Chapter 39: The Devil’s Breath
Wind howled through the wreckage of the tavern, carrying the scent of blood, ash, and steel.
Lan stepped forward slowly, his grip on The Devil’s Lie firm but relaxed. Sparks flickered around the cursed blade like embers caught in a storm, but no flame came. Only pressure—crushing, weightless pressure—that made the stone beneath his feet groan.
Venom rolled his shoulders, the massive axe spinning once in his hand. He bled from shallow cuts across his forearm and side, but his stance was steady.
A predator at the edge of desperation.
"You’ve got skill," Venom grunted. "I’ll give you that."
Lan’s eyes narrowed. "And you’ve got stamina. Let’s see how long it lasts."
Venom spat blood into the dirt and stamped his boot. The mana around him raged—greenish-black and thick like oil.
Then, he vanished.
[Shadow Lunge]
A ripple tore through the ground as Venom shot forward like a torpedo, axe raised over his head, warping the space behind him. The pressure of his charge sent debris hurtling backward.
Lan was unfazed.
He spun, sidestepped, and twisted the cursed blade in a smooth arc. The axe came down like a meteor, but The Devil’s Lie whispered through the air, meeting the brute’s weapon with a spine-shaking clash.