231 A green crescent moon
The alpha grizzly bear swung its paw out of fear, but Vincent quickly caught with a firm grip and stopped it. Vincent opened his mouth wide and viciously bit the paw multiple times like a rabid beast.
The alpha grizzly bear contorted its face from pain and lifted its paw, but Vincent remained stuck like a dog that didnât want to let go of the stick.
The alpha grizzly bear then started swinging its paw, but no matter how much up and down Vincent was waved like a piece of cloth, he remained attached to the paw with an unyielding bite.
The alpha grizzly bear used the other paw to attack Vincent, but no matter how many lacerations Vincent suffered from, his teeth remained stuck, and his bloodshot glare never wavered.
Overload Vincent felt no fear, no pain, and had no thoughts. He was a being blinded by rage and violence. Not even Kazumiâs telepathic voice could reach him in this state.
However, it seemed there was a slight ray of hope. The retainer soul connection appeared to have some results in changing Overload Vincentâs actions.
After a few swings later, Vincent released his bite and landed on his feet. Vincent cracked his neck and exhaled *Haa~*
Vincent curled his fingers and bolted forward. He swung his arms and slashed the bearâs large leg.
Vincent then dodged an incoming swing. He extended his hands forward and dug his fingers deep in the bearâs arm.
.....
Vincent quickly climbed the arm, one hand after the other. Later, he stood atop the alpha grizzly bearâs back and menacingly glared down at it.
Vincent raised his arms and viciously swung his curled claw-like fingers against the alpha grizzly bearâs back. Swing after the other, the back was at Vincentâs mercy as the blood spilled everywhere.
The lacerations stacking up with every swing were making the monstrous bear grunt in agony. The alpha grizzly bear tried its best to shake Vincent off. However, it appeared to be futile.
Vincent utilized his perception and rode the bear like a surfboard in a storm. However, something happened. Overload Vincent grunted and abruptly fell off the alpha grizzly bearâs back.
Vincent pulled himself up and moved quite differently than before. He raised his hands and said with a deep hoarse voice, âThis blood on my hands must be...â Vincent raised his gaze and noticed the heavily injured alpha grizzly bear.
âIâm glad the gamble with my life on the line worked. But the bear is still alive.â Vincent thought as his eyes scanned the injures of the alpha grizzly bear.
âV-vincent, is that you? â Iris said in a weary voice. Vincent spoke for the first time after he became vicious yet protective.
Vincent turned around and noticed Iris covered by multiple patches of red blood on her leaf dress riddled with cuts, yet not a single scratch could be seen on her smooth gray skin.
âThis form might not last for one more minute. Stay back, Iris. I will end it now once and for all. Everyoneâs future rests on my shoulders. â Vincent said with a pair of radiant emerald eyes blazing with conviction.
Iris nodded and begged, âPlease donât die. I canât watch you die for me anymore.â
Tears began sliding on her cheeks because her heart couldnât watch Vincent receive a mortal wound and regenerate over and over again. Iris never knew when the next injury wouldnât heal and never see Vincent get up again.
Iris tried to stand up, but her legs were still numb. âI... I canât walk. My legs canât move. I-Iâm sorry. Leave me here to die.â
âStop!â *Sigh* âDonât you dare wish for your death one more time!â Vincent slightly lost control of his anger and shouted with a vicious hoarse voice.
[I hope you can hear me this time...]
[Relax and keep your thoughts steady...]
[Donât let Overloadâs vicious nature consume you...]n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
-Thank you, Kazumi. I needed to hear your voice of reason to think about you and calm this insatiable anger.-
[Ahh! Itâs a good thing you can hear me...]
[But it also means that Overload form doesnât have much time remaining...]
[I would like to assist you, but I am at my limit...]
âKazumi, Iris, you donât have to worry about me now. Iâm in control for now and will end this death match.â Vincent reassured.
âThe adrenaline coursing in my veins makes me feel as if I can do anything. However, I can perceive so many things that it feels disorienting to stay still. And...â Vincent revealed his teeth, and a deep vicious expression appeared on his face.
âI canât control all this anger. Resisting the urge to shed blood is killing me.â He continued.
*Growl* The alpha grizzly bear felt the intense pressure of dread decrease. The chaotic murderous intent extruding from Overload Vincentâs body stabilized, and the feeling of dread mostly disappeared.
