Levi, Selena, and Samuel immediately found each other after the dust settled down a bit. They coincidentally saw the tiger and immediately followed it. After a few seconds, when they saw that the tiger was actually engaging with someone, Selena sent two fireballs towards it.
Boom! Boom!
The attack landed on the tiger's left flank, but it didn't seem to affect it at all. Fortunately, it backed away and tried to reposition itself. It once again jumped into the forest.
"Where's Aeon and Suri?" Dan asked the three as they moved closer, without even turning around. Instead, he eyed the mountain-like figure not far from them.
The three noticed Dan's gaze so they also looked that way.
The area didn't have many trees so nothing hindered their vision. They all got a clear view of the gigantic gorilla that looked like a great mountain about 100 meters away from them. Despite its hairy body, its muscles were clear to see.
Suddenly, a fire blazed near its thigh, although, due to its size, the fire looked so minuscule.
In response, the gorilla started stomping its feet, a poor attempt to crush the two humans running like ants all around it.
"I think they're that way," Samuel finally responded after a long silence trying to be funny, but it invoked no laughter from the others. They all felt dread instead.
Dan felt his sweat drop. Even when they purged the forest and took down 30 colossal beasts, they never fought against something as big as the one they were currently looking at. Also, if he was right, that beast should be capable of moving underground. It's forearm looked completely identical to the one that almost slapped them to death.
"Let's go!" Dan urged the group forward. He rushed even faster than before, but just enough for the others to keep up. They couldn't risk getting separated again. From time to time, they could see the shadow of the tiger moving behind several trees. It didn't do much, but it gave them a lot of mental pressure.
The four of them immediately arrived on site and saw Suri and Aeon frantically slashing at the gorilla's leg—the only part of its body they could reach. Other than shifting its gaze between Aeon and Suri, and stomping its feet, it didn't do much. Unlike other beasts, it wasn't very active, even when being attacked. Probably because it felt no threat at all.
….
Aeon and Suri were starting to panic. They were dealing absolutely no damage to the beast! Even Suri's explosive attacks could only leave soot on the gorilla's skin while Aeon's blades merely bounced off. This fact was really hard for them to absorb. Moreover, its stomps produced shockwaves fully capable of destroying their internal organs if they got too close.
Throughout their series of useless attacks, Aeon continued keeping an eye on Korona. Thankfully, the beast stopped squashing her as they continued with their relentless—but futile—attacks.
As the gorilla was being distracted, Korona continuously reinforced the ice around her, the only protection she had. She was also doing her best to pry the gorilla's hand open by increasing its volume.
The gorilla, making no progress, decided that it was wasting its own time. It started running, completely catching both Aeon and Suri off guard. The ground shook with every step it took. When it reached the nearest tree, it jumped and hung itself beside it by hugging its trunk using its free hand.
The situation just reversed! A completely unpredicted scenario!
Without even bothering to take the tiger into account, the two rushed forward, following the gorilla who was hanging on the tree. They didn't really need to kill the beast or cripple it. They just needed to get Korona back.
When the gorilla jumped again and reached for a branch, however, it snapped from the weight and the gorilla fell hard on the ground causing it to quake. It stumbled on the ground but seemed to be unaffected. It casually stood up, shook its head, and started running again.
It was about to shove Korona into its mouth, but when it noticed that the ice was already too big to fit in its mouth, it stopped and kept her on his hand. Due to Korona being a burden to it, it could only run on two legs and one arm, making it looked like it was limping.
Seeing this, the two felt relieved. At least they now had an advantage over the gorilla.
But they were really perplexed. Why was it running away from them? Normally, magical beasts feel agitated when coming across humans. They consider them as their natural enemies. But the gorilla, for some reason unknown to them, did not have that natural aggression.
Aeon started worrying about their condition. The gorilla was still a colossal magical beast. They couldn't beat it in terms of stamina, so they needed to act soon unless they want to get worn down. At that point, if the gorilla decides to dispose of both of them, it would be child's play.
"Suri! I have an idea," Aeon told Suri who was currently running right next to him.
The latter's face was filled with worry. When he heard Aeon's words, he felt his resolve burn.
"Sure!" Suri responded.
As the two ran, they planned on what they were about to do. Suri nodded as Aeon explained. It had been a short plan, but determination painted their faces. They were extremely confident.
After a few moments, they started executing it.
Instead of running faster, Suri started slowing down.
After Suri reached a certain point, Aeon nodded.
Aeon slightly jumped up.
The look on his eyes immediately changed, exuding the sharpness he only displayed when he activated his Tenro.
Suri rushed forward with an extreme burst of speed—one that would leave him exhausted for the next few minutes—all for the sake of their current plan.
Aeon reached the peak of his jump and he started going down. When he landed, however, his feet didn't touch the ground.
