Even if he denied it, a part of Daion wanted to be the hero. He wanted to save the village, hear his name chanted in the streets, bask in the glory of victory. Reality struck him.
The monster's axe swung upward. Daion barely managed to block it, but the force of the blow sent him flying. He crashed through a wooden stall, splinters tearing into his back, before hitting the ground with a dull, sickening thud. Pain shot through his body, knocking the air from his lungs.
"Well, well. A champion of the gods." The wolf's voice dripped with mockery. Its jaws stretched open in an unnatural way, fangs gleaming, throat swelling grotesquely like a frog's.
"But he looks weak," the pig chimed in, both its mouths speaking at once—the snout and the one carved into its swollen belly. "Look at his gauntlet. He can't have much Omega energy left."
A sharp, barking laugh burst from the wolf, making the remaining soldiers tense up.
"Still, he's better than these pathetic humans." It gestured toward the trembling soldiers, trapped between fear and the faintest hope that Daion might somehow save them.
"I suppose." Daion clenched his teeth and forced himself to stand.
Every muscle screamed at him to stay down, but adrenaline surged through his veins, dulling the pain. He raised his sword. The wolf tilted its head, eyes gleaming with playful sadism. Its cross-shaped maw unfurled like a flower before the sun, about to unleash a sound of scorn—
A shout cut it off. One of the soldiers charged, desperate. He dodged the wolf's axe, planted a hand against its chest, and roared:
"Flash!"
An explosion went off. The shockwave hurled the soldier back, slamming him into the ground with a pained grunt. Daion barely had time to process what had happened when the stench of charred flesh filled the air. The soldier's arm was burnt to a crisp, blackened and ruined.
The pig let out a laugh, clearly entertained.
"Arl, that was stupid," another soldier muttered.
"But it worked." The wounded man forced a smile, unaware of the shadow forming behind the smoke. "Even a Corrupted of that level must have—"
A shiver crawled down Daion's spine.
Move, you idiot! he shouted.
"Huh…?" The soldier blinked, confused.
Then he heard it. A crunch. A low, inhuman growl.
The wolf burst from the smoke with a shriek. Its axe cut a perfect arc. The nauseating sound of metal cleaving flesh tore through the street. The soldier's head dropped to the ground and rolled, trailing crimson in its wake.
The remaining soldiers stared at it in horror, frozen.
"Tsk." The wolf spat blood, its abdomen still smoking, dark ichor dripping from the wound.
"I told you not to get cocky, idiot." The pig chuckled under its breath, crossing its secondary arms.
Warm, sticky blood splattered across Daion's face. His gaze locked on the soldier's body, now headless and still. And for a moment, he froze in fear, paralyzed, not knowing what to do except pray for help—yet with the nagging sensation this wasn't the first time he had lived through something like this.
"One last piece of advice." Jack's voice echoed in his mind. "Since I don't want you to die, this one's free."
Daion had frowned at the time.
"Remember how the Hellseeker's head exploded when I stabbed it through the mouth?"
"Yes," he had answered, uncertain.
"All Corrupted have a weak point. Sometimes it's obvious, sometimes not…" Jack had gathered his things and walked away, Haruka and Finn silently following. "Find the weak point and drive steel into it. Good luck, Daion."
Daion roared. The wolf barely had time to turn its head before the sword came down. It snapped its jaws, clamping the blade between its teeth.
"Nice try, kid," it sneered through clenched fangs.
"I'm just getting started," the summoned one shot back with determination.
Daion twisted his body and pulled with all his strength. The sword ripped free, tearing flesh, shattering teeth, ripping chunks of jaw. The wolf howled, blood gushing from its ruined mouth.
But there was no time to celebrate. The pig was already moving. Its massive sword came crashing down. Daion barely raised his blade in time, the impact rattling the street, the clang of metal ringing in his bones. He recovered quickly, countering with a slash across the belly-mouth of the beast, leaving only a shallow wound. He shifted, trying not to get surrounded—
But he forgot one crucial detail.
The secondary arms. Thick fingers seized his shirt, hauling him into the air.
"Let me go!" He raised his sword, aiming it at the monster's mouth. He had no intention of letting himself be devoured.
Then he saw the wolf move.
"Time to fly, little bird," it growled with amusement.
The pig-faced beast grinned and hurled him. Daion barely had time to tense before the wolf leapt and slammed a kick into him. His body shot through the air, crashing through the tavern wall. Pain exploded. His back smashed against the bar, shattering it completely. Agony tore through his body. He felt his ribs break.
He gasped, blood spilling from the corners of his mouth. He lowered his gaze. A crimson pool was spreading on the floor.
I've got a deep cut… but where? he wondered. His body wasn't responding properly. The pain was unbearable. He tried to stand. And collapsed. It was too soon to die.
