Transmigrated with my corruption system-Chapter 39: BLOOD... IT’S MY BLOOD!

Standing still, Ulric’s eyes narrowed as he stared at the beast up ahead, now fully revealed before him.

Towering over seven metres, a blood-red wolf came into sight. With every step it took, the monstrous muscles packed across its frame rippled faintly, almost like refined steel.

Ominous bloody eyes flickered from its massive head, its maw opening to reveal a set of razor sharp teeth.

Reeking with a strong scent of blood.

Over its patchy red fur, runes and sigils intertwined in a mystical formation, signalling its bloodline.

Glowing faintly with a red sheen.

If he had to guess, based on its name, he supposed its bloodline was related to blood.

That couldn’t be any good.

Crimson spikes jutted from its spine in a menacing display, pulsing with an eerie light.

Extending all the way back to its tail, where it flattened to form a serrated red blade with dark lines.

As he scanned the beast, it seemed to do the same. Eyeing the battlefield, where rows of Golden Wolves lay strewn about.

Before retracting its gaze back to him, having made its verdict.

Certain death for the human that had slain its kin and subjects. And as it came to that conclusion, its maw opened wide, raising its massive head to look into the sky.

Before a battle howl tore through the arena and the dungeon tunnels behind in a sonic boom, as an overwhelming aura rolled out of it in crushing waves.

Bathing in all this, Ulric’s eyes narrowed further. Feeling the endless bloodlust coiled within the aura as he stared at the beast before him.

Everything about it seemed forged for battle.

And now, looking at it, a realization slowly dawned on him as the aura it suppressed tried to crush him.

This would both be the largest and most terrifying opponent he had yet to face.

From its aura alone, he could tell its strength was at least a few times greater thanks to its bloodline.

And for some reason, the thought didn’t discourage him. Instead, it brought a slow smile to his face as he looked at the beast ahead.

The thought of battle stirring his body with exhilaration.

Across the dungeon in the tunnels, the rest of the awakened watched the lone figure in the arena as soft murmurs broke out.

"How do you think the young lord defeated those Golden Wolves?" one youth muttered, finally unable to suppress the burning question in his mind.

"Yeah... I was wondering the same thing... why are his fists also... bloody?"

Looking at the gory sight, no blade marks were apparent on the beasts’ corpses.

If they didn’t know better, they would have assumed the young lord was a warrior.

But that was absurd. They had all seen it and knew he was a mage. Which couldn’t help but fuel their curiosity.

"I don’t know... but man... I feel like I was born to watch this battle... I can’t wait... why is the dungeon boss taking so long to appear?!"

"Pft! Born to see it? After watching this battle, I’ll die having been fully satisfied."

The young lord rewriting history by clearing the dungeon on his first run?

It would clearly be a memory they would clutch onto for the rest of their lives.

"How long do you think the young lord will take to fight the dungeon boss?"

All previous awakened, when combined, often took hours. Now that he was alone... how would this play out?

Just as the murmurs were rising, the arena ahead slowly stirred as the mist cleared, revealing the dungeon boss as the murmurs slowly intensified.

"Haha, you finally decided to show yourself! Get ready to get your ass handed to you by the young lord—"

One youth suddenly sputtered, before the rest of his words died out in his throat. Was it just him, or did the dungeon boss tower almost twice the size he had expected?

And more than that. As it walked forward, his throat dried out, watching faint rune markings intertwine across the beast in a familiar formation. Recognizing the markings, everyone’s eyes widened.

Before a girl in the dungeon tunnel suddenly shrieked as if her life depended on it.

"It’s the markings of a bloodline! The dungeon boss has a bloodline!"

And almost instantly as her words echoed, a red blaring light flashed across the dungeon.

The swirling green portals that had flared at multiple corners of the dungeon tunnels suddenly took on a red sheen.

The already rising fear suddenly morphed into full-blown panic spreading across the crowd as they understood the phenomenon instantly.

The dungeon was evolving. And as if to press that realization in. The monstrous bloody wolf in the arena opened its maw, letting out a terrifying howl followed by its crushing aura.

Eardrums instantly ruptured for most of the crowd, blood slowly trailing from their ears before they were frozen in place by the aura.

Things were just keeping getting worse and worse.

"We’re all going to die... everyone run for your lives!"

