My (Monster?) Hero Life

Chapter 206: Purification

Sophia was accumulating minor injuries at a rapid pace during her exchange with Sarah. The only reason she had not kicked the bucket so far was Shadow's constant interference whenever Sarah gained an advantage. Sophia gasped as Sarah's dagger bit into her leg, drawing a steady stream from her. Almost at the same time, a shadowy scythe emerged from Sarah's rear, forcing her to escape once again.

Her brows knitted in frustration as she watched the blade slice through the now empty space that her waist had just recently occupied. 'If I lose my concentration for even a moment, that'll be the end of me.' Sophia was enough of a headache as it was. The faster reactions that she held due to being a vampire allowed her to barely keep tabs on Sarah. Allowing her to defend against four out of five blows.

Sarah liked to end her fights quickly, her whole style now resolved around, killing her opponent in as little as time as possible. So it was getting on her nerves that Sophia was managing to hold out, and Shadow's attacks were just making it even harder for her. She had thought that getting rid of Kace would allow them to deal with these two quickly, but apparently, that was not what was transpiring. 

Meanwhile, Dao was beginning to irritate Phillip. No matter what spell he threw at the sturdy vampire, it would quickly be blocked with a shield of blood. Dao was painstakingly closing the distance towards Daniel's shield. His Earth assault-type spells were quite weak, posing no threat to him. Once he shook off the sea of flames that Phillip had targeted him with he dropped all thoughts of defence.

He used this moment to quickly cross the last bit of distance between himself and Daniel. His fist shot out like a hammer, as his blood encased it in a dome. At the last second, a bloody spike was formed at its tip. Creating an impressive piercing ability. Tremors could be felt in a small area around them as his attack met the shield. Large cracks formed across its surface, but it held against the mighty blow!

Dao's eyes widened in surprise. How powerful did that spell have to be to be able to stop his attack? It certainly could not be as simple as it looked. In the next moment, his body was enveloped in flames. With Daniel still safe behind the shield, Phillip had used the opportunity to finally land a direct blow on the vampire!

Dao's skin went through a process of melting and rapid healing. The new skin made him constantly appear to be bright pink to look at. The pain was worse than he had imagined, but he endured against it. He drew back his fist and slammed it against the shield for a second time! His determination was admirable.

However, the shield had already begun to repair itself from his blow, and his second was not up to the same level. So he yet again failed to make a breakthrough. 'If I can't go through it, I'll just go around it!' Dao resolved himself for the pain that was about to come!

He manipulated his own blood to become tens of thousands of needles coursing through his veins. Then he imbued each needle with a concoction of different poisons that his body had gathered over the years. The whole process only took a few seconds, causing him to smile as he willed them to exit his body!

Daniel and Phillip gasped in surprise as numerous yellow, green needles erupted from Dao's body. Effectively shredding himself. What was even more surprising was that they dispersed into a mist-like state when they reached a certain point away from him. Tainting the surrounding air with their colour. Daniel was the first to accidentally inhale the toxic cloud that they were now standing in due to his surprise.

Dao, collapsed to the ground, unmoving. It had used up a lot of his energy to perform this ability, so he was unable to take advantage of it. Daniel began to cough. A thick yellowish fluid spluttered from his mouth. Frothy bubbles were contained within it. He coughed again, and this time there was some red mixed in. His eyes went wide as he stared at the vampire on the ground.

"Sir! Get away!" Daniel tried to warn Phillip of what was happening as soon as he realised what was happening.

Daniel's body had been invaded with a highly corrosive toxin. It was like swallowing acid, except it went to your lungs. Once the mist had entered his lungs, it had turned into a liquid state. Slowly burning away at them. As soon as a hole appeared in the lung, it would drip down to begin the same process against the other organs.

Daniel fell on his knees, unable to cope with the pain anymore. The process was pure torture, and death seemed to be taking its time in coming to claim him. His eyes looked towards Phillip, only to see him smiling as he walked uncaringly through the mist. 

"Hmph, you really thought something like this could kill me?" Phillip laughed as he neared Dao, walking straight past Daniel as any signs of life began to leave his eyes.

"H-how?" Dao stammered, he was certain that there was enough poison surrounding them to kill this hero more than a few times over. 

"Tell me, do you know what one of the best ways to purify something is?" Phillip smiled mockingly at the pathetic sight on the ground.

"To burn away any impurities" Dao finally answered as his eyes narrowed. Understanding finally reached him. He had thought he had been successful because Phillip had not done anything to his toxin in the air. It was only because he was soo close now that Dao could see the faint traces of smoke escaping from Phillip's mouth and nostrils. 

'He's crazy! To think that he would detonate a fire spell of such heat in his own lungs just to purify my poison! Something's not right! He should have killed himself doing that!'