The monsters stepped into the tavern, eager to confirm his death. A muffled sob made Daion turn his head. The tavern keeper's eyes met his. She trembled; the fire that once burned in her had gone out, leaving only fear.
The summoned warrior stared at her for a few seconds, remembering the vision of the blonde girl. He clenched his teeth, frustrated at not knowing what it meant—but he knew this wasn't the time. Daion whispered:
"Run…"
The beasts chuckled darkly, closing in.
"What's wrong, summoned one? Is that all you've got?" Their voices dripped with disappointment.
"Told you he was weak."
Daion staggered to his feet. His ribs screamed with pain. Something didn't add up. They were stronger. Faster. More coordinated than the monsters in the cave. But… there were only two? He had been paying attention. The battle's epicenter was right here. Yet the rest of the village wasn't under attack at the same time.
"Are these the only ones who appeared?"
The monsters stiffened.
"What are you talking about?" asked the wolf, clearly confused. Daion forced a grin, though every breath burned.
"Don't you get bored with just the two of you?" He studied them, curiosity mixing with the need to buy himself a few precious seconds of rest. "Hellseekers… aren't they supposed to alert the rest of the pack where to strike?"
The pig-faced brute's expression darkened. The laughter died.
"I see… so it was you." His tone dropped to an icy growl. "We assumed it was the villagers… but no one here could ever kill a Corrupted."
Daion's grip tightened around his sword's hilt. The tavern keeper was still crawling in the shadows, but he didn't look her way. His eyes stayed locked on the monsters. And then, for no reason, he gave them a manic smile.
"I'm guessing that cave was your nest… Shame you found your friend's blood painting the entrance." He was taunting them, drawing every ounce of their attention. The Corrupted advanced with chilling calm, measuring his every move.
"Even so… how did a brat like you manage to kill a Raptor and a Hellseeker inside a predator's lair?" The wolf's many spider-like eyes glimmered, his guttural voice vibrating in the air.
Daion shifted into a battle stance. Every muscle screamed, every wound burned like live coals against his skin, but he ignored it. He had no choice. He had to fight.
"Who knows… maybe I just got lucky." It should have sounded defiant, but the line broke apart with a strangled gasp.
The tavern keeper stumbled before reaching the exit, crashing to the floor with a heavy thud. The monsters stopped. Their heads turned toward her, their interest grotesque.
"Look, a woman," the pig growled, while the maw on his lower stomach licked itself with a thick, wet sound. "And not a bad one, either…"
Revulsion and fury twisted in Daion's gut. His hand closed around a bottle on the bar.
"Hey, bastards." He hurled it with all his strength.
The glass shattered against the Glutton's snout, drenching him in liquor. The pig licked his face slowly, savoring the taste of alcohol with a twisted grin.
"What the hell do you think you're—?"
Daion didn't let him finish. He lunged forward, snatching a lit candle from a table and raising it high. The wolf understood instantly and moved to intercept. Big mistake.
With a precise kick, Daion flipped his sword into the air, forcing the wolf to raise its guard. The blade slammed into him head-on, knocking him flat on his back. Without hesitation, Daion leapt onto a table, dodged the pig's wild swing, and hurled the candle.
The fire caught the alcohol, and in an instant, flames engulfed the monster's snout. A beastly howl ripped through the air, a mixture of agony and rage, as the pig thrashed wildly, toppling tables and chairs in a frenzy.
"I thought demons lived in fire… How ironic, isn't it?" Daion sneered, feeling his knees rattle with every step.
An axe slammed down with brutal force. The impact shattered the wooden floorboards, sending shards flying in every direction.
"We go by many names, Summoned…" the wolf's growl rumbled through the tavern, its hundreds of eyes burning with rage. "Demon is just one of them—and not the most accurate."
Daion smirked.
"I see." He raised his hand. The gem on his gauntlet gleamed.
The fallen sword shot up like a projectile, launched at blistering speed.
The wolf reacted, trying to dodge, but by then the blade was already in Daion's grip. The monster's erratic movement only caused the sword to slash across its side, tearing a deep, dark wound through its filthy fur.
The wolf didn't scream. But the weight of the blade jolted Daion's arm with brutal force, throwing him off balance. His feet slipped, and he had to steady himself to keep from falling.
His arm still trembled from the lightning strike earlier, but he ignored it and reset his stance, fixing his eyes on his enemies. The boar, still smoldering, glared at him with burning rage and swung its massive blade in a wild arc.
Daion didn't dodge. He attacked with everything he had. Steel crashed against steel. The impact thundered through the tavern. Sparks burst violently into the air. And for the first time, the enemy staggered back. Both monsters fixed their eyes on Daion.
Adrenaline coursed through his veins like liquid fire. He ignored the pain, ignored the blood on his lips, ignored his muscles screaming with every motion.