"Running is pointless! We need to kill the dungeon boss! If it evolves and triggers the evolution chain while we’re inside... we’re really going to die!"

"What do you mean kill the dungeon boss?! I can’t fucking breathe just from its aura..."

Just as the panic was clawing at them, another youth suddenly yelled, pointing toward the center of the arena.

"Wait... look. The young lord. He’s still standing almost as if the aura doesn’t affect him at all."

Narrowing their eyes, the crowd collectively shifted their attention to the dark-robed figure.

And true to the words. He remained immoving. His hands clenched behind his back as he stared at the beast ahead.

Just as when they had first arrived.

The only change was his hair now fluttering wildly from the beast’s howl. The sight caused them to freeze, eyes bulging in shock.

From the distance, the aura was already crushing. They couldn’t imagine what he felt from such a close distance.

Even more, observing his relaxed posture, they couldn’t help but grow even more shocked. Was he calm because he was confident he could defeat the beast ahead?

Multiple thoughts flared as they tried to come up with a logical conclusion.

Among the crowd, while most grew restless in panic, a few remained calm. Having observed the situation and weighed the odds.

In one dungeon tunnel, a youth clad in a simple robe clenching a bow sighed as he analysed the situation.

"Seeing the young lord alone in battle saddens me... if only I were strong enough to lend him my strength."

Panic was pointless as the situation grew clear. Their fates now rested in the black-robed figure.

***

At another dungeon tunnel, an adorable girl stared forward, her face flushing with giddiness.

Wading through the aura and seeing the figure remain calm through all this made her excited. Could he really do this? Defeat the dungeon boss even in this state?

She didn’t know. And she couldn’t wait to see it. Panic was strangely the last thing on her mind.

***

At another dungeon tunnel, the figure of a golden-robed youth came into sight.

Clenching his jaw so tight his teeth almost cracked, a conflicted expression plastered across his face.

Before, Cedric had been eager to see the downfall of Ulric. But now he didn’t know anymore.

If Ulric fell today, that would mean his death as well. The only question was. Did he hate him more than he feared seeing him win, even if it meant saving him?

The thought twisted inside him as he muttered, doubt creeping across his face.

"I... d-don’t know."

***

At yet another dungeon tunnel, Lyra’s frame came into sight as she locked eyes with Ulric as he turned to appraise his situation.

And in his face. She could see it. That familiar smile he always cast in the face of adversity, yet always came out on top.

And this time, she clenched her fists.

A glint of determination flashing across her eyes. She was going to believe in him.

In his strength.

Hoping he would come out on top. Just as he always did.

***

Back in the arena, Ulric reverted his attention, taking note of the situation around him as the faint smile on his face crept wider.

"Well... things just got a little more... interesting..."

Before his words could finish echoing, a sonic boom erupted far ahead.

Where the Sanguine Blood Wolf stood was now a crater as its form blurred before his eyes.

The next moment, his danger instincts flared wildly as he felt something he had never felt before.

The sensation of absolute death.

Following his instincts, he jerked his head back.

And almost instantly after, the bloody wolf materialized before him. Its jaws clamping tightly against the space his head once was.

Causing a terrifying sensation to trail down his spine.

If he hadn’t moved just now... he would have been a headless corpse. The wolf, sensing it had missed, growled in anger, raising its massive paw to swipe at his head.

With no time to dodge, he raised both his arms to counter. When they clashed, a sonic boom echoed. As if they were both frozen in motion, locked in a stalemate.

Before that illusion was instantly shattered.

His robe flared to absorb 15% of the shock.

But even then, the residual force was too overwhelming.

Sending him flying back like a rag doll.

Regaining control, his feet lodged into the ground, skidding back until he finally came to a halt.

His chest burned as he felt something stir within him. Coughing a few times, he brought his hands to his mouth.

And when he slowly retracted them, the sight caused his eyes to widen in surprise.

Blood filled his palms.

As he stared at the sight, a tinge of hysteria crept across his face until he couldn’t help it anymore as he yelled out hysterically.

"BLOOD... IT’S MY BLOOD!"

A beast strong enough to draw blood from him? As the thought raged through him, the battlefield fell silent. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Staring at the dark-robed figure, chills spread across them as his last words echoed.

"Finally... a worthy opponent."