Tales of Astora: Legacy

Chapter 21: Maria the Blood Huntress

Chapter 21: Maria the Blood Huntress

Alastor's POV

"Now the real fight begins!" proclaimed Maria.

She took on five elemental spells and a direct hit in her heart. Yet she was still standing like nothing. Healing magic? No, there was no way for these kinds of injuries to heal that quick.

She did say about I was not the only one with a freak body. Did that mean she had an immortal body? Mine only allowed me to evade physical attacks but I would still take full damage from magic and such. But hers was completely on a whole different level. Her body couldn't be human. Was she one of the subjects who received demon blood too?

"May the world be covered by darkness: <Twilight Veil>" Maria raised her sword to the sky.

A dark shroud enveloped the entire area, trapping both me and the woman inside. I tried to touch it but it repulsed me back. It seemed I could not get out easily.

"Don't even think about running away! Show me what you are really capable of! <Sanguine Blade>" shouted Maria as she extended her sword to a side.

Suddenly all of blood tainting the ground from the crimson geyser earlier started to float and converged to her, engulfing her sword. That bloody sword was bad. I could feel it even from here.

I manifested a few stones spears soaring around me. I should avoid coming near her as my melee and defensive capabilities were not as good as my range attack.

Maria started swinging her swords from all sides. She did not even try to approach me. There was no need to. Instead her blood sword would do the job. It had massive range. Luckily I was able to crouch down in time, only letting it grazing me a bit. But when I looked behind me, seeing all the trees cut down like paper, I was glad to avoid it. Wouldn't want to be cut into two even in this body!

I fired the spears at her. To my surprise, it did hit her. However it was because she didn't even try to dodge. She just took it head on. More blood gushed out of her wounds, pushing the spear out before her wounds closed again. How could her body produce this much blood? It was beyond my imagination. These kinds of attacks wouldn't work I guessed. I needed to do something else.

For an instant I lost my focus and let one the blade hit me, cutting my left arm right off the bat. However I could easily heal since I was now in Slime mode. At least it should. But nothing happened. I lost my left arm and it didn't heal.

"I figured your body would work in a similar fashion to the slime. As expected from the lord of monsters. But my tainted blood is special. It can stop all healing effect just from being in contact with the target. You shouldn't rely on that body anymore if you want to live! Now come at me! Show me that you can kill me!" challenged Maria.

"What are you talking about? Why do you want me to kill you?" I asked her.

"Can't you see that the children you freed are beyond saving? If they are lucky they would in a few hours. If not they will spend the rest of their lives suffering the pain this accursed blood causes. To both demons and the prime races, we are abominations who are not meant to exist. And they will hunt us down till we die. For what reason do you want to extend our suffering?" Maria shouted in anger. Her eyes were filled with hatred and rage. She paused to take a deep breath before continuing.

"But I am not like the others. I can't even die because of this cursed body. Ever since that day. However when I learnt of the existence of the demon lords and their unique abilities, I thought perhaps they would have something. Something to free me from this curse.