Born in Blood-Chapter 554: Inspiration

Of course the harrowing scythe had some hidden ability Liam was unaware of. Till now, Gorock had not used anything except his physical power and the scythe’s forged sharpness.

And while Liam wasn’t using everything he had at his disposal, he wasn’t holding back. Throughout the fight, the scythe consumed the drops of blood it drew from Liam’s wounds...

And when it reached a climax, the scythe... well, it was so fast, Liam didn’t even see how it happened.

Even after using Mind Edge, all he felt was an overwhelming sense of danger, forcing him to pivot to the side at the very last second.

If he didn’t... well, Gorock would have kept his promise of cleaving him in half.

Now, he was left with two stumps for arms that wouldn’t heal back for some time, nor retract into his body. He was also bleeding restlessly from said injuries.

Not only were the anti-regeneration powers were that strong, it more or less disabled Transfiguration.

He could use it, but it was one-hundredth of its speed and power. Basically unusable.

Thankfully, before he lost his swords, he managed to store them in his ring immediately after losing control over his arms.

’I must learn that power.’

Gorock grinned sadistically.

"Why the silence? Taunt me more."

Liam laughed.

"Your only boast is the weapon you didn’t even forge. You really are dumber than I thought."

Gorock scowled, his eyes narrowing sharply. Just then, he intended to end Liam’s life once and for all... but stopped.

For some very strange reason, Liam’s killing intent had become so thick, it permeated the waters with an unsettling feeling.

’He was not like that the whole fight,’ Gorock thought, alarmed. ’Is he hiding something?’

"Tell me," Gorock said suddenly. "Were you lying when you said you knew Alucard?"

"Now you decide to talk?" Liam frowned, annoyed. "Of course I was lying. What would a crass Sun Bather like me do with that monster?"

Shocked for a second, Gorock’s eyes sharpened. "But you have been to the Korsan Lands. You know our language. How?"

Silence.

Liam smiled ambiguously, not deigning a response.

"You little defector. Can’t go back home cause they’d throw you in the sun, eh?"

Gorock’s expression grew complicated.

On one hand, he wanted to end the fight quickly before Liam gained back power... on the other, he felt uneasy getting close to him all of a sudden.

It... should be fine to say a few words.

"The ocean welcomed me far better than my own people. I owe them nothing."

’Touche,’ Liam thought. ’Sounds like something I’d say.’

For a second, Liam imagined just how much knowledge Gorock had regarding blood.

’Putting himself so close to the Unholy Lamprey... is that how he learned the anti-heal properties of blood? He’s studying a Rank 6 specimen... just how much does he know?’

Liam knew too little, he realized, and Gorock knew far more than him.

Knowledge is often belittled when compared to sheer strength. Contrary to what ignorant folk believe, knowledge is a branch of power. Perhaps even more important.

...But Liam had already siphoned so much knowledge out of Gorock’s battle!

Part of the reason why it lasted so long was because Liam had no intention of killing the vampire!

Only now did he let his bloodlust ooze with no restraint, hence Gorock’s apprehensiveness. No idiot would monologue with their opponent as they fought.

Throughout the course of the battle, Liam wanted to know about the extent of the scythe’s extraordinary powers.

In fact, inspiration was pouring into him like a gushing river through this one fight alone.

Not to mention...

Liam’s Rank 5 body method had finally unveiled itself!

Fighting Gorock made him even more certain of what to do, and there was no more room left for doubt.

Liam let no happiness show on his face.

Only a heavy, stoic mask.

"Anything else before I put you out of your misery?" Gorock said after a short period of silence. "You could beg... but all I can offer is a slighter faster death than regular. Partly because I despise beggars."

Liam laughed coldly.

"Fool," he said. "Haven’t you noticed it yet?"

Gorock scowled, sharpening his senses and holding the scythe tighter. He said with impatience and repressed anger in his tone:

"What?"

"Right," Liam said under his breath, exasperated as he shook his head. "You’re far too weak to realize it."

Liam looked Gorock in the eyes.

"I’ll show it to you. My strongest technique."

Abruptly, Gorock sensed another figure approaching from behind. Eyes widened, he whipped around... just to see another Liam.

Except, this one had four arms and no visible injuries of any kind.

"Impossible!" Gorock shouted, witnessing the injured Liam dissolving into the waters.

This whole fight... had been against a clone?!

All four of Liam’s hands combined, producing a red and blueish energy that combined... forming a pink void.

Gorock watched, still in disbelief, as Liam smiled.

"Try and defend this."

The void rushed forward with unreal speed, growing... wobblier as it continued? It slowly expanded, too.

Choosing not to underestimate the threat, a coating of blood enveloped Gorock, just as he used his scythe to split the purple void in half.

...Silence.

Nothing had happened.

Breathing heavily and utterly confused, Gorock looked back at Liam, just to see him wearing a huge grin on his face.

Gorock blurred, and Liam’s head was severed in half, breaking into fragile pieces of darkness.

This...

Was a clone.

The injured Liam had been real all along.

Gorock started to hyperventilate.

"No... no, no, no, no. This can’t be... this..."

Slowly, his eyes turned bloodshot.

"I. Will. Skin. Him."

***

Oldest trick in the book.

And the vampire had fallen for it.

"HAHA!" Liam laughed like a criminal. It was funny how, when the conditions are met, tense situations often lead to idiotic endings.

Gorock had taken Liam’s bluff so seriously solely because of his sudden surge of killing intent.

During their talk, Liam had formed a Shadow Clone, then made it swim around.

Simultaneously, Liam used Shadow Blink while making it seem like he was dissolving using the King’s Eye.

After a hearty laugh, Liam got serious.

’I’ll meet with him soon enough.’

It was about time he treated himself to a good ol’ seclusion.