From Sword to Slaughter: Evolution

"So what if I did?"

"I thought you'd died deep in the Emerald Forest. I never expected you to come back."

Zhang Hu sneered as he spoke.

"Then you can prepare to die!"

Ye Lan's expression twisted in rage as he let out a low growl and charged forward with the Glimmering Shadow Sword. His speed was astonishing, and in an instant, his sword was at Zhang Hu's throat.

Clang—

Zhang Hu was quick to react, parrying the strike with his long blade. With a powerful shove, he pushed Ye Lan's sword aside and swung his blade at Ye Lan's body. Despite Ye Lan's heightened reflexes, he couldn't completely evade the attack, and Zhang Hu's blade carved a deep wound across his chest, blood flowing freely from the gash.

"A mere second-rank warrior, you're nothing but an ant for me to crush."

Zhang Hu's eyes were filled with disdain. He had expected more from Ye Lan, but it seemed Ye Lan had only reached the peak of the second rank, still far below Zhang Hu's own third-rank power.

"Heh heh heh..."

But Ye Lan showed no fear. A crazed smile spread across his face.

"I will kill you."

He repeated the words like a mantra, his eyes fixed on the sword in his hand. At his command, his life force began to flow from his body, seeping through his pores and into the sword.

"Damn, he's going all out now?"

Ye Fan, feeling the influx of life force, could sense the sword vibrating with power. It was as if the blade itself had been invigorated, pulsing with a fierce blood-red energy.

"Power... such incredible power! Hahaha!"

Ye Lan laughed maniacally as he felt the overwhelming strength surging through him. Zhang Hu's eyes narrowed as he realized something was wrong.

How had Ye Lan suddenly grown so powerful? Now, he was at least as strong as Zhang Hu himself!

It had to be the sword!

Zhang Hu knew he couldn't afford to hold back any longer. He charged forward, his long blade raised high.

[Third-Rank Sword Technique: Gale Slash]!!!

With a leap, Zhang Hu unleashed a powerful blast of wind and energy, slicing through the air toward Ye Lan.

"You dare challenge me?!"

Ye Lan roared, meeting Zhang Hu's attack head-on with his own sword.

Boom—

Their weapons clashed, and the shockwaves from Zhang Hu's attack battered Ye Lan's body like countless blades. But this time, the blood mist surrounding Ye Lan's body, formed from his own life force, absorbed much of the impact.

"Zhang Hu!"

Ye Lan bellowed as he pushed Zhang Hu back with sheer force.

"I need more power!"

He continued to pour his life force into the sword, which responded with even greater strength.

"You're asking for death!"

Zhang Hu, both terrified and enraged, realized that without risking everything, he would be killed by Ye Lan. It was a life-or-death struggle now, and only the one with the stronger resolve would survive.

Clang, clang, clang—

Their weapons clashed again and again. Ye Fan, within the sword, watched the battle unfold with a smirk.

"You think you can break me?"

Now a B-grade weapon, enhanced by the blood it had absorbed, Ye Fan's blade was far sharper than before. This time, Zhang Hu's blade began to chip and crack under the relentless assault.

Zhang Hu was losing his nerve. Without a reliable weapon, his third-rank prowess meant little, especially against a foe wielding such a terrifying sword.

"Finish him!"

What had started as an even match had now turned into a one-sided assault, with Zhang Hu being driven back. Reinforcements from the Violent Tiger Mercenary Group arrived, rushing to deliver a fatal blow to Ye Lan.

"Get lost!"

Ye Lan roared as he swung his sword in a wide arc. A blood-red streak of light flashed, and the bodies of the attackers were sliced in two. The sword greedily drank their blood, its power growing even more intense.

Seizing the opportunity, Zhang Hu lunged forward and drove his blade through Ye Lan's chest.

"Die!"

Zhang Hu snarled, a twisted grin spreading across his face. Ye Lan's eyes widened in shock, but in that same instant, he swung his sword, severing Zhang Hu's right arm.

"Aaaah!"

Zhang Hu screamed in agony, unable to comprehend how Ye Lan was still standing, even with a blade through his heart.

"Zhang Hu!"

Ye Lan screamed, raising his sword high and bringing it down with all his remaining strength.

Swish—

The blade cleaved through Zhang Hu, splitting him in two.

[Absorbed third-rank warrior's blood, gained 0.3 energy points]

[Killed third-rank warrior, gained 300 evolution points]

"Huff... huff..."

Ye Lan breathed heavily as blood-red energy swirled around him, drawn into his body. He gritted his teeth and pulled Zhang Hu's blade from his chest.

"What a waste."

Ye Fan sighed within the sword. Ye Lan was doomed. The only thing keeping him alive now was the power of [Bloodthirsty Frenzy], sustained by the blood he had absorbed.

Staggering under the weight of his own body, Ye Lan pushed forward. The night was deep, and with the entire Violent Tiger Mercenary Group wiped out, there was no one left to chase him.

Without more bloodshed to sustain him, Ye Lan's body began to wither rapidly. Soon, he arrived at a small, secluded house.

"Mother, I'm sorry."

Ye Lan drove the sword into the ground and fell to his knees. This was the house he had bought for his mother. He had come to Tianlang City to serve Zhang Hu, all to earn enough money to bring his mother here. But now, everything was gone.

"Thank you, Divine Sword."

Ye Lan looked at the blood-streaked sword buried in the earth, a faint smile on his lips. Memories flooded his mind—leaving his village, dreaming of becoming a great warrior, committing evil deeds, taking innocent lives.

"I am satisfied."

With those final words, his smile lingered as the blood energy dissipated, and his body, now a hollow shell, began to decay. In moments, it was reduced to a skeleton, collapsing lifelessly to the ground.

"What a pity."

Ye Fan watched the scene unfold, feeling a touch of sorrow. Ye Lan had been a decent host, but this was how it ended.

[Achievement Unlocked: Ominous Sword] (Unlock after the deaths of five swordmasters: 4/5)

[Achievement Unlocked: Swordmaster's Wish] (Swordmaster dies without regret: 1/5)

...

The destruction of the Violent Tiger Mercenary Group shook Tianlang City to its core, even alerting the city lord's mansion. But after a few days, the shock began to subside.

"This old house... I don't think anyone's living here."

A man walked into the courtyard, glancing around cautiously. There, in the middle of the courtyard, lay a... sword!