Rebirth-Transcending All Beings-Chapter 29: Goremire King [2]

The Goremire King let out a low, guttural shriek–its bloated fungal mass rippling as waves of sickly green mist rolled outward. The ground pulsed beneath him as mana surged through its body

From its back, dozens of tendrils burst forth, writhing unnaturally as they whipped through the air.

Thick clouds of toxic spores erupted from its torso, blanketing the battlefield in a choking haze.

Vergil’s eyes narrowed.

’It’s going all in.’

He raised his free hand. "Ember Blaze."

Flames sparked to life, dancing along his fingers–unstable, flickering, but dangerously hot.

It’s not just my blade that can burn you.

With a sharp breath, he thrust his flaming palm into one of the lunging tendrils.

SSSSHHKK!

The tendril spasmed violently as fire tore through it. Fungal flesh blackened, spore-veins popped like infected boils. The Goremire King flinched, just a twitch.

Vergil ducked beneath another lash and surged forward, sliding across the wet, rotten earth. He drove his burning hand into the King’s massive leg.

"Burn."

"Flesh sizzled and spore-layer ignited as the King staggered. I’ll burn through everything you are."

But then, the air grew heavy.

Vergil coughed as the smoke and rot entered his lung, clinging like tar.

"Dammit–its not enough.At least my proficiency is improving." Still, his gaze stayed locked.

He wasn’t here to win with brute force.

He was here to learn. To test.

To wait–for one clean, decisive blow.

He clenched his hand tighter as the snall flame sizzled along his fingertips.

The Goremire King roared–a wet, gurgling sound that echoed through its hollow frame. Its moss-coated chest swelled unnaturally as Mycelial Surge fully activated.

Thick cords of glowing mycelium pulsed from its limbs, channeling strength into its body as the poison field thickened.

Vergil’s breathing grew heavier, barely noticeable, but dangerous if ignored.

That’s the skill.

The monster lunged.

Vergil moved. A half-step sidestep–clean, deliberate.

[Power Strike]

He twisted his body, as his sword ignited into a flare of flame that covered its edge–before carving upward into the extended limb.

The blade sliced through fungal flesh, sending charred chunks flying.

The king didn’t flinch.

A second limb came crashing in from the side. Too fast.

[Quick Parry]

Steel clanged as Vergil deflected the blow, knees buckling under the force, but he held.

Then, a sickly green eye blinked open on the King’s shoulder. More spores hissed into the air.

It’s adapting. Fast.

Without hesitation, Vergil’s left hand flared to life. He clenched it, Ember Blaze–and drove it into the King’s side. Rot hissed and blackened beneath his fist. Steam rose from the wound.

The monster staggered, its balance faltering as scorched muscle gave way. One leg buckled, ruined by the spreading flame. It roared, screeched–and prepared to retaliate.

But the spores around it had begun to thin. The cords in its limbs flickered, fading.

The surge is ending...

Vergil’s grip tightened around his sword. The tide had begun to turn

He exhaled sharply, steadying his stance.

’Need to end this before it—’

The Goremire King, now half-burning and reeling, slammed both fists into the earth with a guttural shriek.

[King’s Call]

A tremor echoed through the nest, as green lights surged along the veins lacing the battlefield.

Goremires that lurched from hidden crevices, drawn by the summons, but they were too far to intervene in time.

The King’s wounds began to recover as it swelled grotesquely, spores purring out like smoke from a forge.

Vergil narrowed his eyes. "Oh no, you fucking don’t."

He surged forward.

[Ember Blaze]

Fire exploded along his sword–hotter, wilder, serpents of flame curling up the blade. He gritted his teeth and leapt, ignoring the backlash in his arms from the unstable mana flow.

The Goremire King raised its arm for a desperate strike–too slow.

[Power Strike]

Vergil’s blade cleaved through its nec. The head didn’t fall–it burned, blackened, then exploded into ash as the flames devoured it from the inside out.

The bloated corpse staggered, gurgled... and collapsed with a wet, sickening thud.

Vergil landed hard, his boots skidding across the roots.

And without hesitation, he marched over to the fallen king.

Steam hissed from the burned core as he plunged his hand into its chest.

His fingers closed around something pulsing and twitching.

RIIIP.

He tore out its Regenerative Core, still glowing as dark green veins tried to wrap itself around it in a a futile attempt.

The body twitched one final time, then fell still.

"You had your little kingdom," he muttered, voice low.

"But playtime’s over now. You’re boring me."

He raised his hand, and from the cracks in his skin, the black mouths erupted. Gnashing. Writhing. Hungry.

"Authority of Predation."

They devoured the remains with grotesque fervor, leaving behind only a shimmer of mana.

Vergil’s gaze sharpened as he took a closer look at the core–a pulsing orb of dark green and silver light.

