BOOM!
The skies above Jakartha City thundered with dread. Thick, storm-gray clouds rolled in, casting a deathly pall over the battlefield. Below, the once-mighty protection barrier flickered erratically only 50% of its original strength remained, its sacred light dimming like a dying flame.
The air smelled of unpleasant, blood, and scorched earth.
From beyond the shattered hills, an earth-shaking
RUMBLE..
Echoed like the drums of doom. And then
ROAAAR!!!
A monstrous chorus tore through the heavens.
They were here.
A tide of beasts, hundreds strong, surged forward in a monstrous stampede claws tearing the soil, fangs bared, eyes glowing with primal bloodlust. Most were 3rd Star Mid-Stage, but at least ten were Peak-Stage monstrosities towering, mutated apex predators that seemed forged by wrath itself.
Each step they took cracked the earth.
CRACK!
THUD!
CRACK!
Their combined aura twisted the very air.
On the frontline stood 400 battle-worn Ascendants, their armor scorched, blades chipped, robes torn but their eyes burned with defiance. Behind them, over a hundred of their comrades lay unconscious, too wounded to rise, their bodies barely breathing.
And then they saw it.
The beasts emerged in full, terrible clarity.
The Cinderthorn Boars, tusks glowing molten orange.
Duskclaw Imps, whispering curses with poisoned claws.
Stormtalon Hawks, lightning crackling on their wings.
Bloodvine Serpents, slithering murder.
Ironscale Crocodiles, hulking and indestructible.
And at the back ten 3rd Star Peak Beasts.
Chimeras. Hydras. Manticores. Behemoths. Specters.
Creatures from nightmares. Beasts the Guild's own Encyclopedia couldn't fully describe. These weren't things to fight. These were things to devour and destroy.
Even seasoned Otherworlders Ascendants warriors who had slain large amount beasts and toppled bandits felt cold sweat run down their backs.
The very sky dimmed under the pressure of such concentrated malice.
For a long moment, no one moved. No one spoke.
Then
"DO AS YOU LIKE!"The lead guild commander's voice shattered the silence like a blade of thunder.
"FIGHT YOUR OWN WAY! PROTECT YOUR LIVES PROTECT THE CITY!!"
DING!
It echoed through every soul. It wasn't an order. It was permission no, a final benediction.
No formations. No tactics.
Just survival.
With a shout that rose like a battle hymn, the Ascendants broke into improvised squads of ten each group quickly balancing their strengths. Warriors to engage. Mages to burn. Assassins to disrupt. Archers strike from afar. Priests and healers to preserve life.
WHOOSH!
BANG!
THUMP!
Spells flared. Swords gleamed. A thousand feet rushed forward in perfect chaos.
It was no longer a coordinated force.
It was a storm of desperation.
And it was beautiful.
Like scattered stars in a black sky, they surged ahead facing beasts that dwarfed them in power, size, and savagery. Yet not a single Ascendant backed down.
Because behind them… was their city and loved once.
And they would rather die on their feet than let it fall.
BOOOOMMMM!!!
The two sides collided.
----
BOOM!
THUMP!
CRACK!
The battlefield shook as monstrous feet pounded across shattered earth. But amid the chaos, one team moved like a well-oiled war machine.
Jack. James. Emma. And two veterans from their Adventure Guild who always team up with them when completing quests, a warrior-archer couple known for their brutal efficiency in close-quarters combat.
While most teams huddled in defense, choosing one beast at a time…
Jack's team chose ten.
Ten Cinderthorn Boars.
No hesitation. No second thoughts. Only resolve.
Gasps erupted across the frontlines.
"Are they crazy?!"
"Ten at once?!"
"Do they want to die?!"
But those who knew their reputations, their bond didn't speak. They simply watched.
The ground trembled as the first wave came into view.
THUD!
THUD!
THUD!
Cinderthorn Boars fire-infused monstrosities, each one the size of a truck, charging like battering rams. Smoke curled from their nostrils. Glowing orange tusks sparked flames with every step.
Jack narrowed his eyes.
DING!
Eye of Truth – Activated
A golden glow flickered across his pupils as lines of divine data etched themselves into his mind like heavenly scripture.
[Cinderthorn Boars
3rd Star Mid Stage Beasts
Behavior: Fire-charged berserkers. Ram first, ask never.
