Eternal Undying Chronicles

He weaved between the surviving Strigoi with deadly precision, his sword flashing as it cleaved through their ranks.

Each movement was a blur, a savage yet graceful dance of death that left bodies in his wake. His strikes were merciless, cutting through flesh, bone, and sinew as if they were nothing.

Every swing of his blade seemed to sing with bloodlust, and the ferocity in his eyes made him appear more monstrous than the creatures he was slaughtering.
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Shadows clung to him like a cloak, his presence an embodiment of death itself, relentless and terrifying.

The air grew thick with the stench of blood and charred flesh, the sound of his sword cutting through the Strigoi drowned out by their pained howls.

Their fear was palpable as they realized they were facing something far worse than themselves.

The few that remained began to shrink back, dread etched on their monstrous faces. Alicarde's bloodied figure, drenched in darkness and gore, only heightened their terror.

But then, Malefica's voice echoed in his mind.

"Stay in control and calm yourself. Don't lose yourself to your own bloodlust."

His eyes, wild and aflame with an unholy light, gradually dimmed. The manic energy that had fueled his slaughter gave way to a cold, controlled calm.

He inhaled deeply, tightening his grip on his sword, the familiar weight grounding him.

Raising the blood-soaked blade, he pointed it at the cowering Strigoi in a silent challenge, his breath steadying as he whispered his truename to himself.

Alicarde's breath was ragged from the battle, but the storm inside him had subsided. The clash had been swift but brutal, and while his body bore no mortal injuries, the weight of the bloodshed clung to him like an unwelcome shroud. His sword, dripping with the blackened blood of his enemies, remained poised as he faced the remaining creatures.

"I am Aeternus," he whispered, grounding himself amidst the chaos. The words calmed him, anchoring his sanity.

"Come at me," he hissed, his voice barely above a whisper, yet laced with a predatory edge that made the Strigoi flinch.

But they didn't move. Their once fearless ferocity had crumbled, leaving them frozen in place, their instincts screaming to flee.

"Fine, I'll come to you." His patience snapped. In a blur of motion, Alicarde surged forward, his sword a gleaming arc in the dim light. The Strigoi finally reacted, rushing him in a desperate, frenzied mass.

He leaped into the air, spinning mid-flight like a cyclone. His sword became a whirlwind of death, carving through flesh and bone with terrifying precision.

Each strike was clean, severing limbs, piercing hearts, and decapitating those who dared get too close.

Blood sprayed in wide arcs, painting the stone floor as he landed smoothly, the grace of a predator in his every movement.

A Strigoi lunged, its claws aiming for his chest, but Alicarde sidestepped the attack with ease. His movements were fluid, almost effortless, as he shifted his weight to deliver a powerful kick to the creature's midsection.

The force of the blow sent it hurtling into another Strigoi, both collapsing in a heap. Without missing a beat, he swung his sword in a vicious arc, the blade slicing cleanly through the neck of a third attacker, the head spinning through the air before hitting the ground with a sickening thud.

The headless body fell to the ground, still twitching.

Alicarde didn't pause. He flipped backward with acrobatic precision, his body twisting through the air.

His boot came crashing down like a hammer, smashing the skull of the next Strigoi in line, bone and brain matter splattering across the floor.

He landed in a crouch, his sword stabbing into the ground for balance. With a sudden burst of energy, he spun, using the sword as a pivot to unleash a flurry of devastating kicks.

His feet became a blur, striking out in rapid succession. One kick connected with a Strigoi's ribs, the force so immense that its chest collapsed inward, ribs splintering under the impact.

Another kick shattered the knee of an approaching attacker, the grotesque sound of breaking bone echoing through the chamber.

The creature collapsed, shrieking in agony as it tried to crawl away, but Alicarde was relentless.

He twisted once more, his boot connecting with the face of a Strigoi sneaking up from behind.

The impact sent the creature flying, its fangs clattering to the ground in a bloody mess. But the Strigoi were not done, they charged at him from all sides, hoping to overwhelm him with sheer numbers.

Alicarde swung his sword in a wide arc, cleaving through limbs and torsos, sending more of the wretched creatures falling to the floor. Yet, in the frenzy, he found himself surrounded.

"Argint would chew me out if she knew I let these amateurs surround me," he muttered with a smirk. With a flick of his hand, he activated [Flux Field].

The gravitational force around him shifted, and the Strigoi floated helplessly into the air, their snarls turning to confused howls as they became weightless.

Alicarde watched them for a moment, savoring their helplessness before slamming them back to the ground with a crushing force. The impact shattered bones, leaving them writhing in pain as the stone floor cracked beneath them.

As they struggled to recover, Alicarde began his incantation, his voice low and resonant with power.

"Tinder to spark, ember to glow,

In this place, let fire grow.

With a breath, let flames flow,

Consume all—Inferno."

The ground erupted with flames, pillars of fire spiraling up around him. The heat was unbearable, but Alicarde stood in the center, laughing maniacally as the fire consumed everything in its path.

The Strigoi screamed in agony as their flesh melted away, their bodies turning to ash in the inferno. The air was thick with the stench of burning meat, the sight gruesome and horrific.

Alicarde's dark vestments absorbed the intense heat, the enchantments woven into the fabric protecting him from the worst of the flames.

"Did I ever mention the enchantment on my vestments?" he mused, his voice barely audible over the roar of the flames.

"They absorb the damage I take and send it right back."

Grinning wickedly, Alicarde unleashed the stored energy, sending a shockwave of force radiating out from his body.

The Strigoi, already weakened by the flames, stood no chance as the wave hit them. The sheer power of the blast shattered the remaining creatures, disintegrating their bodies into dust. The stone floor cracked further, the air trembling with the force of his release.

The chamber fell silent, save for the crackle of lingering flames. Alicarde's laughter echoed, but as his eyes scanned the room, he spotted two Strigoi attempting to flee.

With a burst of speed, he leaped into the air, his boot slamming into the slower of the two. The creature's body fell under the blow, bones snapping as it was crushed into the ground.

The other Strigoi ran, but Alicarde was faster. He extended his hand, using [Flux Field] to drag the fleeing creature back toward him. Its claws scraped helplessly against the stone floor, its panic evident in its frantic movements.

Alicarde raised his sword, ready to deliver the final blow. But something made him pause. His brow furrowed as he took a closer look at his prey.

"Well, what do we have here," he murmured, a dark smile curling at his lips. "Truly, enemies meet on a narrow path."

Alicarde's grin widened. "Hello, old friend."