Apocalypse Baby-Chapter 226: Crimson Tyrant [4]

Alex snapped.

The Beast Lord's body twisted violently—something unseen wrenched it apart, contorting flesh and bone in an instant. Then—

BOOM!

The explosion ripped outward, a shockwave tearing through the battlefield.

Flesh and sinew scattered like shrapnel, the force sending debris flying.

Alex braced, activating [Aegis Arcane] just in time.

A shimmering barrier flared around him, shielding him from the concussive blast.

Dust and smoke swallowed the scene.

For a moment, silence.

Then, the haze began to clear.

It looked like it was over.

Until Alex caught something—movement.

A dark shape, streaking through the smoke.

A head.

A hyena-shaped head, coated in blood, spinning wildly through the air.

Its dead eyes still locked forward, its jaws slightly open, as if frozen mid-snarl.

A streak of blood trailed behind the severed head.

Flowing from the jagged lump of its torn neck like a jet stream.

Alex's eyes narrowed.

Then, he grinned.

That head…

It was Khan's.

The damned gnoll was still alive.

The blood bubbling from its neck wasn't just spilling—it was moving. Expanding. The thick crimson liquid pulsed and twisted, gaining mass as if something unseen was weaving flesh from nothing.

It was reforming.

Alex's mind worked fast. During the explosion, the head had detached first. That meant—

As long as the Beast Lord's head remained intact…It could regenerate.

And Alex couldn't have that.

So—he vanished.

The severed head was just about to land. The rest of the body had nearly reformed, muscles knitting together, bones reshaping.

But—

SHHINK!

A blur. A flash of steel.

In an instant, the Beast Lord was decapitated again.

His head tumbled through the air, spinning wildly.

Wait—what?

Did I not heal properly?

Confusion flickered in Khan's fading thoughts.

Then—his falling head turned.

And he saw why.

Alex.

Standing there, blade still dripping with his blood, a cheeky grin on his face.

Khan's stomach twisted.

At that moment, Khan knew.

He was done for. Outmatched.

He was at a massive disadvantage.

Desperation sparked in his eyes.

With a savage roar, he activated his last resort—a suicide move.

His blood surged, shifting into a deadly, unstable mass.

He would turn it into an explosion, taking Alex down with him.

But Alex's grin didn't waver.

The golden glow in his eyes flickering.

"I see your plan. But it won't work."

SLASH.

SLASH.

SLASH.

The only thing heard was the sound of a blade cutting through the air—but no visible motion followed.

Alex moved too fast to see.

Eeugh—

Khan's eyes widened. His vision blurred.

Then—the effect of the slices took hold.

Thin, glowing lines crisscrossed Khan's severed head—intersecting, shifting—forming perfect squares.

For a split second, it hovered in the air, intact.

Then—

The head burst apart, collapsing into neat, bloodied fragments before scattering across the ground.

Alex exhaled.

Victory.

Then—A familiar sound rang in his ears.

Ding!

[You have defeated Beast Lord Khan: The Crimson Tyrant (Rank S)]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

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[You have leveled up.]

…

[You have leveled up.]

Eight times?

Alex blinked.

That was a lot.

No doubt this was because he had just taken down an S-Rank monster as a C-Rank.

An 8-level jump from a single kill.

That alone had pushed him dangerously close to level 75—the threshold for reaching B-Rank.

And if the pattern held...

Level 100 meant A-Rank.

And whatever lay beyond that… S.

Then—

More notifications flooded in.

Ding!

[You have received 50 stat points.]

[You have received 10 Powerstones.]

[You have received skill: Exsanguinate (S).]

[You have received weapon: Scarlet Fang.]

[Apocalypse Baby Kicking In.]

[You have received an additional 50 stat points.]

[You have received an additional 10 stat points.]

[You have received skill: Blood Requiem.]

[You have received an accessory: Crimson Cloak.]

Alex stared at the list.

Not bad.

He then pulled up the description of the first skill.

A high-tier, S-Rank technique.

Exsanguinate (S).

Alex eyes scanned the text, taking in the details.

Exsanguinate (S) – Exsanguinate is a devastating S-rank technique that weaponizes an enemy's own blood against them. With a mere thought, the user forces all enemies--with injury as small as a cut--in range to bleed uncontrollably, siphoning their HP, stamina, and life force at an accelerated rate. The more an opponent resists the greater the strain on their body, making it a near-unavoidable death sentence for those caught in its grasp.

This technique ignores conventional defenses, bypassing armor and physical barriers. Only those with strong regenerative abilities or divine protections can resist its effects.

Alex's grin widened.

He read further:

Effects:

- All enemies within a 50-meter radius immediately suffer rapid hemorrhaging from every open wound, or through their pores if they have none.

- Drains HP, stamina, and vitality continuously. The more blood an enemy loses, the weaker they become—eventually collapsing into lifeless husks.

Cost: 250 MP upon activation + 50 MP per second while active.

Duration: Lasts as long as user's mana pool.

Cooldown: 24 hours

Limitations: Can be resisted by enemies with high regenerative abilities or divine protection. Those with bloodless physiology (e.g., golems, undead, machines) are immune.

Ohh!

Alex's eyes widened as he sucked in a sharp breath.

This skill was insane.

A high cost? Sure. A long cooldown? Definitely.

But the sheer power… Unreal.

With just one cut—no matter how small—his target would be doomed. Their own blood would betray them, draining them dry until there was nothing left.

Crazy.

But…

Alex let out a slow sigh, his excitement dimming.

A blood-based skill, huh?

It made sense.

He had just taken down a monster that thrived on blood magic.

Still, something about it felt off.

Like a connection… to the Blood Monarch.

Alex rubbed his temples, deep in thought.

It wouldn't be a surprise if the gods the gnoll served were Vladros.

It made too much sense.

The connection, the blood magic… It all pointed back to him.

He sighed, a little heavier this time.

Whatever the case may be, he couldn't change what had happened. The system had given him this skill—no negotiations, no takebacks. He had no choice but to accept it.

Besides, there had been no notification forcing him to accept any "Blood Monarch legacy."

No sign that Vladros was demanding to meet him.

Maybe they weren't linked after all.

Then—a notification pinged, and Alex froze.

Ding!

[The Blood Monarch - Vladros demands a meeting with you]

Alex blinked.

Spoke too soon.