Apocalypse Baby

Chapter 38 Overwhelmed

Alex's blade ripped through the air with deadly precision, slicing through the cockatrice's cheek as the creature darted to the side in a blur of feathers and rage.

His heart raced, but his mind was as calm as ever. Alex had activated Foresight, his irises glowing a vibrant blue as he saw a couple seconds of the future unfold in front of him.

He knew exactly what Murzok was about to do—release a barrage of razor-sharp feather blades from its wings.

But Alex wasn't waiting around for that. He moved first. His blade, Eclipse Edge, cut through the air and aimed straight for the cockatrice's head.

The strike would've been fatal—if only it had connected.

But at the last possible moment, Murzok's insane reaction speed kicked in.

The cockatrice jerked its head back, narrowly avoiding the deadly arc of Alex's sword.

Murzok launched itself back into the air, its wings flapping with a deafening roar before charging at Alex, who also ran toward him.

He wasn't going to give Murzok a chance to recover.

The bird was momentarily disoriented, and Alex knew this was his window.

This was his chance to deal a devastating blow before Murzok regained his composure.

He held Eclipse Edge with both hands, his grip tight, ready to rain down hell on the cockatrice.

The cockatrice howled, feathers flaring with a surge of anger, and Alex activated Earth Swim, feeling the ground give way beneath him as if he was sinking into water.

His body dropped into the earth, the dirt and rock slipping past him with ease.

In an instant, Alex shot back up, propelled by the earth itself like a spring-loaded missile.

He burst from the ground in front of Murzok, his momentum carrying him high.

And shouted:

"Surprise!"

Before twisting midair and slamming his boot into the cockatrice's face.

The impact was brutal.

Murzok's head snapped to the side, and the massive bird tumbled to the ground, kicking up dirt and leaves in its wake.

Alex landed lightly, his eyes locked on the fallen beast.

As Murzok staggered back to its feet, it saw glowing rocks scattered around.

And a snap later, the rocks detonated in a thunderous explosion, shrouding the area in smoke and debris.

But the cockatrice-like shadow shot out of the fumes, feathers blazing, its eyes burning with fury. It unleashed a barrage of razor-sharp feather blades, each slicing through the air with deadly precision.

Alex moved like liquid, weaving through the onslaught predicting the blades' paths.

His Foresight ability illuminated each attack in his mind, allowing him to sidestep and duck with near-superhuman agility.

But the intensity of the blade release increased.

And the sheer number of blades became overwhelming, forcing Alex to make a split-second decision.

With a quick breath, he activated Earth Swim once again and dove into the ground, vanishing from sight just as a wave of blades struck where he had been standing.

This time, Alex had a plan.

Instead of surfacing elsewhere, he tunneled beneath the cockatrice, feeling the vibrations of its massive talons through the earth.

He reached up, his hands wrapping around one of the bird's scaly legs.

With a powerful yank, Alex pulled the cockatrice downward.

The beast screeched in confusion and fury as half its body was dragged into the earth, its wings flailing helplessly.

Alex then surfaced a few feet in front of the immobilized creature.

His hand shot out, aiming to touch the cockatrice's crown, but Murzok wasn't done yet. Blades erupted from half its body in a sudden, desperate attack.

Alex's Foresight flashed, warning him just in time, and he leaped back, narrowly avoiding the deadly projectiles.

But he had missed one

Pain lanced through his side as one of the feather blades found its mark, grazing him deeply. Alex hissed, clutching his side as blood seeped through his fingers.

The cockatrice howled, its cries echoing through the battlefield.

With a burst of raw power, it shattered the earth around it, freeing itself from the ground.

Dust and debris swirled as it rose, towering over Alex once more.

The bird's fiery eyes locked onto Alex:

"Even with Gaia's blessing," it taunted, its voice dripping with disdain, "you're still weak."

Alex wiped the blood off his cheek with the back of his hand, a confident grin spreading across his face. "Am I? You won't be saying that in the next ten seconds."

Murzok's fiery eyes narrowed as it let out a screech of rage. The cockatrice dove at Alex with incredible speed, activating its movement restriction skill. Alex froze mid-step, his muscles locking up as if invisible chains were holding him in place.

The cockatrice's bladed wings reared back, ready to deliver a devastating strike.

But Alex wasn't going down that easily. With sheer willpower and a surge of mana, he shattered the restriction just as it locked in place.

