Mendez ignored Rian's words, and muttered. "Human... but not an ordinary human."
Then, Mendez raised his body again, his voice now louder, booming, full of hatred.
"It doesn't matter who you are. Anyone who stands in our way... will be DESTROYED!"
Mendez stomped his foot on the ground, and a menacing aura enveloped his giant body.
Mendez's eyes sharpened as the parasite within him began to activate, his bones began to crackle, a sign that the change had gone too far.
Before Mendez could begin his attack, Rian had already stepped forward steadily. The chainsaw in his hand spun wildly, roaring loudly through the sound of the rain.
With one powerful swing, Rian aimed it straight at the giant's body.
Fortunately, Rian's Strength (STR) Attribute Points had already reached 5 attribute points. If it was still at 3 attribute points, the weight of the Chainsaw would have made it impossible to move that quickly and powerfully.
Mendez reflexively raised his right hand, holding back the sharp teeth that were twisting brutally.
Instantly, splashes of blood and flesh splashed into the air, mixing with the rain that continued to pour down.
However, although his flesh was peeled away to reveal bone, Mendez's right hand was not cut off. He only took a step back, his eyes blazing with rage.
Meanwhile, his left hand shot out quickly, trying to grab Rian's body. But Rian was already prepared, Rian immediately jumped back, keeping his distance while preparing his next move.
Rian grasped the Chainsaw in his left hand, then with a quick movement pulled the revolver from his waist holster. He aimed at Mendez's head without hesitation.
Bang!
The first shot missed, just scraping the air and piercing the rain.
Bang!
The second shot hit Mendez right in the left eye. A roar of rage was instantly heard from the creature.
"GRRRRRAAAHH!!!"
Mendez staggered back, enduring the pain. Rian didn't waste the opportunity. The revolver was quickly tucked away again, and he advanced quickly, swinging the Chainsaw that was still spinning wildly.
WRRRRRRRRRRRR!
The saw blade slammed into Mendez's body from shoulder to chest, tearing flesh and spraying blood in every direction. But Mendez wasn't down yet, he swung his fist in a brutal punch, aiming straight for Rian's face.
But Rian was already anticipating it. He ducked quickly, and in one smooth motion, pulled the Chainsaw back, then slashed at Mendez's right leg.
CRRRRAAAKKK!!!
Mendez roared in frustration and tried to kick Rian, but he had already jumped back, keeping his distance.
Mendez's eyes flashed red. He stared at Rian with hatred and anger.
"I WILL DESTROY YOU!"
In the next second, his body began to shake violently. The large cloak on his body was torn, revealing his hideous true form.
Mendez's body elongated, bones crunched, and from his abdomen emerged a centipede-like structure, complete with disgusting little legs.
From his back, four dark gray tentacles protrude, slimy and moving like scorpion claws.
The five nails on each of Mendez's hands lengthened further, turning sharp and jet black in color.
"Good... This is called round two, huh?" he murmured, quietly but clearly, "but... this handsome man is very curious. Is the face okay?"
Suddenly, one of the tentacles on Mendez's back shot out like a spear, plunging towards Rian. With quick reflexes, Rian tilted his body slightly to the left, making the attack pass only a few centimeters from his face.
Wasting no time, Rian immediately swung the Chainsaw at the tentacle.
WRRRRRRRRKKK!
With the sound of flesh being torn apart, the tentacle was severed and fell to the ground with a heavy sound.
Rian stared at it with some surprise. "Oh?" he muttered. "Is it because of this mutation that Mendez's endurance has decreased? That's why I can cut it off more easily..."
He analyzed quickly in his head. From their previous clashes, their fighting strength should not be much different.
Rian had the upper hand thanks to his physical attributes and the Chainsaw weapon he used. However, injuring a being as strong as Mendez was no easy matter.
Mendez had a huge advantage thanks to the Plaga mutation that took over his body.
"Even so, I won't let my guard down..." Rian whispered with a serious look.
As a sign of his seriousness, the glasses no longer covered his Six Eyes. His eyes were fully open, capturing every movement with incredible detail.
"GRAAAAAGHHH!!!"
Mendez roared even more savagely, angry that one of his tentacles had been cut off.
One of the tentacles on its right back immediately extended and wrapped around a large piece of wood nearby, then threw it at Rian at high speed.
Rian jumped to the side, dodged, and before the log hit the cabin wall, he was already back on his feet, speeding towards Mendez, Chainsaw raised high.
