The three beasts emerged from their cages with roars that echoed throughout the arena, heightening the spectators' adrenaline. The crowd, previously immersed in murmurs, now watched with wide eyes. No one knew exactly what would happen next. Aemon remained still in the center of the arena, his cold eyes fixed on the approaching creatures.
Unfamiliar with the beasts, Aemon relied on his new abilities. His body, still adjusting to the power it now possessed, thrummed with the thrill of combat. An aura around him seemed to oscillate between calm and latent intensity, ready to explode.
The murmurs in the crowd grew louder as the beasts revealed themselves completely:
— It's a giant toad! — shouted one spectator. — Weak, but with deadly venom!
— And that wolf... I've heard of it before. — said another. — Normally, it takes a group to bring one of those down.
But it was the third creature that caused the most commotion.
Lilith, watching the beasts closely, immediately recognized the first two. The giant toad, though seemingly harmless, was deadly due to its long, venomous tongue. The wolf, common in the region, was known for its strength and ferocity, especially when hunting in packs. However, it was the monster in the third cage that she studied with more care.
— What in the world is that? — someone whispered in the crowd.
Lady Cerys, from her elevated seat, was also intrigued by the third monster. She knew exactly what was in the cage but was curious to see how Aemon would handle such a creature.
The Rank A Creature: ground Leviathan. A rare beast known for its scaly skin that looked like stone, with a body resembling a reptile but with shorter, more powerful limbs. Its eyes glowed with a sinister light, and its mouth was filled with sword-like teeth. This creature was a fusion of brute strength and ancient magic, its roars causing tremors in the ground around it. Its power lay in manipulating the earth around it, creating spikes of stone that erupted from the ground and tails that could topple anything in its path.
Lady Cerys watched with fascination as the creature advanced, pondering what would happen next.
— How will he react to such a situation? — she thought, her eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure.
She relished the idea of seeing a single man face three monsters at once, especially a Terra Leviathan. This fight would be a true test of courage and skill. For her, it was a perfect spectacle.
Lilith, on the other hand, observed with a mix of concern and confidence. She knew Aemon well enough to understand that he was capable of great feats, but facing three monsters, including a Terra Leviathan, would be a monumental challenge, even for him.
— This isn't too much for someone who's faced a Barbarian Chief and gone so far to defeat him — Lilith murmured to herself, trying to calm her nerves. — But if things get out of hand, I might intervene.
The crowd continued to comment frantically, divided between those who believed Aemon had no chance and others eager to see how he would tackle such a challenge.
Aemon, however, remained impassive, his eyes locked on the ground Leviathan. He could feel the ground trembling beneath his feet with each of the creature's steps. The roars of the beast reverberated through the arena, but he did not flinch. Instead, he prepared himself, feeling the adrenaline coursing through his veins. This was the moment to prove the true power now residing within him.
Aemon knew that the monsters, despite their strength, were irrational. They could be powerful, but this irrationality could be used against them.
The Terra Leviathan, the strongest of the three beasts, charged immediately, its eyes glowing with lethal ferocity. Its heavy footsteps made the ground tremble with each movement. Behind it, the wolf and the giant toad lurked, waiting for the right moment to strike.
Aemon, with surprising calm, analyzed the situation in seconds. He knew he needed to be quick and precise. Without wasting time, he launched into a swift move, dodging the Leviathan's initial attack with a surprising acrobatics, leaping over the creature as if flying.
The crowd was stunned by the young warrior's skill.
— How can he move like that? — one spectator exclaimed, disbelieving.
— He's amazing! — another shouted, barely able to believe what they were seeing.
Lady Cerys, watching closely, raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
— This man... he's not just strong, he's a strategist. — she murmured to herself, her eyes following each of Aemon's movements. — No wonder he stands out so much.
Lilith, meanwhile, observed with a satisfied smile, though still concerned.
— I expected nothing less from you, Aemon. — she thought, proud but cautious.
Meanwhile, Aemon ran towards the giant toad, moving with impressive speed. The wolf, noticing his intention, advanced with giant strides, trying to intercept him. The toad, in turn, launched its deadly tongue at Aemon, attempting to grab him.
Aemon, however, was a step ahead. Using the toad's tongue against it, he deftly dodged, causing the toad's tongue to entangle the wolf, immobilizing the canine beast.
The crowd erupted in applause and shouts of surprise.
— He made it look so easy! — someone exclaimed.
— This is unbelievable! — another echoed.
Lady Cerys, now visibly impressed, leaned forward in her seat.
— What skill... he turned his enemies' own strength against them. — she murmured, a glint of admiration in her eyes.
Lilith, though still tense, grinned from ear to ear, pleased with Aemon's performance.
— Well done, Aemon... but don't get carried away by the euphoria. — she thought, knowing that the real challenge was yet to come.