The alpha grizzly bear landed on its front paws and glared at Vincent. It started to think Vincent became weaker. Thus, it might be the perfect chance to attack.
Vincent closed his eyes and faced the alpha grizzly bear. He inhaled a deep breath and exhaled a cloud of green steam. His eyes opened, and his left foot slammed on the ground with enough force to produce multiple deep cracks in the ground.
His left arm raised next. âWhat are you waiting for? â Vincent asked while signaling with his left hand to bring it on.
The alpha grizzly bear roared and charged at Vincent. It opened its large maws to bite Vincent, yet such action was a distraction.
Vincent raised his arms and took a fighting pose. âSo, itâs going for a bite? Let me counter with... Huh?â He was thinking while waiting for the charging alpha grizzly bear to reach striking distance and counter attack.
*Splatter* Multiple earth spikes extended from the ground. Several earth spikes pierced both Vincentâs legs and upper body locking him in place.
Vincent couldnât move, and the alpha grizzly bear didnât stop. An ordinary person would start counting the seconds until their death. However, Vincent didnât seem that bothered about this sneaky trap.
A familiar memory flashed in his mind causing a sly smirk to raise on his face. For everything Vincent experienced up until this point, it was nothing, and he didnât fluster.
âHere, take your prize then.â Vincent extended his left arm and waited, and waited, and waited... *Chomp!* sharp teeth dug in his left arm. Boiling mutated blood flowed from his arm, and a trail of hot steam leaked upwards.
The alpha grizzly bear released his bite as the heat became too much to resist. However, a problem occurred. It eliminated the ability to let go of the scalding hot arm.
Vincent could feel his hand slightly move, meaning his arm wasnât severed yet. When Vincent felt the bearâs tongue under his hand furiously move from the pain, he gripped the tongue tightly with all the remaining power left in his arm.
The muscles of the bearâs maws suddenly contracted from intense pain, and the large mouth abruptly closed on its own. The teeth once again bit Vincentâs arm with the crunching sound of breaking bones.
Vincent slightly contorted his face. Overload was reducing most of the pain from the adrenaline and thoughts of aggression.
Vincent raised a vicious smirk and said with a terrifying hoarse voice, âAn eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth. A body part for a body part. Ha Ha Ha Ha Haâ
A burst of dreadful killing intent expanded from Vincentâs body. Vincent straightened his fingers like a blade. Then he swung his right arm from down to up at terrifying speed.
In the blink of an eye, blood splattered vigorously. A large green crescent arch resembling a crescent moon shot out of the alpha grizzly bearâs neck and kept traveling until it met with the wall. However, it seemed nothing could stop it.
The large green crescent arch made out of condensed mutated mana penetrated the wall like a hot knife touching butter and kept digging for up to twelve meters after it lost all the magic to continue.
The smell of something burning surrounded them. Furthermore, green smoke rose from the new linear crevice in the melted earth.
The twelve meter laceration in the ground demonstrated the sheer might of a charged attack with five charges. Additionally, it displayed how the Overload could empower skills rather than stats alone.
*Thud* The alpha grizzly bearâs head with Vincentâs left arm clasped in its maws fell on the ground.
Vincent touched the alpha grizzly bearâs head and body. Both gradually shone bright green, and mana particles containing data flew into Vincentâs chest. The absorption speed was much faster than usual.
.
[1x Severed Alpha Brown Grizzly Bear Head (Rare Quality) gained.]
[1x Headless Alpha Brown Grizzly Bear Body (Rare Quality) gained.]
[1x Medium Earth Core Stage One (Rare Quality) gained.]
[1x Charged Hardened Mutated Blood Gauntlet (Unkown Quality) gained.]
[1x Severed Mutated Arm (Unkown Quality) gained.]
.
Vincent took a quick glance at the destruction in the wall his attack left. Vincent became surprised, but he quickly shook his head and glanced at his left arm. A cloud of green steam raised from the stump, slowly but gradually reconstructing his arm back as it was before.
.
[Promised Quest: Protect the goblin tribe of [Blessed Retainer] Iris from the crisis. Completed.]
[Rewards]
*Reputation â Goblin Race +10
*Reputation â Pruthi Goblin Tribe +200 (Canât increase further.)
*Soul Synch â Iris +5%
*Strength stat +5 gained. Strength stat increased to 14.
*Agility stat +5 gained. Agility stat increased to 13.
*Perception stat +5 gained. Perception stat increased to 13.
.