20demayo Chapter 152 The Alpha's Final Gambit
Chapter 152 The Alpha's Final Gambit
Ding!
[A high-tier predator has locked onto you.]
[Survival protocol activated.]
The notification resonated through Klaus's mind like the toll of a war drum.
The massive Alpha Shadow Wolf lunged, its body cutting through the air like a black meteor. The arena walls trembled from the sheer force of its charge. Its crimson eyes locked onto Klaus with predatory precision, and the shadows around it pulsed in unison with its movements.
Time slowed.
The survival protocol heightened Klaus's senses, sharpening every detail: the subtle twitch of the wolf's muscles mid-lunge, the faint vibration in the stone beneath its claws, the tang of blood in the air. His mind dissected the beast's trajectory with ruthless clarity.
It was fast. But not faster than him.
Klaus pivoted on his back foot with surgical precision. His sword gleamed as it met the wolf's descending claws.
Steel met shadowed talon.
The impact produced a deafening crack, a shockwave that tore through the ground and sent chunks of stone flying. The watching trainees shielded their faces as the dust surged toward the stands.@@@@
Klaus stood his ground, feet firmly planted despite the monstrous force bearing down on him. The wolf snarled, applying more pressure, but Klaus's wrist twisted, his blade slicing along the Alpha's paw with brutal precision.
Black ichor sprayed from the wound. The Alpha recoiled, landing with a heavy thud a few meters away. Its eyes narrowed, head lowering as it reassessed its prey.
Klaus exhaled slowly, heart steady. It was strong—but he was stronger.
***
Across the battlefield, Alex's grip on his sword tightened.
His heart raced—not from fear, but from the intoxicating sensation still coursing through his body from his earlier kills. The incremental stat gains made him feel faster, stronger, sharper. His vision was clearer; his reactions quicker.
The memory of the system messages echoed in his mind:
Ding!
[A portion of the target's stats has been absorbed.]
[Strength stat increased by 0.4.]
Ding!
[A portion of the target's stats has been absorbed.]
[Dexterity stat increased by 0.3.]
Every kill brought tangible rewards. Every fallen beast pushed him closer to his goal: surpassing Klaus.
Now, watching Klaus deflect the Alpha's attack with such effortless precision, jealousy coiled in his chest like a viper.
He's always so calm.
Always in control.
That strength should be mine.
His gaze flicked toward the surrounding wolves. They circled the battlefield like vultures awaiting the kill. The pack was the key. Klaus had said as much.
Kill the pack, weaken the Alpha.
Alex's lips curled into a smirk.
He didn't care about strategy. He didn't care about the trainees behind him. He only cared about stats.
He shifted his grip on his sword and darted toward the nearest wolf.
The beast saw him coming and lunged. Alex sidestepped, pivoted smoothly, and drove his blade into the creature's neck.
Ding!
[A portion of the target's stats has been absorbed.]
[Agility stat increased by 0.3.]
He acts like this is easy.
Another wolf lunged toward him. Alex's sword blurred through the air, cleaving the beast in half.
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[A portion of the target's stats has been absorbed.]
[ Dexterity stat increased by 0.4.]
The power flooded his veins.
He saw the Alpha recoil from Klaus's latest strike. The beast stumbled slightly, its defenses weakened after the pack's sacrifice.
This was his chance.
The Alpha's core would yield more stats than the smaller wolves combined.
He sprinted toward the massive wolf, disregarding the remaining smaller beasts. His sword gleamed as he raised it overhead.
***
Klaus felt the shift in the battle before he saw it.
The Alpha wasn't focused on him anymore. Its eyes tracked Alex's approach.
It's baiting him.
"Alex! Fall back!" Klaus roared.
Alex ignored him.
He saw only the glowing crimson core beneath the Alpha's sternum—the system interface projected its estimated stat gain directly into his mind.
[Potential kill detected. Estimated stat gains: Strength +1.2, Agility +1.1, Dexterity +1.0.]
It was too tempting to resist.
He lunged, sword aimed for the Alpha's core.
The wolf shifted its weight at the last second. Its left paw swiped across Alex's torso with terrifying speed.
The blow sent Alex hurtling backward like a ragdoll. He crashed into the ground, skidding across the stone and colliding with a fallen wolf's corpse1. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he wheezed for air.
The Alpha pounced after him.
***
Klaus's body moved before his mind caught up.
One step. Two. Three.
He crossed the distance in a blur.
The Alpha's claws descended toward Alex's throat.
Klaus arrived just in time. His sword intercepted the strike, locking against the wolf's talons with an earsplitting clash.
The Alpha's eyes widened slightly.
Klaus didn't hesitate.
He pushed upward with explosive force, shattering the wolf's stance. His sword sliced diagonally through the air, severing one of the wolf's forelegs.
The beast howled and leapt backward, dark ichor pouring from the wound.
Klaus exhaled, blade angled downward. His eyes gleamed coldly.
"You're not the only one who gets stronger with each kill," he said softly.
The Alpha bared its fangs in response.
And charged one final time.
Shadow Wolves that had their essence absorbed by the Alpha did not burst into smoke when they died; instead, their corpses remained.