"AGH!" Gunjo pushed his scythe back, making Bahamut blast backwards.
'This Bahamut thing…he can shoot destructive orbs from his mouth as he roars, and he has crystallized spikes on his body and tail. That kid was fast, but once Bahamut powered up, his orbs caught the kid off guard and hit him. I gotta find a loophole within this somewhere. Should I use Will of Heaven early? No…I can only use that near death. Can I check his stats-?!'
Gunjo rolled to the right, Bahamut darted past him with his large mouth, saying, "Tch! Got quick reflexes, don't ya brat?!"
Gunjo replied, "Thanks! Wait why the hell am I saying thanks? Die!"
"Oooh scary. You'll end up like that annoying kid!"
'Thanks to my Charred Ascendance form, my awareness goes up a little. So I'm able to dodge certain attacks at certain points, but I can't dodge it 100% of the time, and it doesn't last long. I have to anticipate his attacks, those orbs are gonna be annoying. He's faster now that the kid woke his ass up…hitting him is gonna be a pain. I don't wanna lose again, or fail another quest. Should I let beat the shit out of me until I can use Will of Heaven? No, that's dumb. What if he strikes me once and boom, that's it? In this state, I can't take risks.'
Gunjo, his skeletal frame adorned with the eerie glow of his inner turmoil, stood in stark contrast against the loathsome might of Bahamut. With a calculated breath, he drew the dark energy within, his blood beginning to boil as it drew forth the horrifying spectacle of his Scalding Onset. The scythe in his grip flared to life as the searing blood infused the blade.
As Bahamut conjured magic crest sigils in the space between them, Gunjo ignited the air with Reality Sunder, sending shockwaves toward Bahamut. The sigils erupted, loosing destructive orbs. With practiced agility, Gunjo sidestepped the assault, feeling the heat graze past. Gunjo's skin hardened like volcanic rock as he entered the state of Charred Ascendance. With his speed and alertness heightened, he deftly closed the distance, his scythe arcing towards Bahamut. The jaguar parried with a spike upon his arm, sending sparks into the desolate sky.
'He's doing more running and dodging than actual fighting…why?' Gunjo thought.
Bahamut roared, an orb materializing at point-blank to thrust Gunjo back. With his newly grown horn illuminating the field, Gunjo's heightened awareness caught a glimpse of another attack, barely twisting away as an orb razed the ground where he had stood. Striking with a Death Punch, Gunjo smeared his own blood upon his fist and targeted Bahamut's exposed side. The blow landed, staggering the beast which let out a ragged snarl of disdain but quickly recovered.
"Agh!"
"Haha! Fuck you!" Gunjo mocked.
Bahamut roared, "Laughing are we?!"
Bahamut began to get bigger, and Gunjo replied, "I'm sorry."
Bahamut's counter was swift, summoning a jaguar sigil beneath Gunjo that erupted with a pulse of energy. Gunjo leaped, flipped, and landed upon a decaying Whisperer statue, maintaining his precarious position.
'Just like the Umibozu I fought…it's like he's allowing himself to get hit..like he's recovering?' Gunjo thought once again.
The land trembled as another Reality Sunder pulsed from Gunjo's core, making the area and atmosphere pump violently as it matched the rhythm of his heartbeat, but Bahamut predicted the move, sidestepping just as the shockwave crackled beneath him. With an imperious smirk, he dashed forward to close the gap.
Claws met scythe, each strike from Bahamut was a dance with death. Gunjo's Scalding Vitality ensured that each graze upon his hardened form punished Bahamut with a scorching rebuke, branding flesh with blistering wounds.
'Wait…'
The relentless exchange continued, Bahamut weaving destructive orbs through his onslaught. Gunjo, moving with the grace of the dead, weaved in and out, the orbs scalding the earth around them, and some of the orbs gashing him left and right.
"Agh!" Gunjo scolded, launching himself in the air. Gunjo launched his scythe at Bahamut, but the jaguar dodged it. Gunjo dashed downard stuck his hand in the ground, and threw sand at Bahamut's eye, Bahamut was hit, and Gunjo threw another Death punch while grabbing his scythe at the same time.
