"[Activating 'Heavenly Demon's Technique: First Form: Horizon of the Damned' Lvl 1!]"
I didn't wait for him to finish his creepy monologue. I blurred forward, drawing the 'Fig Spirit Sword', an A-Rank blade I had bought for 10,000 Coins after my polearm shattered. The horizontal draw was a perfect line of black energy, moving at a speed that would have decapitated any other Ranker on the Floor.
The Black Hound snapped the blood chains with a casual flex and parried my blade with his sickle. The impact rang out like a thunderclap. His pale eyes widened, not in pain, but in genuine shock as he tasted the aura on my sword.
"'Demonic Energy'!? How amusing!! Ahhh... who... who is this bloodbag?? Ahahahaaahh!" He shrieked with laughter, looking at me as if I were a rare delicacy. "Neee... tell me... If I bring you to the Patriarch... will he... will he forgive me for not being able to find the traitor?"
He was a talkative, twisted freak, but his Skills were the real deal. In my subspace, Leo and Cero were howling to be let out, their pride wounded by the sight of their master fighting alone. But I kept the gates shut; letting them out against this monster would be a death sentence. Melchior had gone deathly quiet in his cage. He knew better than anyone that if a Hound confirmed his presence, the 'Abyssal' Bloodline would hunt me to the ends of the multiverse.
I kept the Hound engaged, my feet tracing specific patterns in the sand as we traded high-speed blows.
"[Activating the 2-Star Barrier, 'Veinlock Suppression Array'!]"
"[Activating 'Moon Imprint' Lvl 1!]"
"[Notice: Your 'Barrier' Skills have been greatly enhanced!]"
The runes I had been "painting" with my footsteps erupted in a blinding light. The array flared around the Hound's feet, designed to lock his veins and freeze his body. Because of the massive level gap, the suppression only lasted for a single second, but in high-level combat, a second is always crucial.
"[Activating The Exclusive Skill, 'Blessings of the Stars: Divine Light' Lvl 1!]"
A pillar of holy radiance descended from the heavens, slamming into the immobilized Hound. The desert sand turned to glass under the heat. But as the light faded, he stood there, completely unscathed.
"[Activating 'Abyssal Wings' Lvl ???]"
Huge, leathery wings made of pure shadow were wrapped around his body like a cocoon. He had used them to tank the 'Divinity'.
"'Divinity' as well!?? Anahahahahant... I cannot wait to taste you!" He screamed with delight, his shadow wings unfurling as he launched himself at me with bloodlust.
"[Activating The Exclusive Skill, 'Blessings of the Stars: Holy Shield' Lvl 6!]"
Jean D'Arc flashed between us, her shield catching the impact of his sickles. Golden sparks flew everywhere. She could clearly sense the chaotic mix of 'Demonic' and 'Holy' energies coming from me, but she was a professional; she knew that if we didn't kill this thing before the timer hit zero, a 'Level-Break' would occur. Meaning that the Hound would walk free into the human world, and humanity would be erased.
I saw a slight opening while he was focused on Jean's shield.
"[Activating The Exclusive Skill, 'Body Reinforcement: Strength Adjustment: 2% Release: Strong Arms'!]"
"[Notice: Your Stat 'STR' has increased by +10 temporarily!]"
"[Activating 'Sword Energy' Lvl 1!]"
"[Activating 'Lethal Venom' Lvl 1!]"
"[Activating 'Heavenly Demon's Technique: Second Form: Heaven-Splitting Strike' Lvl 1!]"
"[Warning: Your 'Mana' has been depleted!]"
I poured every last drop of my 'Mana' into a final, desperate vertical slash. The blade hissed with a mixture of 'Demonic' and 'Sword Energy'. The strike bypassed his immediate defense, carving a deep, jagged line across his chest. The [Lethal Venom] seeped into the wound, beginning a 'Corrosion' Status Effect.
"[Notice: The Target's Level and Stats are too high. The Status Effect 'Corrosion' has been nullified!]"
I cursed under my breath. I was still too weak to make a Status Effect stick to a being of his caliber. My knees buckled as the 'Mana Depletion' set in, making my vision swim.
"I've got him!" Jean cried out, stepping forward to take the front line while I staggered back.
"[Activating The Exclusive Skill, 'Blessings of the Stars: Divine Judgement' Lvl 6!]"
She unleashed a storm of ethereal greatswords, her backer [Eden] had provided her with a 'Mana Pool' far deeper than any normal Ranker. The swords rained down on the Hound, forcing him to defend.
"[Time Remaining: 0 days 6 hours 35 minutes 47 seconds]"
The clock was a reminder of our approaching doom. Despite the wounds and the divinity, the Black Hound didn't look tired. He looked like he was just getting started.