The creature climbed from the abyss.
Stone cascaded from its shoulders.
Entire cliffs slid from its back.
Its head alone was larger than the Frost Giant King's throne room.
Every step shook the mountain.
The System screamed.
WARNING
UNKNOWN ENTITY DETECTED
RETREAT RECOMMENDED
SURVIVAL PROBABILITY...
ERROR
WARNING
WARNING
WARNING
Jax looked at the warnings.
Then...
He smiled.
Not a confident smile.
Not a cocky smile.
An excited one.
Like a child who had just been handed the greatest challenge of his life.
He slowly lifted Peacemaker.
The blade turned once through his fingers.
Twice.
Three times.
Each movement smoother than the last.
Satisfied, he caught it by the hilt.
Then drove it into the stone.
The mountain shook.
Not because of the monster.
Because of Jax.
"...Finally."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
The creature stared at him.
Its massive eyes narrowed.
"...You are excited."
Jax laughed.
"I really am."
The creature tilted its head.
"You welcome death?"
"No."
Jax's grin widened.
"I welcome the possibility."
"The possibility... of victory?"
"The possibility..."
His eyes sparkled.
"...of finally gaining some experience."
Silence.
Even the monster stopped moving.
Behind him...
The Vixens simply stared.
Bunny spoke first.
"...He's serious."
Nyxian never took her eyes off Jax.
"I thought..."
She swallowed.
"I thought we'd already seen what he could do."
"No," Llandra said quietly.
Her silver eyes never left him.
"I don't think we have."
Zee adjusted her glasses.
Her voice had become very small.
"...He's been teaching us."
Nobody answered.
Because everyone realized the same thing.
Every dungeon.
Every battle.
Every impossible victory.
Jax had always slowed himself down.
Always allowed them to fight.
Always stepped back.
Always made sure they grew stronger.
Not because he needed them.
Because he wanted them to become his equals someday.
Bunny looked at him as though seeing him for the first time.
"...He really was protecting us."
Llandra smiled softly.
"My beloved..."
"...you've never once fought for yourself."
Warden stepped forward.
He planted his shield into the earth.
The impact echoed across the chamber.
His sword followed.
Black mana expanded.
A barrier surrounded the Vixens.
Then another.
Then another.
Three overlapping walls of protection.
He never looked away from Jax.
"My liege."
Jax didn't turn around.
"Protect them."
Warden lowered his helmet.
"It will be done..."
A pause.
"...my liege."
Jax sighed.
"You really don't have to call me that."
"Understood."
A heartbeat passed.
"...my liege."
Even now...
Nyxian laughed.
Bunny immediately joined her.
"My liege!"
"My liege!"
Llandra couldn't suppress a smile.
"I don't believe he's ever going to stop."
Neither did Warden.
He simply strengthened the barrier again.
This time...
Not against the creature.
Against whatever Jax was about to do.
The creature watched all of this.
Then...
Something unexpected happened.
It smiled.
Not with arrogance.
With recognition.
"I understand now."
Its voice rolled across the mountain.
"You..."
It took another step.
"...are not prey."
Jax slowly pulled Peacemaker from the stone.
The ringing of steel echoed for miles.
"No."
The creature's smile widened.
"...You are my equal."
Jax disappeared.
There was no blur.
No afterimage.
One instant...
He existed.
The next...
Only sound remained.
CLANG.
The shockwave split the clouds.
CLANG.
An entire cliff face collapsed.
CLANG.
The mountain itself shuddered.
The Vixens couldn't follow him.
Not even Llandra's enhanced eyesight.
Not even Zee's magical perception.
Not even Warden.
Only flashes of silver.
Explosions of stone.
And the constant ringing of Peacemaker colliding with something ancient enough to survive mountains.
The creature laughed.
A deep...
Joyful...
Thunderous laugh.
"AT LAST."
Another explosion ripped through the sky.
"AT LAST..."
A second shockwave flattened the surrounding forest.
"...SOMEONE."
Another impact.
"...WHO CAN FIGHT ME."
The duel had begun.
And for the first time since entering this world...
Jax was no longer protecting everyone else.
He was fighting for himself.