The cave still echoed with the swarm's buzzing, but Isaac's locusts had not finished consuming. The crawleroids were still trying to regenerate, which was slowing down the process.
The sound reverberated sharply in the air, but Isaac barely noticed it over the rapid beating of his heart. His energy was too low. His muscles ached with exhaustion. The smoke in his eyes began to fade.
Across from him, Belga stood tall, at least seven feet, his humanoid form twisted and monstrous. His once-human face was now sharp and unnatural. His claws flexed, his eyes gleaming with amusement.
"You look tired," Belga mocked, stepping forward. "What's wrong? That little trick drained you already?"
Isaac didn't answer. He kept his stance firm, gripping his axe tightly. He needed to stall, just a little longer.
Belga's smirk widened. "Pathetic."
Then he moved.
Too fast.
Belga dashed forward. The air cracked as his claws slashed toward Isaac's throat.
Isaac's eyes widened.
He twisted his body at the last second, barely dodging. But before he could recover…
BAM!
A heavy fist slammed into his ribs, sending him flying.
He crashed into a jagged rock. Pain exploded through his back. He gasped, trying to steady his breath.
'He's faster than I thought.'
Belga didn't give him a chance to recover.
Isaac barely lifted his axe before Belga was on him again. With terrifying ease, Belga caught the blade with his bare hand.
"Nice weapon," Belga said, tightening his grip. "But useless."
With a sharp yank, he pulled Isaac forward. The pain barely hit before a brutal knee slammed into his stomach, knocking the air out of him.
For the first time since the soul fusion, he felt this kind of pain again.
Belga shoved him back, watching as Isaac staggered.
"You're weaker than I thought," he said, shaking his head. "Well, I can't blame you. A newly reborn Class S like me is far beyond you."
Isaac wiped the blood from his mouth. His breath was heavy, his body screaming at him to stop.
[Warning: Energy Level 28%]
[Activate Dark Regeneration? Y/N]
'I can't. It will drain my energy. I can still manage.'
He gritted his teeth. "No."
Belga was faster. Stronger. His attacks were ruthless.
Isaac was at a huge disadvantage.
His gaze flickered toward the locusts in the distance. The devouring wasn't done yet.
He clenched his jaw.
Forcing himself to stand tall, he tightened his grip on his axe.
Belga grinned, then lunged again.
Isaac swayed back, but his body felt heavy. Too slow.
Belga dodged and countered, his claws flashing.
Isaac twisted just in time, or so he thought.
SHNK!
A sharp sting tore through his arm. Blood splattered onto the ground.
'Damn it. He still managed to hit me.'
He gritted his teeth and kept moving.
Belga grinned, flicking Isaac's blood off his claws. "What's wrong? Losing your edge?"
Isaac didn't answer. He couldn't afford to waste breath.
Focus. Survive.
Belga came at him again, faster, stronger, relentless.
Isaac dodged left. Right. He barely missed a claw aimed at his throat.
His chest heaved. Every movement drained him more.
[Warning: Energy Level 25%]
These weren't just ordinary attacks. Every blow from Belga carried immense power, draining his energy too fast.
He glanced around. Looking for Aiah and Nai who were still setting cocoons ablaze, their flames flickering in the darkness.
Putol and Ben were deeper in the tunnels, leading captives to safety.
For a moment, he thought about calling for help.
But he shoved the thought aside.
Suddenly, images flashed through his mind, his parents, King Belmont, Mikaela.
He clenched his fists. 'If I die now, I can't avenge what happened to me.'
But Belga wasn't stopping.
He smirked as he watched Isaac struggle to stay on his feet.
"Come on, don't tell me this is all you've got," he taunted.
Isaac steadied his breathing, trying to ignore the sharp pain in his body. But before he could react, Belga moved again.
Belga slammed his fist into Isaac's ribs. A sickening crack sounded as pain exploded in his side.
Isaac stumbled, gasping for air. His grip on the axe loosened.
But before he could recover, Belga spun and drove his elbow into Isaac's shoulder. His arm went numb.
Then a heavy kick to his chest sent him crashing to the ground.
The impact made his vision blur. His limbs felt heavy.
[Warning: Energy Level 20%]
Isaac gritted his teeth, forcing himself up. He couldn't stay down. Not now.
Belga walked toward him, his claws dripping with blood.
"You're barely standing," he said. "Just stay down and die."
Isaac pushed himself up, his legs shaking.
'I thought I was strong enough... But right now, I'm just trying to survive.'
Belga had barely broken a sweat, while he was struggling to stay on his feet.
Before he could react, another punch landed on his chest. Pain shot through his body as he staggered back. His vision blurred for a second, but he clenched his jaw, forcing himself to stay focused.
Belga cracked his neck, his sharp claws glinting in the dim cave light.
"This was fun," he sneered, raising his hand. "But it's time to end this."
Isaac's breathing was ragged. He barely had the strength to lift his axe. His energy was too low. If Belga's claws struck him now, it could be over.
But then, Belga's attention snapped away.
Aiah and Nai.
They were still chopping and burning the cocoons, determined to stop the hatching.
Belga snarled, his gaze darkening. "Tch. I'll deal with you later." He turned, stepping toward them. "I should finish them off first."
'No.'
Isaac's body screamed in pain, but he couldn't let Belga reach them.
As Belga took his first step, a hand clamped onto his leg…
Isaac's hand.
Belga's eyes flared with irritation.
With every ounce of strength he had left, Isaac gritted his teeth and pulled.
"Not… happening!"
Using his remaining energy, he twisted his body and threw Belga with all his might.
The humanoid beast crashed against the stone wall with a deafening impact. Dust and debris rained down as cracks spread through the cave.
Aiah and Nai turned at the sound, their eyes widening at the sight of the fallen Belga.
Aiah took a step forward. "Is Isaac…?"
"He's fine," Nai cut in, gripping her blade.
"He can handle it. We need to focus. The cocoons must be destroyed before it's too late."
Aiah hesitated, glancing toward Isaac, but then tightened her focus, the fire in her palm flickering brighter.
They had their own battle to finish.
As Belga groaned, pushing himself up from the rubble, his glowing eyes locked onto Isaac with pure rage. Cracks formed on his exoskeleton from the impact, but he barely seemed to care.
"You...!"
Belga's voice rumbled with fury. His body tensed, and the ground beneath him trembled.
Isaac gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stand straight despite the pain wrecking his body. His vision blurred for a moment, but he steadied himself.
Then…
[Swarm Devour… 90% Absorption]
A sudden rush of energy pulsed through Isaac's body.
Isaac exhaled, his lips curling into a smirk.
"What? One hit and you're already smiling?" Belga growled, his rage boiling over.
Finally…
[Swarm Devour Effect… 100% absorption]
[Reaper's Boomerang: 20% Mastery]
[Abyssal Smash: 17% Mastery]
[Swarm Authority Level: 37% Points]
[Energy Level: 70%]
The skill upgrades from his earlier fight with the crawleroids had finally kicked in.
"Dark Regeneration." He whispered.
[Activate Dark Regeneration? Y/N]
"Yes."
Isaac rolled his shoulders, the pain fading, replaced by something else, power.
"You were saying?" Isaac said coldly, stepping forward.
Belga snarled, baring his fangs. "You bastard!"
"Abyssal Overdrive."
[Activate Abyssal Overdrive? Y/N]
"Yes."
A dark energy burst out of him.
Black, smoke-like energy poured from his body. Shadowy tendrils twisted and moved around him like they were alive
Isaac tightened his grip on his axe.
"Round two," he said. "Let's finish this."