I Became A Zompirewolf

"Colour me surprised. Kro'Han got to you, didn't he? You damned puppet!" Ashton's expression changed from anger to disbelief as he raised Balmond again, ready to confront the unexpected adversary. 

"Puppets are easily discarded. I made a choice, and it's the winning side," Rood scoffed, flexing his newly created muscles as if eager to test his regained youth.

"You think siding with Kro'Han makes you a winner?" Astaroth said with a defiant smirk despite being pinned under the trident. "You're just digging your own grave, Rood."

The response to Astaroth's smile was a surge of electricity from the trident coursing through Astaroth's form. The Xyran lord gritted his teeth against the pain but refused to scream. 

Astaroth was well aware of Rood's sadistic tendencies and refused to let the fucker get the pleasure he wanted to get by torturing him. But it seemed the pain coursing through Astaroth got transferred to Ashton because he was seething in rage. 

He called upon the insectoids from before, but to his surprise, not a single such creature appeared to aid him. Ashton found it weird, and Rood's smile confirmed he must have done something to corner Ashton and Astaroth there. 

'What can he possibly gain from this?' Ashton wondered. 

After all, their stalemate of a situation was temporary, and even Rood must know that. Sooner or later, Astaroth would be freed from Rood's grip, and someone like Rood wouldn't dare go up against the duo alone. 

Which meant Rood must have a plan in his head. A plan that would topple the scales in his favour. But what could overpower both him and Astaroth? That's what Ashton wanted to know. 

Unfortunately, he had no time to stand there and do nothing. Even though Astaroth was putting on a brave face, Ashton knew his condition wasn't good. Ashton, realising the dire predicament, lunged at Rood with Balmond. 

"You're not getting away with this!"

But Rood, empowered by Kro'Han's blessings, effortlessly deflected Ashton's attack and countered with a swift blow that sent Ashton crashing. The transformed Xyran lord displayed a level of strength and agility that surpassed their expectations.

"You were never meant to survive this encounter," Rood declared, his voice resonating with a newfound conviction. "Lord Kro'Han's power flows through me now, and you two are nothing more than obstacles to be eradicated."

""You're playing a dangerous game, Rood," Still pinned to the ground, Astaroth managed to utter. "Kro'Han won't keep his promises. You're just a pawn in his game."

"If I'm a pawn, then so be it. At least I'll be on the winning side," Rood chuckled menacingly. "As long as the Xyrans are safe, I don't care about anything else. Enjoy your demise... once again-"

With that, Rood raised the trident, ready to deliver a potentially fatal strike. But Ashton emerged from the rubble before he could land the blow, kicking the proud Xyran with his aura-enforced body. 

With a powerful kick, Ashton dislodged Rood, sending him sprawling backwards. The trident clattered to the ground as Rood tumbled out of the library, momentarily defeated. 

"Need a hand, big guy?" Ashton grinned.

Astaroth, despite the chaotic situation, smirked in response. "Young guys should away help the elder."

"Well, we might have to do the opposite of it," Ashton replied. 

With the trident off him, Ashton helped Astaroth back to his feet, a nod of gratitude exchanged between him and Ashton.

"Thanks for the assist," he said, rubbing his neck to remove the numbness around it. 

The banter between them served as a brief respite. However, their moment of levity was interrupted as Rood reappeared, not a scratch on his body from Ashton's kick. 

Strangely enough, as Rood reappeared, Astaroth couldn't help but interject with a touch of humour amid the tense atmosphere. 

"Well, well, look who's back for another round! Don't tell me you got so desperate that you started consuming performance enhancers, Rood?" Astaroth quipped, a mischievous glint in his golden eyes. "You seem a bit too eager to pick fights today!"

Ashton shot Astaroth a puzzled look, to which Astaroth shrugged playfully. "Just saying, maybe the old Rood needed a boost. A little something to put his rotting dong to use."

"Really, dude? You wanna do this now?" Ashton whispered to Astaroth. 

"Just watch. I know how to get him riled up," Astaroth whispered back. "His first and fourth wives left him because of his ED."

"..."

Looks like Astaroth's plan worked because Rood was brooding hard. Now wielding his trident with an ominous aura, Rood glared at Astaroth. 

"Jokes won't save you from Lord Kro'Han's wrath."

"Bitch, please," Astaroth, unfazed, continued his banter. "Maybe you should've asked for the secret recipe from your Lord and Saviour. It might have given you a fair chance against us. You know, a little performance enhancer to keep up with the big leagues."

The Foundry's silence shattered as Rood, seething with anger, charged at Astaroth. Astaroth gracefully sidestepped, avoiding Rood's initial attack. However, Rood's fury didn't wane, and he swiftly redirected his assault toward Astaroth again.

Amidst the skirmish, Ashton rushed to intervene. With a swift motion, he swung Balmond at Rood, aiming to thwart his relentless assault. But Rood deftly intercepted Ashton's strike with his trident, the clash resonating through the building.

Astaroth seized the opportunity, swiftly moving to Rood's side with fluid grace. He aimed a precise strike, and his fist connected with Rood's ribs, eliciting a pained grunt.

Rood, recovering from the unexpected blow, retaliated by summoning a surge of energy through his trident. 

The weapon crackled with lightning as he unleashed a sweeping strike towards Astaroth, who skillfully dodged the attack with a nimble sidestep.

"You're getting slow, Rood," Astaroth teased his tone a stark contrast to the intensity of the battle. "Last I checked, a hit like this wouldn't have done shit to you. Let alone cause you to scream in pain." 

"...unlike your mouth, that's as crude as I recall," Rood scoffed, ignoring the blaring pain to his side. "Fret not, I'll shortly fix that."