NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 1268: Hermes Goes All-Out Too
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Hermes let out a long sigh, he knew that things were only going to get worse from now, but he couldn't help but desire a break, fighting from day to day, for a whole week, against aliens that only kept getting stronger… It was truly exhausting.
He simply couldn't understand how Blake was doing it, he kept winning and winning, and he never seemed stressed, or even bothered by every daily battle.
If anything, Hermes, deep down, could even see the truth behind Blake's calm demeanor, and how he envisioned each battle as some kind of great challenge.
He had a goal, perhaps even greater than just protecting humanity, and it was beyond his wildest dreams, a goal that surpassed all of this.
Blake relished each battle, even as he lost valuable allies and friends, he continued battling, evolving, improving.
Relentlessly…
Hermes wasn't like him, and he knew he could never be like Blake, no matter how hard he would try, it was simply impossible.
But, well, he never tried to begin with, Blake felt like someone that trusted him, despite how little trust Hermes had in himself.
Even then, thanks to Blake and his trust, and the friends he gathered, he slowly regained more of his own motivation, to be more useful, to help out more.
"I guess I'll have to take the risk, for once…!"
With their new home so close now, perhaps it was time for him to also show off a little, if anything.
To put more effort and give it his all.
Even if it means risking his life, or even sacrificing it.
"Enough with just… running away or being afraid…."
His eyes glowed bright red, as he suddenly felt his canine teeth grow longer like fangs.
He felt his nails growing longer, almost like claws.
His entire musculature changed, becoming bigger and taller.
FLUOSH!
At the same time, a powerful Aura of Pure Blood encompassed him and the robot, which quickly absorbed it and began to transform as well.
The machine warrior itself began to transform, its metals twisting and growing, as Hermes felt like he was slowly merging with his own robot too.
"I can't afford to be this way anymore… for the future of humanity…"
Hermes resolve continued growing as the power of the Ability Blake had given to him continued activating, its supernatural powers merging his body and mind with his Machine Warrior.
"You gave me the power to fight back and be something else than just another pilot, Blake…!"
He gripped his metallic fists tightly, as his machine continued transforming, growing less bulky, and more slender and taller.
CLANK!
With even more humanoid features than before, black and red armor resembling a black regal suit and even pants and shoes.
With a long cape made of Blood Essence, and the humanoid face of the Machine Warrior becoming very humanoid and less blocky.
CLANK! CLANK!
With long white hair made out of silver metal strands, proud neon red eyes, and sharp vampiric fangs.
The fingers of the Machine Warrior, round and not made for combat, grew to a huge size, becoming sharp and black colored like blades.
CLANK! CLANK! CLANK!
It spread a pair of bat-like wings made of black and red metal right after that, as the Machine Warrior's transformation was done.
A fusion between Hermes and his Machine Warrior through the activation of this amazing Ability that Blake had gifted to him.
Just like Patrick and Emilia, Hermes had gone beyond!
"So I'll show everyone I can also fight back against them…! And that I can also create a future for humanity…" Hermes thought, smiling proudly. "Even if I'm deep down still afraid, and even if I cannot truly believe on my own strength quite yet…"
FLAAASH!
His Machine Warrior's transformation was done, as a powerful Aura combining Electromagnetic Energies and Blood Energy erupted from the robot and Hermes combined as one.
"I have to just give it a try and do what I must!"
Hermes quickly harnessed this new power, flowing through his body! His heart felt like it stopped beating, and he became incredibly cold.
But at the same time, he felt incredibly euphoric, fueled by a feeling of adrenaline like nothing before this.
"[Blood King Transformation]!"
RUMBLE!
As the Ability was fully activated, Hermes rushed down, barely managing to catch on to the titanic fist coming towards the pilots from beneath.
"I won't let you harm them! I am your opponent, son of Agonitias!"
He harnessed all his power into his Vampiric Claws, Electromagnetic Energies and Blood Energy merging together into a giant Blood Thunder Sword.
CLAAASH!
The massive sword impacted the giant, armored fist that came from below, as an explosion of crimson lightning erupted everywhere, as a powerful Aura of Purple colored energy coming from the Son of Agonitias clashed against Hermes, pushing him back.
"HAH! YOU THINK A PUNNY LITTLE HUMAN CAN GO AGAINST ME?!"
The furious Xenoid spoke through telepathic messages, incredibly loudly at that, as he swung his three other giant, muscular, armored arms, aiming to smash Hermes into pieces.
"DIEEEE!"
CRASH! CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!
"UUGGH?!"
Hermes groaned, vomiting blood as his entire robot, merged with him, rapidly was torn to shreds, his arms and legs were torn apart, metal and flesh separating.
"A-Ah…! So at the end…"
Hermes glanced at his mechanical body being demolished.
"I still couldn't even… do much, huh?
He felt his consciousness being slowly swallowed by darkness, as he felt like he melted away, disappearing.
"So this is what my resolve amounted for…"
He felt his own mind and soul drifting into the nothingness, the void of darkness where nothing existed.
Soon, he too would fade away.
"This is… the afterlife?"
As he sighed, thinking that he had died so pathetically after trying to become a hero…
Suddenly, the flow of the river of the void stopped.
And his soul remained still.
"Oh my, what's this?"
And he heard the voice of a woman echoing within the darkness.
As he tried to find its origin, suddenly…
TRUUUM!
Two massive crimson eyes glared at him from within the endless darkness, constantly spiraling chaotically.
"To think my dear Asmodeus would so willingly give away his Vampiric Power to a punny human like you… It's almost adorable how soft he has grown~!"
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