'Land…land Dammit!'
A vicious left hook from Bahamut, empowered by his malevolent magic, caught Gunjo across the jaw. The skeletal warrior staggered but remained steadfast, using the force of the blow to spin and deliver a scything cut across Bahamut's flank.
"Dammit!"
Gunjo slid back, thinking, 'I wanna maintain this form until I kill him! But his attacks are getting faster and faster…there's a pattern! There's gotta be one! I don't wanna lose again…after facing embarrassment the first time, I won't let that happen again…I won't let myself lose to someone like Bahamut..I can't. I busted down into tears when the Umibozu beat me, feeling like the main character, I didn't think I would lose. I don't wanna feel that again..especially after this demon jaguar keeps talking shit, I won't let him beat me…'
Bahamut reeled from the slash, rage contorting his feline features as he focused, conjuring a massive sigil high above. It cascaded orb after orb, a meteor shower of magical ire. Gunjo evoked Scalding Onset, his blood erupting from his palm to meet the onslaught, detonating the orbs midair. As the dust settled, the two clashed again, a maelstrom of blows and growls, the ferocity of their battle leaving a tableau of destruction – shattered earth and charred remains of the once-proud Whisperer statues.
Watching from the side, the large demon Sentinels from he side with the beads in their hands started moving forward towards the portal, aiming to kill the rest of the Whisperers.
They all said in unison, "Eliminate."
FWOOM!
Their heads exploded, as Rowlai punched through all of them, landing on the ground. He was covered in blood, holding his wounded him as his small child fist was steaming.
The bodies dropped near him, and Rowlai huffed and puffed fast, saying, "I..I-I have to do something."
He turned to Gunjo, seeing him go head to head with Bahamut.
'He's able to fight against him so easily, and I wasn't even able to last 2 minutes. I've trained so hard, my people, the Whisperers are the second weakest beings in hell…but I've trained to where I can be unordinary. Gunjo is gonna take my kill, isn't he? Did my training really pay off, if I lost?'
Gunjo unleashed a rapid succession of Death Punches, attempting to exploit the cooldown of Bahamut's destructive orbs. The stagger held Bahamut, but the beast's resilience was uncanny as he absorbed the heavy blows.
Gunjo gasped to himself slightly, 'They have a cooldown! The orbs…Every few seconds he can release them, like during the cooldown they're taking time to rejuvenate themselves…and his other skills…they're only stronger AFTER he's used the orbs. Meaning…'
Gunjo said, "A cooldown…that's why you do more dodging than attacking at times."
"Oh…? Enlighten me."
"Your attacks are stronger when you use the orbs, but it's only after the fact when you use them. But during the cool down, you dodge and move to let your attacks build up power again because you know your attacks without the power doesn't do a shit ton of damage to me."
Bahamut gritted his teeth, "Tch. Ya know, you're actually annoying. Why are you even helping these weak bastards? Turned soft after the Order abandoned you? Trying to get in their good graces? The Order only wants to set an example, to get everyone to worship them and the All Mother, and to make everyone fear them. That's all. What would you gain out of helping these creatures?"
"Can you please…shut up?" Gunjo started walking back and forth, mocking Bahamut, "Yap, Yap, Yap, that's all you do. I'm doing a side quest right now, and I need my skill points and XP. And you're wasting my time. I know the key behind your strategy and power now, so I'm winning this. I don't care what the Order wants, I never did. I know what I wanted: power, victory, and glory. And now, after the Order laughed and spit in my face. I'm slowly gaining power, I only have one victory under my belt, and my glory is no more. I don't know what's going on with me, but I felt real fear before, real defeat, real embarrassment. Feelings I hated, feelings I didn't even know existed for people like me. But now, I wanna see how it looks on the face of someone I slaughter."
"Pfft….RAGGHHH!" Bahamut had grown even more bigger, the ground shaking violently, but Gunjo walked forward still, slowly swinging his scythe playfully.
He smirked with a malicious grin, "Let'a fucking dance."
'My first victory as a skeleton was against that snake…can I secure my second one here? Yes.'
Rowlai exclaimed, "Beat him, Gunjo!"
