I Own the Evolution Domain

[Immortal Energy: 7,350/7,500]

[Immortal Energy: 7,300/7,500]

[Immortal Energy: 7,250/7,500]

Several seconds passes, and the internal bleeding Novus is currently subjected to doesn't seem to go away at all, the toxin seemingly clinging onto his flesh and blood no matter how much of it were expelled out of his system.

Each cough was a torture, and each breath is suffering as he felt the blood pooling up his lungs, his body feeling weak as each of his organ bleeds.

His senses are growing fuzzy from the gradual deprivation of air, and his motion gradually loosing its refined, precise and surgical edge as the new volley of arrows aimed at him starts hitting him one after another.

The suffering however, just goes on to show how much his mental fortitude had improved from all the sufferings he had gone through inside the Evolution Domain, the mind-confusing state his body is currently in not stopping him from making his own move to defend himself.

[Immortal Energy: 7,200/7,500]

Albeit being sloppier than it was before he was hit by that extreme toxin, Novus continues to make his move against the creatures approaching from the distance, arrows striking his flesh being pulled the next second.

Coated with his own blood, he throws each arrow with unchanged precision as it pierces target after target, not only making them feel the danger of his blood, but also the terror of being inflicted the same toxin as him.

Each arrow piercing Goblin or Direwolf made the targets bleed from all their orifices, falling down the ground before the notification of their death rang inside their hunter's mind.

"Cough!! Fucking… what sort of… cough!! Toxin was that—cough!!!"

Arrow hits, the same arrow was pulled, and then was thrown, taking another enemy down, all while the young man coughs blood now flowing down his mouth, rendering it completely crimson.

As all of that happens, he continues wondering just where the Goblins got such dangerous weapon with a whole load of C Tier toxin hiding in such large hollow shaft, those questioning thoughts lasting as he wallows across the pool of blurriness brought about be said toxin's effect.

[Immortal Energy: 7,000/7,500]

[Immortal Energy: 6,000/7,500]

[Immortal Energy: 5,000/7,500]

The fight goes on in a blur with the hunted, or at least, the one supposed to be, entered a battle trance, each of his motion measured, albeit feeling less precise and accurate than before, yet nevertheless lethal.

Opponents approach, goblins bringing massive clubs ready to flatten him down becoming bisected into two as an azure crescent formed from the trail of his mana blade, Direwolves trying their shot on dealing a deep, painful slash on his body being flung onto the air as mana-enhanced punch shatters their ribcage and pierces their lungs and oftentimes, even their hearts.

This happens all while the sole existence being targeted by all else stands with his senses blurred and his body numb, his mouth opened as air enters and blood exits, the only thing sustaining him away from death being his talent that endlessly regenerates his body amidst the C Tier toxin's continuous destruction of it.

Other than the uncomfortable side effects that he is feeling, there is also the immense, piercing pain that made his mind feel like it is being torn apart, piece by piece, the only thing keeping him sane from all of this being his desire to come alive out of this situation.

Looking back, he couldn't help but smile as he felt like his old self would've questioned why he should continue on suffering like this when he can just let it be, allow death to come upon him and try again another day, after all, despite its ruthlessness, the Evolution Domain is lenient enough to allow that.

Right now, however, there is no such thought of surrender in his mind, a single clear thought floats amidst the chaos as the faint, manic smile on his face widens more into a maniacal one.

"You have to work hard to claim me…" he said, as an imaginary figure was given illusory form from all the mental suffering he is currently going through, the black figure seemingly smiling back at him as if it heard the young man's bold announcement.

"Cough!!!" blood spurts out of his mouth once more, forcing him to wipe it away as he looked forward, his vision blurry but his gaze sharp.

He swung the bloodied hand towards the approaching beasts, prompting them to pull back in order to avoid his poisoned blood, as after all, he had already dealt significant damage to their forces despite already being one step on the grave.

But even then, the encirclement continues to tighten, creatures approaching him from all directions making it harder for him to keep up with their attacks.

'That… it happened again…' while he swung mana blade, decapitating yet another one of the Goblins, Novus felt something, something that all else felt.

Something that is disturbing enough to put a serious, silent pause on the battlefield.

During the time Novus was hunting this time around, he felt it time and time again, tremors coming from deep below, that very same tremors often causing the creatures inside the Verdant Forest to heighten their guard to their utmost.

And right now, that very same thing happens, sending the chaotic battlefield to an unprecedented pause.

[Immortal Energy: 4,500/7,500]

[Immortal Energy: 4,450/7,500]

[Immortal Energy: 4,400/7,500]

After all the battle paused, only his Immortal Energy continuously falling down is the only source of movement that Novus can observe, the long battle taking a massive toll on his being as it ate away nearly half of is already massive pool of Immortal Energy.

Looking around, a semblance of clarity washed over his being, making him realize the wake of his battle, blood flowing like river forming into a bank, torn flesh, mutilated carcass, bisected bodies and squashed organs littered all around, painting a crimson landscape that will make those with weaker guts throw up.

'Chance.'

That same wave of clarity allows his senses to recover momentarily, his instincts immediately hinting him on what to do, and his mind immediately acting upon this suggestion.

Mana wraps around his being as his presence gradually diminishes, the shadow element allowing him to pull less attention towards himself, and granting him the chance he was fighting for all this time.

Sure, he won't run away from a fight via death then trying again another day, but the idea of running from the encirclement aiming for his life isn't necessarily out of the book for him.

After all, it will be too much of a waste to let his chance to recover, to try again during this entry to the domain, escape from his grasp, hence why he took his chance as soon as it was presented to him.

He made his move, not immediately turning around but rather making a big, distracting act as the mana wrapped in a blade around his arms shifts form, reinforcing his flesh, skin and bones as it turned into a fist.

And that same fist was driven fast and powerful down the ground.

It doesn't end up with dust and explosion, but it sure does end up with his opponents being distracted for longer, allowing him to gather mana around his legs as he leapt up a branch, pushing it further with one jump after another, widening the gap between his hunters and himself.

He can only hear loud howls and screams as they came back to their senses, his shadow already skipping branch after branch, away from the battlefield, leaving behind trails of blood as he does so.

'Haha… it's definitely worth it…' from that punch, shard of rocks was shaken and thrown towards himself, riddling his body with some holes that looked different compared to the ones he had taken from the Goblin's arrows, but just as painful, nonetheless.