[System Notification: The Boss has been slain.]
Huh?
Then another notification appeared.
[System Notification: The Boss will appear in places with many populations within 5 days.]
My blood ran cold. Five days.
I clenched my fists, realizing the implications. If the Boss was moving towards populated areas, the base where my friends were stationed—where I had left them vulnerable—was in danger.
"Shit," I cursed under my breath. My mind raced. There wasn't much time.
I couldn't afford to waste any more moments. I had to finish this quest, whatever it was, and get back to the base.
The countdown had begun.
I let my emotions take over for a second. I don't have time for these games. If another boss monster is about to appear, it's going to be a massacre. Shit.
Lián Yè, thinking I was defenseless, charged at me with his blade raised. He believed he had me, but he was wrong.
I stared him down, my focus sharpening. Every muscle in my body tensed, preparing for the clash. I'll finish this.
Hua Jingyi, watching from the sidelines, noticed the shift in my demeanor—she could sense the change in the air, the calm determination that replaced any sign of hesitation. This wasn't just another fight. This was the end.
As Lián Yè slashed sideways, I swiftly ducked under the blade, narrowly avoiding its deadly arc. In one smooth, fluid motion, I launched myself forward, my left foot moving with lightning speed. The first strike landed on his feet, knocking him off balance. Before he could react, I followed up with a swift kick to his midsection, the impact sending a jolt through his body.
Without missing a beat, I spun on the ball of my foot and delivered the final blow — a powerful left hook kick to his head. The force of the strike left him staggered, his vision blurry as he stumbled back, struggling to regain his composure.
I feigned a shoulder dash, my body moving as though I was going to charge directly into him, targeting his midsection. Lián Yè, eager to land a decisive blow, slashed downward, fully expecting me to charge into the strike. But it was all a trick. I pivoted at the last second, my feet moving with precision as I jumped high and twisted in mid-air.
My left knee collided with his face with brutal force, stunning him for a brief moment. Without hesitation, I grabbed his head, pulling him closer to me, and with a savage motion, I drove my right knee straight into his face. The impact was deafening, and his body flew back, staggering as he tried to regain his footing, his vision swimming from the sheer force of the blows.
I let out a primal roar, the sound vibrating through the air as my body surged with power. Without a moment's hesitation, I activated Whirlwind Rush.
In an instant, I was upon him, my feet blurring as I dashed forward, twisting my body into a blur of motion. The first blow landed like a freight train, my fist crashing into his chest with a resounding thud, knocking the wind out of him.
Before he could recover, I followed up with a relentless barrage of rush punches, each strike landing faster and harder than the last, like the unpredictable winds of a storm. My fists moved in a fluid frenzy, each hit weaving into the next, overwhelming him with sheer speed and power.
Lián Yè tried to block, but the fury of my assault left him little room to react. I ended the combo with a final, devastating punch, the force sending him crashing to the ground, motionless, his body unable to withstand the onslaught. His form crumpled, defeated, and the arena fell into a heavy silence.
As I stood there, panting slightly from the exertion, I lifted my arms in the air, feeling the weight of the battle slowly lift from my body. The crowd erupted in a deafening roar of approval, their voices blending into a unified cheer that echoed through the arena like a wave of pure energy.
The cheers grew louder, almost overwhelming, as if the very air around me was vibrating with their excitement. Their praise felt like a surge of power, fueling me even further, pushing the exhaustion out of my mind.
I stood tall, my chest rising and falling with each breath, taking it all in. The roar of the crowd was a victory in itself, and for a moment, I let myself bask in it—their cheers, their admiration, it was all for me. And I had earned it.
As I stepped out of the arena, the roar of the crowd faded into silence, replaced by the rustling of leaves and the soft crunch of dirt under my boots. The forest welcomed me with shadows and stillness, a stark contrast to the blood and noise I'd just left behind.
I walked deeper beneath the canopy, eyes sharp, senses alert. I couldn't afford to let my guard down. Not here. Not now.