WRRRRRRR
ZRRRRRRCK!!!
The wildly spinning blade slashed through Mendez's centipede body, slicing through the side of his abdomen that was covered in nasty little legs. Blood and mucus spurted out, but Rian remained calm, forging ahead.
"Let's see... how long you can last in round two." Rian's smile was flat, but sharp like the saw blade in his hand.
Bitores Mendez's body was finally split in two. Before the third round came, Rian cut Mendez's body again. This time from the head to the base of the body, in one brutal vertical slash.
The chainsaw in Rian's hand was still turning slowly, making a faint buzzing sound in the rain that had not yet stopped.
WRRRRRRRR
ZRRRRRRCK!!!
Flesh, blood, and slime scattered onto the wet ground. There was no third round of explosions. No regeneration.
Mendez, the Giant Priest, was completely dead. Rian sighed and muttered under his breath, "Finally done..." he muttered.
Rian held the Chainsaw in his left hand, then took out a small mirror from his shirt pocket with his right hand. Staring at the reflection of his own face, Rian smiled with satisfaction.
"I knew it. This handsome man's face is the best," Rian said proudly, shaking out his rain-soaked hair.
Ding!
A holographic notification screen appeared in front of him.
[Herald serial number 90,000 has completed Level C Side Mission: -Defeat Bitores Mendez-]
[+5000 System Points]
Rian raised one eyebrow, then folded the mirror and put it back into his pocket. "So now there is only one main mission left..."
Then, Rian stared ahead with a sharp gaze. "Getting Amber."
"I should also catch up with Luis and Leon soon," Rian muttered casually, "Oh, and that sweetie... Ashley. I haven't had a chance to chat more."
"In the game, Ashley is notorious for getting kidnapped," Rian said casually while shrugging his shoulders. "But... in this world, she's real."
Rian smiled slightly, then closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the lull in the rain.
"Well... at least being friends with a beautiful, charming girl, and the bonus: the president's daughter..." Rian opened his eyes and smiled wider. "That's not a bad thing, is it?"
"One way or another... this handsome man rarely finds anything truly attractive-other than his own face," Rian said with a dramatic sigh. "So, you should feel lucky, sweetie."
Before putting his ultra-dark lensed glasses back on, Rian's gaze pierced through the rain, staring off into the distance.
There, in the mist and rain, Rian could see the silhouettes of several Ganado: different types. There was even one that was bigger than Mendez, looking like a troll.
"Huh... Looks like my path won't be easy," Rian said as he sighed softly, once again. "Yeah... what can I say? A handsome man's life is full of obstacles."
With a faint smile and steady steps, Rian started walking, following the footsteps left by Luis, Leon, and Ashley.
***
On a rocky path surrounded by trees, the rain had stopped pounding the Valdelobos region, Leon seemed to be walking with a wary attitude.
The gun was clutched tightly in Leon's right hand, ready to be used at any time.
Not far behind him, Ashley followed with cautious steps. Her face was slightly pale, and from the look in her eyes, fear and worry were evident.
Suddenly, a voice from the wireless communication device in Leon's ear rang out, "Leon, can you hear me?"
Leon touched the device and replied, "I can hear you, Hunigan. What about the information about Rian Andromeda?"
"I managed to get it," Hunigan replied. "But almost all the data about Rian is classified. Age, date of birth, place of birth, even family background, are all kept secret."
"Even the abilities and technologies Rian used during the mission were never recorded," Hunigan continued in a serious tone.
Leon frowned, trying to digest the information.
Hunigan continued, "However... from the little data I managed to gather, Rian is an agent specially assigned to handle bio-weapon cases personally."
"That's all I could find. He really is like a shadow, appearing without a trace, disappearing without a sound," Hunigan added. "One thing is for sure, if Rian has intervened, then the threat is no joke."
"Even so, one thing is certain, Rian Andromeda is very loyal to her mission," Hunigan concluded. "Although... He's very eccentric..."
"I see," Leon replied briefly, then deactivated the communication.
The communication was cut off.
Silence reigned in the forest. Leon's steps continued, but his mind was now filled with one name: Rian Andromeda.
Far beyond Leon's knowledge, Rian's appearance and status as a special agent were the result of the Reincarnation Room, an adjustment that allowed Beyonders to blend into the reality of this world.
Basically, Rian was not part of this World, but the system had prepared a place for her.