Deep within an underground passage that opened into a vast cavern, a figure wreathed in emerald light fought two colossal crabs. The glow from his skin painted the stone walls green as steel rang against hardened shells.
Hidden at the mouth of a smaller cave stood the sole observer—Ren.
His expression was a mixture of disbelief and unease. Shock. Fear. Wonder.
He remained rooted in place, silently witnessing the impossible scene playing out before him.
To call what was happening a battle felt somewhat unfair. It was more like a one-man army facing two colossal beasts.
It had started with the swarm of Lethal-Backed Crabs—unmistakably Aberrant Beasts. Ren still couldn't shake the image of Miyoshi slicing through them, severing limb after limb. The ease with which he did it… it was as if he were plucking fish from a pond.
Even after the larger ones appeared, it had taken only a few swings and parries before one of them fell.
Even if they were among the weakest of the Absolute Beasts, defeating one so effortlessly was still so damned—
Ren exhaled slowly.
Terrifying.
Well. On the First Realm of the Pathways, there were four primary ranks of beasts, listed from weakest to strongest: Feral Rank, Primitive Rank, Aberrant Rank, and finally, Absolute Rank.
However, when it came to the Absolute Rank, things became more complicated. Within it existed four sub-ranks: Low-Grade Beasts, Middle-Grade Beasts, High-Grade Beasts, and the strongest beings of the First Realm—Upper-Class Grade Beasts.
Back to the present.
Ren remained frozen at the entrance, eyes locked outside. Yet to call it watching would be misleading. He was straining just to follow the clash of titans unfolding before him.
After the first giant crab—undoubtedly an Absolute Beast—was slain, the battle escalated. The rhythm quickened. Movements blurred.
Ren could barely keep up with what was happening.
The two crabs screeched loudly in unison. Then, as if following a signal, they split apart—one moving to the right, the other to the left, attempting to flank him.
"One down. Two more to go."
Miyoshi had barely finished speaking when it happened. The red stripes along their armor began to glow. Their eyes followed, turning a deep, ominous crimson.
The crab on the left lunged first. This time, its speed had increased noticeably.
Steel met chitin in a rapid exchange. Miyoshi blocked once, twice, three times, the strikes raining down from impossible angles. Yet every blow was met cleanly, even those that should have slipped past his vision.
It was almost as if he had extra pairs of eyes at the back of his head.
Then, suddenly, his gaze sharpened. His eyes narrowed, locking onto a single point on the crab's body.
He struck.
His blade sliced through the air and collided with the crab's pincer, deflecting it aside and leaving the creature exposed.
Without hesitation, he dashed forward. The emerald glow around him intensified as he closed the distance, sword raised for the finishing blow—
But then something unexpected happened. A flash of red burst in from the side.
Without thinking twice, Miyoshi altered his sword's trajectory, angling it to intercept the incoming strike.
Bang!
The impact sent him flying backward.
Midair, he spun, dispersing part of the force before landing. His boots scraped against the stone as he slid several feet before finally coming to a halt.
Miyoshi rose slowly, rolling his shoulders back into position. The taste of iron coated his tongue. He spat, a thin streak of red hitting the stone.
Heh… figured as much. If I'd gone through with that attack, they would've torn me apart.
Despite the close call, a smile crept at the corner of his lips as he wiped the remaining blood from his chin with the back of his hand, eyes gleaming.
Then he moved. Lunging forward, the emerald glow around his body flared brightly—and then he vanished from sight.
Under the cloak of invisibility, Miyoshi shifted direction mid-charge, targeting the other crab instead. He dived toward it. His blade fell, cleaving through the air like a guillotine from above.
Clank!
The sound of steel meeting steel rang out, originating from the raised pincer of the crab.
Miyoshi's eyes narrowed. He pressed the assault—strike after strike—but each was met with precise resistance.
Then, without looking, he whipped his sword behind him, catching a pincer from the other crab just in time.
But the split second cost him. Utilizing the brief opening, the first crab lashed out. Its massive pincer slammed into Miyoshi's ribcage, sending him hurtling sideways like a ragdoll.
"Been wondering when you'd join the fun," Miyoshi said, blood dripping down his chin as he rose to his feet. He lifted his sword, the tip pointing directly at the crab.
The creatures answered with a harsh clatter of mandibles, the noise grating and deliberate.
It sounded like laughter.
As if they found the small human amusing—pathetic even—for daring to repeat a trick and still carry himself with such arrogance.
"Mocking me…?" Miyoshi murmured, a faint grin tugging at his lips.
Tilting his head slightly while inspecting them, he muttered, "Interesting. You're far more entertaining than the others. I'd love to keep one of you around…"
He coughed lightly and spat blood onto a stone to the side.
"…but unfortunately I'm getting tired. So I'll have to make this quick."
His gaze dropped to his sword. Thin cracks traced along the blade's surface.
"That's no good."
He ran his thumb lightly along the fractured steel.
"Just one or two more blows and you're finished. I can't risk losing you yet."
With that, the sword vanished—unsummoned in a flicker of emerald light.
Shifting his stance, Miyoshi balled his hands into fists and settled into a boxer's guard—left foot forward, fists raised high, gaze unwaveringly staring at the crabs.
The emerald light around his body intensified, flaring brilliantly. And then his combat suit caught fire instantly, disintegrating into drifting embers before they even touched the ground.
As the glow dimmed, it did not vanish.
Instead, it cooled into dark green tattoos that spread across his skin, gleaming like polished jade.
The air around him grew heavier.
---
From the mouth of the cave, Ren stood, watching in silence.
"I think he's finally done playing," Ren murmured.
The previous clashes replayed over and over in his thoughts—the speed, the precision, the effortless counters, the sheer force behind every strike.
"If I were the one out there…"
His fingers tightened unconsciously.
"I'd already be dead."
---
Back in the passage, Miyoshi stood firm in a boxer's stance. Dark green markings ran across his body, starting at his limbs and converging at his chest, forming intricate patterns.
And then.
He slammed his fists together and bellowed, "Time to finish this!"
Bang!
He was gone—blurring forward with terrifying speed.