Apocalypse Baby

Strike and run. That's all Alex could do.

He darted through the trees, setting explosions and tossing [Blastshards] whenever he had the chance.

Cockatrice claws thundered behind him, their screeches piercing through the air.

As one got too close, he swung his [Eclipse Edge], slicing through its feathers before lobbing another [Blastshard] into the horde.

Another explosion erupted, and several cockatrices were blown back, screeching as they fell.

But there were always more.

Alex didn't let himself slow down.

The plan was simple: strike, run, and repeat. He threw [Blastshards] and set traps with [Explosion Touch] as he sprinted, blowing up trees to slow down the ones hot on his heels.

Each time he paused to swing or set a trap, he dashed off again, never giving them a clear shot at him.

Six hours had passed, and still, the wave of cockatrices surged after him, relentless.

His mind spun, struggling to predict where they'd come from next, but they seemed to swarm in from every direction like a nightmare.

The curse wasn't helping either.

No matter how far he sprinted, the curse acted like a beacon, drawing them to him the moment he thought he had a break.

The more cockatrice blood he spilled, the stronger the curse seemed to get, luring in any cockatrice nearby with an almost magnetic pull.

His legs felt like lead, and his sword arm ached from the constant swings, yet he couldn't stop.

He leaped onto a branch, trying to catch a second's rest, but a cockatrice sprang up from below, flapping its wings furiously.

Normally, they didn't fly or jump high, but the hatred and curse had driven them to desperate, unnatural feats.

Alex reacted instantly, flipping over the cockatrice and severing its wing mid-air, sending it crashing below. Before it even hit the ground, he tossed a [Blastshard] behind him.

The explosion scattered feathers and talons, but that was the last of his [Blastshards]. He was out.

[You have leveled up!]

[+5 stat points]

[Power Stone: Strength]

Alex shouted, grabbing the power stone he had gotten and using it as well:

"Add the 5 points to vitality!"

He had used up all the stats points he had stockpiled including his power stones.

The stat points and powerstones he earned each level were his lifeline, keeping him going as he fought wave after wave of cockatrices.

With each level-up, his energy renewed, if only for a short time. This time, he poured the points into vitality, boosting his health and stamina to hold off the mounting exhaustion.

His heartbeat steadied, and his muscles loosened. And he continued.

As he ran, he noticed the swarm around him had thinned.

Dozens of cockatrices lay fallen in his wake; he hadn't kept count, but he was sure he'd slain close to fifty.

He spotted a group ahead, blocking his path.

Without hesitation, he picked up speed, gripping [Eclipse Edge] tightly.

His momentum powered the swing as he cut through the first cockatrice's neck, sending feathers flying.

[Eclipse Edge] had tasted a lot of blood tonight, but Alex didn't slow down.

Four more cockatrices rushed him, their screeches almost deafening.

He met their charge, one precise swing after another.

His swordsmanship had evolved since he'd first wielded the blade, every swing smoother, more controlled.

His boosted agility made the creatures look sluggish, every move was easy to dodge.

With his increased strength, each strike cut deep, slicing through them as if they were made of paper.

As the last of the group fell, Alex leaned on his sword, panting.

His lungs burned, his muscles ached.

Part of him wanted to collapse, to let it all end, but he knew he couldn't.

Then he heard a bone-chilling screech.

He looked up and froze.

Descending from the shadows was a cockatrice larger than the others, its feathers reddish as crimson and eyes blazing with hate.

It was a cockatrice boss similar to Dreadfeather.

The Cockatrice looked different from the others, its feathers marked with streaks of orange and red around its neck like a fiery mane.

Its throat bulged, a sign it was about to attack.

From experience, Alex knew that meant it would use [Sonic Blast].

But then a notification flashed:

[Flame Blessed Cockatrice Infernia - Rank D]

Alex whispered: "Flame…?"

Before he could react, the cockatrice opened its beak, unleashing a torrent of fire.

He threw himself to the side just in time, feeling a burning sting as the flames grazed his arm.

His heart hammered as the Flame Cockatrice swept its head to follow him, keeping the fire aimed right at him.

