Clash!
The monster's claws raked through the air, landing a devastating blow on Arpheus's left shoulder. Blood sprayed, painting the ground in crimson streaks.
"Agh!" Arpheus yelled, stumbling back. A sharp, stinging pain radiated from his shoulder, each throb like a fresh reminder of his vulnerability. He gritted his teeth, his body trembling but refusing to fall. So, this is how powerful monsters are in this world, huh? he thought, a faint grin creeping across his face despite the agony. His sword gleamed brighter, the light pulsing with his resolve.
"Time to shine!" Arpheus shouted, his voice fueled by adrenaline. He tightened his grip on the glowing blade, the energy humming through his veins.
System Adjure: Skill debuff. Target: The monster.
Duration: Until the target dies.
Effect: 50% reduction in strength.
[Understood that!]
The monster staggered, its enormous body dropping to one knee. Confusion flashed across its grotesque face as its movements slowed, its strength visibly sapped. Now was Arpheus's chance.
Swish!
Arpheus dashed forward, his sword at his side, ready to strike. "I'll use my brains to defeat you!" he declared, a fire burning in his eyes.
System Adjure: Speed boost. Target: User.
Duration: 10 minutes.
Effect: 100% increase in speed.
[Adjuring completed! Go get him, Arphie!]
The moment the system confirmed, his body blurred into motion. His feet barely touched the ground as he zoomed forward, each step a blur. The wind whipped against his face, the world around him slowing to a crawl. This is it. I've got him.
The monster roared, shaking the forest with its fury. "RAAAAGHHHH!" Its fists coiled, trembling with rage. Even in its weakened state, its ferocity was undeniable.
Your aggressiveness will result in your defeat. I saw that coming. Arpheus's mind raced, analyzing the monster's movements. He smirked, already predicting the beast's next move.
Crush!
A massive punch connected with Arpheus's face, slamming him into the ground with a thunderous crash.
Boom!
Dust exploded into the air, obscuring the battlefield. Arpheus lay still, unconscious. His teammates froze, their faces pale with shock.
"N-no..." Ivy gasped, her hands covering her mouth. Fear gripped her, stealing the air from her lungs. Tears welled in her eyes as she watched, unable to move.
"He's not dead!" Holand shouted, his voice shaking but filled with determination. "I've seen this before! He's not out yet!"
The monster bellowed in triumph, stomping on Arpheus's motionless body. Each impact sent tremors through the ground.
But then, a voice cut through the chaos.
"What are you celebrating for?" Arpheus's tone was ice-cold, sharp enough to freeze the monster in its tracks. He stood, brushing dust off his armor. "Idiot. You haven't even moved me one bit."
The monster's eyes widened in shock. Its gaze darted to where Arpheus had been lying—only to find empty ground. It turned back, and there he was. Alive. Standing tall.
Arpheus sat atop a throne made of pure light, its radiant glow cutting through the darkness. The sight alone sent a shiver down the monster's spine. Fear flickered in its eyes, its earlier confidence crumbling.
"Stand," Arpheus commanded, his voice calm but commanding. The throne dissolved into specks of light as he rose, his left hand extended before him.
Bzzzzzt!
Space itself warped around him. The air shimmered, and in an instant, the monster was pulled closer, its massive form now mere meters away. Its confusion turned to panic as it realized it had no control over its movements.
The monster raised its fists, preparing to strike.
Drop!
It swung with all its might, aiming to crush Arpheus once and for all. But as the fists descended, the monster's body flickered.
And then… it was back to its original position.
The monster growled, frustration seeping into its voice.
Arpheus didn't flinch. He locked eyes with the beast, his expression unyielding. "You wounded my left shoulder," he said, his voice low and menacing. "So, I'll do the same to you."
Buzzz…
The light sword in his hand grew, its blade extending with a brilliant, blinding glow. In one fluid motion, he struck, the blade slicing clean through the monster's left shoulder.
"AAAAAAGGGGHHHH!" The monster's scream echoed through the forest, a cry of pure agony. It collapsed to its knees, its massive frame trembling as the fight drained from its body. Blood poured from the wound, pooling at its feet.
Arpheus stepped closer, his movements slow and deliberate. His shadow loomed over the defeated beast.
Slice!
With a single, swift motion, he swung his blade. The monster's head rolled to the ground, its lifeless body collapsing in a heap. Silence fell over the battlefield, broken only by the heavy breathing of the survivors.
Arpheus lowered his sword, the light dimming as the blade returned to its normal size. He exhaled, his body trembling from the exertion. Another one down. But at what cost?
The air was thick with the smell of blood and scorched earth. Ivy and Holand rushed to his side, their faces a mix of relief and concern.
"You're insane," Ivy said, half-laughing, half-crying. "But you're alive."
"Barely," Arpheus muttered, clutching his shoulder. The pain flared, but he forced himself to stand tall.
Holand grinned, his hands on his hips. "I told you he wasn't dead. The guy's like a cockroach."
Arpheus shot him a look but couldn't help the small smirk that tugged at his lips. "A cockroach? Really?"
"Hey, it's a compliment. You survive anything."
"for now, I'll let it slide." Arpheus's voice was calm, grinning."Arpheus... Just what are you...?" Faree asked, her voice had a hint of confusion and wariness. "You literally defeated a monster called 'Guardian of Hell'..."
"Wait, what was that monster's rank?" Arpheus asked, he had a feeling he showed too much of his power.
"It was an S-rank, dude!" Holand exclaimed, he couldn't believe that Arpheus didn't know. "You didn't know!?"
"Y-yeah..." Arpheus muttered, embarrassment consuming him as his face reddened.
For some reason, he felt like the system was laughing at him.
System, shut up. Arpheus was embarrassed, he felt stupefied.
