Chapter 38: DEFEATING THR DIGITS

"What a monster he is. To be able to stand his ground with all of us ganging against him," Reynold muttered, gripping the handle of his hammer tightly as it flew back into his waiting hand like a loyal pet returning to its master. "He must have a limit to how much blood he can use," Draken said, narrowing his eyes while more flame birds flickered into life around him, hovering in the air like glowing phoenixes. "We just have to keep pressing him until he slips. Once he’s gone, we turn on each other." "You don’t have to order us around," Nicole snapped, her face stony as she pulled her bowstring taut. Arrows of glimmering energy materialized in rapid succession, responding to her will like an extension of her thoughts. "We already know that much." She released the arrow. It cut through the air with a piercing whistle, like a banshee’s scream. In less than a second, another arrow was nocked and loosed, then another. Her arms moved so fluidly it was as though she had trained for this very moment her entire life. The arrows came down like a rain of death, blotting out the sky. "Blood Umbrella," Aaron said lightly, raising one hand with theatrical laziness. Above him, a large dome-shaped shield of blood formed instantly, catching the arrows and deflecting them like leaves brushing off steel. They hissed upon impact, melting or disintegrating into nothing. "Shadow Slice!" Grey roared, his hand slashing downwards like an executioner’s axe. From the ground, a massive blade formed from dense shadows erupted, carving forward with destructive intent. Draken’s flame birds dove in right after, their timing calculated. He was hoping to catch Aaron mid-dodge—strike him while he avoided the shadow blade. But he wasn’t alone in this idea. The rest of the fighters acted on the same predatory instinct, creating a cascade of attacks coming from all sides. "Give me a break already," Aaron muttered under his breath, though the slight smirk on his lips betrayed his excitement. His body pulsed with suppressed energy. He twisted the limiter on his wrist. A sharp hum of power coursed through him. C-rank strength, speed, and reaction time—combined with his hybrid physiology—awakened in full force. His figure blurred, shooting forward like a crimson streak. "How the hell...?!" Draken gasped, his eyes wide in disbelief. "It’s like he just got faster—like something changed," Anderson muttered, his brows furrowing. "He’s been holding back this whole time," Grey realized, his voice grim. What none of them had realized, however, was that Aaron wasn’t just holding back—he was severely holding back. If he unleashed even half of his true capability, this so-called "battle" would have already ended in the blink of an eye. Aaron’s figure flickered and reappeared directly in front of Hayley. This time, he gave her no window, no opportunity to summon or fire any blasts. A blade of solidified blood, razor-sharp and gleaming, appeared in his grip. With a single, precise thrust, he stabbed her in the abdomen. Her shield flared—she was eliminated instantly. "One tail down. Eight more to go," Aaron said with a grin, twisting midair to evade the next volley of mana bullets fired at him by Leah. He surged forward like a predator tasting blood. Nicole was next. She backpedaled furiously, launching arrow after arrow in rapid fire. Each arrow had the strength of a spear, enough to impale a monster through its skull. But Aaron danced between them with elegant ease, weaving through them like a river through rocks. Anderson lunged in from the side, sword glinting as he slashed down to protect Nicole. Aaron spun under the blade and shoulder-checked him without losing momentum, continuing his pursuit of Nicole. With no one left to guard her, Aaron surged in close and slammed a blood-infused punch into Nicole’s midsection. Her breath hitched. She flew backward like a ragdoll, crashing into the earth and vanishing in a flash of disqualification. "Two down," Aaron whispered, his gaze sliding toward Isabelle. Isabelle shivered. A sinking feeling crawled down her spine. Her instincts screamed danger. She tried to move—anything—but it was already too late. A forest of blood spikes erupted from the ground beneath her like springing traps, hardening mid-air with terrifying speed. Her watch flared violently as her shield activated just in time. Any slower, and she would’ve been skewered from all angles. "Anderson!" Reynold called out urgently, stepping closer to him with tense caution. They had seen the pattern. Aaron was picking them off in descending order, hunting the weaker ones first—probably out of sheer pride. And knowing Aaron’s personality, he wouldn’t switch tactics just because they figured it out. That was part of his arrogance. And they were right. Aaron didn’t care if his next move was obvious. He stepped forward anyway. "No one can save you from my hands," Aaron said softly, but his voice carried far—almost ethereal. His eyes flared with violent crimson, blood churning around him like an aura. Above, the clouds twisted unnaturally, turning dark red like a curtain of death. "Blood Rain," Aaron whispered, and a smile spread across his face—a twisted, cruel, self-satisfied grin. The sky wept. But it wasn’t water. Thick droplets of blood fell from above, touching down on the students below like a death sentence. Panic spread like wildfire. Some tried to block it with barriers, others covered their heads or raised elemental shields, but the rain was relentless, soaking into their clothes, their skin, their very essence. Only one remained untouched: Alice. She stood still beneath a shelter of glistening ice, the rain sliding harmlessly off its smooth surface. Ting! Ting! Ting! Ting! Ting! Ting! Ting! One by one, the watches buzzed. They’d all been disqualified—instantly. Aaron waved dismissively at the eliminated students, his face glowing with satisfaction. Then, slowly, his gaze turned toward the last remaining threat. Alice. He narrowed his eyes, his lips curling into a more serious, contemplative expression. He had no intention of underestimating her. That ice shelter had withstood his rain effortlessly. That alone proved she was in a class of her own. But more than that, something about her... felt familiar. She has to be related to Liam. That cold expression, that precise control. The resemblance was undeniable—same talent, even more refined. Her bloodline, her presence, her skill... Aaron sensed it all, and for once, he didn’t smile. This wasn’t just a battle. This was the final test.