As a few more days unfolded, we found ourselves in a new realm within the forest. The abrupt cessation of snow marked our passage into a territory untouched by winter's grip. It was a breathtaking transformation.
"It's like stepping into a whole new world," Laylah remarked, her eyes wide with wonder as she took in the vibrant scene around us.
"Aye, a welcome change from the cold," Durato added, his voice tinged with relief.
As we ventured through the lush foliage, we couldn't help but be enraptured by the splendor surrounding us. The sunlight danced through the leaves, casting a golden glow that adorned the forest floor with warmth and brilliance.
"Look at that," I exclaimed, pointing to a particularly striking flower with vivid hues of purple and gold. "I've never seen anything like it."
Laylah, ever the curious observer, studied the new plants with a discerning eye, perhaps sketching mental notes in the canvas of her mind.
"These are remarkable," she murmured, reaching out to touch a delicate blossom.
The tensions from the previous outburst seemed to dissipate, and Laylah, in particular, resumed engaging with me, although an air of intensity still clung to him, especially during monster encounters.
"Keep your guard up," he cautioned as we ventured deeper into the forest, his hand hovering near the hilt of his sword.
Durato, too, showed a newfound interest, drawn to geological wonders as he unearthed glistening crystals from beneath the soil, marveling at their radiant sparkle.
"Would you look at these beauties?" he exclaimed, holding up a handful of shimmering gems for us to admire.
While traversing, I caught a glimmer in the distance and instinctively led the group toward its source. There, nestled among the leaves, we discovered a small orb of mesmerizing blue. It pulsed gently, emanating a subtle, otherworldly energy that captivated our collective fascination.
"What do you suppose it is?" Laylah pondered, her eyes fixed on the mysterious orb.
"I'm not sure," I admitted, reaching out to touch it cautiously. "But there's something... enchanting about it."
Our impromptu excursion into the realm of discovery abruptly halted as a haunting howl echoed in the distance. The once tranquil atmosphere dissolved into an eerie tension, palpable in the very air we breathed. Laylah froze in her tracks, her heartbeat echoing the urgency of her nerves, while the forest around us seemed to hold its breath in anticipation of the impending threat.
"What was that?" Laylah's voice trembled with a mixture of fear and curiosity, her gaze scanning the shadowed depths of the forest for any sign of movement.
"I don't know," Durato's voice cut through the silence like a blade, his tone grave and resolute. "But I think it's wolves, and not just any wolves. They are stronger, more formidable than the foes we've faced thus far."
The howls grew louder, resonating with a primal intensity that sent shivers down our spines, and we could see the glint of predatory eyes gleaming in the dim light. The forest seemed to come alive with malevolent intent as monstrous wolves, their forms twisted and distorted, closed in on us with calculated aggression.
"The sound is coming from over there," I pointed towards a dense thicket, my voice steady despite the rising sense of unease. "Prepare yourselves."
The monstrous wolves closed in, and the air crackled with an ominous energy as we readied ourselves for the impending clash. The wolves, agile and relentless, unleashed a barrage of energy balls, forcing us to leap and weave through the onslaught. The forest echoed with the resonant hum of their attacks.
Upon our descent, the wolves cunningly intercepted us, launching another wave of relentless assaults. Tiny azure energy balls danced in the air, creating a lethal ballet of destruction. We found ourselves encircled, a desperate symphony of defense our only refuge.
Two of the creatures lunged toward us, their movements fluid and deadly. Laylah swung her spear in a swift arc, aiming to fend off their advances, but the weapon shattered upon impact. In response, I hurled fiery orbs towards the approaching threats, yet their resilience remained unyielding. These monsters were a formidable force, their strength defying conventional expectations.
"Laylah, any hidden strength, like last time, would be a game-changer," urged Durato, his voice resonating with urgency.
"I got nothing," Laylah replied, a tinge of frustration evident in her tone. The reality of the situation hung heavy in the air, and we braced ourselves for an intensifying battle against foes that seemed impervious to our usual tactics.
The battlefield echoed with the clash of our struggle against the monstrous wolves, each engagement pushing our limits further. Battle after battle since our arrival, we fought and learned, gaining experience with each encounter. These wolves proved stronger than most monsters we'd faced, yet even Grandpa Tensei managed to keep up, his smile undeterred as he skillfully dispatched each foe.
As the battle unfolded, Durato shared valuable insights, guiding us on when the wolves would strike based on the telltale rise in their energy. Grandpa, the seasoned warrior, focused on stalwart defense, his movements fluid and precise. Laylah and I, the powerhouse duo, unleashed relentless attacks, combining strength and agility to face the ferocious onslaught. Together, we formed a cohesive unit, protecting one another as we brought down one wolf after another.
