Apocalypse Baby - Chapter 34 - Serious Threat

“Move, and I’ll turn your heir into scrambled yolk!”

Alex yelled, his voice echoing off the cavern walls.

Murzok, froze momentarily, his fierce golden eyes narrowing as he processed the sight before him.

The blade in Alex’s hand hovered dangerously close to the egg, his heir—the king’s most precious treasure.

The air around Murzok seemed to ignite, his golden feathers radiating a fiery glow as his energy flared.

Each step he took forward sent a ripple through the cavern, the sheer weight of his presence making the very ground tremble.

Alex’s heart pounded in his chest.

The confidence he’d built up began to falter as the cockatrice king closed the distance.

Up close, Murzok was terrifying. His massive form loomed over Alex like a mountain, his razor-sharp talons clicking against the stone floor with every deliberate step.

The air grew thick and heavy, making it hard to breathe.

Alex clenched his jaw, trying to steady himself, but the sheer power of Murzok’s presence was overwhelming.

Murzok’s voice erupted like thunder, shaking the very walls of the cavern:

“You dare command me, the king of the skies? Who do you think you are, you insignificant worm?!”

As the last word left his beak, Alex felt it—a crushing force enveloped him.

Ding!

[You have been hit with a movement restriction skill by an enemy.]

[You cannot move for 10 seconds.]

Murzok had unleashed the same movement restriction skill he had used in their first battle.

Alex’s body locked up, his muscles refusing to obey.

It was as if invisible chains bound him, holding him in place.

Panic surged through Alex as he realized he was frozen, completely at Murzok’s mercy.

But then, he remembered: he wasn’t the same as before.

He had grown stronger, leveled up, and gained new abilities. This wasn’t the end.

Alex closed his eyes for a moment, focusing. He felt the restriction like a weight pressing down on him, but he also felt his own power, waiting to be unleashed.

“Alex growled, his voice low but firm.

And with a surge of willpower, he pushed against the invisible force, his entire body trembling as he fought back.

The restriction skill resisted, tightening its grip, but Alex wasn’t giving up.

Then, with a sharp crack, like glass shattering, the restriction broke.

[Movement Restriction Skill Resisted]

Alex barely had a moment to catch his breath before Murzok, the cockatrice king, closed the gap in an instant.

A massive, glowing feather blade swept toward Alex’s neck with lethal precision. The sheer speed and power of the attack were terrifying, the blade cutting through the air with a sharp whistle.

Reacting purely on instinct, Alex dropped low, his knees grazing the rocky floor as he ducked beneath the deadly strike.

The blade narrowly missed him, its force sending a gust of wind that tousled his hair.

Without hesitation, Alex pushed off the ground, moving like a blur to put distance between himself and Murzok.

His speed was incredible, leaving a faint afterimage in the dim cave light.

The cockatrice king’s feather blade hit nothing but air, but the energy from the missed strike surged forward like a shockwave.

The sharp energy sliced into the cave wall, leaving a deep dent and causing debris to crumble and scatter.

Alex reappeared on the opposite side of the cavern—the exact spot where Murzok had stood moments earlier.

It was as though the two had swapped places in the blink of an eye.

Murzok turned, his golden eyes narrowing dangerously.

For the first time, the cockatrice king was truly observing Alex.

His piercing gaze seemed to weigh every movement, every breath, every ounce of strength Alex had gained.

Murzok’s intense glare bore into Alex, his feathers glowing brighter as his energy flared and the air in the cavern grew thick, almost suffocating.

He let out a low growl, a sound that echoed ominously through the cave.

Alex’s grip on his blade tightened as he stared back at the towering beast, sweat dripping down his temple.

“You dared touch what is mine,” Murzok snarled his voice a mixture of fury and disdain. “And for that, you’ll pay dearly.”

Alex watched the cockatrice king with a confident grin spreading across his face.

He couldn’t help but feel a swell of satisfaction—he had dodged a strike that could have ended him in an instant.

When Alex first encountered Murzok, he had been terrified, his legs trembling like jelly under the sheer presence of the massive beast. The memory of that one-sided beatdown still stung, but this time was different.

This time, Alex had resisted the cockatrice king’s movement-restricting skill, and he’d been fast enough to evade the deadly feather blade.

He didn’t feel entirely powerless and that was a good thing.

But it wasn’t just his newfound strength giving him confidence—it was the egg he held.

The fragile treasure in his hands was Murzok’s weakness, a bargaining chip that Alex could use to level the playing field.

After all, no good father or mother would risk harming their offspring.

Wait… father or mother? Alex blinked, suddenly realizing he had no idea about cockatrice biology.

Was Murzok a protective dad or an overbearing mom? The absurd thought of the hulking bird laying an egg crossed Alex’s mind, and he had to suppress a chuckle.

Focus, Alex. Focus.

His smirk vanished, replaced by a deadly serious expression.

He held the egg higher, the tip of his blade hovering near its surface.

“Disregarding my warning is a bad idea, Murzok,” Alex said coldly, his voice steady despite the tension.

Murzok’s golden eyes burned with fury, and the air seemed to ripple with his anger.

The cockatrice king let out a low, menacing growl:

“It’s King Murzok to you, you impudent whelp!”

Alex’s eyes narrowed as he held the egg firmly in one hand, his dagger poised in the other.

“You think I’m bluffing about destroying all your hard work? Fine. Watch closely,” Alex said and without hesitation, he drove the dagger into the surface of the egg.