Looks like the bastard fused its regeneration core with the Astralyth Stone. Smart... but not smart enough.

He plucked it from the ruin.

[User has gained 2 Constitution and 4 Strength.]

[User has absorbed 8 Skills from the Verdant Goremire King.]

[Skill: King’s Call (E) is incompatible. Converted to 10 E-Rank Evolution Points.]

[Primal Awareness has been activated.]

Suddenly, the air shifted.

A low growl rumbled behind him. The ground cracked.

[Warning: King’s Call has triggered a final command.]

[One Royal Guard (E-Rank Elite) has been summoned.]

Vergil turned, expression unreadable.

The Royal Guard stomped into view, taller than the king, its fungal armor thick and steaming. A noxious mist hissed in its wake.

"...Oh, come on," Vergil muttered. "You’re late, you fucker."

The beast roared and charged.

Vergil raised his flaming hand. "Let me show you what your king taught me."

He snapped his fingers.

Ember Blaze surged again, a wildfire unleashed.

In one clean strike, he dashed forward and carved across the Guard’s torso. Spores ignited instantly. The creature reeled, howling.

It tried to retaliate–too late.

Vergil pivoted, then thrust his blade straight through its chest, empowered by Power Strike and Thrust.

The fungal heart burst–fire and rot exploding outward.

The Guard collapsed, its armor cracking apart in a hiss.

Vergil leaned over it, a slight grin forming.

"Next time, answer the call faster," he muttered. "And get a regeneration skill. You’re insulting your species."

He raised his hand again.

"Authority of Predation."

The black mouths devoured the Royal Guard in seconds.

[User has gained 1 Strength, 1 Constitution, and 5 Skills.]

[User has leveled up.]

New Skills Acquired:

Fungal Armor (F)

Spore Sense (F)

Rooted Recovery (F)

Toxic Burst (F)

Shield Slam (F)

Vergil flexed his hand, feeling new power crackle beneath the skin.

Put all points into Dexterity.

[3 points allocated to Dexterity.]

"Let’s check the stats."

Current Status:

Strength – 36

Constitution – 37

Dexterity – 32

Intelligence – 10

Wisdom – 12

Magic Power – 20

Magic Capacity – 18

"Not bad. All physical stats in the 30s." He picked up the Royal Guard’s Astralyth Stone, eyes glinting.

"Let’s see which skills are worth keeping."

He turned from the clearing, boots squelching over scorched moss.

I’ll check them on the way back.

----------

The garden behind Elvira’s cottage embraced the sunlight as it cast long shadows beneath the trees.

The scent of dried herbs and parchment linhered faintly in the air as Eleanor sat cross-legged in the garden centre. Her palms open as a gentle flow of mana radiated from her pulsing core.

Around her, eight E-rank Astralyth crystals begun to disintegrate one by one, their lohht dimming as their energy flowed steadily to Eleanor.

As the final crystal crumbled to nothingness, a low hum resonated inside her. Her mana circle rotated, denser–more refined.

It was on the brink of evolution.

She exhaled, her hands trembling from the surge of power.

"...I’m close," she whipsered, eyes still closed. "Just a little more, and I’ll reach the second circle."

Across from her, Elvira observed with folded arms, her gaze softened by a flicker of pride. "Your control has improved, but don’t force it. Lets move to your practical spells."

Eleanor opened her eyes slowly. The air around her shimmered faintly, charged with her growing magic.

She rose, brushed a few strands of hair from her face, and exhaled. Her voice was calm, focused–yet something in her eyes gleamed with quiet fire.

Her tone shifted, now melodic before raising her hands. "Volt Lance!"

Blue sparks flickered along her fingertips, crackling before condensing into a spear of lightning, surging forward before striking a target Elvira created with magic.

Elvira gave a slight nod. "Cleaner than yesterday. Less mana usage."

Eleanor didn’t pause. Her voice dropped slightly, more resonant.

"Entangling Snare!"

The floor beneath the second dummy trembled as glowing green tendrils erupted upward, coiling around it with practiced precision. The vines gripped tighter than before–coordinated, forceful.

Then, without hesitation:

"Volt Lance!"

A second bolt of lightning shot out, more tigthen and focussed this time.

The spell hit dead center, embedding deeper into the mana doll than the first.

Eleanor slowly lowered her hands, her breath steady but purposeful. Her mana flowed with ease now, and her core pulsed with a newfound rhythm.

"I can feel it," she said quietly. "My voice is clearer... my magic responds faster. I’m nearly there."

Elvira let the corners of her lips curve ever so slightly. "You’re stabilizing faster than I expected. At this rate, you’ll complete your second circle before the week is out."

Eleanor’s gaze remained forward, her expression composed, yet her eyes sparkled with quiet determination.

’I won’t fall behind. Not anymore.’

She was ready.