The moment the Triple Head Ogre King moved, the battlefield changed.
The air became heavy.
The ground cracked beneath its feet.
Even the monster horde that had been charging moments ago stopped, as if acknowledging the presence of their king.
---
Emil stood still.
His hand tightened around his sword.
Every instinct he had developed in the Forbidden Forest screamed one thing.
Danger.
---
The Ogre King's first head roared.
A wave of sound exploded outward.
The trees shook.
The weaker monsters nearby collapsed from the pressure alone.
---
Ding!
Host is affected by S-rank monster intimidation.
Resistance applied.
Effect reduced.
---
Emil breathed slowly.
The Sun God Breathing Technique circulated through his body.
Warmth spread through his muscles.
His heartbeat stabilized.
---
Kael watched from behind.
"Good."
"At least you can still stand."
---
Emil did not look back.
"Can you fight?"
---
Kael paused.
Then he smiled.
"Still worrying about others while facing death?"
---
The old hunter raised his weapon.
"I can move."
---
"Then protect the village."
---
Kael looked surprised.
Emil continued.
"I will stop it here."
---
The veteran frowned.
"You cannot defeat it."
---
Emil looked toward the monster.
"I know."
---
"But I can hold it."
---
The Triple Head Ogre King charged.
---
The ground exploded beneath its feet.
---
Emil activated Sun Step.
His body vanished.
---
BOOM!
---
The Ogre King's fist struck the ground where he had been standing.
A crater formed.
---
Emil appeared behind it.
---
Sun Sword!
---
A golden slash struck the monster's back.
---
The attack landed.
But the result was disappointing.
---
The blade only created a shallow mark.
---
The third head turned.
Its eyes focused on Emil.
---
It had analyzed him.
---
The monster was not only strong.
It was intelligent.
---
The second head opened its mouth.
Flames gathered.
---
Emil immediately moved.
---
A pillar of fire erupted across the battlefield.
---
The heat was intense.
Even from a distance, Kael felt it.
---
"This is why it is classified as S-rank."
---
Emil landed on a tree branch.
His breathing remained calm.
---
Physical strength.
Defense.
Fire ability.
Regeneration.
---
The Ogre King had everything.
---
The system displayed information.
Ding!
Enemy analysis updated.
Triple Head Ogre King:
Head One:
Destruction type.
Head Two:
Elemental attack type.
Head Three:
Support and regeneration type.
---
Weakness detected:
None.
---
Emil's expression became serious.
---
No weakness.
That meant he had to create one.
---
The Ogre King attacked again.
---
This time, Emil did not run.
---
He stepped forward.
---
Kael's eyes widened.
"What is he doing?"
---
Emil entered close range.
---
The first head swung its fist.
---
Emil moved inside the attack.
---
He used the lesson Kael taught him.
---
Do not fight strength with strength.
Control the opponent.
---
He grabbed the monster's arm.
Used its own force.
Redirected it.
---
The massive Ogre King stumbled.
---
For a moment...
It was surprised.
---
Emil struck.
---
Sun Body Technique!
---
His fist carried golden energy.
---
The impact shook the monster.
---
But the damage was still minimal.
---
The Ogre King looked down.
Almost confused.
---
A human had challenged it.
A small human.
---
And that human refused to fall.
---
The first head roared.
The second head burned with flames.
The third head released dark energy that began healing the damage.
---
The wounds disappeared.
---
Emil watched carefully.
---
Regeneration.
---
Every attack was meaningless unless he could deal enough damage at once.
---
The battle continued.
---
Minutes passed.
---
Then hours.
---
Emil fought like never before.
---
He used every skill.
Every technique.
Every lesson.
---
Sun Step to evade.
Sun Sword to attack.
Sun Body to endure.
Close combat to exploit openings.
Battle Awareness to predict movements.
---
But the difference remained.
---
The Ogre King was stronger.
---
Every time Emil adapted...
The monster forced him to adapt again.
---
Eventually, Emil landed heavily on the ground.
---
His breathing was unstable.
His energy was almost depleted.
---
The system appeared.
Ding!
Host condition:
Energy:
12%
Stamina:
8%
---
Warning:
Combat ability decreasing.
---
Emil slowly stood.
---
The Triple Head Ogre King approached.
---
The monster raised its fist.
---
This attack would decide everything.
---
Kael moved.
"Emil!"
---
But Emil raised his hand.
---
"Don't."
---
The veteran stopped.
---
Emil looked at the monster.
---
He remembered the Forbidden Forest.
The beasts.
The hunger.
The loneliness.
---
Every battle had pushed him forward.
---
But this one was different.
---
This time...
People were counting on him.
---
The Sun God fragment inside him reacted.
---
A faint golden light appeared around his body.
---
Ding!
Extreme combat pressure detected.
Host compatibility increasing.
---
Awakening conditions: 65%
---
Emil felt something inside him.
A power waiting.
A door not yet opened.
---
The Triple Head Ogre King struck.
---
Emil raised his sword.
---
The collision shook Blackwood Hills.
---
For the first time...
The monster king was pushed back.
---
Kael stared.
---
"Impossible..."
---
Emil stood there, trembling.
His arms were numb.
His body was reaching its limit.
---
But his eyes remained determined.
---
The battle was not over.
---
Because the sun had not risen yet.