Two Blood Mutants and eight Screamers. A few moments ago, Ace was in the middle of a battle between one Screamer beast, a creature with the ability to scream so loud that it would blow an individual off their feet. In his fight against the best, the red Blood Mutant had succumbed to the Screamer’s powerful screams which blew him onto a tree. After words, the Mutant, only seconds away from death, embraced its fate and waited for the Screamer to finish it off. At the last moment, however, another red Blood Mutant appeared and rammed its body into the Screamer, pinning it on the forest floors while clawing and scratching away at the beast. The Screamer, having had enough, kicked the second Blood Mutant off and let out a light scream calling for backup, alerting the other screamers around it for help. "You better pull out every trick, skill, and ability in your arsenal, Ace." Cherry angrily muttered while pressing her back against her brothers. With her hands turned into blades and blood tendrils on her back, the female Mutant prepared herself for battle. The male Mutant, not wanting to take risks either, decided to pull out every trick he possessed but also strategically planned every move. "Let’s deal with this one before the others get here!!" Ace sprinted for the Screamer, his hands turned into blades with tendrils shooting forth at the beast. The beast, upon seeing the Mutant pursuing it, opened its mouth once more and prepared to scream. "An opening!!" Ace leaped forward, his body spinning in a circular motion with his tendrils wrapped around his body. While doing so, he created blood spikes and lashed them at the Screamer, more specifically its mouth. The Screamer screeched, its mouth injured by a thick blood spike. Black, steaming blood oozed from its wound and since it was injured, it wasn’t able to scream...for the time being. [Blood Control Skill: Activated.] Still spinning at the beast, Ace held out his claws and controlled the blood within the beast, At this stage of his Blood Strength and Blood Control, he was more than able to feel every ounce of blood within his targets. Thankfully, the Screamer was a beast of average size, therefore allowing Ace to feel all of its blood within. *SWIP* Updates are released by 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡⁂𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚⁂𝙣𝙚𝙩 The beast, feeling its muscles stiffen, was forcefully kept in place as the Mutant’s body drilled through it. Black steaming blood, bones, and guts splattered everywhere as soon as the Mutant’s body passed through it. Ace, quickly getting back on his feet, turned back at the beast and saw the large, gashing hole he caused in it. The creature’s feeble body crumbed into a black smoke-like texture and slowly dispersed with the wind. ’No way!!’ Ace gasped in disbelief. Even though he had just killed the beast, he was finding it incredibly hard to believe that he killed the creature so easily. With this inner conflict taking place, the Blood Mutant found it hard to believe that it had killed the Screamer so easily. Its system, having given a high reward upon completion of the quest, made the Mutant think that it would be incredibly challenging to kill the Screamers. However, this quick and easy kill was too suspicious for his liking. [+1 New Blood Sample Acquired.] "They’re coming." Cherry called out, blood spikes forming next to her as she prepared for whatever was heading toward her. Ace, still reluctant to believe that he killed a screamer so easily, stood next to his sister and waited. A few seconds passed and the ground beneath them started to rumble. Ahead, the screams and grunts of Screamers were heard as the beasts approached them. Knowing that they were now slightly easy to kill, Ace wasted no time and activated his combo aspect. "If you are still interested, I can show you the Blood Fire Skill," he spoke to Cherry who agreed immediately. "Much like the explosive technique, the combustion skill requires you to focus and concentrate on the heating aspect of your blood. Focus on that aspect and keep it stable enough to ignite your blood into flames." "Sounds manageable." Cherry responded while creating a blood sword using her blood. While she got to work on igniting flames, Ace’s claws for hands spiraled with blood spinning around them, eventually initiating his Blood Drill Skill. [Combo Aspect: Activated] [Aspect Acquired: Blood Drill.] A whirling sound, much like an activated super drill, echoed throughout the forest as the Screamers approached the Mutants. Now within viewing range, Ace flexed his hands and increased the length and size of his drills. [New Combo Aspect acquired.] [Flaming Blood Drill.] With Cherry still forcefully learning Blood Fire, Ace stood in front of her with his flaming hands stretched forth. The Screamers, seven in number, surrounded the Mutants. For a moment, they analyzed and studied their enemies, fascinated by the red designs on their bodies and the pink flames generated by the tall one. As for Ace, he slowly and carefully observed the Screamers, waiting for the first one to attack. [Blood Sprint: Activated.] Not waiting for the Screamers to attack first, Ace sprinted at the closest one with the palm of his right hand folded into a fist. The creature’s body turned into smoke and disappeared, letting the Mutant’s body run into nothing. It reappeared again from the back with its hand ready to strike at his neck. With quick, precise moves, the Mutant ducked and delivered a side sweep with his foot, nearly knocking the Screamer off balance. The other Screamers ran at Ace with two still looking at Cherry. Having anticipated this, Ace cut his hands and spilled blood all over the ground. Once the Screamers got close enough, he activated the Explosive Blood technique and blew appendages off the beasts. Roaring with delight at their misery, the Blood Mutant joined its hands together and formed one large drill. In one great swipe, Ace’s flaming drills flew threw the heads of the Screamers. To his disappointment, they all disappeared into smoke and reappeared again, denying him the opportunity to kill them.