Blood Assimilation

Before Flame Legs could signal the attack, the brash and overconfident Flame Claws lunged forward, confronting the two humans— Brawler Randy and Liena— with a menacing expression, his claws radiating intense heat, surrounded by flickering flames.

"Humans, prepare to meet your demise!" He growled ferociously, flames dancing around his body.

Brawler Randy and Liena exchanged glances, silently coordinating their response. Liena drew her dagger, nodding to Randy in a prearranged manner. However, before she could make a move, Randy had already sprung into action.

He saw this encounter as an opportunity to test his martial prowess against a different race and to deliver justice against the hostile Werewolves threatening their lives.

However, despite the approaching human, the overconfident Flame Claws remained stationary. Instead, a group of five werewolves positioned themselves before him, ready to thwart Brawler Randy's advance. Soon, the clash erupted, with Brawler Randy finding himself encircled by the pack of Flame Werewolves.

"How dare a feeble human man, weaker than a human woman, stand before the pack leader? You're courting death! You are unworthy of facing the pack leader. We alone are sufficient to deal with the likes of you." They jeered, swiping their claws at Brawler Randy, who adeptly dodged their assaults using Tiger Chasing Steps, a fundamental movement technique from Randy's home world.

Given Brawler Randy's current physical prowess, the basic martial technique proved effective in evading the werewolves' strikes. However, the searing flames accompanying their coordinated attacks from all angles posed a challenge, singeing his skin despite his nimble dodges.

Recognizing his dire situation, Brawler Randy swiftly entered his transfigured state. His physical attributes remained the same, but his other aspects, such as his dynamic visual acuity were drastically enhanced by his transfigured state.

Employing his psionic powers and Blood Authority skill simultaneously, he initiated a slightly enhanced Blood Halt technique, slowing down the movement of the werewolves around him.

Seizing the opportunity presented by their impaired mobility, he partially transformed into the Werewolf King of Wind, his wolf-like features accentuated by his protruding fangs, giving him a feral appearance.

With silvery-white hair streaked with purple cascading down his back, he moved with lethal intent, fully aware that the werewolves he faced might be allied with the Foot Soldier demons encountered during their recent mission.

With levels only ranging from 30 to 50, the Foot Soldier demons were easily dispatched by Brawler Randy, whose combat power exceeded level 55 physically, and Liena, who boasted a combat power of level 69.

Meanwhile, Flame Legs was taken aback by the familiar aura emanating from Brawler Randy after his transformation. Instantly, he sensed that something was awry.

Unlike the impulsive Flame Claws, Flame Legs was methodical, always one to plan before engaging his prey. As Flame Legs grasped the situation, he scrutinized their adversaries with his heightened senses, detecting traces of demon blood stench on them. This revelation led him to deduce their potential occupations among humans.

"Wait! Cease your attack! These humans reek of demon blood. Withdraw, Flame Claws!" Flame Legs cautioned, but his warning came too late.

In his transfigured state, Brawler Randy morphed into a literal beast, effortlessly dispatching two of the weakest Flame Werewolves by piercing through their chests and ripping out their hearts with his bare hands. The scene was undeniably extremely gruesome, yet Brawler Randy's expression betrayed excitement rather than aversion. He harbored no hesitation in eliminating obvious enemies.

To Brawler Randy, blatant enemies with no complications to their nature of existence warranted no mercy from him, especially after learning about the cruelty of the werewolf tribe, which hunted down humans. He learned from Liena that the werewolf race relish feasting on human flesh, a practice that was ranking second only to the atrocious demons.

The remaining three Flame Werewolves, possessing greater strength and more agility, reacted swiftly upon hearing Flame Legs' warning, leaping backward with cautious apprehension. Drained and wary, the retreated werewolves cast a glance at the grisly aftermath of their comrades' demise.

Flame Claws and Flame Legs scrutinized Brawler Randy, confirming that he indeed had the same aura as the Storm Werewolves of their tribe. Meanwhile, Brawler Randy returned their gaze with a predatory glare, his multicolored eyes flashing intensely, readying himself to pounce on the remaining werewolves.

Though Brawler Randy's blood seemed to boil with a craving for battle, he refrained from immediate action, realizing the need for caution against opponents, especially against a potentially cunning adversary. His initial plan to catch his arrogant opponents off-guard was thwarted by Flame Legs' warning, disrupting his strategy and prompting him to change his plans.

Meanwhile…

Observing Brawler Randy's transformation for the first time, Liena was dumbfounded. She believed she had gleaned everything about him in the past few days, only to realize she was gravely mistaken, his true nature still remained enigmatic. In the past, she saw 'him' take down a vampire man with some uncanny skill, which siphoned the blood out of the vampire's body till his death.