Gunjo turned to Rowlai, saying, "Oh yeah? Thanks for the praise, kid. I'll do it."
Bahamut growled, "You two are damn near the same age—."
"Zip it! I wasn't talking to you."
A brief stalemate enveloped the battleground as each calculated their next assault. Bahamut's eyes burned with disdain; this daring skeleton would find no reprieve in his dominion.
Bahamut lashed out with orbs and fang, one orb narrowly grazing Gunjo's shoulder pauldron, the impact sending him spinning into a fractured statue remnant, his Charred Ascendance flaring to maintain his form.
Gunjo's heart cracked the ground asunder another time with Reality Sunder, pausing Bahamut's relentless battery for precious seconds, creating a moment's peace in the eye of the storm. Taking artificial breaths for dramatic effect, Gunjo used the pause to charge, the cackling heat of his Scalding Vitality promising retribution. The wind carried a hint of sulfur and ash, precursors to the storm of rekindled combat.
'After finding the loophole in his power…this fight..is mine..'
Weapons clashed once more, a blur of motion and magic. Bahamut's orbs collided with the ground, creating craters, while Gunjo's scythe cuts screamed through the chaos, seeking the dark flesh of the jaguar.
A massive sigil opened beneath Gunjo's feet, threatening to engulf him. In a feat of acrobatic prowess, he vaulted skyward.
Bahamut's roar filled the sky as a decisive orb, bigger than the rest, blazed towards Gunjo; the skeletal warrior twisted in the air, feeling the heat singe the bones of his arm, a reminder of mortality's touch.
As Gunjo landed, his form shimmered; the Charred Ascendance was near its limit. He lunged with a strike, Reality Sunder coiling in his ribcage, ready to burst forth.
[System Notification: Enemy Status Window]
Target: Bahamut The Worthless
Classification: Cultivated Hellspawn Jaguar
Level: 3
Health: 1,200 / 1,200
Mana: 300 / 300
Attributes:
Strength: 300
Dexterity: 300
Constitution: 370
Intelligence: 300
Wisdom: 297
Charisma: 355
Status Effects:
- Aura of Intimidation (Passive): Slight decrease to enemy morale within a 15-foot radius (-5% to enemy morale).
- Thorned Hide (Passive): Returns 5% of physical damage back to the attacker.
Current Status:
- Engaged in combat
- Slightly winded (-20% to movement speed for a brief period)
- Minor lacerations (-1% health)
Gunjo, the remorseless force of decay, surged forward as the scythe was knocked from his bony grasp. With raw determination fueling his every strike, he channeled the full, brutal essence of his Death Punch ability, his fists becoming harbingers of oblivion against the formidable Bahamut. The arena was set for a gory display of relentless power.
Clad in the unyielding will of Charred Ascendance, Gunjo threw himself at Bahamut with reckless abandon. Each Death Punch was a cataclysm unto itself, his blood-slicked fist hammering into Bahamut's hide, again and again, each hit aimed with savage precision. Bahamut lurched, summoning sigils to intercept the blur of skeletal wrath. Gunjo anticipated the magical incursion, weaving between the emerging orbs with an uncanny sense of premonition, his fists never ceasing their brutal dance. A symphony of strikes found their mark as Bahamut staggered under the relentless onslaught. Gunjo's knuckles dug deep, breaking scales and drawing rivulets of dark blood that sizzled upon contact with the searing fury of his Scalding Vitality.
With a roar, Bahamut unleashed a barrage of orbs, aiming to engulf Gunjo in an inferno of chaotic destruction. Yet, Gunjo moved as though he were part of the storm itself, each swing of his arm tearing through the barrage, dissipating orbs with sheer force. Bahamut reared back, a particularly large orb forming before him. Gunjo sprang forward, his Death Punch erupting amidst a crimson haze, rupturing the orb before its birth, sending shockwaves through the very air around them.
The sigils now burst rapidly, a desperate gambit from Bahamut. But Gunjo's primal instincts outmatched the magic, his skeletal form contorted in unnatural ways as he slipped through the magic traps, his counter-punches ever-present. Blood and ichor splattered the desecrated battleground, each Death Punch from Gunjo a testament to his unyielding savagery. Bahamut's titanic frame trembled under the relentless siege, bones resounding with the echoes of wrath.