[S-sorry, I couldn't help but just laugh!] The system was still laughing when it said that.
This girl... Arpheus was annoyed, his eyes rolling.
[;)]
Holand crossed his arms, staring at Arpheus like he was some sort of alien. "Seriously, man. How do you pull this stuff off and not realize what you're up against? That thing could've turned us into pancake batter."
"I told you, I just... acted on instinct," Arpheus replied, scratching the back of his neck. His sword shimmered faintly, as if reflecting his unease.
Faree shook her head, stepping closer. "Instinct doesn't explain how you, alone, brought down a monster that even the Wayfinders guild have a hard time defeating. Are you even human?"
"Uh, mostly?" Arpheus tried to joke, but his grin was awkward. The silence that followed made him cough lightly. "Look, let's just agree it's done and move on, okay?"
Faree folded her arms. "Not until you explain how you're standing here like nothing happened when that thing—that S-rank Guardian of Hell—flattened half the battlefield!"
She's not wrong. The battlefield around them was a mess—scorched earth, shattered trees, and faint embers glowing like the remnants of a bonfire. The monster's massive carcass lay nearby, its once-imposing horns now cracked and lifeless.
"Let's just say I have a... unique skill set," Arpheus said, waving his hand dismissively. He didn't want to admit how much of it was thanks to the system. They wouldn't understand. Heck, even he didn't fully understand.
Holand stepped over a broken chunk of the monster's claw, inspecting it. "Unique skill set my foot. That thing's tougher than the walls of Ylza's royal castle, and you sliced through it like butter."
Arpheus opened his mouth to retort, but stopped. He clenched his fists, feeling the residual burn of his light magic still coursing through him. It's not like I asked for this... but if I'm stuck with it, I'll use it.
"Listen," he said finally, his voice firmer. "We're alive. That's what matters. Or would you rather sit here arguing while another monster decides we're lunch?"
Faree sighed but didn't press further. Holand, however, raised an eyebrow. "Fine, but this isn't over. You've got answers to give."
"Never." Arpheus muttered, turning away. His legs felt heavier than they should, the adrenaline wearing off. He gripped his sword tighter, the faint glow dimming further.
System, status report.
[Current energy levels: 23%. Physical condition: stable but fatigued. Recommendation: immediate rest. And for the record, doubting your skills doesn't make you weak—it makes you human, you know.]
You... Agh. Yes, I know. Arpheus groaned, rolling his eyes.
""We need to move," Arpheus said, glancing back at the others. "There's a clearing about a mile from here. We'll rest there."
Faree hesitated, her gaze flickering to the monster's corpse. "Are you sure? What if more of those things show up?"
"Then we'll deal with it," Arpheus said simply. He didn't have the energy to sugarcoat it.
The group began trudging through the forest, the eerie quiet only broken by their footsteps and the occasional rustle of leaves. The air was thick with tension, and every shadow seemed to move.
Holand was the first to break the silence, his voice cutting through the tension. "Hey," he said, unusually serious. "Thanks for saving our butts back there."
Arpheus glanced over, surprised. "Don't mention it."
Holand smirked, though his tone didn't lose its edge. "Oh, I will. Just not when Faree's around to rub it in."
Arpheus couldn't help but chuckle, shaking his head. The brief moment of levity was welcome, but it didn't last. His mind kept drifting back to the fight—the raw power he had unleashed without truly understanding it.
If I can handle something like that... does that mean I'm ready for worse? Or was it just luck?
The clearing finally came into view, bathed in pale moonlight. Arpheus dropped heavily to the ground, leaning against the gnarled trunk of a tree. The others followed, their exhaustion as visible as the dirt streaked across their faces and armor.
Faree sat cross-legged nearby, brushing her hair out of her face with a sigh. "So," she begn, her tone deceptively casual. "Are you ever going to tell us what's really going on with you?"
Arpheus stiffened slightly, but kept his eyes closed, his breath steady. "I'll never tell you."
"Why not?" she pressed, leaning forward. "We deserve to know what we're dealing with."
"Because," Arpheus said flatly, his tone brooking no argument, "you won't like the answers."
The weight of his words hung in the air, smothering further discussion. Faree looked like she wanted to argue but held her tongue. The quiet crackle of distant embers filled the space between them, punctuated by the faint chirping of insects.
Holand leaned against a nearby rock, his eyes narrowed as he studied Arpheus. "You're not off the hook, you know," he said, his voice lighter than Faree's but no less insistent. "When you're ready to spill, we'll be here."
Arpheus sighed, tilting his head to glance at Holand. "I'll hold you to that."
The group sat in a silence that was more comfortable than tense, letting the night settle over them. The moonlight cast long shadows across the clearing, and for a brief moment, it felt as though the horrors of the day were far behind them.
[Recommendation: energy levels critically low. You need to rest, Arpheus. Seriously.]
I know, he thought, feeling a pang of guilt. But rest won't fix everything.
[For what it's worth, doubting yourself doesn't mean you're weak, you know.]
Arpheus exhaled sharply through his nose, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. Thanks for the pep talk, System.
[Hey, what are sassy assistants for?]
Faree eventually broke the quiet. "What's next for us, then? After this mess, I mean."
Arpheus didn't answer right away, his gaze fixed on the stars peeking through the canopy above. "We'll keep moving," he said finally. "The city's still a few days away."
Holand snorted. "Sounds like a plan. Not a good one, but hey, it's something."
"Holand," Faree chided, though her voice lacked any real bite. She stretched, stifling a yawn. "Fine. Rest first, then move. But don't think you're off the hook, Arpheus."
"Wouldn't dream of it," he replied, his voice low as his eyes drifted closed. Exhaustion finally claimed him, though his grip on his sword never loosened.