Chapter 45

By Fang & Claw, that was the moniker of the martial art practiced by the true werewolves, setting them apart from those who lost themselves when they transformed or relied on the full moon to transform. The true werewolves, who retained their sanity even in their transformed state and could shift at will, were the creators of this deadly martial art. It seamlessly combined their beastly prowess with precise movements and lethal attacks.

Ercale couldn't help but wonder, *But why the hell does the ape know how to use it?* as he observed Xain, who once again dashed toward Eirisse. This time, Eirisse wore a smile on her face as she hurled her own blood toward Xain. The blood ignited into red-hot flames, but just before it could reach him, Xain sidestepped to the right with supernatural speed, then followed up with a swift, slashing attack toward Eirisse.

Xain's slashing strike came down towards Eirisse, narrowly missing her by a mere inch. With remarkable agility and strength, she reacted swiftly. She expertly locked her arm around Xain's, applying pressure at just the right angle. With a seamless motion, she twisted her body and leveraged her strength to throw Xain forcefully into the ground. He skillfully landed on his feet, efficiently absorbing the impact, and then swiftly extricated himself from Eirisse's hold. *That seemed oddly familiar* Ercale thought after witnessing Eirisse's throw.

Ercale hadn't seen Eirisse's fighting style completely, as he and the others were too occupied trying to fight the artifact. However, upon witnessing her technique, a feeling of familiarity washed over him. It seemed eerily reminiscent of something else, but Ercale dismissed the thought. It wouldn't make sense for someone from this world to possess such knowledge.

Xain didn't immediately launch another attack at Eirisse. Instead, he gradually straightened his posture, no longer hunched over. Eirisse tilted her head to the side. "What's wrong? Don't want to fight anymore?" she taunted. The wound on her side had already healed, but now Xain's eyes were visible to everyone. They bore the mark of Extreme Hatred, and the intensity of his gaze sent shivers down their spines. This sight unnerved Eirisse, though she concealed her reaction behind a composed façade.

Xain began to advance towards Eirisse, but this time, it wasn't a dash. He walked slowly, his eyes still filled with Extreme Hatred.

Eirisse, not wanting to fight fare, used the artifact. Its eye shifted to green, and it unleashed a barrage of slicing winds aimed at Xain. But, much to everyone's surprise, including Ercale, Xain didn't evade the attack conventionally. Instead, he seemed to phase through it, his form blurring and re-materializing beyond the attack.

Eirisse's eyes widened in shock at Xain's ability. *I've never seen anyone do that before,* she thought. As Xain closed in on her, for the first time in this fight, she adopted a fighting stance. Her right foot slid forward while her left foot remained back, her knees slightly bent. She lowered her center of gravity, ready to pivot and counter any attack. It was a stance that no one recognized, except for Ercale. *That...I knew it! It seemed far too similar,* Ercale thought as he recognized the judo stance Eirisse had adopted.

Eirisse waited for Xain to make the first move, intending to employ a technique she had learned from her master, *let your opponent strike first and then seize them before throwing them.* Her master's words echoed in her mind as Xain approached. Once he reached her, Eirisse was prepared to counter whatever attack Xain would unleash.

Then, a sudden and brutal sound filled the air—the impact of bone against flesh. Xain had delivered a powerful punch to Eirisse's stomach, striking with such force that it felt like a collision of bone and muscle. His left fist was angled somewhat upward, resembling an uppercut but distinctly different, a fighting style unknown to everyone present except for once again Ercale.

Surprisingly, there was no visible injury where Xain had struck Eirisse. However, a moment later, a retching sound followed as Eirisse fell to her knees, vomiting her own blood.

Xain's assault unfolded with such astonishing swiftness that it eluded Eirisse and the other onlookers. Ercale, however, keenly perceived the intricacies of the attack. *Bleeding Arts? First, By Fang & Claw, and now Bleeding Arts? Who are you, really, ape?* Ercale pondered inwardly.

The Bleeding Arts was a combat form devised by vampires, particularly those originating from the Dark Plane. Unlike conventional vampires, who underwent the process of turning, these vampires were simply born. They had meticulously crafted this martial art with the primary intent of causing their opponents to bleed, hence the name Bleeding Arts. The irony wasn't lost on Ercale that Eirisse, a vampire herself, found herself at the mercy of a technique born from her own kind but employed against her by a human. Ercale's curiosity regarding Xain continued to grow.

Eirisse ceased her bout of blood-vomiting with a grin. She tauntingly prodded Xain, "Well, that was quite lovely. What's your next act?"

Xain's eyes bore into her with Extreme Hatred. His right hand ascended, returning to the stance of By Fang & Claw. Before he could launch another assault, the artifact's eye transformed into a deep, enigmatic purple, illuminating the room with an purple light. The radiance ebbed away, and Eirisse, along with the artifact, had vanished. "She got away," Lennix acknowledged, the adversary most of them had been grappling with had made a swift exit. But the dire situation was far from over. Xain redirected his gaze, still consumed by Extreme Hatred, squarely at Lennix. Grasping the gravity of the situation, Lennix muttered, "Oh, bugger."

Xain charged towards Lennix, who instinctively closed his eyes and braced for the incoming attack, hoping it wouldn't be too agonizing. To his surprise, the expected blow never landed. When Lennix cautiously opened his eyes, he found Cain, or rather Ercale, standing in front of him. Even though Xain's eyes still radiated with Extreme Hatred, he appeared to exercise a modicum of caution.

Ercale took a moment to assess the situation and then quipped, "Well, it seems you're not completely reckless. You do know your limits." With a snap of his fingers, Ercale triggered four distinctive and thunderous tearing sounds. Four rifts tore open, resembling the night sky adorned with stars. However, unlike the typical celestial bodies in space, these stars were encompassed by vibrant hues of blue and purple. While Zee and Larkin had previously witnessed this phenomenon, the spectacle appeared even more grandiose now. For Amara, the black knight, and Lennix, who were witnessing this marvel for the first time, it was an awe-inspiring display of power.

From these four surreal breaches in reality, four chains materialized. These chains seemed to be forged from the very essence of celestial bodies, and they were aimed directly at Xain.