The arrows plummeted into the army of demonic humans like rain, and then exploded on impact. What followed was a rain of dark blood that filled the sky, guttural screams that would make the stomach twist. The smell of flames and burnt flesh filled the air, reminding everyone there that the battle had begun.

Ken stood still. He looked at the scene with a blank expression. The smell filled his lungs, the sight burned into his mind, the reality settled into his body.

Sierra looked at him. "You can step back now if it is too much to handle." She sounded like she cared, but to Ken, it sounded like she looked down on him. He smiled, not the type you had when you were happy, the type you had when you had a point to prove. He reached for his sword with a clean motion, and as his palm rested on it, his mind turned on. Every distraction faded into nothing. All that remained was Ken and the targets ahead. To him, each one was a ball of light that he had to cut through.

With his confidence at its peak, he let out a smile that showed he was ready, and then he launched forward. The kind of speed that meant there was no looking back. He pulled his sword from the sheath in one swift motion as his hands already cut in an arc toward the first demonic human.

The demonic human, who was still stunned by the several explosions that had ripped through the air, did not have the time to react to Ken. By the time it noticed Ken, it was far too late. The blade met with its neck, one swift and clean motion, and that was all. The head flew into the air, blood squirting out like a fountain, and the body fell limp to the ground.

Thud

The head and body hit the ground at the same time.

[You have gained 50 EXP]

The system rewarded the kill. Ken smiled. It felt exhilarating. The blood in his body was beginning to rush. The feeling he had when he fought on Earth was beginning to flow back into him all at once.

Sierra and her elves followed Ken’s lead. He heard their roars of war as they charged ahead.

’I’ll not let anyone upstage me, this battle shall be my show,’ Ken declared in his mind.

A second demonic human charged his way, wielding a two-meter great sword that was engraved.

"Arghhhhhh!" he roared as he slashed. Blood-red flames erupted from the sword as he attacked.

Ken kicked back, evading the sword. The heat of the flames pressed against his face.

He landed on two feet and looked up. The demonic human was already rushing at him fast, thrusting the flaming blade.

’Two movements, that’s all.’

Ken sidestepped, the thrust going past him.

He leaned in and slashed clean through the head of the demonic human. He moved fast enough to react to an attack that was coming from behind. His ears twitched, and he spun around quickly. A black bolt of lightning charged at him.

Ken slashed at it. His sword met with the lightning and he was blasted backward. He flipped midair and landed, only for a demonic human with a spear to leap into the air and thrust downward.

CLANG!

Ken parried.

Spun around.

Kicked the demonic human right in the chest, but the demonic human held onto the leg surprisingly, pulling out a dagger from his waist and thrusting it right into Ken’s leg. Blood gushed out immediately. Ken was stunned for a moment, but that was very quickly replaced with rage.

"How dare you!" he thundered, using all his force to pull the leg forward and the demonic human along with it. The other demonic human attacked with a bolt of lightning again. Ken grabbed the demonic human that he pulled forward and very quickly used him as a meat shield when the bolt of lightning came. It slammed into his chest and completely fried everything there.

All that came from the mouth of the demonic human was a scream before death followed. Ken tossed the body to the side and bolted forward at the lightning demonic human. After two shots, he realized that her demonic art needed time to recharge, else she would have spammed it faster.

’It’s either that, or she is baiting me, but regardless.’

As he moved, more demonic humans charged his way, each one about to unleash different attacks. Ken kept moving like his leg had not just been stabbed.

’Two hits on the lightning user, take her down in two.’

The lightning user saw Ken, tried to react, and unleashed a weaker lightning bolt.

Ken dodged and pushed forward. One large diagonal slash ripped through the shoulder to the stomach, then one backhand thrust through the heart to end it all. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

[You have gained 150 EXP]

Because he killed three in rapid succession, the system decided to wait before giving the combined response for all of them, which was much better as it allowed him to focus.

Ken turned quickly. More were coming, and it was about to turn brutal. He took a very deep breath, and then for the first time since he started Qi training, he tried to activate the Qi his muscles had absorbed. Much to his surprise, it was easier than he thought it would be.

His muscles activated with Qi.

[Host overall stats increased by 50 percent for a limited time]

The system immediately told him how much the increase was. Ken could not help but smile. He looked up at the demonic humans flooding toward him.

"Let’s do this."

He blasted forward.

The first attacked with a slash. Ken dodged and countered, blood flying into the air. The blood suddenly turned into a lava-like mix that wanted to land on Ken, probably a demonic art, but Ken was too fast. He had already moved..

"Die, puny human!" one thundered and swung a hammer down. It slammed into the ground and massive spikes of earth erupted from below