After dispatching the initial group of twelve, a moment of relief washed over us as we reveled in our victory. However, the respite was short-lived. Another chilling howl pierced the air, accompanied by a distinct tremor that sent shivers down our spines. Ten more wolves emerged from the shadows, larger and more menacing than before, adorned with ominous horns protruding from their heads. A sense of déjà vu swept over me, a haunting realization settling in—I had encountered creatures like these before, not exactly like them but I did.
"These are the evolved version of the ones we fought before. It's not that common among monsters, but this is undoubtedly going to pose a greater challenge," I explained.
"Evolved?!" questioned Durato.
We were now all tired and out of breath, my lungs felt like they were about to collapse but I can't give up now. I fought and fought for my survival not to die right here but to keep on living.
"Everyone, we didn't come this far just to die! Let's give it our all!" I said trying to fire up our spirit.
"Im with you on that!" They all replied in unison.
"They are indeed more powerful. Be careful. Five of these monsters are as strong as..."
Durato's voice was violently silenced, his words extinguished in the air as a monstrous wolf materialized before him with startling abruptness. A thunderous howl erupted from the creature, a sound so potent that it became a force in itself. The sheer impact of the deafening sonic blast seized Durato, propelling him through the air like a helpless leaf caught in a ferocious gust of wind. The unfolding chaos continued as the other evolved monsters seamlessly joined the cacophony, a nightmarish symphony of predatory wrath.
Recognizing that the horns seemed to play a pivotal role, I attempted to sever one, but my once-reliable sword, already battered from the previous encounter with the gorillas, snapped under the pressure. Suddenly, I felt more powerless than ever in a fight. Desperation took hold as I attempted to employ my gravity magic to slow down the creatures, but to no avail. Before I could comprehend what was happening, I found myself sprawled on the ground several meters away.
A sudden male like scream pierced the chaotic scene, drawing my attention. Grandpa, once a beacon of strength, now found himself pinned down by two of the evolved wolves, their strength overwhelming him as they tugged at him like a rag doll. Laylah struggled against three of them, while Durato faced off against another trio. Two of these menacing creatures locked eyes with me, advancing in my direction. Panic seized me, a haunting fear echoing the loss we'd already suffered with Yuweh. Would history repeat itself?
The air was filled with Grandpa's agonizing cry as one of his legs was ruthlessly torn off. I witnessed the harrowing sight of the Grandpa I never had being torn to shreds, tears streaming down my face, and my mind plunging into a blank void. This couldn't be happening again.
Despite the dire circumstances, Grandpa held both wolves in an unyielding grip, a determined smile on his face as he glanced in my direction. It was evident that he was about to undertake something drastic.
"Hey, you stinking wolves! Come and get me! Come and get me, you dumb mutts! I'm right over here!" he bellowed at the top of his lungs, drawing the attention of the creatures. "Come and get me!"
"What is he doing!?" Durato exclaimed.
"Rome, let's help him!" urged Durato with panic in his voice.
Laylah, embroiled in a fierce struggle against the three horned wolves, appeared to be losing ground. The oppressive atmosphere hindered our movements, despite our attempts to eat well and exercise. It felt like walking with an elephant on our backs, breathing through a thin straw.
''Grandpa, im coming, just hold on!!" shouted Laylah.
Durato, still surrounded by wolves, and I, faced with the same predicament, were unable to reach Grandpa Tensei. The creatures seemed to employ a tactic of divide and conquer, preventing us from uniting against them.
At that pivotal moment, as Grandpa Tensei screamed in defiance, drawing the attention of the encroaching wolves, something extraordinary unfolded. His body seemed to illuminate from within, a radiant glow emanating from his very core. The air crackled with an electric energy as he shouted, "Absorption!"
A ripple of disarray swept through the pack of wolves. Their movements became erratic, and they stumbled as if robbed of their vital energy. Laylah and Durato seized this opportunity, delivering powerful strikes that sent their respective wolves hurtling through the air. The creatures near me crumpled to the ground, their strength sapped by the mysterious force Grandpa Tensei had unleashed. The scene was both dazzling and awe-inspiring as the wolves, once menacing, now faltered in the face of this unexpected turn of events.
As we saw the wolves weakening, instinctively we ran towards Grandpa Tensei. But he stopped us because there were more wolves around that still had their strength.
In that heart-wrenching moment, Grandpa's voice cut through the tension, shouting, "Run away! I've got this, save yourselves, all of you!" His words hung heavy in the air, a plea mixed with determination. Laylah and Durato hesitated, torn between the instinct to fight and the urgency to heed Grandpa's selfless command. As Grandpa continued to glow with an intensifying brilliance, a foreboding sense of impending doom enveloped us.
Durato, sensing the gravity of the situation, finally seized Laylah and forcibly pulled her away with tears in his eyes. I followed, glancing back at Grandpa, who seemed to be embracing a sacrifice that would alter the course of our lives.