Rowlai was running on the large Sentinels, punching and kicking them at light speed, making heads explode in dark blood and flames, he zipped around like a gecko, his speed becoming one with the atmosphere.
"I-I won't let them kill the others, G-Gunjo!"
Gunjo responded, "Good. Now keep doing it, don't pester me about it, kick their ass. You're pretty good."
Rowlai grinned, "O-Okay! Got it!"
Bahamut, his form beset with searing wounds, tried to retreat to gain some respite. Gunjo would grant no quarter, his fists like a haunting dirge, relentless and unmerciful, driving the beast back with the rhythmic pounding of flesh and spirit. A sigil flared to life beneath Gunjo, the sorcery meant to entangle. Reflexively, Gunjo leapt, contorting his torso to avoid the ensnaring magic, and while still airborne, he lashed out with another Death Punch, raining down merciless judgment from above.
The ground trembled with the force of each impact, the dance of destruction unyielding. Bahamut's defensive sigils shattered under the assault as each Death Punch channeled the full terror of Gunjo's undying fury.
A palpable aura of death surrounded Gunjo, his skeletal figure bathed in the valor of countless fallen warriors. With each blow, he rebuked the existence of Bahamut, their clash an ode to annihilation and the impermanence of all beings. The might of Bahamut faltered amidst the flurry, his efforts to counter thwarted by the relentless fury of the Death Punch. Gunjo, driven by an inexorable will, shattered defenses and inflicted punishment with every fiber of his being.
A heart-stopping moment arose as Gunjo misjudged the emergence of a new sigil. Yet, he converted the misstep into opportunity, his punch detonating the sigil and bathing the two combatants in blistering light. Yet, Gunjo emerged unscathed, his form born of shadows and despair.
'I almost messed up there..I'm not perfect, I realize. But this fight is mine. The ability to level up and get stronger and stronger..'
Bahamut's majestic form succumbed to the brutal barrage, scales cracked and spirits waning. Even as his own blood cursed him through Gunjo's Scalding Vitality, the skeletal reaper knew no end to his onslaught, death having claimed his mercy long ago.
Gunjo, now an avatar of blighted vengeance, delivered blow after blow, each resonating with the song of destruction that played in his hollow chest. Bahamut, caught within the tempest of fists, was an embodiment of fury and pain, enduring the wrath of a nightmare incarnate.
Bahamut was on his side, breathing heavily, Gunjo was standing over him. Both of them covered In blood, breathes ragged in discomforting patterns.
Gunjo said, "The ability to level up and get stronger, this feels like a breath of fresh air."
Bahamut coughed up blood, "H-How?! You were stripped for your power! Any demon with power taken from them can't gain it back! Especially if it's power from the blessing of the All Mother!"
"Guess I'm one unordinary bastard aren't I?"
"Tch! What are you waiting for? Finish me.."
"Not yet."
Gunjo whistled, "Yo, kid. Come here."
Rowlai turned around, he was standing on a pile of large bloody Sentinel bodies.
He came jogging over, standing beside Gunjo.
Gunjo commanded, "Kill him."
"H-Huh? Me?"
"Who else?"
"B-But you beat him.."
"I did, didn't I? I wouldn't have done it if you hadn't weakened him for me."
Rowlai gushed in his childish innocence, smiling with tears in his eyes, saying, "I did, didn't I?"
"Yeah, you had him stumbling. Yeah he grew all big and overpowered, but if it wasn't for you fighting him first, he wouldn't have gotten into that stage, and you wiped out his guards too."
"I-I did!"
"So, this is your kill. Please do it fast. I gotta piss."
"Do you even—nevermind."
"Yep, don't ask."
Bahamut snarled, "This isn't over! Beating me will only send me to the Hall of the Fallen, and one day I'll return!"
Rowlai grabbed Gunjo's scythe, spun, and cut Bahamut's head off, killing him.
[Quest completed. 50 XP gained, 8 skill points warned]
Gunjo grinned, "That's more like it."
