Absolute Craft-Chapter 100: Taming The Rebellious Hounds (5)

Chapter 100: Taming The Rebellious Hounds (5)

Sol’s flames reached their maximum intensity, activating the legendary buff’s second skill, Dragon’s Wrath. He now burned away BloodFang’s mana and stamina—both so pitifully low that BloodFang had no hope of winning this exchange.

He was about to lose to a pet, even though a healer stood within reach. But what good was a healer if his skills couldn’t keep up with the flames ravaging BloodFang’s stats?

This little hatchling was downright ravenous!

BloodFang toppled onto his back and stared upward, half his vision consumed by flames. Even so, he could see black clouds roiling overhead, darkening the grasslands as if some titan had arrived.

Serpentine black lightning hissed and crackled within those clouds, ready to strike at any moment. And the one who had summoned this disaster stood nearby, gazing ahead with black eyes that seemed almost dormant.

Yet BloodFang caught a glimpse of Blake’s excitement, and it sent shivers down his spine. Although Blake wasn’t fighting directly—controlling the battlefield through his pet and buffs instead—there was something about him that BloodFang simply couldn’t ignore.

If, by some chance, BloodFang managed to stand up and attack him, what would happen? After a few moments of thought, he concluded he’d be beheaded.

Surely, the White Demon’s katana, sheathed at his hip, wasn’t just for show.

If a player on a tutorial island is this formidable, how powerful was Supreme Blade? BloodFang wondered, reevaluating both Superbia and Supreme Blade.

Meanwhile, the threat above intensified. Soon, the first bolt of black lightning broke through the clouds, plummeting like a bullet fired by a lightning god before striking one of Anonymous House’s players.

That man received a healing reduction debuff.

Initially, it seemed harmless—he was on Anonymous House’s side, and they were winning. But that changed once the storm gained momentum.

Countless bolts of black lightning rained upon the grasslands, striking players indiscriminately. Anyone hit three times suffered an additional effect, dramatically tipping the scales in favor of the opposing side.

<Black Storm (Epic)—Conjures a twenty-meter storm around The Woman General Figurine, striking everyone except the bonded player with black lightning. Each hit applies Black Sparks (Epic)>

<Black Sparks (Epic)—Reduces healing received by 30%. Upon three stacks, healing reduction increases to 70%, and any hit calls forth black lightning that deals 300% of Superbia’s main weapon damage.>

Even a scratch or a pebble could trigger black lightning that dealt 300% of Superbia’s Oni’s Avalanche damage—a near-legendary level of devastation—for anyone with three stacks of Black Sparks.

In this chaotic battlefield, some members of both guilds had already been struck three times.

As the fighting raged and more blows were exchanged, the black storm above seemed to grin before unleashing black spears of judgment. Each bolt sliced through the sky and slammed into the earth, echoing in players’ ears even after impact.

Those unlucky enough to be hit endured more than mere reverberations. Their vision darkened, and their health points plummeted.

Amid this chaos, The Hounds cheered and grew more excited, spotting an opportunity to snatch victory. Kyria craned his head, searching for the mastermind. He suspected it was Blake, believing the black lightning tied into his title.

His suspicions were confirmed when he saw Blake standing motionless, right hand extended. Resting on his palm was a small figurine that would make many collectors swoon—though Kyria barely noticed it. Instead, he locked eyes with Blake.

He wanted to know why Blake had used this skill now. What was his intent?

The moment Kyria tried to read Blake’s expression, he realized the man was challenging everyone on the battlefield—even his own allies.

[Adapt.]

[Overcome it.]

[You reap what you sow.]

[Excel forward.]

[Become stronger.]

Blake conveyed it all with a single stare. Kyria wasn’t entirely sure he’d deciphered Blake correctly, but it felt as though Blake had turned the entire battlefield into his personal playground.

In the end, raw power mattered most. This game wasn’t fair—a single player could shift the entire outcome. That freedom was both its greatest strength and its greatest flaw.

Kyria steadied himself... then spotted the figurine. His eyes went wide, veins bulging. He screamed at Blake from afar—another uncharacteristic act that prompted Wolfang to restrain him.

Once more, Kyria forced himself to calm down and eyed his own guild’s statues.