As we distanced ourselves from the epicenter of the impending catastrophe, the weakened wolves, drained of their vitality, staggered and stumbled. Grandpa's actions were taking a toll not only on them but also on us, the draining force felt with every step. It became evident that whatever Grandpa was doing, it was an act of heroism to weaken the monsters around us, pushing us to flee and save ourselves.
I then stopped and watched and shouted to him from afar, ''Grandpa!!!!''
"Get away from here, son," Grandpa shouted, his voice carrying both authority and love.
"No! Isn't there another way?" I pleaded desperately.
"Not at all. You've been like a grandson to me, and I'm glad I got to know you. Please take care of my family."
"Laylah, Durato, I love you both. Take care of Rome, be strong, and stick together. Let your grandpa take care of you now."
His words echoed in the air as Grandpa's glow reached an almost blinding intensity. I started to back away, a knot of conflicting emotions tightening within me. Turning abruptly, I ran alongside Laylah and Durato, the air heavy with anticipation. The explosion, when it came, was a cataclysmic force, creating a crater that mirrored the devastation of my former village. Stunned and disbelieving, I stood on the precipice, grappling with a torrent of anger, confusion, and an overwhelming sense of loss. Grandpa Tensei's sacrifice had left an indelible mark on our souls, a painful reminder of the cost of survival in this unforgiving world.
The aftermath of Grandpa Tensei's explosion was a scene of profound devastation. The once serene forest had been transformed into a chaotic landscape, marked by a massive crater that bore witness to the cataclysmic release of energy. Trees lay splintered and uprooted, their once-green foliage now reduced to ashen remnants scattered across the scarred earth.
The air hung heavy with the acrid scent of lingering smoke, a testament to the overwhelming force that had engulfed the area. The ground, once teeming with life, now harbored the scars of destruction, and the eerie silence that settled over the aftermath echoed the absence of the vibrant sounds of nature.
As I stood amidst the ruins, a profound emptiness enveloped me. The explosion had left an indelible mark on the landscape, forever altering the beauty that once graced this corner of the supernatural realm. The memories of Grandpa Tensei's sacrifice lingered like a haunting specter, casting a somber pall over the desolate scene.
In the midst of the wreckage, I felt a surge of conflicting emotions – anger at the forces that had necessitated such a sacrifice, sorrow for the loss of a dear friend and mentor, and a burning resolve to carry on his legacy. The aftermath of the explosion became a silent testament to the price paid for survival in this unforgiving world, where each step forward came at the cost of irrevocable change.
I knelt to the floor, punching the dirt with tears streaming down my face.
"Why is this always happening!!" I shouted, "Why am I so weak. Is this punishment?!" I screamed and cried.
"Yes, kill, destroy, eradicate, purge. Let carnage fill this earth. Obliterate everything in sight," a sinister voice whispered in my ear, a chilling echo of malevolence that I had heard before. The words slithered through my mind, entwining with the darkness within and stoking the flames of my deepest fears and desires.
I looked up, embracing and absorbing every word I heard from tht voice. The voice filled me with a manic glee, and in that moment, I made a twisted vow – to unleash a torrent of destruction upon every monster, to become a harbinger of annihilation.
I embraced the rising tide of anger and hatred, surrendering willingly to the consuming darkness that lurked within the depths of my soul. A maniacal smile twisted my lips as I allowed the shadows to envelop me, shrouding my consciousness in a veil of ruthless determination.
As my gaze swept across the desolation around me, I saw Duraro and Laylah, their tear-streaked faces reflecting the anguish within their hearts. The very sight of their sorrow fueled the raging fire of my anger. My eyes fixated on the wolves that encircled them – some adorned with menacing horns, others bereft of the ominous protrusions. A surge of horror coursed through me as I witnessed one of the wolves leaping menacingly toward my companions.
In that harrowing moment, my body moved autonomously, propelled by an instinctive need to protect those I cared about. Before my conscious mind could catch up, I found myself in the heart of the monstrous horde, a vessel of fury amidst the encroaching darkness.
In a frenzied dance of chaos, I extended my hands, and the wolves fell like dominos to my destructive wrath. Limbs were torn asunder, heads exploded into fiery fragments, and the air became a symphony of disintegration. The howls of the monstrous creatures were drowned out by the ferocity of my onslaught.
"Laylah, did you see that??" said Durato as he gazed upon what I just did.
"Yea, what is happening to him, has he gone mad?" asked Laylah.
As the dust settled, the ground trembled anew, heralding the arrival of two colossal wolves, their sheer size rivaling that of elephants. Their ferocious howls only fueled the fire within me, and a malevolent grin spread across my face. Their aggression was met with my unbridled rage.
I tilted my head as they approached, really baffled at the audacity of these mutts.