Even with all the stats and skills I'd gathered so far… I was still weak. Stronger than yesterday, sure—but nowhere near enough. The next threat wouldn't wait for me to be ready. I had to assume the worst, prepare for something I couldn't yet see coming.
So I moved quietly, every step a reminder—I'm not invincible yet.
System Notification:
The One Who Fell From Olympus said: "I'll give you a task. But you must pay me 1000 gold."
I narrowed my eyes, fingers tightening into a fist.
"What kind of skill?" I asked, voice low.
System Notification:
The One Who Fell From Olympus said: "A power not meant for mortals. Complete the task… and it's yours."
A chill ran down my spine. Whatever this was—it wasn't ordinary. And yet, deep down, something inside me wanted it.
"I accept," I said firmly.
System Notification: The One Who Fell From Olympus said: "Good. Then face the monster I will summon for you. Defeat it… and the skill is yours."
System Notification: The One Who Fell From Olympus said: "Alright. Let's begin."
A flick of divine will.
A searing beam of light tore down from the heavens, crashing into the earth just a few meters in front of me. The ground split open from the impact, a wave of heat blasting through the forest like a furnace unleashed.
System Warning:
Name:
Askaroth, the Broken Flame (Fragment)
Title: Fist of Ruin, Exiled God of Judgment
I narrowed my eyes as the smoke cleared.
He emerged—taller than any man, with ash-gray skin etched in glowing crimson sigils that pulsed like a heartbeat. Molten chains wrapped around his forearms rattled with every step, dragging heat and fire behind him. His fists dripped with searing divine flame, each drop hissing as it scorched the ground.
Every step he took cracked the earth beneath him like glass under a hammer.
This wasn't a monster.
This was judgment incarnate.
Just looking at him—at Askaroth, the Broken Flame—made every monster I'd ever fought feel like background noise. That wasn't intimidation. That was despair trying to crawl into my bones. The weight of his presence alone pressed against my chest like a boulder.
And yet… this was only a fragment of him.
System Notification:
The One Who Fell From Olympus said: "Don't worry. I'll raise a veil—an unbreakable barrier. No one will see what happens inside. It'll hold until one of you falls."
A flick.
Reality warped.
The air shimmered, folding over like a glass dome sliding into place. The trees outside blurred, their sounds muffled to silence. Even the light dimmed, as though the world understood something terrible was about to happen.
I stood alone inside the arena of gods—with a creature that shouldn't exist.
And the only way out… was through him.
I exhaled sharply, calming my pulse.
I have to test him first.
With a burst of speed, I dashed forward—vanishing from my spot in a blink. I twisted mid-air, unleashing a sharp hook kick aimed at his temple. It connected with a solid thud.
Nothing.
He didn't flinch. Didn't stagger. He just stood there, ash-gray skin unmoving, eyes glowing dimly like dying embers.
I dropped low and surged into a flurry—rush punches, heavy and precise, every blow backed by enough power to shatter stone. The ground beneath us cracked with each step, dust rising in waves from the force of my assault.
But he just watched me.
His head tilted slightly.
Not dodging.
Not blocking.
Just watching.
Like a god humoring an ant.
I gritted my teeth, the sting of frustration building. His stillness, his confidence—it was suffocating. I could feel my muscles coil like a spring, tension running through my body like a live wire.
I had to break through.
With a growl, I pulled back my arm, my entire body locked into a singular motion. I shot forward, delivering a straight punch, the force of it shattering the air behind him. The sound of my strike rang out, but it didn't matter—he didn't move. He didn't even acknowledge it.
My heart raced, but my resolve only hardened.
I wasn't backing down. I couldn't.
In a single fluid motion, I launched myself into the air, the ground beneath me shifting with the sheer force of my jump. Knee strike to his face—right where his jaw met his neck, aiming to break through his calm exterior. But he barely reacted.
I followed through, pivoting in mid-air, right elbow swinging with precision toward his cheek, the power of it enough to turn stone to dust.
Still, he stood, unmoving.
