battle. If they even waited a little bit Nix would have probably ended up dead.

"Thank you" Cinzia mumbled with teary eyes and a smile on her face, she fell to the ground looking towards Nix.

"Hah, Hah..." He stood there panting heavily unable to move even an inch as the excruciating pain started to kick in, as a result of the intense combat and the pain began to slowly increase.

His appearance was pathetic to look at. He was severely battered and worn out.

"Hah HAh, Arghh!" As he inhaled and exhaled he felt unbearable pain signifying that had a few broken ribs. And both his arms and legs had a few cracked bones and his internal magic circuit was terribly burned up.

Even after receiving those disastrous damages, he chose to pick up Cinzia. He didn't know why he chose to help though. Maybe it was because of pity or his heart was not able to bear with abandoning her alone since he had some kind of compassion for her.

'Tch, Why did you have to end up like that?' Muttering to himself he stared at her with pity as her cheeks were dripping teardrops. She was crying subconsciously.

As the hall started to get consumed by fire. He carried her and threw his backpack into his inventory while using the jade spear as a walking stick. Those were the only things left by the Zerast's members.

'Just a little more! Just a little more!' He screamed internally while Gritting his teeth to endure the overwhelming anguish. He slowly left the temple and continued to drag himself along with Cinzia. He continued to descend down the mountain while feeling the hellish pain.

They didn't stumble upon monsters much as they already cleaned that vicinity. Perhaps, it was Zerast clan members' work that they didn't encounter any monster. But it also solved the mystery of the injured Regulars that appeared with a boat.

After four hours of enduring the hellish pain and cold climate, he almost reached the bottom of the mountain and took the boat to reach the other side.

[Endurance have been raised by 3 points]

He was not in a state to check the message so he continued to paddle the boat and reached the other side and he finally dropped Cinzia and the spear and fainted on the shore, unable to resist the exhaustion.

"Will I die?" Muttering those words, he closed his eyes.

****

"Haha, Who did this to you? To think he damaged your face to the point, that even healing it with multiple spells and drinking elixirs are rendered useless... What kind of weapon did he use?" said a man with a handsome face and deep blue eyes. He had his blonde hair with a man bun style. His skin tone was pale and white as snow. He had a three-day stubble beard and a face that showed pride and arrogance.

He was seated on a seat that resembled something like a throne. And the large hall was empty without any members and his armor was quite flashy and along his side, a battle-ax was made to lean to his throne.

"A dagger...A fucking... rusty dagger! I don't from where he came but that fucking weapon has inflicted a wound even on my soul! " Razik yelled in anger. He had a bandage around his face but there weren't any fatal wounds on him and his legs seemed alright after getting healed.

Empyrean has its own customs and concepts and the concept of the souls is a complicated one at that. Every sentient has its own internal realm where the souls reside with unique barriers. Damaging or piercing those barriers are impossible until the vessel of the other soul is monstrous or something that's far beyond imagination. Perhaps the dagger is something ominous and inexplicable.

Razik calmed himself down and continued speaking.

"I enquired Varde and he said he only knew his name. It seems he is someone new and he said that guy was always collected and secretive."

"what's his name?"

"Nix"

The man smiled and said. " Razik You are like a brother to me, do you think I will let him be? Tell our members to hunt Cinzia and that guy down. Tell our men to search his history and traces"

"Thank you, Fraser" Razik thanked him.

"Whatever, I don't want a rise of someone threatening our power, and what happened about the Slave slaughterhouse incident? did you find the clan behind it?" He asked.

" We are still searching..." Razik said anxiously

"I see, Just arrange a meeting with Waltner." The man said and rose from his seat.