Born in Blood-Chapter 553: Heartbeat

A few seconds later, the scythe had formed completely, transforming into a weapon designed for reaping.

The hilt of the scythe was the length of an adult human, slender enough for a child to wrap their hand around, with intricate vein-like patterns etched across its surface.

Blood seeped through these little channels, like roots of a tree, converging at its blade. Despite its thinness, no one would argue its sturdiness.

The blade, however, was a true manifestation of its lethal capabilities. It was terrifyingly sharp, radiating with a sharp vermillion hue that seemed to pulse like a heartbeat.

The blade extended longer than two arms placed side by side, and the sharp curve altering its shape gave it a deeply menacing form.

Even the bravest of warriors would not dare to pick such a weapon up, let alone fight against its wielder.

No doubt, the malevolent scythe radiated cursed energy. If any cultivator below the fourth Rank were to stare at it for too long, they would feel nauseous and terrified.

Liam stared at the scythe with awe in his eyes.

Using his Spirit Sight, he realized how beautifully the weapon was put together and masterfully forged.

’Is it actually a living weapon?’ Liam thought with shock as he witnessed its beating pulse.

Just the implications alone gave Liam some morbid ideas.

Living didn’t necessarily mean having a soul. It simply meant that the weapon could grow naturally.

Heck, mushrooms and certain kinds of slime were living, but they were soulless.

Even with Liam’s Sword Connection, his swords were not alive. They were simply a manifestation of the blade’s personality, depending on both how they were forged, and Liam’s personality.

With no doubt in his mind, the scythe was a weapon worthy of being in the fifth Rank.

It was at this moment that Liam changed his goals.

Clearly, Gorock didn’t intend to sit down for a talk.

And... although he did not want to admit it, Liam was not strong enough to beat him as of now. He could go all out, but it was dangerous considering he was in the vampire’s backyard.

No... instead, he would use this moment to gauge the cruel vampire’s strength, then choose another day to fight seriously.

’I need to know how good that scythe fairs against my own swords.’

A Rank 5 item against Rank 4 items was a ridiculous comparison... but Liam had the Eternal Sword’s techniques. Now was a good time to test whether or not the man was a fraud or not.

"Sick weapon," Liam said, whistling. "You make it yourself?"

Gorock scoffed coldly.

"No."

Liam raised a brow, a little surprised the vampire would answer honestly.

He was interested to know who the actual forger was, but he knew he wouldn’t get an answer if he asked.

"No? Ha. For a moment, I thought you were actually talented."

The vampire chuckled menacingly, and a pregnant pause ensued.

A moment later, the Prince of Cruelty was awfully close for comfort, his lethal scythe mere inches away from wrapping around Liam’s waist, producing a dark wailing noise as it sliced the waters.

Eyes widened, Liam met the scythe’s clash with his Dusks.

CHIIIIIING!

As the blades of chaos met the malevolent scythe, Liam quickly realized that he was not winning this fight any time soon.

He was flung away with both arms broken.

’Uh oh. I might have goofed this one.’

Forcing himself upright, Liam regained his balance just in time for Gorock’s second strike. This time, instead of using just the Dusks to parry the scythe, Liam used the Breaker, too.

CHIIIIIIING!

Liam was using all the strength in his body. His arms and chest went numb, and his frame buckled under the sheer weight of power behind the attack.

Surprise – or was it shock? – flashed over Gorock’s pale face.

He must have thought Liam’s Dusks and Breaker would have been shattered by now... but Sword Hardening’s protection was a profound technique.

Liam interrupted the clash with a sudden and sharp kick to Gorock’s stomach, chaining it with a dose of Corruption he sent through the point of contact.

A shudder ran through the vampire’s body as he fell back, attempting to figure out where and why the kick hurt so much.

In the meantime, now that Gorock chose to fight with an actual weapon, Liam added the odachi to his fighting style and grew another pair of arms.

Then, he let loose, swinging with a mix of grace, power and viciousness.

CHIIING!

SHING!

BOOM!

KRSH!

Gorock held his own well, but his combat experience was just a tad lacking compared to Liam’s. It helped that the three swords each differed in style, which technically made it impossible to counter unless one was a proficient master.

The vampire’s movements were off by a few centimeters, and his precision with the scythe made it seem like he did not use it unless absolutely necessary.

Sort of like when a mage would only fight with a sword when he was out of ’Ora’. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

’He’s not a fighting type. I can tell.’

Despite that, Liam was at a disadvantage, too.

He had never fought against a scythe user before!

The curved edge of the blade made it difficult for him to accurately predict where it would strike. It made it seem both bigger, and smaller than it actually was.

To counter this issue, Liam used his flexible and malleable body to his advantage, compensating for his mistakes.

That being said, he was rapidly gaining wounds, albeit they were shallow and non-lethal.

...But the damage he was inflicting on Gorock was healing way faster than his own injuries.

If this stretched out any longer...

He would lose.

SHREEE!

KLIINNG!

The scythe screeched over and over as it met Liam’s blades, creating a horrible clangor that sent shockwaves through the bloody waters.

Just then, something unexpected happened.

THMP-THUMP, THMP-THUMP, THMP-THUMP.

A loud drumming sound of a heartbeat echoed from the scythe.

Sensing an unbridled amount of danger, Liam immediately retreated, but it was too late. He used Mind Edge.

SHING!

Two of Liam’s arms were severed with unreal speed, leaving behind a gruesome stump of flesh.

Liam grimaced.

’Ugh... that sucks.’

They were not growing back out.