The Forest Desert was a paradoxical expanse of nature and desolation. Towering dunes of golden sand merged seamlessly with clusters of petrified trees, their massive roots twisting out of the cracked ground. Beneath the blazing sun, the air shimmered with heatwaves, creating an oppressive atmosphere. Hidden within the valley-like ridges were deep ravines, remnants of ancient water sources, and scattered pools of molten rock. This hostile environment was home to one of the most terrifying beasts in the land—the Giant Bull Ape.
The Giant Bull Ape
The Giant Bull Ape was a hulking monstrosity, standing over 20 feet tall, its body covered in gleaming, steel-gray fur. Its eyes glowed with a crimson hue, radiating an aura of terrifying pressure. The beast's gauntlet-like arms were thick as tree trunks, each hand plated with an organic, metallic exoskeleton that gleamed like forged steel. These gauntlets allowed it to crush boulders with ease. Surrounding the ape was a gravitational field so intense that rocks floated and the very ground cracked beneath its weight.
Its abilities were the stuff of legend:
Gravity Manipulation: It could increase or decrease gravity over a massive area, pinning opponents or sending them flying.
Shockwave Smash: By clapping its gauntlets, it unleashed destructive shockwaves.
Meteoric Leap: Using its gravitational mastery, it could leap into the air and crash down, creating massive craters and devastating everything in its radius
Samael was telling this Ravihiro
The Encounter Begins
Ravihiro and Samael approached the core of the Forest Desert, following the traces of gravity anomalies. Samael's usual humor persisted, even in the face of danger.
"Are you sure about this? I'd rather fight a poisonous puppy than face whatever causes gravity itself to throw a tantrum," Samael teased, tossing a small vial of poison between his fingers.
Ravihiro ignored him, his Ryugan eyes scanning the terrain. "It's here," he muttered.
As if summoned by his words, the ground trembled. Sand erupted into the air as the Giant Bull Ape landed before them, its gauntlet-covered fists smashing into the ground with a deafening roar. The gravitational pressure intensified, and Samael stumbled, clutching his chest.
"Yeah, this is definitely above my pay grade," Samael muttered, his humor failing him momentarily.
The Battle of Gravity
Ravihiro stood firm, unaffected by the gravitational onslaught due to his previous training in his self-created Gravity Formation. He activated the formation, surrounding himself with a controlled field of gravity that stabilized his footing and increased his speed.
The Bull Ape charged, its gauntlets glowing with compressed energy. Ravihiro unsheathed Kageha, his sword martial soul, its blade humming with a dark aura.
The two clashed, their strikes creating shockwaves that rippled across the desert. Samael, regaining his composure, joined the fray.
Samael's Poison Techniques
Samael unleashed a series of poisons:
Venomous Mist: A cloud of green smoke that corroded the Bull Ape's steel-like fur. Paralytic Spikes: Poison-laced needles he hurled at the beast, aiming for its joints.
Toxic Chains: Using a whip-like weapon infused with poison, he bound one of the Bull Ape's arms, restricting its movements temporarily.
"See? I can be useful!" Samael quipped, dodging a massive swing from the beast.
Ravihiro's Counterattack
Ravihiro activated the abilities of his previous soul rings:
Sword of Scales (Steel Blade Python): Scales materialized into razor-sharp blades, creating a whirlwind of cutting edges around him. Shadow Formless Sword (Shadow Demon): He merged into the shadows, evading the Bull Ape's crushing blows and striking from blind spots.
Despite their combined efforts, the Bull Ape roared in defiance, slamming its fists together and unleashing a gravitational shockwave that sent Samael flying.
The Final Clash
Ravihiro knew he had to end the battle. Summoning his full power, he used Tandav's Second Form, a devastating technique that merged his soul energy with Kageha, creating a colossal energy sword. The Bull Ape countered with its Meteoric Leap, amplifying gravity as it ascended and crashing down like a falling star.
In the air, Ravihiro used his Gravity Formation to negate the Bull Ape's pressure. With a roar, he unleashed , a concentrated slash of gravitational force that distorted space itself. The Bull Ape was overwhelmed, its body crushed under the immense weight of the attack.
Aftermath and the New Ring
As the Bull Ape fell, its gauntlets disintegrated into shards of energy. One shard shot toward Ravihiro, attaching itself to his arms,
Ravihiro absorbed the Bull Ape's soul, creating a new Ring—a dark gray ring that radiated immense power. Its ability, Sword of Gravity, allowed Ravihiro to:
Generate blades of gravitational force.
Increase the density of his strikes, making them devastatingly heavy.
Manipulate gravity fields to restrict or enhance movement.
As Ravihiro stood amidst the aftermath, Samael limped over, his clothes tattered but his humor intact.
"You know," Samael said, smirking, "next time, maybe warn me before you decide to fight a mountain with fists."
Ravihiro glanced at him. "If you're scared, stay behind."
Samael scoffed. "Scared? Please. I just need more poisons... and a new pair of shoes."
The two left the battlefield, the desert wind erasing the signs of their epic clash. The journey continued, with the promise of greater challenges ahead.