[Essence Siphon], the upgraded version of [Ravenous Bite], was a mighty one. Perhaps because the stance itself seemed to have synergized with the Blood Monarch's Gauntlet, which somehow assimilated itself into his very body.

[Trait Acquired: Abyssal Strength]

Duration: 30 seconds

Effect: +70 Strength (Base 108 → 178)

The rush hit Kaiden immediately.

His body locked, and breath dragged deep into his chest as the Blood Monarch's Gauntlet writhed along his arm. The veins burned black-red, spreading from his fingertips up to his shoulder.

His skin darkened with muscle lines sharpening beneath the surface. At the same time, his breath came out rough, half a growl.

Kaiden's face shifted a bit as well; his cheekbones sharpened, jawline became harder, and teeth just a touch too pointed. One eye kept its human shape, while the other constricted into a monstrous slit.

Noticeable heat steamed off his body, carrying the smell of iron.

"Kai…" Aria whispered, shocked by what she was seeing. Her boyfriend was transforming into a demon right before her very eyes!

However, the transformation stopped. Kaiden did not turn into a monster; he merely adopted some of their traits, granting him strength.

During it all, he felt no pain, just a drastic injection of power. A heavy, coiled kind that begged to be used.

Kaiden rolled his shoulder once, then swung his blade a few times, testing the weight. The air hissed under the movement, sharp enough to draw startled looks from his allies.

The four remaining Ravagers charged after a mere moment of observation, not wanting to let him power up. It was obvious to their primal minds that ending his life was for the best. Kaiden moved.

The first swing wasn't fancy. A single, heavy cleave aimed at four charging Ravagers. The result wasn't a clean slice, however. Instead, it was more like a shockwave of brute force. The beasts jerked back due to their instincts forcing them to leap away. One of them tumbled before catching itself on all fours.

Thomas let out a breath that sounded half like a curse, half like disbelief. "What the hell did you just do?"

Kaiden, instead of answering, said, "The buff has only 25 seconds left! We must make the most of it!" and just like that, he darted forward.

The others moved with him.

Something in that display of his had reignited the team's rhythm. Following his lead felt like the natural course of action to all six observers.

Diaz slid into the fray from the rear with his daggers flashing in quick arcs that aimed for tendons and eyes. Luna appeared from the flank, using her natural burst as the speedster of the group. Lightning was sparking around her legs as she cut across one Ravager's back in a clean, shallow line.

But it was not enough to force the monster on the defensive. Instead, it took the moment to counter Luna, swiping at the girl. Kaiden adjusted immediately. His next slash came from below, targeting the monster trying to kill Luna. The impact sent its front leg buckling, the blade biting deep into its ribs.

Aria's voice rang next, "Volley incoming!"

A second later, a wave of compressed moonlight slammed into one of the Ravagers, followed by Bastet's answering blast. The smell of scorched flesh filled the air as solar fire tore through the creature's skin.

Behind them, Nyx flicked her hands in quick gestures. Daggers of differing elemental imbuements appeared out of thin air thanks to the spell she cast, which she then willed to streak forward with her [Telekinesis].

The monsters were being pushed back. But the fight was far from clean.

Kaiden pulled his sword free to strike again, only it didn't move. The blade was stuck. The Ravager's body had tightened around it.

He snarled through his teeth and yanked. The weapon didn't budge enough. That was when the Ravager's eyes met his, and its jaws opened wide to bite. At the same time, just as Luna was darting in to help him out, a second Ravager attacked her, forcing her attention.

As Kaiden was in a physical battle, something deep inside the Gauntlet stirred.

Words materialized from the gauntlet, formed by the blood stored inside.

[Rigidity is weakness. The Monarch of Blood adapts.]

He froze for a heartbeat, then chuckled as realization struck. It was a short, dry sound that had no place in the battle. "I've been scolded, huh…"

Kaiden couldn't deny it. The buff from his Gluttony stance had gotten under his skin; he'd been forcing a style that fit beasts more than men.

He knew that he couldn't afford to forget that the Blood Monarch's Gauntlet wasn't a tool; it was alive, and it wanted him to move with it. It was a Legendary-rarity equipment with a sentient mind.

Treating it as a mere tool would be a disservice to what it truly was.

His battle partner.

To that end, Kaiden loosened his grip and thought about the weapon as blood.

The greatsword quivered once before melting, collapsing into a dense, swirling mist that wrapped around his arms. Kaiden raised his hands as the blood latched onto him, crawling up to the shoulders before hardening again. The new form clicked into place in the form of two brutal gauntlets molded over muscle, each plate fitted tight against bulging veins. The armor looked outright alive thanks to the metal flexing with every movement, looking as if it was breathing together with him.

"Yeah. This fits much better."

Kaiden's grin stretched wider as the Ravager hurled itself toward him. He, instead of retreating with his instincts begging him to run, stepped in.

The Blood Monarch's Gauntlet flared, with veins of dark red crawling across his forearm as muscle and metal moved as one. His right arm tensed, then he drove his fist forward with full momentum.

The hit landed with a wet crunch. The Ravager's head snapped sideways; bone cracked; teeth flew.

Its momentum died on impact, and the rest of its body slammed into the dirt while Kaiden's arm still pressed forward, driving through the resistance of thick hide. The gauntlet's plating shifted mid-strike, fusing tighter to his hand, reinforcing the blow until it sounded like a castle gate being torn down by a battering ram.

The creature roared and flailed, trying to crush him under its weight.

Kaiden planted his feet and struck again, again, and again. Each hit came heavier than the last. The gauntlets adapted, birthing short, jagged blades along his knuckles that tore into flesh with every swing. Blood sprayed upward in thin arcs, splattering across his face and armor.

When the Ravager flexed, locking its hide to trap the blades, Kaiden was already prepared. The edges of his gauntlet liquefied on command of his will, sliding free before reforming sharper than before. He punched again. And again. Each blow ripped more of the beast apart. Ribs were crushed, muscles shredded, and its screeches faded into wet gurgles.

Kaiden finished it with a downward strike that caved in the Ravager's chest. The creature spasmed once, then went limp.

[You've slain Hellborne Ravager (Level 54).]

[You've gained 38,984 XP.]

[Level Up: 40 → 41]

Kaiden exhaled as he stood and locked his gaze on his next victim.

At the same time, the bronze-skinned girl was shocked to her very core by what she was seeing.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.