Chapter 202 - So Sophisticated
Chapter 202 – So Sophisticated
I walked through the silent forest lane, hearing the disturbed owls flee from their nest. I ran my hand through my hair, stopping at a particular forest clearing where the last broken tree stood. Niall flew away quite far, and yet, that wasn't enough to kill him.
Meters away from me was a vampire stretching his neck from one side to the other. He also ran his fingers through his hair, brushing it back.
"So… strong." He laughed as his crimson eyes fell on me. "That caught me off guard and… nice tail."
Niall whistled as his eyes veered at the three tails behind me. It had been a while since I took this form. Although I was still in human form, I now had a tail and white fur in my arms and shoulders, my jaw and temple. I couldn't shift into a lamb completely, but even so, the surge of power swelling in my chest was overwhelming.
If I couldn't control this power and energy properly, I could kill myself. Fortunately, I had been testing it for the past three years with Bowie. Bowie was a great help to me. But… a full-blown fight with Niall? This was not enough.
I could already see Althea would disappear from the map of the world if we ever go head to head. But for some reason, I knew he had something on his sleeve. He didn't plan to go all out. Was that a good thing? Or Bad? It was a little of both.
Even so… I would make sure he wouldn't come at us immediately.
"I will not ask you what your intentions are, what are you up to, or just what will it take you to stop." I broke my silence as the silent night breeze blew past my ears. "Give me your all and I will show you how it will end."
My eyes glowed, moonlight shining down upon us. Unlike him, who was a creature of the night, I was a creature on both sides. Light and darkness… I could live in both.
Niall crooked a finger, making me glance at his shadow. It stretched on either side of him, eyes on me.
"My all?" he smirked delightfully, tilting his head to the side. "You… know you cannot take my all without the wolf."
"How are you certain when you hadn't fought me in the first place?"
"Make sense, but then again, weren't you conscious when you were within him?" his brows rose, casting me a knowing look. "The wolf and the lamb against me… heh! Remember how I nearly killed you? If not for those damn gods, I would've reigned over the empyrean realm."
My eyes grew cold. "Did you really think you can corrupt that place and fill it with darkness?" I laughed in ridicule.
Although I was aware, this determination posed a threat to those creatures. It wouldn't be called a holy war without the interventions of gods.
That was how huge and disastrous that war was. Almost half of the world was ruined and humankind nearly faced extinction. A small country getting ruined was the least of this world's concerns. It would be worse than that if it happened once again.
It would surely be a war that could end the world.
"Of course, Princess." Niall rocked his head lightly, simpering arrogantly. "It pains me that you are not interested in my feelings. It makes me want to express my heart."
PANG!
One of my tails stretched longer to slap a dark shadow that was akin to a tentacle from his shadow on the ground. I didn't flinch at the sudden assault, keeping my eyes fixed on him. My tails clashed against the dark shadows he was unleashing, causing a powerful gust of wind each time.
It was more like a showdown, gravitating each other's strength. I didn't show him the slightest hint that his attack was worth my attention. And Niall only showed me a teasing countenance, unfazed by the impact blowing past us.
"Surely, the lamb's fighting style differs greatly from the wolf." He commented in amusement. "He enjoyed getting his hands on his enemies and rend their flesh with those bloody teeth. But look at you. So sophisticated and arrogant. You're not even lifting a finger! I am… in awe."
SHWINg
I snapped my eyes calmly, ignoring his remarks. I looked to my right, my tail moving in front of me so I could see the black shadow I cut from the ground. The chopped shadow was dissolving into thin air slowly as it wiggled as if it had a life of its own.
I sniffed and got a whiff of its pungent scent. "Smells like a dead person for weeks," I muttered, casting him a look while the shadow my tail was holding gradually dissipated into thin air.
The root from where I cut it already regenerated. Inside this vampire's domain, he could unleash tens of thousands of these and swallow every living being in Althea.
I wondered what was keeping him from doing so…
I arched my brows at the thought. 'He can't control it yet?' the side of my lips curled up. Controlling this power required a greater sacrifice. If his situation was akin to mine, then does that mean his powers hadn't completely awakened yet?
"Interesting," came out a murmur, smiling in understanding.
"The great holy war had taken a toll on me, and on you." Noticing my smile, Niall happily admitted his weakness. "We can assume the three of us did. You lost your memories and are back to scratch. The wolf had grown soft. While I, on the other hand, can barely control the darkness within me or the darkness will control me."
When I blinked, Niall disappeared from his standpoint, only to reappear in front of me. I stood motionless, watching his finger curl as he pulled his arm back to land a blow using the bottom of his palm.
"Let me tell you something, Princess. I hate those gods more than I hate the wolves for I… have to survive whilst drinking blood. Stand in my way and I will flay you from head to toe."
BAM!
The bottom of his palm landed on my abdomen, forcing blood from my mouth as I flew back out of the forest.