I rotated, driving a back hook kick straight toward his ribs, using the momentum to spiral into a side hook kick. Every blow connected with nothing but air and determination. My body flowed like water, no hesitation, no pause.
Downward kick—I aimed directly at his shoulder, hoping to snap him out of his stillness, but right before my heel could crash into him, I felt the earth tremble.
A fist, large enough to swallow my entire torso, came crashing down toward me with inhuman speed.
I didn't even have time to react.
The impact hit with such force, it felt like the world itself was being crushed under his weight. The earth shattered beneath me, and I was slammed into the ground with devastating power, the very earth swallowing me in its embrace as his divine strength buried me deep into the dirt.
Every breath was crushed from my chest as the weight of it all pressed down, and I couldn't even bring my limbs to move.
I could feel the weight of the earth pressing me down, but even as my body screamed in pain, something in me refused to give up. The crushing force of his punch had left me buried deep in the ground, but there was still a flicker of determination left inside me.
I gritted my teeth, my mind racing as I forced myself to focus. If I didn't move soon, it would be the end. I couldn't just lie here, trapped and crushed under his power.
I had to move.
Summoning every ounce of willpower, I activated Colossus Form.
A sudden wave of energy surged through my body, and I felt my muscles begin to harden like stone. My bones felt reinforced, every fiber of my being strengthened to the breaking point. The pain in my chest began to dull, replaced by a sharp, unyielding power. My body was no longer just flesh—it was raw force.
Colossus Form had made me nearly unstoppable. Now I had to move.
I took a deep breath, then activated Swift Mind.
The world seemed to slow as my senses sharpened to a razor's edge. My awareness expanded, and I felt every crack in the earth beneath me, every tremor of movement from Askaroth. His next attack was already coming, I could sense it. But this time, I wouldn't be caught off guard.
The energy from Swift Mind made my movements faster, my thoughts clearer. It was as if time itself bent to my will, and I was more than ready for him.
I twisted my body, my hands gripping the dirt beneath me, using the power from Colossus Form to force my body upward with explosive force. As I shot out of the hole in the ground, I propelled myself forward with speed that even Askaroth's immense form couldn't fully track.
I dodged—his next strike, the fist that could've shattered me in an instant, came crashing down just a split second too late.
In that moment, I was a blur, the ground beneath me rumbling as I shifted position with unnatural agility. My body felt like it was moving in harmony with the universe itself, reacting before even my mind had fully processed it.
Now, I was the one on the offensive. And I wasn't going to stop until I made him feel the weight of my fury.
I dodged his strikes, each one coming faster and harder than the last, my body moving instinctively to avoid the molten chains and divine fury that followed his every swing. My muscles screamed with the effort, but I had to keep moving. Colossus Form was giving me the strength to endure, but his sheer power was something else entirely.
Suddenly, I couldn't help but grin. The rush of dodging his seemingly effortless attacks was intoxicating. My body was on edge, every move a challenge, but I was still standing—still dodging.
His voice broke the tension, calm, almost amused. "Are you that happy dodging my effortless attack, human?"
Before I could even process his words, I saw it—the speed. The blur of his body as he rotated, his back kick coming at me with an unfathomable speed.
I didn't have time to react.
Crack!
The sound of his kick landing against my side echoed through the air as I was sent flying. My body felt weightless for a moment before crashing violently into a wall, the impact sending a shockwave through my bones. The force of the blow was so intense, I felt like my ribs were splintering.
I flew through trees, crashing into branches, my vision blurring. The pain was sharp, burning, almost blinding. I didn't even have a chance to brace for impact as the ground came up to meet me with brutal force.
I landed in a heap, my body tangled with broken wood and shattered stone, a trail of destruction left in my wake.
I barely managed to push myself up, my vision spinning. The world around me felt like it was falling apart, but I knew one thing—he hadn't finished with me yet. And I wasn't out of this fight. Not yet.
I spat blood onto the ground, the taste of iron in my mouth, and clenched my fists. The god hadn't even broken a sweat.