He felt unstoppable. A quick glance confirmed it—the innkeeper was gone. At least something had gone right.
"Not bad," the boar growled. Its snout still smoked, and its blackened tusks gleamed with a sinister shine.
"Normally, these villages aren't worth the trouble," the wolf muttered, flashing its teeth in a crooked grin. "But fighting a Summoned… that's different. Although… aren't you supposed to have special powers?"
Daion lifted his gaze, annoyed.
"My sword flies."
"That's it? How disappointing." The wolf sighed.
Daion stepped forward. Confidence boiled in his blood.
"Don't you realize who has the advantage here?"
The monsters laughed. And before he could react, both enemy weapons came crashing down on him.
The impact roared through the air. He barely had time to raise his sword to block. The ground cracked beneath his feet. His knees buckled. A sharp pain tore through his chest.
He coughed. Warm blood dripped down his chin. His confidence shattered instantly. The boar's lower arms struck his stomach with brutal force. The air ripped from his lungs as his body folded in half. Stumbling back, he gasped for breath.
The boar raised its massive sword in a descending arc. Daion rolled aside at the last second, dodging—only for the wolf to appear out of nowhere.
A kick smashed into his chest like a sledgehammer. His body lifted off the ground again. He crashed onto the street outside with bone-rattling force. Pain seared through him from head to toe.
When he opened his eyes, he saw them. The spears. The soldiers were still there. They trembled, but held their weapons. He saw some helping villagers escape through the wreckage.
Daion tried to rise, his breathing ragged. A man stepped forward. Tall. Strong. Old. His battle-worn armor bore the scars of countless fights. A thick, graying beard framed a face carved by war.
"Hey, boy." His voice was deep, rough as stone. He offered his hand to help him up.
"How long do you need to get them out?" Daion asked, leaning on him for support.
The soldier hesitated at the question. A Summoned, sent by the gods to save them… and he was actually trying to help.
"About ten minutes," he finally answered. Daion clicked his tongue.
"Then get ready for the longest ten minutes of your life."
A deep crack echoed through the ruins. The soldiers raised their spears. The monsters emerged, laughing.
"Ugh… more humans?" the wolf sneered, dripping disdain. "I just want a little fun with… the Summoned." It dragged out the last words, savoring them like a death sentence.
Daion's stomach churned. The boar stepped forward alongside its companion, its smoldering snout filling the air with the nauseating stench of burnt flesh. The soldiers tensed. The monsters were wounded.
The wolf let out a chilling howl. The sound struck like a storm. Everything blurred. Then its throat began to swell.
It swelled, growing larger and larger, inflating like a translucent balloon fused to his body. Inside, the corrupted Omega energy pulsed with a sickly glow, twisting into a chaotic, writhing pattern.
His double jaws opened wide. A grotesque flower of flesh and fangs unfurled in its full, monstrous bloom, aimed straight at the soldiers standing beside Daion.
And then it fired.
The air exploded. A sonic wave ripped through everything in its path, shattering the ground and pulverizing what little remained of the ruins.
The soldiers had no time to react. The impact shattered their bones instantly. Their bodies convulsed and spasmed, organs collapsing beneath the crushing, invisible force of the vibration.
When the wave passed, they fell like broken dolls. Lifeless bodies bled from eyes, ears, and open mouths, their final, silent screams frozen on their faces. Daion's ears rang with a deafening screech. His head spun. And when his vision cleared, all he saw was death.
The last threads of courage among the soldiers unraveled. Some fled in blind panic. Others were frozen in place, paralyzed by terror. Only Daion, the veteran from before, and a handful of men remained standing.
The wolf grinned, satisfied.
—Now that was a true special ability, little Invoked.
Daion clenched his teeth.
—You son of a bitch…
Ignoring the searing pain coursing through his body, he charged forward. But the boar stepped in to block his path. The clash of weapons echoed through the air. Daion spun and drove his blade in a direct thrust toward the monster's torso.
It was a mistake.
The jaws embedded in the boar's stomach snapped open and clamped down on his sword.
—Bad move, little Omega spawn…
—What…?— The fangs slammed shut with a wet, sickening crunch.
Daion pulled with all his strength, but it was too late. The teeth bit into the steel as though it were butter. The blade's tip snapped clean off. For an instant, Daion's heart stopped. He staggered back, stunned.
And the boar struck.
Its massive fist smashed into Daion's left arm. The brutal crack of bone breaking tore through the air. Agony ripped through him from head to toe. A raw scream burst from his throat as fire consumed his nerves. The pain was so overwhelming he could hardly breathe. The sword slipped from his hands.
He collapsed before the remaining soldiers, gasping. The wolf sneered.
"Time to put an end to this tiresome little scene."
Its throat began to swell once more. Its gaping maw stretched wide, this time aimed directly at Daion.
End of Chapter 10.