Kaiden's legs wobbled beneath him as he took a tentative step back, his body wracked with exhaustion. He had defeated the golden ape—or so he thought. His breath came in short, shallow bursts as the weight of the battle settled into his aching bones. He'd pushed beyond his limits. But, as he began to walk away, his mind still reeling from the vicious battle, he heard the unmistakable sound of heavy breathing behind him.
He froze. His heart skipped a beat.
The Ape's Resurrection
A sickening crack echoed through the air, followed by the unmistakable sound of a deep, guttural roar. Kaiden whipped around just in time to see the golden ape—still alive, though barely—push itself up from the ground. Its massive body heaved as it steadied itself, the bloodied wound Kaiden had inflicted on its neck already beginning to heal. In mere moments, the ape's injuries were closing at an unnatural speed, the muscles knitting back together.
"What the hell…?" Kaiden muttered, his mind spinning. He hadn't seen anything like this before. He thought he had killed it, but this… this wasn't over. The ape stood tall, roaring once again—this time, it was a roar of pure fury.
A Desperate Game of Cat and Mouse
Kaiden's thoughts were racing. The creature was stronger than he thought. His muscles screamed in protest, but his instincts kicked in, pushing him to take cover. The lava that had once flowed freely from the eruption was now slowing, but it still formed deadly rivers that Kaiden had to carefully dodge. He darted from rock to rock, staying as low as possible, using the volcanic landscape to his advantage.
The ape's eyes were wild with rage. It sniffed the air, its four muscular arms swinging in unpredictable arcs as it searched for Kaiden. Its eyes scoured the rocks, its anger palpable. It was clearly looking for him, and Kaiden knew that if it found him, there was no way he could survive another direct confrontation in his current state.
I can't outrun it. I can't dodge forever. I need to think, Kaiden thought desperately. His body was battered, his energy reserves were nearly depleted, and even though he had made it this far, he still hadn't figured out how to defeat this creature.
But then an idea flashed in his mind. I've used Transparent World before… can it help me now?
The Weakness
Kaiden took a deep breath, activating Transparent World. The world around him shifted, the lava flowing and the air turning translucent. He could see the ape's muscles and bones, glowing faintly with the Flow coursing through it. Kaiden's eyes focused on the beast's four arms, watching the way its muscles flexed.
Then, he saw it.
Beneath the creature's thick golden fur, the muscles of its fourth arm were weaker—less dense than the others. He narrowed his eyes, his heart pounding in his chest. That's it. The fourth arm's the weak spot.
The ape roared again, its four eyes scanning the area, but Kaiden was already moving. He gathered every ounce of his remaining strength, using the Flow in his legs to propel himself forward. His body was screaming at him to stop, but his willpower overruled the pain.
The Final Strike
Kaiden launched himself at the ape, closing the distance in a blur. He activated a burst of Flow to increase his speed, his body surging forward. As he reached the ape, he used the Tenth Form of Vanguard's Grip—Sovereign's Wrath—to deliver a devastating blow to the ape's fourth arm. The force of the strike was immense, the Flow coursing through his body as he channeled all his remaining energy into the attack. His blade cleaved through the creature's arm, severing it at the shoulder.
The ape let out a blood-curdling scream, its four arms now reduced to three. But Kaiden didn't wait to watch the aftermath. As the beast recoiled, he used the Second Form of Vanguard's Grip—Gale Step—to propel himself backward, putting distance between them.
His feet barely touched the ground as he shot forward, his eyes focused on the summit of Ashen Spire in the distance. The ape, now weakened and enraged, swung wildly at the air, but Kaiden was already moving faster than the beast could react.
The Final Push
Kaiden could see it now—the Ashen Spire's summit, barely visible through the smoke and lava. He wasn't far now. His muscles screamed in protest, but he didn't slow down. He pushed himself harder, faster.
As he neared the base of the Spire, the ape lunged, its remaining arms swinging with brutal force. Kaiden barely avoided the blow, feeling the air rush past him as the ape's fist crashed into the ground. The shockwave sent him stumbling, but he recovered quickly, rushing toward the Spire.
But just as Kaiden reached the base of the Spire, the ape lunged once more, missing him by mere inches. The force of its attack caused the ground to crack, and Kaiden's heart pounded in his chest.
It's not enough… I need more speed.
Kaiden's mind raced as he pushed himself up the Spire, the lava now only a few feet away. With every ounce of energy left in his body, he bolted upward. The ape swung again, but this time, it was too slow. Kaiden had already reached the edge of the Spire, and as the ape's fury raged below him, Kaiden looked down one last time.
"That's close enough," Kaiden muttered under his breath. His body was on the edge of collapse, but he had made it. He had lost this fight, for now.
A Sudden Fall
Kaiden's legs gave way, and as he reached the summit, his vision blurred. His body trembled uncontrollably, his mind foggy from exhaustion.
His last coherent thought was of the battle he had fought and lost. I'm done. This is my first loss... fuck, man...
As the words left his mouth, everything went black.
End of Chapter 52
Kaiden has fought his hardest battle yet, but the victory over the golden ape comes at a heavy cost. Exhausted and barely holding on, he reaches the summit of Ashen Spire, his body on the brink of collapse. The trials of the Ember's Path are far from over, but for now, Kaiden has proven that even in the face of insurmountable odds, he will fight until the end.
To be continued...