Evolution of the Ruined Heir-Chapter 167: Call

Despite Aurelia's cold tone, Malakai saw the faint shock behind her eyes.

He understood instantly. The battle wasn't supposed to last this long.

One node versus four. The gap should've been insurmountable.

So why was he still standing?

Still, Aurelia was only shocked, not merciful. She had no intention of letting him go.

"Ninth Vein!"

Renlo's voice rang out. Malakai turned, shooting the boy a hard glare that froze him in place.

Renlo gripped his spear tightly, unable to speak.

From a safe distance, the Seventh and Tenth Veins, Maximus and Octavia, still watched on.

Maximus wore a calm, surprised expression. While Octavia's eyes had lit up like twin suns. She was clearly enjoying herself.

Malakai rose. Despite the tremble in his limbs, he stood tall.

His breath was labored, sweat beading across his skin. He had pushed himself and his abilities to their limits.

He could feel his vita draining rapidly, he was using far more than his body could passively absorb.

'I can't keep this up.'

If this continued, his vita would run dry, and he'd be left without a drop of energy.

'I have to end it.'

He glanced at his utility belt, then back at Aurelia.

He didn't answer her question.

Instead, he took a slow breath, steadying himself, and dropped into a stance, right hand gripping his scythe tight.

His eyes locked onto hers. They said everything: Come.

"Fine. I'll question you all I want after," she said, lowering into her stance, eyes glacial.

The silence that had settled across the forest shattered in the next instant.

The ground beneath Aurelia cratered as she lunged forward, her steps swift, her left dagger slashing toward Malakai's chest.

'Evade.'

His thoughts moved as fast as his body. Malakai shifted his weight, his body dipping low to evade the blade that tore through where his chest had just been.

He wasted no time. His hand rose sharply, and his scythe screamed upward toward Aurelia from below.

"This again!" she spat, her right dagger slashing down to meet the scythe, only for her eyes to widen in shock as the weapon was flung from Malakai's grasp.

'He let go of his weapon?'

They had clashed before, more than once even, and never had Malakai's grip even so much as faltered. Which meant… he intentionally let go.

But why?

Her eyes snapped down, and she saw it.

A gleaming dagger screamed toward her neck.

The realization slammed into her.

He had used the release of his scythe as bait… freeing his hand just to throw another dagger.

'This boy…'

He had shocked her. Again. Just when she thought he was out of tricks. Just who the hell was he?

'My neck.'

The dagger was heading straight for it.

'I can only spare one hand.'

Her right arm had been flung to the side from parrying his scythe, no time to pull it back. Only her left hand could reach the dagger in time.

She didn't hesitate. Her left hand moved to intercept, and Malakai's eyes gleamed.

'It worked.'

His last ditch plan had multiple layers.

First, render her right hand momentarily useless by letting go of his scythe at the final moment, allowing the momentum of her blow to carry her hand to the side.

Second, force her to use her left to intercept a strike to a vital point. Both steps had only been to pave the way for the third.

Malakai's free hand shot to his utility belt. He drew another dagger in a swift motion.

Blood and vita roared through his body as he exploded upward, blade tearing toward her now exposed chest.

It happened in a flash, too fast for most to follow. Onlookers watching from afar had their jaws drop in utter shock. Such ingenuity!

But just as Malakai's blade came inches from Aurelia's chest…

Clang!

A gleaming dagger intercepted his strike, the clash bursting with sparks as their locked eyes met.

Malakai's gaze shot wide.

'What?'

Her left arm had blocked him. But she was supposed to use it to deflect the dagger…

His eyes flickered, and then widened even more.

The dagger he had thrown… it was now lodged in her neck. He could see the faint glint of the blade, still sticking out.

She had hardened her blood to protect the area, yet it had pierced through slightly, and still, she showed no pain.

The realization slammed into him.

'She ignored the dagger and predicted my strike.'

Aurelia had known he was up to something, and she had been right. She chose to ignore the dagger he had thrown and instead used her free hand to block any more surprises he would undoubtedly try to unleash.

His plan had been flawless, ingenious, even. And if he had been just a bit faster, it would have worked.

But Aurelia had survived. And now… she was out for blood.

Sparks flew as she parried his strike to the side, and before he could recover, her right arm whipped up, blade tearing toward his chin.

'Too fast!'

Malakai had put everything into that last attack, and it left him without any more tricks. He couldn't react to it.

At that moment… Malakai felt an emotion he hadn't felt in a while.

Hopelessness.

The last time he'd felt this was when Zeronis had pierced through his chest during the Life Essence trial.

Back then, he'd thought it was over. That he had failed. That there was nothing left to do.

Now, his mind spun again, faster than ever, and still, nothing. There were no tricks left. No moves to pull.

But despite all this, Malakai gritted his teeth.

He didn't want to lose. Not now. Especially not now.

This competition had meant to be his arrival. His declaration. A message to the world: He had evolved.

And the best way to send that message… was to win the entire Hunt.

He'd already secured the first rank, but half the time of the Hunt had yet to pass. If he lost now, he would lose 40% of his points.

The others would still have time to climb, and he would fall in the rankings.

It was truly hopeless, but Malakai refused to accept that.

So, in that sliver of time, he reached out to anything that could help him. Anything.

And in that moment, not even a second later, he got his answer.

What Malakai felt next could only be described with one word:

Warmth.

It was surreal. Like something deep within him had stirred awake… answering his call.

'The essence?'

The thought barely had time to form before it hit him.

A surge of energy, unlike anything he had ever felt before, roared through his body.