The Path Of No Return
Chapter 11: The Path of No Return
Leon knelt on the cold stone floor, his breath ragged. The remains of the Warlord of the Forsaken had disintegrated, leaving behind the Blood Essence Crystal. Its eerie red glow pulsed in sync with his racing heartbeat.
[System Notification]
[Trial of Blood: Second Opponent Defeated]
[Reward: Blood Essence Crystal + New Ability Unlocked]
Leon extended a trembling hand, grasping the crystal. The moment his fingers made contact, a surge of raw energy shot through him. His vision darkened, his body frozen in place as the system's voice echoed in his mind.
[Absorbing Blood Essence Crystal…]
Pain. A scorching, consuming fire coursed through his veins, as though molten iron was being poured into his bones. His muscles tightened, his mind drowning in an ocean of memories that weren't his own.
Images flashed before his eyes—ancient warriors, endless battles, rivers of blood. The warlord's rage, its thirst for destruction, its unrelenting hunger for war… they flooded into him.
Then, amidst the chaos, a new sensation emerged. A dark force, slumbering deep within his soul, awoke.
[New Hidden Ability Unlocked: Blood Dominion]
Leon gasped, collapsing forward, his fingers digging into the stone. His body trembled as his mind adjusted to the new power. Blood Dominion… its name alone sent a shiver down his spine.
But there was no time to process it.
A new presence filled the chamber.
The Final Opponent
The temperature plummeted. The crimson glow of the Blood Moon dimmed, replaced by an eerie silver light.
Leon's instincts screamed at him to move. He forced himself to his feet, his grip tightening around Abyssal Fang.
[Final Opponent Identified]
Opponent: The Forsaken Monarch
Cultivation Level: ???
Abilities: ???
Leon's breath hitched. The system had never failed to display an opponent's cultivation before. If it couldn't calculate this entity's strength…
Then he was facing something beyond his understanding.
A slow, deliberate footstep echoed through the chamber.
Leon turned—standing at the center of the arena was a figure draped in tattered royal robes. A flowing black mantle billowed behind it, untouched by the wind.
Its face was obscured by a silver mask, a twisted crown of jagged bone resting atop its head. From its form radiated an overwhelming aura—one that crushed the very air around it.
Leon clenched his jaw.
The Forsaken Monarch wasn't human.
[Warning: Entity recognized as a High-Tier Revenant. Proceed with extreme caution.]
The Monarch's hand lifted. A spectral greatsword materialized in its grip, the blade humming with unholy power.
Leon had no time to think—it moved.
The Desperate Struggle
The Forsaken Monarch vanished—and reappeared behind Leon in a blur of motion.
Instinct screamed at him—he rolled just as the spectral greatsword tore through the air, carving a deep scar into the stone where he had been standing.
Leon barely landed before the Monarch was upon him again. A flurry of slashes rained down, each strike splitting the air with terrifying precision.
He dodged. Barely.
His mind raced. He couldn't keep this up—the Monarch was faster than him, stronger than him. Every attack it unleashed carried no wasted movement.
His abilities—Void Requiem, Energy Drain—none of them would work unless he could land a hit.
The Monarch lifted a hand, and a chilling wave of pure killing intent slammed into Leon, forcing him to his knees.
A cold whisper filled his mind.
"Kneel, child of the forsaken."
Leon's vision blurred. His limbs felt like lead. His body was betraying him—
No.
A burning sensation erupted in his chest. His new power. Blood Dominion.
Leon embraced it.
The killing intent around him shattered. His blood boiled, his heart pounded, and an unholy surge of power coursed through him.
The Forsaken Monarch tilted its head slightly—as if in recognition.
Leon wiped the blood from his lips, a grin spreading.
"You talk too much."
Then he attacked.
The Turning Point
His speed tripled in an instant.
Leon vanished—not through teleportation, not through trickery, but through pure, overwhelming speed.
The Forsaken Monarch barely had time to react before Abyssal Fang was at its throat.
It raised its spectral greatsword—too late.
Leon's blade sliced across its chest. The corrosion effect exploded, black flames devouring its robes.
The Monarch staggered back.
Leon didn't let up.
He activated Energy Drain—but something unexpected happened.
[Energy Drain has evolved into Crimson Harvest.]
A torrent of energy surged into him. The Forsaken Monarch reeled, its spectral form flickering.
Leon felt invincible.
He let out a sharp breath, gripping his blade tightly.
"Let's finish this."
The Forsaken Monarch raised its greatsword once more.
And the true battle began.
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Authors Note:
I've decided to make updates weekly every Friday and I would like to hear your thoughts on the book so far
Energy drain was up for an upgrade before and that's why it evolved