Infinite Regeneration In The Apocalypse-Chapter 81: Intense Battle!

Just as it was about to kill the first one, Vogue moved.

He launched himself from his hidden position behind a van, using Big Dipper Step to cross the distance in a blur. He aimed to land directly on top of the Savage Radiant, planning to drive it into the ground with the force of his descent.

But the creature’s intelligence and enhanced reflexes saved it. The Savage Radiant sensed the attack coming and shifted to the side at the last possible moment, its bulky body moving with unexpected grace.

Vogue landed hard on the cracked asphalt where the Radiant had been standing a second before. His feet hit with enough force to create spiderweb cracks in the pavement. He immediately straightened and locked eyes with the creature, which had backed away about five meters and was now studying him with disturbingly intelligent eyes.

"Go," Vogue growled at the survivors without taking his gaze off the Savage Radiant. His voice was low and commanding, leaving no room for argument.

The survivors hesitated at first. The bearded man had managed to pull himself up using a lamppost for support, and he looked torn between wanting to help and knowing they would just be in the way. Several of the others were barely conscious, groaning as they tried to move their injured bodies.

"Go!" Vogue repeated, louder this time.

That got them moving. The ones who could walk began helping the more seriously injured ones to their feet. They stumbled away as quickly as their damaged bodies would allow, heading north up Broadway, away from the battle that was about to begin.

The Savage Radiant watched them leave with what seemed like disappointment, as if mourning the loss of easy prey. Then it turned its full attention to Vogue, and something like a smile crossed its twisted features. It had found a more interesting opponent.

The beast suddenly activated an ability. Its body blurred and then vanished completely from Vogue’s sight, moving so fast it left no afterimage behind.

Shadow Step. An advanced movement technique that allowed the user to move through shadows instantaneously, essentially teleporting short distances by stepping through darkness itself.

The creature reappeared directly behind Vogue in less than a heartbeat, having crossed the five-meter distance in zero time by traveling through the shadow cast by a nearby building.

But Vogue’s enhanced reflexes and combat instincts had been honed through countless battles. He spun around the moment he felt the displacement of air behind him, bringing up his enhanced Nevulium machete in a defensive position.

The Savage Radiant’s claw came down in a powerful overhead strike. Vogue blocked it with his blade, the impact sending sparks flying. The force behind the blow was tremendous, but Vogue’s dragon-enhanced strength allowed him to hold his ground.

They began exchanging blows, falling into a rhythm of attack and counter-attack. The Radiant would use Shadow Step to reposition itself, appearing from unexpected angles, trying to catch Vogue off guard. But each time it attacked, Vogue was ready, his blade meeting its claws with precise timing.

Vogue fought using his basic combat techniques refined to their maximum level. Falling Sun for quick, penetrating strikes. Star Cross for defensive maneuvers. Big Dipper Step to maintain positioning and create distance when needed. Moon Reaping Cycle for combination attacks that flowed from one to the next.

Since this wasn’t a legendary monster like the Thousand-Radiant Baby Ghost, he didn’t need to go all out or use his trump cards. His base abilities were more than enough to handle a Savage Radiant, even one with intelligence and special movement techniques.

The battle lasted about three minutes. The Savage Radiant was strong and fast, and its Shadow Step ability made it difficult to predict, but it lacked the overwhelming power or strange abilities that would force Vogue to transform or use his time manipulation offensively.

Finally, Vogue saw his opening. The Radiant used Shadow Step one more time, appearing above him and descending with both claws extended for a double strike aimed at his head.

"Time Stop," Vogue activated the ability without any dramatic announcement.

Time froze. The world became completely still. The Savage Radiant hung suspended in mid-air above him, its claws mere inches from his skull, frozen at the apex of its attack. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Vogue calmly walked around to the side of the frozen creature. He positioned himself carefully, planted his feet for maximum stability, and then drove his hand forward like a spear.

His fingers, reinforced by his techniques, punched straight through the Radiant’s ribcage and closed around its corrupted heart. He squeezed, feeling the diseased organ burst between his fingers.

Then he tore the heart free, ripping it out through the hole he’d made.

Time resumed.

The Savage Radiant’s body continued its downward trajectory, but now with a massive hole in its chest where its heart should have been. It crashed into the ground where Vogue had been standing, rolled twice, and then went completely still. The golden glow faded from its eyes, replaced by dull gray lifelessness.

[Savage Radiant Eliminated]

[Radiants Eliminated: 1,330/1,000]

But more importantly, something materialized next to the corpse as it began turning gray and withering. A small light descended from nowhere and solidified into a physical object that dropped onto the pavement with a soft clink.

Loot. The monster had actually dropped loot, just like the legendary creature had.

Vogue walked over and picked up the item. It was a small scroll made of something that looked like aged parchment but felt more durable, almost like thin metal. When he unrolled it and read the contents, his eyes widened slightly with pleasant surprise.

[Combat Technique Obtained: Shadow Step (Human Grade)]

This was exactly what the Savage Radiant had been using against him during their fight. A genuine Human Grade movement technique that allowed the user to travel through shadows instantaneously.

Vogue nodded in satisfaction, rolling the scroll back up carefully and storing it in his makeshift bag. With Shadow Step, he would be able to move even faster than Big Dipper Step allowed.