An Understated Dominance by Marina Vittori

George grimaced in pain and flung the snake-like creature away. But the creature wouldn’t give up. It lunged at him again as soon as it hit the ground.

“You’ve got a death wish?” He snorted and smashed the creature into a scarlet mist with a single punch.

He then turned his gaze to Abigail with a malicious grin. “It’s just a little snake. You don’t actually think it could hurt me, huh?”

“Can’t hurt you? Check out the bite marks,” she replied sarcastically.

“Huh?” George looked down and saw two tiny, needle-like punctures where the creature had bitten him. The wounds were so minor that they didn’t even bleed.

However, the area around the wounds had turned a deep, unnatural black. It was darker than his skin, like ink.

The most disturbing part was that this black mark was rapidly spreading and crept into his bloodstream. Within seconds, it had covered most of his hand.

“What is this?” George’s frown deepened, and his smile faltered.

He had always prided himself on being impervious to harm, so he hadn’t thought much of the attack earlier. But the small snake-like creature had managed to penetrate his defenses with its venomous bite.

The unknown toxin was causing an unsettling throbbing in his chest. He had a sinking feeling that if the poison kept spreading, he might be in grave danger. After all, being invulnerable to weapons didn’t mean he was immune to all poisons.

George quickly transformed his left hand into a sharp, black blade. He roared and swung the weapon down hard on his right wrist.

and turned the ground red. But his defenses

blade again. With

George to be so ruthless

wrist hit the ground, it began to decay rapidly. Within moments, the entire wrist had turned

just be your hand you’d be losing.” Abigail raised an

highly poisonous creature cultivated by the Mystic Arts Order. Though it appeared small and harmless, it was dangerous. Anyone bitten by

to have the resolve to cut off his

Not a chance!” George’s expression was a twisted scowl. As he spoke, his severed

instantly. A sharp, black blade quickly emerged from where his hand had been severed. Compared to the blade on his left arm, the one on his right was slightly

monster is this? A severed hand turning into

this gorilla must

“Ugh! That’s gross.”

from the spectators. It finally dawned on them why he

his

and painless for you. But since you’re so ruthless, I’ll

gleamed with a dark, ominous glow in

with one blow. I won’t let you suffer too much. After all, I still have use for your

make this quick for you, but now I’ve changed my mind.” Abigail’s eyes turned cold. She raised one hand as she spoke, and a red beam shot out from her sleeve as it headed