"Nice try," he muttered, diving into the ground with Earth Swim a split second before the blade struck. The attack sliced through the air where his head had been, close enough to trim a few strands of his hair.

Alex resurfaced behind the cockatrice and lunged, aiming to touch its head once more.

The bird, anticipating his move, leaped into the air with a powerful flap of its wings, unleashing a deafening sonic howl. The shockwave struck the ground like a bomb, creating a massive crater and sending debris flying in all directions.

But Alex was already elsewhere, reappearing unharmed a short distance away. He dusted off his coat and smirked. "It's been ten seconds," he said, his voice calm but dripping with confidence. "Time to lose a leg."

With a snap of his fingers, the trap he had planted on Murzok's leg detonated.

BOOM!

A deafening explosion echoed through the battlefield. The cockatrice let out a bloodcurdling screech as its leg was obliterated, chunks of flesh and feathers scattering. The massive bird toppled, crashing into a nearby tree with a sickening thud, the impact shaking the ground.

Murzok writhed in pain, his remaining talon clawing at the ground as he tried to stabilize himself.

Murzok groaned in agony, the searing pain from its missing leg clouding its thoughts. It hadn't anticipated the attack—it didn't even realize when Alex had set the trap.

The cockatrice's eyes darted down to its maimed leg, blood dripping onto the ground. Then it clicked.

"His ability... it must make things he touches explode," Murzok muttered, piecing it together.

The realization sent a chill through the massive bird. Alex wasn't just quick on his feet; he was far more dangerous than Murzok had assumed.

A flicker of movement caught its eye. Murzok's feathers bristled as more of Alex's glowing Blastshards came whizzing toward it. With a grunt of effort, the bird leaped to the side, balancing precariously on its one remaining leg.

BOOM!

The shards detonated nearby, blasting dirt and smoke into the air. The shockwave sent Murzok stumbling, but it narrowly avoided taking another direct hit.

Breathing heavily, the cockatrice scanned the battlefield, its sharp gaze darting from one spot to another.

"He'll strike from below again," Murzok growled to itself, flaring its wings in preparation. It hopped backward, keeping one eye on the ground, fear tightening its chest.

The memory of Alex's hand gripping its leg flashed in Murzok's mind. That must have been the moment. The human had planted the trap right under its nose.

"Dammit!"

Suddenly, a shockwave of sound blasted through the air.

"Sonic Howl!"

The devastating sound wave slammed into Murzok, sending ripples through the ground. The bird screeched, feathers flying as it recoiled in pain.

It flapped its wings furiously, retaliating with a screech of its own, but its attack struck only empty air.

Alex was nowhere to be seen.

The cockatrice's heart pounded as paranoia set in. The battlefield was silent except for the ringing in its ears. It scanned wildly, its body tense and ready to strike.

Alex moved like a shadow, his Stealth Walk ability rendering him nearly invisible against the chaotic backdrop.

Murzok growled in frustration, his remaining leg shaking under the strain.

"Dammit," he cursed through gritted teeth. The pain from his missing limb burned like fire, clouding his mind and making it nearly impossible to focus on tracking Alex's movements.

And then it happened.

Alex blitzed forward, his speed blinding. His blade gleamed in the faint light, slicing through the air with deadly precision. His target: Murzok's head.

The cockatrice barely reacted in time, leaping backward in a frantic bid to evade the attack. But Alex's gaze had already revealed Murzok's next move.

Adjusting his trajectory mid-sprint, Alex closed the gap with terrifying precision, his hand poised to touch the bird's head and set another explosive trap.

But Murzok wasn't done yet. Desperation ignited its instincts. With a powerful, clumsy roll, the cockatrice managed to evade Alex's strike. Dirt and feathers flew as it scrambled to its feet.

Before Alex could follow up, Murzok made a move that left him stunned—it started to run.

Alex froze mid-step, blinking in disbelief.

"Is it... running away?" he muttered, almost amused by the sight.

Murzok, panting heavily, suddenly skidded to a stop. Its pride flared, shame boiling within its chest.

"Me? Running away from a human?" the cockatrice snarled in disbelief.

Before it could recover, a sharp pain exploded in its thigh. Murzok let out a guttural groan, glancing down to see a jagged piece of metal embedded in its flesh.

It whipped its head around in panic.

But Alex was gone again.

Fear gripped Murzok like a vice. His chest heaved as his eyes darted across the battlefield, trying to spot the elusive human.

"What's this?" Murzok muttered trembling.

'Am I afraid?'