The monster's roar echoed throughout the entire city.
Knights across the battlefield collapsed to the ground, unable to endure it.
"AAHHH!!"
"AAHH!!"
"AAHHH!!"
Their condition worsened rapidly.
Many knights couldn't withstand that cursed scream…
and lost their lives on the spot.
Only a few managed to barely hold on.
Medusa was one of them.
Using sheer willpower, he tried to suppress the effect of that sound.
"No… I can't fall here…"
"I don't have enough power left… to defeat it…"
Gritting his teeth, Medusa tightened his grip on his sword.
He raised his other hand.
A green magic circle formed on his palm, filled with complex, ancient symbols.
His hand froze mid-air—
as if he was trying to grab something invisible.
"Uhh…!"
"Uhhh…!!"
He forced all his strength into closing his hand—
CRACK!!
The magic circle shattered.
His hand burned instantly.
Smoke began rising from his skin.
The monster's gaze snapped toward him.
It stretched out its massive arm—
ready to grab him.
At the last second, Medusa used his remaining strength and shot into the air.
While flying back, his thoughts raced—
"My spell… isn't working…"
"That means… even third-stage magic is useless against it…"
Without hesitation, Medusa charged forward.
He struck the monster's back—
leaving shallow cuts.
But—
"…Its body is too tough…
even my sword techniques aren't working…"
In the next instant—
The monster turned around.
And before Medusa could even react—
It grabbed him.
His eyes widened in shock.
"I-it's too fast…
I didn't even see it move…"
The monster pulled him closer…
its face inches away from his.
From its broken voice, distorted words came out—
"Y-o-u… h-a-v-e… a-n-n-o-y-e-d… m-e…"
Outside Ottar City—
A boy was calmly walking toward the chaos.
"…Looks like the party is still going on."
He continued walking toward the city.
The monster suddenly threw Medusa—
THAMMM!!!
He crashed into the ground.
Sharp wooden debris pierced into his back.
Blood spilled from his mouth…
and spread across the ground.
"Ehh…!"
"I… can't get up…"
The monster slowly turned toward him.
It opened its mouth.
A massive amount of red energy began gathering inside.
"Ehhhh…"
"Ehhhh…"
The energy compressed further—
dark smoke leaking from the corners of its mouth.
Then—
The monster bent forward—
and fired a devastating beam straight at Medusa.
The red beam tore through the air—
heading directly toward him.
Medusa saw it coming.
Reflected in his eyes—
that red light.
He closed his eyes.
Silence.
…
"Thud…"
"Thud…"
Time passed.
But nothing happened.
Medusa slowly opened his eyes.
In front of him—
A figure stood still.
That person had stopped the beam—
with one hand.
"Hey…"
A calm, confident voice echoed.
"Fighters aren't supposed to fall asleep in the middle of a battle."
Medusa coughed, struggling to speak—
"Y-you… who are you…?"
The figure replied—
with absolute confidence—
"My name is Mike…
Mike Celester."