While he hadn't used that terrifying skill since they met in Mercenary Street, she witnessed him use an immobility skill. He claimed he could control the blood of others to achieve that effect, making her assume it was the same skill he used on the vampire man.

Now, seeing him transform into a being with fangs akin to the werewolves they faced left her bewildered, shrouding his true identity in mystery. The more she learned about him, the deeper the mystery surrounding his identity.

"Liena, can I handle them alone?" Brawler Randy asked, sensing her presence beside him.

Still lost in her thoughts, Liena nodded blankly as she stepped to the side, prompting Brawler Randy to unleash a primal howl of a bestial wolf. With his fangs bared, he sprinted toward the stunned werewolves, his fangs ready to sink into their necks.

However, something unexpected happened, causing Liena's expression to drastically change, her complexion turning pale.

With his jaws agape, poised to strike, Brawler Randy disappeared and reappeared beside one of the Flame Werewolves, catching them off-guard. But before he could sink his teeth into the unsuspecting werewolf's neck, he suddenly faltered and wobbled unnaturally, halting his attack and allowing the Flame Werewolf to realize the situation and seize the opportunity to counterattack.

The Flame Werewolf viciously clawed at Brawler Randy's defenseless and vulnerable chest with considerable force, tearing flesh from his torso and sending him hurtling through the air. Blood dripped from the deep claw marks, yet Brawler Randy remained motionless, appearing lifeless, not even uttering a groan of pain as he fell to the ground.

Unbeknownst to Liena and everyone else, just as Brawler Randy was about to strike, he was suddenly overcome by an overwhelming dizziness, losing consciousness amidst the chaos of battle. This unexpected turn of events sent Liena into a panic as she rushed to his aid, intercepting the Flame Werewolf intent on delivering the final blow to the incapacitated Brawler Randy.

"Randy! What foolishness is this?! What the hell is wrong with you?!" Liena shouted, assuming he was up to his usual antics. However, sensing something amiss, she hurried to his side to assess his condition.

Brawler Randy's stillness and Liena's intervention alerted the perspicacious Flame Legs, allowing him to understand a certain truth. This certain truth prompted him to take decisive action. Betting on his honed agility, he ignited his legs with a burst of flame, propelling himself toward the unconscious Brawler Randy, aiming to eliminate him while he remained vulnerable.

Flame Claws, sensing the shift in the situation, charged forward as well, driven by a desire for vengeance for his fallen pack members, his eyes gleaming with unbounded ruthless intent.

This sudden turn of events placed Liena in grave peril, as she was now forced to contend not only with the brutish Flame Claws but also the cunning Flame Legs. Whether she could safeguard Brawler Randy until he regained consciousness remained uncertain, leaving their fate hanging in the balance.

…

Meanwhile, in the Imperial City...

Holy Knight Randy diligently prepared for the upcoming crusade to subjugate the Vampire Queen, with only four days remaining until their crusade commenced. Eager to relay his plans to the elusive Brawler Randy, who had recently relocated from his previous inn.

He discovered through his connections as Zolat Grant that Brawler Randy had secured lodgings at Luxurious Inn located on Residential Street. Determined to find him, Holy Knight Randy set out to seek his elusive fellow incarnation.

As Holy Knight Randy walked along Residential Street, tracing Brawler Randy's whereabouts, he encountered a familiar face— an acquaintance of Randy's— waiting in front of a five-story building, with a sign stating Luxurious Inn. Halting in his tracks, Holy Knight Randy realized he had reached his destination. He had arrived at the entrance of the inn Brawler Randy had rented.

Before venturing inside to search for Brawler Randy, he observed the familiar figure. She wore combat green attire, with a bow and quiver slung behind her, her silky blonde hair neatly tied and cascading down her back.

Exuding a captivating noble aura, her luminous green eyes met his with a peculiar expression, catching Holy Knight Randy off guard and leaving him feeling somewhat awkward, as he hadn't expected her attention to linger on him.

"Ah, hello…" He began to greet the young woman in green clothes, but then he remembered he was not Randy, nor was he in his true form. Currently, he was Holy Knight Randy, posing as Zolat Grant.

Holy Knight Randy swiftly adjusted his demeanor, nodding in greeting, disregarding the green-clothed young woman before things got complicated. He decided to avoid further interaction and depart the place altogether to avoid complicating matters with his current appearance as Zolat Grant.

With four days remaining before the commencement of the Church's crusade to Meistic Forest, he decided to leave now, resolving to return later to meet Brawler Randy.

Recalling from his memories that the green-clothed young woman harbored disdain for and, perhaps, animosity toward the original Zolat Grant due to his past misconduct, Holy Knight Randy reinforced his decision to leave. However, before he could step away, he unexpectedly felt lightheaded and stumbled forward toward the young woman, his vision blurring.