"HELP!"
The red-haired girl screamed as a wolf lunged at her from behind. She had barely managed to fend off the first attack, but this one was too fast—too sudden. The beast tackled her, slamming her into the dirt.
"I don't want to die! Plea—"
*Splat*
Her words were cut off as the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth. A heavy weight collapsed on top of her, the warm corpse of the wolf pinning her down.
"Thank you! You saved me!"
She shoved the dead monster aside, gasping for air.
"No need to thank me, miss."
"Shit! There's more of them!"
Standing over her, a skeleton wielding a katana scanned the battlefield with hollow, glowing eyes. Without hesitation, it sprinted forward, intercepting a pack of wolves.
"Horizontal Slash!"
The wolves' heads flew from their bodies in a single, clean motion. Blood sprayed as their corpses crumpled to the ground.
*Boom!*
Across the field, another figure walked calmly through the chaos. A second skeleton—this one with a flaming skull—unleashed devastation as it moved. Tiny sparks of flame, no larger than a flickering lighter, shot through the air, piercing through the heads of the remaining wolves, leaving nothing but lifeless bodies in their wake.
"Who the hell are these guys? Attack them!"
"Don't bother. They're with me," Noah said coolly, his scythe resting casually on his shoulder. As he spoke, the weapon moved, cutting through the air like a whisper. With every sweep, another monster was torn apart, blood staining the ground around him.
The battlefield was a mess of violence and panic. Even the rats were in on the action, swarming together to tear apart any predator that crossed their path.
*Boom!*
Suddenly, Noah's instincts flared, but he was too late. A fist, massive like a boulder, smashed into his side, sending him flying. He tumbled through the dirt before crashing into a parked car, the impact shaking the entire vehicle.
"So, that's one of your companions, huh, kid? Then why the hell is he holding my brother's katana?!"
A furious voice rang out. It was Yong Nam-joon, eyes blazing with rage.
_________
*Crack-Crack*
Noah staggered to his feet, his vision blurry from the impact.
Damn... my head...
He wiped blood from the corner of his mouth, his mind still reeling.
"Listen to me, Yong Nam-joon. Your brother tried to rob me. I only defended myself."
"DEFENDED?! YOU CUT HIS HEAD OFF, YOU BASTARD!"
With a roar, Nam-joon charged at Noah again. But this time, Noah was ready. He sidestepped the punch, slipping behind Nam-joon with a swift motion. His hands locked onto Nam-joon's skull.
"I could snap your neck in a second… but I won't. Think, and calm down. We'll all die here if you don't get it together."
"Shut up! I'll kill you!"
"Do what you want," Noah muttered, letting go. "I've got other things to handle."
Without waiting for a response, he dashed back into the fray, his scythe slicing through the wolves like they were nothing. The weapon flowed like water in his hands, carving through flesh and bone with ease.
Noah grinned, a wild gleam in his eyes.
This is what I wanted! Ahahah!
The rush of battle was exhilarating, a thrill he hadn't felt in years. What was the point of being the strongest if you were the last one left alive? His muscles screamed, his body felt like it was on the verge of breaking, but he wouldn't stop. He couldn't stop.
From one end of the battlefield to the other, Noah moved like a storm, cutting down monsters wherever he went. And in every moment of despair, when death seemed inevitable, there he was—standing in front of them, his back to the enemy, protecting everyone.
"They're almost gone, guys!"
"Keep pushing! Don't let up!"
"Watch out! Get out of the way!"
One by one, they realized what was happening. A legend was unfolding before their eyes.
Noah felt his mana burning, his body pushed to the limit. Cold sweat dripped down his face, every bone in his body on the verge of shattering.
"Fast Heal!"
The overwhelming fatigue lifted, just enough to keep him going a little longer.
"Thanks, Emily."
"Don't mention it! Now go finish off that big one, okay?"
She called out, deflecting the claws of another wolf.
"Count on it."
Gozen, Mohrolt, be ready.
Noah's eyes locked onto the Alpha, the massive creature standing at the center of the battlefield. For a brief second, everything seemed to stop.
Fear.
*Swoosh*
A cold wind swept across the field, and an oppressive weight settled over everyone. The temperature dropped, and even the wolves began to tremble in terror.
*Tack*
*Tack*
*Tack*
Noah walked toward the Alpha, his steps slow, deliberate. The wolves scattered as he passed, parting like peasants before a king.
Gozen and Mohrolt followed closely, their weapons ready.
The Alpha stood tall, its massive form rippling with power. Its eyes locked onto Noah, a low, guttural growl rumbling from its throat.
"I think it's time to switch roles."
With a single leap, Noah soared above the Alpha. The beast's eyes followed him, just as he spun mid-air. For a moment, he hung there, suspended in time. Then, his leg came crashing down like a guillotine.
*BOOM!*
The ground shook as Noah's foot slammed into the Alpha's skull, driving it into the dirt. Dust and debris exploded outward from the impact.
"Aaah… much better," Noah muttered, his boot still pressing down on the beast's head.
But the Alpha wasn't done. It let out a strange, low sound, its claws digging into the concrete, shattering it like glass. Its body began to twitch, muscles bulging and twisting unnaturally. Wounds appeared across its body, only to heal almost instantly. The creature's form was changing, growing more monstrous by the second.
It rose to its feet, now towering even taller, its once-lithe form replaced by the massive, bulging muscles of a bodybuilder. Its front limbs, now brimming with raw power, radiated destructive potential.
Only its grotesque, twisted face remained unchanged.
"Looks like someone's pissed off," Noah smirked, readying his scythe for the final clash.