"Very brave creatures indeed, but foolish." I said with a menacing smile.
Suddenly, a shock wave erupted from the epicenter of my being, obliterating the remnants of the battlefield. Laylah and Durato, if they were still nearby, would have felt the earth-shattering force. This shock wave surpassed even the potency of Grandpa Tensei's sacrificial explosion, an embodiment of the unbridled fury coursing through my veins.
The wolves seemed to have evaded the attack, and within the smoke and dust of the aftermath they tried to sneak an attack on me, but I could see them with these eyes.
The two large wolves rushed towards me, I did the same with that menacing grin on my face still. The wolves opened their large jaws to try and consume me but one swing of the back of my hand sent one of them flying. I slapped him like he was nothing. He made a sound of pain as he was sent flying. The other one grabbed my other hand, trying to sink his teeth into my flesh, he tore my hand off, blood gushed out but I only stood there and spoke.
"Silly mutt, for your rude behavior now, I shall punish you. Sit!" I said and immediately a wave of energy surged over him and he slammed into the ground under extreme pressure. The surrounding area sunk also with the mutt at the epicenter. The wolf cried in pin as he was sunk deeper and deeper.
The other wolf was now charging at me again, it opened its mouth to release powerful electro balls. I stretched out what remained of my severed hand and instantly it regenerated before the attacks reached me. All the attacks stopped midair before it reached me.
The colossal wolf, battered but defiant, faced the inevitable. With an effortless ascent into the air, with my outstretched hand and the energy balls sent by the wolf still floating in front of my hand, I effortlessly enlarged the attacks I took from the wolf and turned it into giant purple fireballs with blue electricity sparking off it.
"Multiple Fire Blast," I intoned, and unleashed a barrage of colossal fire attacks. The projectiles hurtled towards the once-ferocious wolf, striking him with an unrestrained might that only fiercest monsters I had encountered had ever displayed – giant birds of mythical proportions.
In the wake of the onslaught, the monster lay vanquished, lifeless on the scorched earth. The toll on my body was evident, pain coursing through every fiber, my eyes ablaze with both agony and a lingering, unquenchable energy. Yet, the tempest within refused to subside. Attack after relentless attack, I carved through the landscape, leaving acres of land decimated in my wake. The symphony of destruction played on, a testament to the tempest within me that refused to be stilled.
The remaining wolf, witnessing the relentless destruction, attempted to flee like a cornered rat desperate for escape. However, I anticipated its every move, appearing before it could make a single step. Despite having momentarily escaped my gravity attack earlier, it now found itself trapped once more, helpless against my overwhelming power.
"You thought I had forgotten about you, didn't you?" I taunted, approaching the trembling wolf. Once a formidable adversary, it now stood paralyzed in the face of my might. As I circled it, my touch grazed its fur, emphasizing the stark contrast between my power and its feeble existence.
"I'll give you one chance to avenge your fallen comrades. Attack," I declared, closing my eyes in a deceptive display of vulnerability.
The wolf, lured by the illusion of an opportunity, prepared to strike. Sensing its muscles tensing for the assault, I reopened my eyes, the vivid purple glow reflecting a power beyond comprehension. The creature hesitated, second-guessing its decision, and in an instant, it shattered into a million pieces. Blood splattered across my body, the unsettling contrast between my fierce, beast-like purple eyes and the monster's red blood creating a terrifying visage that could send shivers down even the coldest heart.
Turning away, I sought out my friends, but my pursuit was driven by an uncontrollable urge to annihilate everything in my path. However, as I scanned the surroundings, an eerie anomaly captured my attention.
Before I could react, a mysterious figure materialized before me, his presence almost imperceptible until he stood directly in my path. A man in his forties, emanating an aura of formidable power, interrupted my relentless assault.
In the whirlwind of questions that spiraled through my mind — how had he managed to elude my heightened senses, and from which obscure corner had he materialized? — I launched a relentless barrage of attacks in his direction. However, my surprise peaked as he skillfully sidestepped every strike, executing a dance of evasion that defied the very laws of my meticulous precision.
With each swing of my hands, a cataclysmic force surged forth, leaving behind a wake of destruction on the earth. The mere act of my swings birthed a violent upheaval, cracking the ground beneath where his body once stood as he quickly evaded. The landscape bore the scars of my unleashed power, a chaotic testament to the clash between my relentless assault and his uncanny agility.
In a blink, the man's hands glowed with an ethereal golden radiance, a sight that left me momentarily transfixed. Before I could fathom the nature of this luminous energy, a swift punch found its mark, connecting with my chest. The impact reverberated through my being, shattering my focus and plunging me into unconsciousness. The world around me faded, succumbing to the overwhelming force of the enigmatic intruder.
The weird thing about all this was that I had no control over the destructive power unleashed just now.