The world seemed to pause as the giant, crimson-fueled fist of the Demon Minotaur collided with Bolt. Time slowed in a disorienting blur, and his entire body was thrown backward, crashing into the ground with the force of a freight train. The earth beneath him cracked, splintering like glass under the sheer power of the beast's attack.
Pain exploded through Bolt's body, the weight of the Minotaur's strike sending shockwaves of agony from his chest outward. His head spun, and the ground beneath him seemed to shift as if the world itself was attempting to swallow him whole. He could barely breathe—his ribs felt as though they might crack with each shallow gasp he took.
For a moment, all was silent.
Then, the storm began to rage inside of him.
Bolt's eyes snapped open, his pupils widening as the familiar surge of power flooded his veins. The storm that he'd kept at bay—the warborn storm that was his heritage, his curse—began to awaken.
The storm calls.
His body trembled as the energy coursed through his limbs, igniting every nerve in a blaze of power. His skin tingled, the air around him crackling with an electric charge. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, matching the rhythm of the lightning that now danced across his fingertips.
The Minotaur that had struck him stood over him, its massive horns glowing with a malevolent red light, eyes locked on him like a predator savoring the thrill of a hunt. It raised its axe, ready to strike once more.
But this time, Bolt wasn't going down that easily.
With a primal roar, Bolt forced himself to his feet, ignoring the sharp pain that screamed through his body. His muscles screamed for rest, but there was no time for that. Not when the Minotaur was right in front of him. Not when the fate of his team hung in the balance.
In a blur of motion, Bolt thrust his hands forward, unleashing the full fury of his elemental power. Lightning arced from his fingertips, crackling and sparking through the air, lashing out toward the beast.
The Minotaur raised its massive axe in defense, but the surge of electricity hit with such intensity that it sent the monster reeling backward, its axe jerking out of its grip as it was blasted away by the force of the bolt.
"Not so tough now, are you?" Bolt muttered under his breath, his voice hoarse but determined.
The Minotaur growled, its form flickering in and out of focus as it began to heal itself, its wounds regenerating rapidly. It was as if no amount of damage could keep it down for long. The black fire that danced along its form twisted and grew, and its aura thickened as the power of its demon origins overtook it.
But Bolt wasn't deterred. The storm inside him was raging now, and his focus narrowed. He could feel the elemental energy converging—every fiber of his being seemed to hum with the resonance of the elements.
He closed his eyes for a moment, concentrating, as he called upon the deeper part of his power. His connection to the storm deepened, and with that connection came the clarity he so desperately needed.
10%.
That was all he had unlocked so far—just a fraction of his potential. But now, he had no choice. He needed more. Much more.
As his body tensed, a sudden surge of wind whipped around him, and his entire form seemed to ripple with energy. The gusts rose, turning into an enormous vortex that spiraled around him, gathering force.
"Enough," Bolt growled, his voice a low growl of determination. "It's time to end this."
With a single, forceful gesture, the storm answered.
Lightning. Wind. Fire. Earth. Water. All at once.
The elements converged around Bolt in a roaring cyclone of power. Waves of water surged around his legs, crackling with electricity. The air around him turned into a vortex of howling wind, and the ground beneath him trembled as fire and earth merged into a destructive explosion of energy.
The Demon Minotaur roared in rage as the storm crashed into it. Lightning slammed into its chest, arcing through its thick hide. The wind ripped at its body, pulling and tearing at its muscles. The ground beneath it cracked open, sending stone shrapnel flying through the air. And fire roared at its feet, threatening to burn it from the inside out.
The Minotaur stumbled back, unable to withstand the onslaught of elemental fury. Its regeneration couldn't keep up with the combined assault of the storm. The air hummed with the crackling energy, and the beast's screams echoed as it was slowly but surely overwhelmed.
But just as Bolt thought he had the upper hand, a familiar, chilling laugh rang out from above.
Kairos stood on a high outcropping, his arms crossed and his expression that of a man watching an interesting spectacle unfold. His red eyes gleamed as he watched the battle below with detached amusement.
"Is that all you've got, Bolt?" he called out, his voice carrying easily across the chaos. "How disappointing."
Bolt's gaze snapped upward, his heart sinking. He could feel the weight of Kairos' words settle in his chest. It was true—he had barely scratched the surface of his power. But he couldn't stop. Not now. Not when so many were relying on him.
Kairos extended his hand, his fingers glowing with fiery power as he raised them toward the sky. The dark flames in the air seemed to respond to his will, swirling around his hand like a living entity.
"Time to end this," Kairos murmured under his breath.
The ground shook again.
Bolt turned just in time to see something that made his blood run cold. From the darkness of the forest surrounding them, another massive figure emerged. Another Demon Minotaur.
And then another.
And another.
Seven more.
The air seemed to freeze in shock as the seven additional A+ ranked Minotaurs stalked into the clearing. Their eyes glowed with the same dark crimson light, and the ground beneath their hooves trembled with each step they took. They were identical to the one Bolt had fought earlier, only now there were seven of them, all roaring in unison.
The first Minotaur that had attacked Bolt rose to its feet, its wounds healing rapidly as it joined the others. Now, they were a true force—an unstoppable army of demon Minotaurs.
Bolt's mind raced. He couldn't take them all on at once, not like this. His powers, though strong, were still not fully unlocked. And Kairos… he was still watching, still waiting.
Bolt clenched his fists. His heart thundered in his chest.
No. This was his fight.
His team was counting on him. The storm inside of him was raging, and there was no turning back now.
"Let's finish this," Bolt said, his voice low but unwavering. He could feel the storm gathering once more, the winds howling, the lightning crackling, and the flames growing hotter.
It was time to unleash everything.
---
The storm raged, and Bolt surged forward. The battle for their lives had only just begun.