"Everyone, run away! I'll hold this monster off as long as I can!" Ashen shouted, his voice rising above the chaotic cries of battle and the thunderous footsteps of the charging beast.
Without waiting for a reply, he dashed forward—his figure a blur against the towering presence of the Ancient Troilo King, Mento. The very earth seemed to tremble under the ape-like giant's every movement, its greenish fur matted with battle scars, its eyes glowing with primal rage and deep intelligence. The creature was easily the size of a house, and every step it took crushed fallen trees and stones beneath its feet.
Ashen's sudden act of bravery stunned the soldiers. Fear clashed with awe in their hearts. He was willing to face a monstrous enemy alone—an act both noble and reckless.
"Should we really leave him behind?" one soldier murmured.
"No… but we'll only die if we stay," said another, fists clenched in frustration.
As they hesitated, a commanding voice broke through the tension.
"Everyone, stay calm!" Pyro's deep voice echoed with unwavering certainty. He stepped forward from the rear, his crimson cape fluttering in the wind. "No one is going to die here. Not while I'm still standing."
His words were like a sudden balm to the fear that gripped the men's hearts. Doubts flickered in their eyes, but no one dared speak them. Pyro was more than a commander—he was a symbol of power.
Still, his eyes never left Ashen.
He's grown… But just how far can he go? Pyro thought as he watched the young warrior sprint toward the behemoth. Let's see it.
Ashen leapt into the air, his Damascus Blade raised high. The sunlight glinted off its polished edge as he brought it down in a clean arc, aiming straight for the monster's thick neck.
Ting!
11 Hit Points
Ashen gritted his teeth as he was knocked back mid-air. "Tch… The rumors were true. His skin is as hard as metal."
Before he could recover, Mento's burning gaze locked onto him. With a deep growl that shook the trees, the beast's massive fist lashed out with astonishing speed.
Ashen's eyes widened. "So fast—!"
He instinctively raised his blade to block, but it was like trying to stop a boulder with a twig.
BOOM!
The punch landed squarely in his chest, sending Ashen hurtling through the air like a ragdoll. Trees blurred past him until his body collided with a thick trunk. The impact splintered the bark and left a crater at the base.
115 Hit Points
Ding!
You have been hit with enormous damage in a single strike.
Your body is in critical condition.
Movement speed reduced by 90%
All stats reduced by 90%
Ashen wheezed as pain coursed through every nerve in his body. Blood dripped from his lips as he slumped against the tree. He couldn't even lift his arms.
So this… is what absolute power feels like… he thought, fighting to remain conscious.
The soldiers, seeing his broken form, no longer hesitated. Despite their fear, they surged forward to protect him.
"He fought for us," one said, eyes wet with tears. "Now it's our turn."
Weapons drawn, they formed a shaky wall in front of Ashen. Mento, undeterred, thundered toward them. His enormous fist clenched, ready to deliver another crushing blow. His speed was terrifying; in just three strides, he was nearly upon them.
The soldiers closed their eyes, shields raised, bracing for death.
But it never came.
A new sound split the air—a steel crash against flesh, a shockwave that rippled through the clearing.
When they opened their eyes, a single towering man stood before them, effortlessly blocking Mento's punch with his greatsword.
"Pyro!" they all gasped, their voices filled with disbelief and relief.
He didn't look back. "Everyone fall back. I'll handle this one."
His calm smile exuded power. The soldiers needed no more convincing. They lifted Ashen carefully and retreated to a safe distance, far enough to avoid the fallout, yet close enough to witness the battle.
"Raaaaah!" Pyro roared, forcing Mento backward with raw strength.
The colossal beast stumbled a few paces, stunned that his blow had been stopped. With a furious howl, Mento leapt into the air—rising higher than a four-story building.
"Heroic Leap," Ashen muttered weakly. "Next… it'll be Sky Kick…"
High above, Mento's muscular legs ignited with wind pressure. Then he dove—like a missile streaking through the sky—aimed straight at Pyro.
But Pyro didn't flinch.
"Soul Force Blade!"
"Body Force Barrier!"
A radiant red-orange aura burst around him. His muscles swelled, armor plates shimmered with crackling energy, and his greatsword pulsed with latent power.
He bent his knees.
"Raging Charging Thrust!"
With a shout, Pyro launched himself upward to meet the incoming behemoth. The two collided in a violent shockwave that split the clouds and sent a windstorm across the battlefield.
BOOM!
Mento was blasted away, his body crashing through trees and leaving a trail of broken earth behind him.
Gasps rang out. Even the most seasoned soldiers stared in disbelief.
"He… overpowered it…"
Ashen's eyes widened. "No… Pyro is on a completely different level."
But the battle wasn't over.
Pyro didn't waste a second.
"Force Flying Knee!"
A ripple of energy formed under his feet. In a blur, he crossed the 50-meter distance in a heartbeat. His enlarged knee, glowing with compressed force energy, drove deep into Mento's gut.
"GUOOHH!!" Mento spat a glob of saliva, his eyes rolling back in pain as he staggered.
"Trembling Sword Quake!"
Pyro brought down his blade in a mighty arc. The earth itself cracked as he cleaved through the monster's arms—though not enough to finish him.
But it was the final act that sealed the battle.
He turned to look at Ashen. "Watch closely, Ashen. This is for you."
"Epicenter Wave!"
The blade roared like a beast as Pyro swung. The impact struck Mento dead-on, cleaving the monstrous creature in half. The shockwave split the earth, tore through the trees, and shook the very atmosphere. Dust and energy rippled outward in a perfect ring.
When the smoke cleared… silence reigned.
Mento's body lay divided, unmoving.
The soldiers could only stare, their jaws slack.
"…He's… the real monster…" Ashen whispered.
And in that moment, even through the pain, Ashen's admiration and awe burned deeper than ever before.