"This black storm is neutral, like a boss mechanic we can exploit," Kyria said. "If you have three stacks, drop everything and charge at the enemy. Use them as shields so the black lightning strikes them instead! I’ll boost dexterity and movement speed for anyone close to three stacks. This is the real test—and the real way to tame these Hounds. Show them we’re crazier than they are!"

Beatrix and Wolfang sneered. Joel, hoping to impress Lily Lift, copied Wolfang’s grin. The rest dove into the fray, weaving through the formation to adapt.

It was insane... yet that was exactly what made the game fun. Everyone rose to the challenge, repositioning themselves to make the most of the storm. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"We need to do this as much as possible before The Hounds catch on," Kyria called out, watching over a cluster of status windows floating in front of him.

He wasn’t the king of this chessboard.

But he would be the knight leading his squad to victory...

...unknowingly paving the way for the king’s triumph.

"This is freaking crazy," BloodFang muttered, watching Anonymous House employ such a reckless tactic—banking on black lightning and quick reflexes.

Those who timed it perfectly left their enemies badly weakened, then finished them off with their own attacks—thrusts from below, fireballs, even direct punches. Anonymous House used everything at their disposal to finish off The Hounds.

BloodFang glanced at the White Demon, who stood as though he owned the entire field. No one could see his expression behind that demonic mask, but BloodFang imagined a smug grin.

There was no way he was wearing a different face.

As for why BloodFang still lived... Sol had spared him. Not out of pity, but to assert dominance. On all fours, the little dragon stood over BloodFang, hopping around and spitting victorious flames while letting out adorable cries.

He had won.

It was a critical victory for him.

BloodFang could do nothing but watch, his will gone as his focus lingered on the chaos elsewhere. By the time the black storm subsided, Anonymous House had cut down many Hounds, finally forcing them to raise the white flag.

Meanwhile, Blake reflected on the day’s events.

He believed he knew the direction he wanted to pursue. It seemed impossible to realize his new battle style without another crown piece, but he was determined to find a workaround to craft a new skill.

Perhaps he needed a new inspiration fragment instead of a crown piece.

Regardless, it had been both exciting and liberating.

Following a king’s path was risky—Blake could easily provoke others if he wasn’t careful—but he was satisfied with how he’d pushed Kyria and the rest to their limits through the black storm. And Sol had achieved victory on his own, which felt all the more rewarding.

"Alexandra..."

Blake heard BloodFang murmur a woman’s name and turned to see Alex Red Moon approaching.

’Oh... so Alex is short for Alexandra. Didn’t expect that,’ he mused.

Arms crossed, Alex looked down at BloodFang. He had never seemed so docile, and it momentarily threw her off.

"He’s a player who caught up to the beta testers," she said, nodding at Blake. "You should’ve realized that when his little dragon beat you without breaking a sweat."

"You were watching?" BloodFang asked, feeling the sting of defeat all over again.

"Yes. But that’s not important right now, is it? This alliance gives us the best shot at the Rotten Leviathan Resurrection Event. Just admit it."

BloodFang sighed. "Fine, I admit it... Honestly, though, I never cared much about the Rotten Leviathan or Supreme Blade."

"I could tell you were more interested in gathering followers," Alex remarked.

BloodFang’s eyes widened briefly before he accepted that she read him all too well.

"But Supreme Blade fought mostly with swordsmanship and passive skills, right? After seeing today’s chaos, I’m even more impressed by him."

"I know, right?!" Alex exclaimed, voice rising with excitement. "Flames were just his fuel! He slashed through everything—no exceptions!"

Blake and BloodFang exchanged bemused glances. Not far away, BloodFang’s healer bobbed his head eagerly at every word.

It was... quite a scene, which made Blake appreciate his mask even more.

A few minutes later...

"SUPERBIA!"

Kyria bellowed from a distance, charging toward Blake like an enraged bull.

It seemed Kyria was furious about Blake’s Black Storm and wanted a solid explanation for why he used that card when their guild was already winning against The Hounds. Blake couldn’t think of any other reason for Kyria’s anger. Kyria’s outburst was uncharacteristic of his usually calm demeanor, yet Blake felt certain he was in the right.

However, everything took a different turn the moment Kyria laid his hands on him.