CHAPTER 36: TRANSFORMATION

A loud, painful growl escaped Derrick’s lips as the beast skewered him like meat on a stick and dangled him in the air. Isabella watched helplessly; her body felt weak, as if she would faint at any moment. Her temperature skyrocketed with each passing second making her skin look bright pink in color.

She weakly climbed to her feet and slashed her blade at the giant demogorgon, but the blade bounced off without even piercing its skin. The monster didn’t even spare her a glance; instead, its mouth opened wide as it planned to devour Derrick whole.

Derrick roared in pain as he thrashed at the beast, but he was helpless to do anything. But suddenly, he heard a loud yelp as Allison charged at the demogorgon with flailing hands. Just then, a wave of energy washed over Derrick.

In a primal roar, he freed himself and attacked the demogorgon at full force. Isabella also felt her overall stats increased, and a wave of power washed over her.

"What is happening?" she questioned, but couldn’t find a reason for this change.

She glanced at Derrick, and he too seemed to be bursting with power, but then her gaze turned to Allison, and her eyes widened. Allison had been affected by the full moon just like her brothers. She had white fluffy ears on the top of her head and a long white tail, along with several yellow tattoos covering her body. But what struck her as strange was that Allison seemed to be glowing, almost like a light bulb.

While Derrick fought against the demogorgon, Allison rushed over to check on her.

"Isabella, are you alright?"

"Yes, I’m fine, thank you. What is happening? It feels as if a surge of new energy is flowing into me."

"Oh, that’s my trait," Allison explained. "I can temporarily boost the stats of those who are in my pack. Since we’re sisters, it’s making you stronger too."

Isabella blushed when Allison called her her sister, but she quickly shook her head to dispel the incoming thoughts. Allison stared at her, looking a bit confused.

"Are you okay? How are you not being affected by the full moon?" Allison asked, noticing Isabella lack of change.

"I’m not sure."

Isabella wasn’t sure why she wasn’t affected by the full moon, but she was half certain it had something to do with her half-vampire side. Nonetheless, she was determined to fight. Derrick didn’t share as fast a healing as her and Liam; he was severely weakened from his wounds.

Isabella rushed forward to help Derrick as he was teetering on the edge of death. With the added boost from Allison, she wasn’t as weak as before. This time, it was as if the demogorgon could sense her sudden increase in strength, as it immediately let out a loud screech as she approached.

Isabella ducked below its first attack, which was aimed to cut her head from her body. It wasn’t her speed that allowed her to dodge the attack; it was her fighting instincts and training. From the moment she could walk, her mother had taught her how to fight and subsequently kill. She had no loving family that cared for her, only a mother that demanded the absolute best.

Her movements were precise and lethal as she moved around the demogorgon’s attacks. She danced around the beast’s incoming attacks like child’s play as she slashed away at its flesh with her daggers.

The demogorgon roared in pain, but it was helpless to keep up with Isabella’s movements. Her eyes zoned in on everything about the creature, the movements of its muscles, the tightening of its skin, with just this little information, she could predict its movements with pinpoint accuracy.

Yet still, she wasn’t creating enough damage to actually kill the demogorgon. What’s more, her stamina was draining quickly. But she didn’t have to keep up her attack much longer; she only had to distract the beast long enough for Derrick to land the final blow.

With the demogorgon distracted from chasing after Isabella, Derrick readied his final attack. He activated his skill Steel Slash, which was an attack that allowed him to harden his claws, making them 5x sharper. He had the demogorgon in his sights, and his claws were poised to deliver the final blow, but just as the attack was going to land, the wounded demogorgon from before thrust itself in the way.

Derrick’s claws pierced through the beast’s heart, killing it instantly.

[You have slain a level 1 demogorgon.]

"No! Dammit!"

Derrick growled in frustration and prepared himself for another attack, but it was already too late. The larger demogorgon realized what was happening and attacked Derrick before he could even make a move.

The beast plunged its needle-like finger into his chest. Blood poured from Derrick’s mouth as his eyes opened wide in horror. His mind was in a daze and the only thing he could hear was his sisters’ screaming his name.

Allison and Isabella’s eyes widened as it felt as if their whole world was collapsing in front of them. It felt as if their bond with Derrick was slowly slipping away. At that moment, Isabella’s body temperature climbed so high that steam began flowing from her pores. Her body temperature was so high that Allison, who stood beside her, could feel the scorching heat.

Isabella’s skin turned a bright shade of red, as if she was turning into the devil herself. Pointed black horns that looked like those of a ram grew from her head as wings similar to those of a bat exploded from her back. Her wingspan was roughly the size of a small car. A long, pointed black reptilian-like tail fell between her legs.

The white part of her eyes had turned black, and her iris glowed a deep shade of orange. Isabella stared at the demogorgon with cold eyes and a strong feeling of hatred bubbling in her chest. The air around her was scorching hot causing steam to puff from her breath. She extended her hand forward and immediately, a small orb of blood started to manifest in front of her.

[Full moon skill acquired: Blood Manipulation Level 1.]

The orb of blood continued to grow until it was the size of a football. Then, in a loud explosion that shook the entire building causing the blood to burst forward at lightning speed. In the aftermath of the devastating attack, the demogorgon stood with the top half its body blown to bits.

[You have slain a level 3 Demogorgon.]