[Additional item gained: System Notification: Item Analysis]
Item Name: Shard of the Abyssal Feline
Item Type: Crystal Fragment
Grade: Epic
Attributes:
- Attack Power: +150 when imbued into a weapon
- Dark Aura: +20% to shadow-based magic power
- Spike Essence: Grants a 5% chance on hit to cause bleed for 5 seconds
- Binding of Bahamut: Hold near a beaten foe to absorb a portion of their strength (once per day)
[Item Grades: (From least to greatest)]
1. Common (White) - Standard items with no special attributes.
2. Rare (Green) - Items with one or two low-level enchantments or attributes.
3. Epic (Purple) - High-quality items with several enchantments or significant attributes.
4. Mythic (Orange) - Very rare items with powerful and unique enchantments or abilities.
5. Legend (Red) - Legendary items of immense power, often with storied histories or world-altering capabilities.
6. Immortal (Gold) - Items of unquantifiable might, typically unique and tied to the essence of the universe itself, possessing abilities beyond comprehension.
[The system has been updated. Throughout your progress, the system will update. Giving you new attributes, give you rare items and weapons, and more! As you increase, so shall the system]
'As I increase, the stalker window does as well? That's amazing. And I got another weapon at that.'
Gunjo turned around and began walking away, but the Whisperer beings were standing, huddled.
Gunjo said, "See, we beat him. You have your land back."
It was quiet amongst them, and one of the elders sighed, "Rowlai, you know it was dangerous to just go out and fight, no matter if the others wanted to just let you learn the ways of early devastation. I shouldn't have let you walk through, but I didn't reach you in time. But, you are stronger than all of us, and the choices you make must be cautious. And because of that, we will train to get strong as well. But I thank you, Gunjo as well. Even though you used to talk down on lesser demon beings who weren't in the Order, you helped us."
"Don't sweat it."
The other Whisperers said:
"Yeah. Thanks."
"Sorry we talked junk earlier."
"Our bad."
"You're actually strong."
Gunjo replied, "HAHA! Okay sorry I laughed. Sorry about your losses as well I guess. I think I avenged them."
"You did. Thank you."
"No problem. Now I gotta go."
The elder said, "Please visit us again!"
"I'll try, gramps. Promise."
Gunjo walked away as the Whisperers said his goodbyes, and Gunjo walked through the portal, as he did, Rowlai was waiting for him.
"What's the matter?" Gunjo asked.
Rowlai rubbed his hands together, saying, "C-Can I…come with you?"
"...Sure."
"What? Wait? Really?!"
"No. Can't do that. The Whisperers need you, who's gonna protect them if you're gone? You're the strongest out of them all. And I don't wanna come back and their bodies all over the ground. If you were able to fight against Bahamut, you can handle a damn lot."
"…I have to g-get revenge..my parents..t-the Order—."
"We'll meet again soon, hopefully. If you're set on revenge, keep getting strong. Protect the others and all that good stuff. And maybe we'll fight alongside each other one day."
"O-Okay!"
"Got it? Don't cry now."
"Haha, I-I won't."
"Technically i'm not in a good position to protect you from ALL enemies anyway. But you're safer with your people."
"I guess I am. Okay! I'll fight alongside y-you one day!"
"We'll get revenge together. Kill the Five Thrones, And ask the All Mother what the hell is going on."
"D-Deal!"
They fist bumped, And Gunjo walked away, with Rowlai exclaiming, "Bye!"
….
The sound of the blood ocean swayed peacefully although tainted with Darkness. The Umibozu was still there, peering Gunjo in the eyes.
Gunjo stood there, looking at it back. He clenched his fists, thinking, 'Here I am again…wanting round 2…I'm ready..aren't I?'
The glare of the Umibozu pierced his being, and Gunjo felt another wave of fear, but he got himself together.
'I..I'm not strong enough yet. I can't even see this bastard's stats….i came here again to fight, but this just shows..I'm not ready. Before, I was always ready. But how, I'll come back for round 2.
Gunjo walked away, saying, "I'm ready for the second quest."
[Quest 2: Head to the Waypoint to start the Automata Quest]