"H-he… he turned into a monster!" someone screamed, their voice cracking in terror.
Evelyn stood firm amid the raging wind. Her hair trembled under the storm of energy pouring from the colossal figure before her. Her blue eyes gleamed coldly—without the slightest trace of fear.
The monster roared.
"RAAAGHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
The roar shook the entire forest. Birds scattered in panic. The ground trembled. Trees bent as if bowing to a power newly born from darkness.
---
Inside the old house, Ryu jolted in shock. His eyes widened as the roar rattled the window glass.
He looked toward the window—and what he saw made his blood run cold. Through the foggy pane, he saw a gigantic leg and the towering shadow of a horrifying body looming over his friends.
"My friends are in danger…" he muttered, trembling as he struggled against the energy restraints binding him. "I… have to get out! I can't let them die!"
Ryu pulled his arms with all his strength—veins bulging—until blood dripped from his wrists.
"Ahhhhh!!!" he screamed through the pain.
---
"T-that's Ryu's voice!" Elias shouted from a distance.
"Ryu, hang on!" Leon yelled back, running through the mist.
Evelyn turned toward the sound. Her eyes trembled—anger and anguish merging into one.
"Ryu…"
Suddenly, the monster smiled. A crooked, horrifying smile filled with murderous intent. It slowly lowered its head—its massive shadow swallowing the entire troop beneath it.
"ARGHHHHHH!!"
The monster's foot rose high into the air—and in the next instant, slammed down.
"MOVE!!" Shimizu shouted.
Everyone leapt aside—
The earth exploded.
JEBUUUMMMM!!!
A shockwave tore through the trees. Rocks, soil, and wooden debris flew everywhere.
Inside the house, Ryu was violently thrown against the wall. "Ah—damn it!" he hissed, coughing hard as he collapsed.
---
Outside, the troops rolled across the ground.
"Damn it—how do we defeat this thing?!" Sora shouted while staggering back to his feet.
---
Meanwhile, far in the northern side of the forest—beneath a purple sky trembling with magical aura—
Jake stood still, his gaze sharp. He saw purple light erupting among the trees, followed by a horrifying roar.
Velista stepped forward slowly, a cynical smile on her face.
"Jake… did you really think I came here just to leave Ryu alone?"
Jake stared at her coldly, his breathing calm yet dangerous. "Velista… are you underestimating us?"
Velista let out a soft laugh, her tone like poison.
"No. If I underestimated you, I wouldn't have sent a guardian that strong. But unfortunately…" her smile froze, "…I placed something there that you can no longer even call human."
Jake glanced toward the northern forest, his eyes dimming slightly.
Akira and the others are there. They'll bring Ryu back, he thought firmly.
Velista slowly raised her hand. The air around her vibrated violently. A dark purple aura coiled around her body like hellfire.
Jake straightened instinctively—but suddenly—
CRAAACK!
His body felt gripped by an invisible force. His bones creaked under the crushing pressure of terrifying telekinesis.
"D-damn…" Jake hissed through the pain.
Velista smiled cruelly. "How does it feel, Commander? Your flesh… your bones… slowly being crushed?"
Jake dropped to one knee, blood dripping from his lips, but his eyes remained focused.
I have to stall her. Until they manage to get Ryu out… hurry, everyone.
---
Meanwhile, at the other side of the forest—where the abandoned house held Ryu captive—the battle had reached madness.
The monster roared again.
"Hahaha! Is that all? Can you do nothing but run and hide?!"
Zen stared sharply from behind a bush, his voice heavy and commanding.
"We don't have more than one hundred and fifty seconds. Listen to me!"
His voice cut through the chaos.
"Group One—become needles! Disable the nerves in its legs! Then stab upward toward the spine and slash fast until it loses balance!"
He gave rapid commands, his voice piercing through the thunder.
"Group Two—prepare iron arrows in the ground! Lure it there, and attack its eyes and chest once it falls!"
"Group Three—Haruto, lure it between the trees! Set spike traps and explosive bombs around it!"
"Aurora, Shimizu—you're the fastest. When it's distracted, break into the house. Rescue Ryu!"
Everyone nodded simultaneously.
"Alright!" Akira shouted. "We move!"
---
Boots pounded the earth in unison.
Akira, Evelyn, Leon, Asta, Elias, and dozens more charged in a V-formation, slicing through the forest like a storm.
The monster lowered its head, red eyes gleaming.
"That's more like it… come out, all of you!"
In an instant, its massive fist shot forward like a meteor.
"DODGE!!" Akira yelled.
The entire troop scattered. The ground shattered. Rocks flew skyward.
"Tajima! Hilda! Rikou! Cut its right arm—your energy blades can sever it!" Akira shouted.
The three leapt into the air, blue blades glowing like lightning.
"Leave it to us, Captain!!"
SHIIING!
One slash—black blood sprayed like rain.
"ARGHHHHHHHH!!!"
The monster roared and swung wildly.
"Jump!!" Tajima shouted. They dove down just in time.
Akira sprinted up a tree trunk and leapt—driving his sword into the monster's arm, climbing upward with incredible speed. Blue sparks flared with every step.
"The rest of you! Cut its legs—now!" Akira shouted from above.
Group One rushed forward, slicing tendons and joints in the giant's legs.
The monster growled, glaring at Akira like he was an insect.
"You… want to die?!"
As its hand swung toward him, Akira yanked out his blade and slashed from shoulder to elbow.
"AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
Thick, scorching blood splattered everywhere.
The monster snapped its jaws toward him—
But in slow motion, Akira leapt onto its head, air vibrating around him, eyes blazing.
"AHHHHHHHH!!!"
He drove his sword straight into its skull.
The giant's scream shook the sky.
"Incredible…" Group Two whispered.
Sora smirked. "That's my friend!"
"Tch," Zen muttered, "now you admit it."
---
"Now! Group Two—fire! Group Three—detonate the traps!" Zen commanded swiftly.
"Aurora, Shimizu—move!"
They nodded.
"Leave it to me," Shimizu said coldly.
Akira leapt from the monster's head, slashing its neck and spine.
"NOW!!!" his voice thundered.
Evelyn watched, rage burning inside her—Velista's shadow flashing in her mind.
She screamed and charged, her blade blazing bright blue.
SRAAASHHH!
The monster's left leg was severed completely, blood erupting wildly.
Evelyn swung her sword again and again, so fast her slashes were invisible to the naked eye.
"Shing! Shing! Shing!"
"Quick—back her up!" Leon shouted.
They surged forward, raining strike after strike onto the staggering giant.
Finally—
SRAAAASHHH!!
Both legs were severed. The monster collapsed to its knees with a thunderous roar.
"Now!!" Zen shouted.
Hundreds of poisoned arrows shot forward, piercing its body—followed by two sharp arrows from Sora that impaled its right and left eyes.
The monster groaned. Black blood flowed like a river.
---
Aurora and Shimizu dashed into the house.
They found Ryu bound by glowing energy restraints.
With one blue slash—
CRANG!
The restraints shattered.
Ryu collapsed unconscious, his face covered in wounds.
Shimizu immediately lifted him.
"Ryu is secured! Fall back!"
Akira looked toward them, then shouted loudly,
"RETREAT!!"
They all leapt and ran through the forest. Behind them, the monster still roared in agony, its body trembling violently.
Then—
DUARRRRR!!!
Spike traps exploded beneath it, blasting into the giant's body.
"BASTAAARDS!!!" the monster screamed, its body burning and convulsing.
The entire troop kept running—through mist and raining blood—leaving destruction behind them.
---
To Be Continued…