Reborn As An Evolving Monster

414  I've Done All I Could

"You're the lowest of the low!!" Zino shouted as his clenched fist approached Mark's stomach.

The white-scaled Monster was fast enough to react, placing both hands in the way.

The power was enough to raise Mark's feet off the ground, but not enough for him to lose his balance.

"Don't think that those will save you. It's Absorption, not Nullification. Once they reach their limits..." Lightning permeated and moved up and down the General's arms. "They'll break! But that's only..." The distance was closed right away. The General feinted a kick, but claws wrapped in Lightning landed on the Gauntlet covering Mark's right hand. "If I don't break before that!"

A bone-chilling screech resonated as the claws tried to pierce through the Gauntlet!

As the General's focus was directed in front of him, Mark decided to,

Partial Gigantification-

The General's side was hit, and its body was launched away! Though just like Mark earlier, Zino didn't lose his balance.

"That tail..." He whispered from a dozen meters away. "I'll have to cut it, huh?"

Coupled with Partial Gigantification, the "Destructive Tail Flick[B]" Passive Skill shows its strength!

 'But I can't land it on him while he's on the move. In any case, since he closed the distance, that must mean that Skill is on a countdown? He's using Mana and Lightning freely, so that must be it. My Mana on the other hand...'

After using Partial Gigantification repeatedly as well as other Magic Skills, Mark's reserve of Mana was getting frighteningly low.

'He has used it twice now. About five minutes between each use? Is that how long the countdown lasts...?'

There was no real way of figuring out the answer.

Three spheres of Lightning were shot by Zino as he ran forward.

Mark's eyes widened as he was preparing to dodge.

'Remember... That feeling!'

BOOM- BOOM- BOOM-

The cloud of smoke was cut in two, and Mark steps forward!

'Ten, no... Twenty percent.' n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

The Title "Fire Devourer", born from the "Fire Absorption" Skill, aids in replenishing Mark's Mana Points! Just like Heat and Fire Resistance helped when hit by Lightning, the Fire Devourer Title allowed him to Devour or Absorb some Mana from the attacks. This wouldn't have helped without the Gauntlets, which absorbed Mana. The Gauntlets absorbed the Mana, which facilitated the Title's effect!

As Mark stepped forward, the General of Wrath sighed.

"You're really not letting this be a pleasant memory, huh?" Zino scratched his head. "Have it your way."

Immediately, Lightning covered the right side of his body. Aura oozed out of the left side.

'Shit-'

The downward punch made the white-scaled Monster's body hit the ground and bounce back up.

A vertical kick landed on the Monster's stomach, sending him high up into the air while drops of blood splattered against the ground below.

It only took an instant for the General of Wrath to reach that height, and send the white-scaled Monster straight down to the ground!

BAMM-

CRACKKK-

A huge crater was formed, with the white-scaled Monster at its center.

'Son of a bitch managed to defend, even if barely. Those Gauntlets aren't as close to breaking as before. Could it be...?'

Zino's feet landed on the ground.

He stared silently, deep in thought.

'I should still have a bit of time-'

Mark's thoughts were interrupted, as the General of Wrath pointed forward.

"Let's break them."

The earth below the General was scorched once more.

The white-scaled Monster tried raising his hands as fast as he could!

The attack is so fast that if the General were to aim for somewhere else... That doesn't matter! Protect the head and the chest! That's all I can-

In a flash, no. Even faster than that. By the flash hit, the Gauntlets around Mark's hands were already cracking.

'Shit!'

It was only for a moment, but the Gauntlets had absorbed the power and Mana before breaking. For just a moment, Mark absorbed the excess. Although the absorption rate wasn't enough to keep the Gauntlets from reaching way beyond capacity and breaking.

In an instant,

BAM-

A punch from the General landed. Mark had instinctively defended, which meant putting the already cracked Gauntlets in the way.

They shattered, and started falling off his hands.

A front kick landed on his stomach, making him cough up blood and launching him away, not before he could store the shattered Gauntlets in his Inventory.

"Let's see how you will deal with it this time."

The white-scaled Monster clenched his teeth.

There was only one possibility.

Would it even work? What would be the result of it?

There was no way to know. No time to think about it!

As the General of Wrath started raising his hand,

A crimson electrical discharge suddenly appeared. It danced chaotically around the white-scaled Monster's hand, scorching and obliterating sections of the ground around that very same Monster.

For the first time in a while, Zino's lips started curling upwards.

"This is going to be amazing!" He shouted.

With his palm facing the ground, Mark extended his arm.

With his index finger pointing forward, Zino did the same!

Lightning VS Red Lightning!

It only took an instant for both energies to clash!

A burst of light illuminated the area under the Barrier in its entirety!

The roar of thunder had never echoed so powerfully!

Both Bolts connected, fought, and intertwined, painting the area with a thousand different hues!

The clash of Lightning and Red Lightning sent dazzling sparks in every direction. Hundreds of fragments flew and fought, every charged particle refused to let down or disappear!

As if it had been swallowed by a sudden darkness, the clashing energies suddenly and quietly disappeared, leaving only those sparks and fragments that had managed to escape lingering in the air.

"That..." The General of Wrath could barely believe his eyes.

The panting white-scaled Monster was just as much in disbelief. Death had been avoided thanks to that Magic Skill. It held less Mana than the General's, but the opposing forces seemed to negate one another.

 "THAT WAS FUCKING AMAZING! RED LIGHTNING? REALLY? I'VE ONLY SEEN THAT WHEN I SHOOT MY LIGHTNING AT THE CLOUDS ON A RAINY NIGHT! AND THEY ONLY GO UPWARDS! THAT'S AMAZING MONSTER!!"

The white-scaled Monster let out a chuckle.

He had somehow survived-

"LET'S DO IT AGAIN!" The General of Wrath shouted as he pointed once again.

Mark's heart dropped.

Mana Points... Less than a fifth.

Not enough to use that Magic Skill.

Not enough to do anything.

It's coming! An attack so fast that it... Mark?

Why aren't you moving? Dodging? A Magic Skill? Something?

'I hope Laylah finds Krista. I bought enough time, right?'

Wait, wait, wait, WHAT?

What happened to getting rid of him? To not wasting your potential? To becoming...? Didn't you choose this? Commanders, Generals, and Demon Lords? 'There's nothing I can do, is there?' There must be something!

You're... Letting yourself get killed? Like you did in front of that Commander? In front of Ani?

'This is different, isn't it?'

But you can do it!

You're stronger now, aren't you?

'A General... Is too big a jump. This isn't the Dungeon anymore... Not everything I meet has been put there for me to beat.'

So you're just... Dying now?

'I've done all I could. Even the me of the past, of my past life... Can't ask for more than that.'

Where's your drive? Your Greed? Your-

'I am greedy. Greedy to do everything I can do. Greedy to get everything I can get. I won't get mad about being unable to do the impossible though. I won't... Not anymore.'

The General pointed.

"Let's run it back, Monster!"

A deadly attack that can't be dodged approaches!