Power Level: Comparable to 3rd Star Mid Fire Barbarians.
Loot: Ember Tusks – Highly sought 4-Star fire weapon material.]
In this Samsara world, everyone living beings information stored in the World's Will. Jack can see this information using his supreme blessings ability Eye of Truth. He can peak at information three major stages beyond his rank.
He'd once tried it on Angel Ava, a high-ranked being, who comes to their for guiding his family.
Only her name and race had appeared. Remaining data unknown.
That said everything. He can only check information about 3 stage higher than himself.
Without delay, Jack relayed weaknesses and strategies.
"Aim for the skull from behind; they ignite forward, not back. Their legs are weak. Their eyes are slower to adjust. Archer goes for the eyes. Mom controls the field. Da goes with Ironfang tamed beast for split damage."
ROOOOOAAAAR!!!
The ten Cinderthorn Boars charged in with murderous fury snarling, flaming, unrelenting.
Jack stepped forward.
"Shadow Steps."
WHOOSH!
He vanished in a blur, appearing behind the lead boar in less than a heartbeat.
His twin daggers shimmered, one wrapped in wind, the other burning with flame.
"Pyro-Anemo Fusion Slash!!"
SLASH!!!
CRACK!!!
The blade ripped through the skull and sinew, sending blood and smoke flying.
The beast bellowed..
BOOOOM!
But it didn't fall.
Jack didn't pause.
"Cryo Pressure Point Strike!"
He struck the same wound.
SNAP!
The gash froze instantly crystallized blood sealing in shards.
THUD!!!
The behemoth collapsed in one violent spasm.
Dead.
Elsewhere
James roared as his blade erupted in dark flame, synchronized with Ironfang, his ferocious beast partner. Their combined Erebus-imbued sword arts and claw attacks ripped apart another boar's leg.
"Blade Howl: Devour Fang!"
SLASH!!
RIIIP!!
The creature screamed before being dragged down and silenced.
Emma, calm as the moon, stood like a goddess in the storm.
Her Arcane Dominion Blessing surged through her veins, with this Main Blessings She can master her elements better than everyone else and cast hybrid magic spells like;
"Pyro Vortex!"
WOOOOOSH!!
A tornado of flame and wind howled into the fray, incinerating one of the advancing boars.
"Mud Wall!"
THUD! SPLASH!
The battlefield trembled as a wall of sludge rose to slow a trio of boars mid-charge.
"Ice Bullets Scattershot!"
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
Piercing, high-velocity icicles tore through eyes, joints, and bellies. One boar staggered and collapsed mid-roar.
The archer and warrior couple moved like shadows in dance.
"Explosive Shot Left eye!"
BANG!
"Blade Surge Break the knees!"
CRUNCH!
Another fell.
One by one, the beasts died roars turning to death throes, fire becoming fading embers.
Fifteen minutes.
Ten Cinderthorn Boars.
Downed.
Efficient. Clean. Merciless.
They barely paused.
Blood smeared their boots. The air smelled of burnt fur and scorched metal.
Jack's eyes swept across the war-torn field.
Ascendants everywhere fought for their lives, some winning, some losing.
He didn't wait.
DING!
Eye of Truth – Activated
[Ironscale Crocodiles
3rd Star Mid Stage beasts
Appearance: Ten-foot beasts with scale-armor like fortress walls.
Behavior: Ambush predators. Uses water drag-and-drown tactics.
Power: Matches 3rd Star Mid Earth Knights.
Weak Spot: Inner jaw, eyes, underbelly.
Loot: Reinforced Ironscales – 4-Star armor-grade material.]
Jack's voice rang out again."Hard scales. Watch the tail and it can crush bone. Go for the jaw or underbelly. Mom, freeze the feet. Dad, flank from left. Archer target it's eyes. Warriors act as bait it in close range."
James nodded, gripping his sword. "Let's go."
Emma smirked, her mana already spiraling. "Round two."
The warrior cracked his knuckles. "Time to crack some scales."
The archer whispered, "Let's make them bleed."
Jack took the lead.
"Next target Ironscale Crocodiles. Let's hunt."
BOOOOM!
The ground trembled again as new enemies surged in.
------
To Be Continued…!!