Instead, they touched the flat side of Suri's gigantic sword.
Aeon bent his knees like a spring.
Then, Suri swung forward.
Aeon kicked at the same time.
Aeon shot forward like a bolt of lightning! With immense speed, Aeon flashed forward, straight towards the gorilla. His two swords were in front of him, their tips connected.
It was not just a simple boost from Suri's swing.
What Aeon executed was a sword technique from the style he created himself, inspired by the beautiful night sky he had witnessed, the one he wanted to show his father. The principle behind his sword style is momentary bursts of power, the one thing he excelled at the most. The one that Aeon recently executed was no exception.
Dance of the Celestial Swords: Shooting Star!
Aeon's body turned in the air like a drill. Within a moment, the distance between him and the gorilla was instantly closed!
The tip of his sword connected with the gorilla's side!
"GRAAAAAAAAAA!"
The attack tore a two-meter-deep hole on the gorilla's thick waist, causing it to roar in pain. If one paid close attention, one could immediately tell that, at the slightest bit, the beast slowed down. Blood dripped from its open wound.
Aeon stopped spinning, kicked on the beast, and fell towards the ground. He landed on all fours and pushed himself up again.
It wasn't over yet!
He started running right beside the gorilla, matching its speed.
Aeon laughed dryly. What Aeon thought to be such a destructive technique paired with his upgraded Tenro and Suri's boost wasn't even enough to tear a huge hole. It was far from enough for the gorilla to stop and turn around.
Aeon breathed deeply.
I guess I'll need to go all out. I'll worry about the backlash later.
Aeon exhaled, although it was more like a sigh.
He bent his body forward to reduce the wind resistance further and started accelerating. Then, Aeon activated his extreme focus.
It was as if time slowed. Aeon frantically shifted his view all over the gorilla's body trying to pinpoint a weakness he could exploit. His eyes rapidly moved forward and backward; up and down.
First, towards its head. Then, its arms. Then, its legs. Whichever he deemed crucial to the beast's movements given its current position and its muscle usage, he paid closer attention to.
The terrain...could it be utilized, too?
He looked ahead.
His eyebrows suddenly shot up.
Suddenly, his gaze went back towards the beast and locked onto a specific part. He finally found what he had been looking for. Over and over, he repeated the processes inside his head just to make sure he does everything right. He took into account most, if not all, possibilities.
To Aeon, the process seemed long. But in reality, it only took a moment.
The gorilla stepped on an uneven part of the ground with the hand it used to run. It slightly bent forward in an unnatural way.
As the beast slightly tripped, it's free hand lingered a beat longer on the ground.
There!
Just as Aeon had predicted.
With a sudden burst of speed, he charged forward. His eyes focused on the underside of the huge hand of the beast.
If anyone else knew what Aeon was about to do, the person would have said that it was a huge gamble no one could win because the window of opportunity was too small. For most people, the case would have been just like that.
But Aeon was not like most people. His eyes filled with resolve as if he was in a trance.
Aeon's left arm crossed in front of his neck with Verdure pointing directly behind him. Zephyr lay horizontally by his side.
Dance of the Celestial Swords: Half Moon Blade!
He jumped forward and swung both swords horizontally at the same time, covering a complete 180 degrees in front of him. Although the attack looked exaggerated and too much, Aeon had actually used just the right amount of strength to damage the gorilla's tendon.
Aeon landed on the other side of the gorilla, just below the hand it was using to carry Korona.
The slight window of opportunity had passed. The opening on the gorilla's wrist immediately disappeared after.
Unfortunately for the gorilla, Aeon had already taken this into account.
The gorilla lost its balance and stumbled. It was about to fall, but it immediately stabilized itself with a few steps.
It looked like Aeon accomplished absolutely nothing, when in fact, this was the chance Aeon had been waiting for.
When focusing on one thing, one misses several details.
The gorilla momentarily forgot that it was carrying something inside its hands.
A person.
Spikes grew out of the ice that the gorilla was holding, impaling the beast's hands. Having been charged since Aeon and Suri started their pursuit, the sudden attack only became much more destructive.
It broke through the gorilla defense! Immediately, the gorilla's hand was pried open.
Then, the ice suddenly shattered and Korona started hurtling towards the ground.
Everything happened in a short span of a second.
Aeon slashing. The beast losing its balance. The ice breaking.
It all happened too fast.
The gorilla couldn't even react.
But Aeon was ready.
Because it had been their plan the entire time.
As Korona fell, Aeon already had his swords tucked inside their strap. With another burst of speed, at the last second of his Tenro's current duration, Aeon kicked and jumped forward catching Korona by the waist.
Everything was calculated by Aeon, up to the last drop of his energy, and it ended up quite well.
Now, it was all up to the others.
….