Desperate, Alex dodged—only to stumble right into the path of a regular cockatrice. And before he could raise his guard, it clamped its beak into his shoulder, fangs sinking in deep.

"Argh!" Alex gritted his teeth as hot pain surged through his shoulder. Blood poured from the wound, and his arm quickly went numb.

Gritting his teeth, he raised [Eclipse Edge] and stabbed the creature's skull, shoving it back.

They crashed into a nearby tree, sending a tremor through his aching body.

Alex pried his arm free, but blood kept flowing from the wound, each heartbeat making him feel weaker. And then—his senses flared with danger.

Another stream of fire roared toward him. With no other choice, he summoned [Aegis Shield].

The barrier of light flickered to life just in time, blocking the flames. Alex could feel the shield trembling against the power of the blast.

Finally, the cockatrice ran out of fuel and stopped.

Alex took his chance. He let out a shout and used [Sonic Howl], the shockwave hitting the Flame Cockatrice and sending it stumbling backward.

Panting, he knew he had no time to lose.

Summoning the [Shop], he quickly bought four health potions, ignoring the price.

He gulped down two of them, letting their healing warmth seep through his body, easing the pain and restoring his strength.

He stashed the remaining two for later, feeling ready for round two.

The Flame Cockatrice had already recovered, glaring at him with renewed hatred. But before Alex could charge, a sinister voice came from behind him.

"A creature who can use a cockatrice's [Sonic Blast]... how interesting," it sneered.

Alex spun around, eyes narrowing. It was the same creepy cockatrice that had led the horde straight to him. Its cold, calculating gaze unsettled him.

And then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted another cockatrice approaching—this one was leaner, with powerful legs built for speed.

Now he was surrounded, each cockatrice boss forming a deadly triangle around him.

His mind raced. The speed-based cockatrice could probably strike and retreat faster than he could keep up, and the Flame Cockatrice could engulf him in fire at any moment.

But the sinister one... he couldn't read it.

Its presence alone was enough to send a chill down his spine.

Alex used [Identify], and a notification popped up:

[Cockatrice General Azurnyx- Rank D]

"A general?" he muttered, eyes narrowing. Now he was dealing with two bosses and a general.

Injured as he was, facing three powerful cockatrices was going to be a nightmare.

This general might not have flashy abilities, but there was something about its calm stare that made Alex's skin crawl.

Then, to his surprise, the cockatrice general spoke in a raspy voice, "Did you kill Dreadfeather?"

The name made Alex grit his teeth.

Dreadfeather—the cockatrice that had set him up with this curse in the first place.

He replied coolly: "I did. Are you here for vengeance?"

The general tilted its head, studying him:

"Not really. Tradition demands we take out anyone who kills a leader. But Dreadfeather's not the reason I'm here. You—how did you steal his ability?"

Alex shrugged, playing it off:

"I don't know magic."

The cockatrice's eyes narrowed with clear annoyance. It sighed, its face turning cold and serious:

"I'll make this simple, human. Surrender. If you present your head to me, I'll make sure the rest of you is offered to our king."

Alex's brows rose:

"King? You have contact with your king?"

The general lifted its head proudly:

"Yes. I'm one of his generals, after all."

A glimmer of realization dawned in Alex's eyes, followed by a grin.

'Finding the Cockatrice King... that could be my way out of this curse.'

He held up [Eclipse Edge], pointing it directly at the general:

"I'll make you a better offer, bird. How about you tell me where your king is, and I'll spare you the pain of ripping the information out of your beak myself?"

For a split second, the three cockatrices glanced at each other as if Alex had lost his mind. In a way, maybe he had.

The general sneered, a dangerous glint in its eye: "You don't understand your position, human. It's three against one."

Alex smirked, unfazed:

"Three?"

He gave the general a mocking look, then vanished into the darkness, his voice echoing around them:

"All I see are two corpses and a general begging for mercy. You want to hunt? Fine. Let's play your little game. But mark my words—I'll wipe out every trace of cockatrice in this forest."