Re: In My Bloody Hit Novel

Chapter 630: The Chosen Day 3 [The Thieves 1]

Manu’s smirk widened as his golden, snake-like eyes swept across the group. His aura pulsed faintly, rippling through the air with a strange, serpentine rhythm. Slowly, deliberately, he began counting aloud.

"One... two... three..." His voice was soft but carried a chilling weight that made even the boldest hesitate. "Ten... eleven... twelve..." He paused, tilting his head like a curious predator inspecting its prey. Then, he shook his head in exaggerated pity.

"This is all?" he asked mockingly, spreading his arms as if welcoming a larger challenge. "I expected more from the so-called powers of this world. Truly, where are the rest of the trash?"

With a sudden, eerie movement, Manu’s neck slumped unnaturally, twisting like a snake’s as his piercing yellow eyes focused on the horizon. Hundreds of kilometers away, far beyond mortal sight, he spotted them—other significant powers lurking at a safe distance.

A low chuckle escaped his lips. "Ah," he muttered to himself, "so the others think to play it safe, do they? Watching, waiting... How disappointing."

Straightening, he turned his attention back to the group before him, his grin splitting wider. He began listing their origins with a tone dripping in mockery:

"The Shrouded Council from the Mountains of Ash in the Continent of Ash and Stone..." He gestured lazily at a group of robed figures radiating shadowy energy.

"The Beast Lords of the Forest of Bleeding Cries..." His eyes flicked to a cluster of towering, animalistic figures, their bodies rippling with raw primal energy.

"And the Sea Keepers from the Depths of the Azure Abyss..." He pointed at the aquatic beings, their scaled forms gleaming like wet gemstones under the light of the glowing pillars.

Manu laughed, the sound cold and sharp as steel slicing through glass. "And you—" he pointed at them, his golden eyes narrowing, "will be the first to feel my wrath."

At his words, rage erupted among the gathered enemies. A figure stepped forward, his skin crimson and eyes burning like coals. He towered over the others, his horns curving back like a crown. His voice boomed across the platform, resonating with authority and malice.

"Move him from the center of the pillar!" the figure commanded, his voice a mix of thunder and growl. "That is the nexus of the energy he is stealing from the mortals. If we take it, we can claim the energy for ourselves and ascend beyond demi-godhood!"

A roar of agreement swept through the crowd as they surged forward, their combined energy blazing with earth-shaking power. Flames, shadows, and torrents of water surged into the sky as the figures launched themselves at Manu, each aiming to be the one to claim the prize.

Manu, however, remained still, his smirk unwavering. The veins of glowing energy on his body pulsed brighter, the runes etched into his skin seeming to respond to the incoming threat. He clasped his hands behind his back, tilting his head slightly as though bored by the display of power.

His lips curled into an unsettling smile, even as an enormous hammer forged of molten rock, wielded by a Beast Lord, crashed into the platform near him. The blow sent shockwaves rippling through the ground, creating cracks that radiated outward, but Manu didn’t move.

A golden whip lashed out from one of the Sea Keepers, wrapping around Manu’s torso. The aquatic warrior grinned triumphantly as he pulled, his muscles bulging with effort.

Manu allowed himself to be dragged a few steps before the whip began to glow with an ominous red light.

A giant snake emerged from his back, its fangs dripping venom that hissed as it struck the whip, severing it with a single bite.

The two demi-god-ranked figures—one from the Shrouded Council and the other from the Beast Lords—coordinated their attacks. One conjured a massive, black spear dripping with corrosive energy, while the other summoned an enormous spectral claw that slashed at Manu from above.

The spear struck first, piercing through several of the towering snakes and embedding itself in Manu’s side. Blood sprayed, dark and viscous, as the spear crackled with destructive energy. The spectral claw followed, slamming into him and driving him to his knees. The platform trembled under the force, cracks spider-webbing across its surface.

Manu coughed, blood dribbling from the corner of his mouth. His chest heaved as if in pain. For a moment, it seemed the combined forces had succeeded.

Yet, that smile never left his face.

"Is this all?" Manu whispered, his voice barely audible over the chaos.

The veins on his body pulsed brighter, his aura surging like an awakened storm. His golden eyes glowed with a sinister intensity as he looked at the gathered enemies.

"You think you’re winning." His smile widened, blood staining his teeth. "But you’re only feeding me..."

The snakes that had fallen began to dissolve into streams of energy, flowing back into Manu’s body.

His wounds closed as his aura swelled, becoming oppressive, suffocating. The gathered figures hesitated, their confidence faltering.

Manu rose to his feet, his movements deliberate and unhurried, like a predator savoring its prey. "Come now," he said, spreading his arms wide. "Don’t stop. I haven’t even begun to enjoy myself."