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.

sliced through skin and muscle as it cut deep into the bone. Blood splattered everywhere and turned the ground red. But his defenses were

blade again. With a mighty swing,

scene made the spectators shudder. They hadn’t expected George to

it began to decay rapidly. Within moments, the entire

be your hand you’d be

poisonous creature cultivated by the Mystic Arts Order. Though it appeared small and harmless, it was dangerous. Anyone bitten by it would dissolve into a puddle

expected him to have the resolve to cut off his own

Not a chance!” George’s expression was a twisted scowl. As

sharp, black blade quickly emerged from where his hand had been severed.

of monster is this? A severed hand turning

this gorilla must have

“Ugh! That’s gross.”

from the spectators. It finally dawned

his arms could reshape into weapons. Transforming his fists into blades increased his offensive power and raised

for you. But since

edges gleamed with a dark,

won’t let you suffer too much. After all, I

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