Chapter 41: Victory
Vlad took a deep breath. The air tasted bitter and toxic, but it was not harmful, on the contrary, it felt comfortable.
He opened his eyes, his fingers closing around the hilt of the sickle as he examined the weapon, not surprised seeing that Vel hadn’t manifested as a reaper’s scythe since it was to be expected with dual nature.
’The transformation and these chained sickles are a direct reflection of Vel’s nature,’ Vlad thought as he stretched his wings, feeling his connection with them and his innate understanding of how to use them easily.
’She is shy and timid, too hesitant to do anything, let alone strike directly. A full frontal assault is not her style.’
’So, of course, she would take a form that suits her. Use wings to keep her distance, sickles to strike from afar, to spread her poison without ever getting too close.’ Vlad reasoned, his grip tightened around the curved sickle handles, the chains between them rattling as if agreeing with his thoughts.
"Flexible weapons like these are not exactly my specialty," Vlad thought, eyeing the chained sickles, "but I can handle it,"
Vlad’s transformation resulted in a 30% stat boost, and if he wanted, he could grow it by another 50% by dropping his health below 10% and triggering the second effect of his lone calamity title.
But Undying Fury came at the price of sanity, and while with boosted strength, his chances of victory would increase, so would his chances of death since he was already one mistake away from death.
So, dulling his mind while he was not accustomed to his elevated strength and a new weapon was the last thing he wanted. However, even if it triggered, he was confident in his ability to take control and still win.
"Let’s end this," Vlad murmured, his eyes locked on the dark colossus as it slowly rose to its feet.
"GRRRIIIIALALLLLL!" It growled, its one remaining, lightless eye blazing with rage as it fixed its gaze on him.