Aemon, not wasting any time, made a swift leap and drew his daggers. With a quick and precise movement, he cut the toad's tongue, neutralizing the creature before it could react.
The crowd exploded into enthusiastic cheers, the arena vibrating with the energy of its spectators.
— He's a monster! — one spectator shouted, amazed.
— I've never seen anything like this! — another echoed.
Lady Cerys, now completely fascinated, kept her eyes fixed on Aemon.
— He... he's beyond what I imagined. — she whispered to herself, unable to look away.
Lilith, on the other hand, couldn't help but feel a pang of pride.
— And this is just the beginning. — she thought, knowing that Aemon had much more to show.
Aemon remained focused, aware that there were still two opponents left. He took a deep breath, his eyes locked on the Terra Leviathan, which roared in frustration at seeing its allies neutralized. The real battle was just beginning, and Aemon was more than ready to face it.
The giant toad, in agony after having its tongue cut, began to jump uncontrollably, its actions disordered and desperate. Aemon, seizing the opportunity, quickly advanced to finish off the creature, determined to end it.
Meanwhile, the wolf, still entangled in the toad's tongue, struggled to free itself. The path was clear for Aemon to complete his attack, and it seemed nothing could stop him. However, he hadn't anticipated a sudden and fierce threat.
Suddenly, the Terra Leviathan emerged from the depths, its massive body breaking through the ground with tremendous force. Before Aemon could react, the creature's powerful tail struck him with a devastating blow, hurling him violently out of the arena.
The impact was so brutal that Aemon was slammed against the wall supporting the stands, cracking the structure with the force of the collision. The sound of the crash reverberated throughout the arena, and the walls began to shake, leaving the spectators stunned.
The crowd fell silent for a moment before erupting into alarmed murmurs.
— He was thrown like he was nothing! — one spectator exclaimed, incredulous at what they had just witnessed.
— The Leviathan... is relentless! — another shouted, as panic began to spread through the crowd.
Lilith, seated in the stands, widened her eyes, her heart racing. Concern was now palpable on her face.
— Aemon! — she murmured between clenched teeth, struggling not to intervene immediately. She knew he needed to face this battle on his own, but seeing him thrown like that shook her deeply.
Lady Cerys, on the other hand, was thrilled by the Leviathan's ferocity. A malicious smile crossed her lips.
— It seems I underestimated the monster... and perhaps the man. — she whispered to herself, her eyes fixed on Aemon, who was now embedded in the wall. — Can he get up after this?
The crowd waited anxiously to see what would happen next as Aemon tried to recover, still feeling the impact of the brutal blow. The odds seemed stacked against him, but everyone knew this was just the beginning of a fight that still had much to reveal.
The Leviathan let out a tremendous roar, a sound so powerful that it reverberated throughout the arena and sent the crowd into a frenzy. The ground shook with the force of the roar, and the spectators, exhilarated by the intensity of the battle, couldn't tear their eyes away.
Aemon, now stabilized after the devastating impact, looked at the Leviathan as if being summoned for the ultimate confrontation. His renewed determination was evident as he prepared to face the colossal beast. He knew he needed to deal with the remaining monsters before tackling the true threat.
The charge towards the Leviathan was intense. Aemon moved with precision and speed, his presence a stark contrast to the monster's imposing mass. With a swift motion, he hurled one of his daggers directly at the Leviathan's eye. The monster roared in pain, its agony visible as it tried to retreat from the embedded weapon.
The opening created by the dagger was all Aemon needed. Without hesitation, he turned to the giant toad, which was still writhing in pain. With a deep and precise cut, he finished off the creature, his blade slicing through its thick skin and internal organs. The toad collapsed to the ground, its struggle finally over.
Feeling victory within reach, Aemon allowed himself a brief moment of relief. However, his celebration was premature. The wolf, now freed from the toad's tongue, charged with ferocity. Aemon barely managed to dodge the wolf's assault, but the creature was fast and relentless, its claws leaving deep marks on Aemon's body.
The crowd watched with bated breath, their excitement mingling with palpable tension.
— He's really taking them all on at once! — one spectator shouted, amazed by Aemon's skill.
— The Leviathan and the wolf... it's an epic battle! — another exclaimed, eyes wide with the intensity of the fight.
Lilith, watching the scene unfold, was in a state of frenzy. Her eyes were fixed on Aemon, torn between worry and excitement. She knew he had the potential to overcome this challenge, but the battle was becoming increasingly difficult by the second.
Lady Cerys, from her elevated position, couldn't help but feel intrigued by Aemon's resilience and skill. The malicious smile on her face turned into a growing expression of respect and interest.
— It seems I underestimated his abilities... — she murmured to herself, watching Aemon tackle the challenges she had set before him.
Aemon, now wounded and exhausted, knew the fight was far from over. But the determination in his eyes did not waver. He rose, ready to face the wolf, knowing that his true battle was still to come.