"Phantom Rebirth: The Last White Raven’s Path to the Ultimate Assassin"

Chapter 268: The Forbidden Creation – Part One

Seraphis, in her white raven form, swooped down through the dense forest, feeling the strange energy in the air grow heavier with every beat of her wings. The trees were gnarled and twisted, as if the forest itself was sick, poisoned by something dark and ancient. She had felt it the moment she entered—an oppressive, malevolent force that stank of forbidden magic. Her instincts screamed at her to turn back, but something compelled her forward.

And then she found it.

The creature.

It was not just a beast, but a creation—an abomination of flesh and dark magic. Its body was a nightmare of jagged bone, sinew, and arcane symbols that burned faintly along its skin. Its glowing red eyes scanned the forest, flicking toward Seraphis as her talons scratched the bark of a nearby tree.

The air crackled with an unholy energy, and the creature let out a bone-chilling roar that shook the very ground beneath her. Its massive form moved swiftly, like an impossibly large shadow, and in an instant, it was charging toward her.

Seraphis reacted immediately, her wings flapping furiously as she shot upward, just narrowly avoiding a clawed hand that slashed at her from below. The force of the attack sent gusts of wind spiraling through the trees, sending leaves scattering like a storm.

Her heart raced, but her mind remained sharp. "I’ve faced worse than you," she muttered under her breath, her voice cold and focused.

The creature's eyes glowed brighter, its form shifting and twisting, almost as if the shadows were part of its very being. Its claws gleamed in the dim light, their jagged tips catching the faint moonlight.

Seraphis quickly morphed into her human form, her feet landing lightly on a sturdy branch high above the creature. She summoned her enchanted playing cards, the metal blades shimmering into existence with a flick of her wrist.

The creature bared its teeth and snarled, a low, guttural growl emanating from deep within its chest. Without warning, it lunged again, its claws swiping through the air with deadly speed.

Seraphis darted to the side, just narrowly evading its deadly strike. "You’re fast," she hissed under her breath. "But I’m faster."

She raised her hand, sending one of the playing cards flying toward the creature. It sliced through the air with deadly precision, aiming for the creature’s exposed side.

The creature, however, was no fool. With a swift motion, it twisted its body, narrowly avoiding the card. The card scraped along its shoulder, leaving a faint, glowing scar across its dark skin, but it did no real damage.

With a screech of rage, the creature swiped at Seraphis, forcing her to retreat further into the trees. She moved quickly, weaving through the dense foliage, using the environment to her advantage.

Her cards followed her every movement, hovering like deadly sentinels in the air. "You’re persistent," Seraphis said with a smirk, her eyes glinting. "I like that."

The creature’s eyes flared with fury, and it let out another bone-shattering roar. It swung its massive claws, sending trees splintering in its wake. Seraphis wasn’t deterred. She darted behind a thick trunk, the beast’s claws missing by inches.

"You’re too slow," she taunted. "Keep up."

The creature’s rage intensified. It pivoted on its heel, its body moving in a blur as it sped toward her with unrelenting force. Seraphis barely managed to leap out of the way in time, her body rolling with the motion to avoid a fatal blow.

She rose to her feet swiftly, her mind racing. The creature’s brute strength was overwhelming, but she had speed, agility, and her cards.

"Let’s see how you handle this," she murmured, her fingers twitching as she summoned several more cards. They hovered around her like a swarm of deadly wasps.

She sent them flying in all directions, aiming for weak points in the creature’s thick hide. One card sliced into its side, another across its chest. The creature roared again, the sound piercing the air, and it swiped at the cards with reckless abandon.

But Seraphis was already on the move. She darted behind the creature, her body weaving through the trees, using her speed to stay one step ahead of its attacks.

She could feel the heat of the creature’s anger radiating from it. The magic it exuded was thick, poisonous—a mix of rage and forbidden sorcery. It was a being that should not exist, crafted by dark, forbidden magic.

The creature turned its head sharply, its eyes locking onto her. It moved with terrifying speed, closing the gap between them in a heartbeat. Seraphis barely had time to react, raising a hand to summon her cards once more.

The cards were sharp, fast, and lethal, but they were not enough. The creature’s dark energy seemed to absorb their power, and with each passing moment, it grew stronger.

"You're strong," Seraphis said, her voice dripping with respect. "But I won’t lose to you."

Her mind raced. The creature’s power was growing, but she had a plan. She reached into her satchel, pulling out a vial of glowing liquid—the last of the essence she had collected from the depths of the old cave. The potion was dangerous, but it was her only chance to level the playing field.

She uncorked the vial and drank the contents in one swift motion. Immediately, a surge of energy coursed through her body, filling her with raw power. Her senses sharpened, her vision cleared, and her strength surged.

With newfound power, Seraphis lunged forward. She slashed her cards through the air, their speed and precision amplified by the potion. Each strike hit its mark, leaving glowing cuts across the creature’s skin. The creature howled in pain, but it didn’t stop.

It charged at her again, its claws ready to strike. Seraphis blocked with her cards, their metallic edges meeting the creature’s deadly claws with a deafening clang. Sparks flew from the impact, but the creature was relentless.

"You won’t win," Seraphis said, gritting her teeth. She could feel her energy beginning to wane, but she wasn’t about to give up. "Not while I’m still standing."

The creature roared again, its form becoming even more monstrous as it absorbed the dark energy around it. It lunged with even more fury, aiming for Seraphis’s heart.

Seraphis dodged to the side, barely avoiding the strike. Her wings flared out behind her as she somersaulted through the air, landing on a high branch.

"You’re getting faster," she said, her breath coming in sharp gasps. "But so am I."

Her cards were still flying, circling her like a deadly whirlwind. The creature’s attacks were growing more erratic, as though it were losing control. The forbidden magic that powered it was unstable.

"Let’s finish this," Seraphis whispered. She focused her energy, summoning her cards one final time. They surrounded her like a deadly storm, sharp and ready for the kill.

The creature charged again, its massive form hurtling toward her like an unstoppable force. But this time, Seraphis was ready.

She leaped into the air, the cards following her as she closed the distance between them. With a single motion, she hurled the cards forward, striking the creature directly in its chest.

For a moment, everything stopped.

The creature staggered back, its body flickering as though it were a mirage. The forbidden magic was unstable, and its form began to unravel.

But Seraphis wasn’t finished. She used the last of her energy to launch herself toward the creature, her final card in hand.

With one last scream, the creature exploded in a burst of dark energy, the force of it sending shockwaves through the entire forest. The trees around them were uprooted, the ground shaking violently beneath her feet.

Seraphis landed heavily on the ground, her body exhausted from the intense battle. The forest was silent now, the creature nothing more than a fading memory in the air.

But as she stood there, breathing heavily, she knew this was just the beginning. There were more creatures out there—more forbidden magic to be fought.

And she would face them all.