A shimmering portal opened before Akito and Targus.
They stepped through — and in an instant, found themselves before a gloomy mansion.
Everything around was dead: dried trees, lifeless grass, cracked earth — as if nature itself had abandoned this place.
Black, withered vines twisted along the building's walls like snakes frozen mid-hunt.
"Let's go," Akito said seriously.
They walked down empty corridors, each step echoing dully.
"Jarl, it's too quiet here… Want me to stir things up a bit?" Targus grinned, clenching his fist.
"He already knows we're here anyway. Clear us a path, Targus."
With a pleased smirk, the giant summoned his war hammer and charged forward, laughing as he smashed through the walls.
Then he came upon a massive door, engraved entirely with skulls.
He stopped.
Akito stepped closer — the skulls glowed with a violet light.
The door creaked open slowly.
Behind the rising dust, a grand, ancient hall appeared, lined with thick columns.
A pale, ghostly blue glow lit the room — torches burned with cold flames.
In the center, before a throne made of bones, stood a tall figure in a black-and-white cloak inscribed with runes.
His face was hidden by a smooth mask. Two endless black voids stared out from where his eyes should be.
"You've answered death's call," he said. His voice weighed down on their chests, creeping into their minds.
"…unaware that death had already chosen you."
Above the figure, glowing text appeared:
[Graknar]
Death King
(Violet Aura)
"Alright… this won't be easy," thought Akito, glancing at Targus.
But the giant had already charged.
In a flash, Targus was in front of Graknar and slammed his hammer down—
Only for Graknar to block it with a single hand.
He leapt back, silent.
"My name is the omen of an end.
My will — a sentence."
He raised his hand — a black beam shot forward.
Akito barely reacted in time, rolling aside. The beam sliced through a column behind him — it crashed down with a deafening thud.
"Damn… that was way too close…"
"If I hadn't boosted my speed, I'd be dead already."
Kagero — his nearly-broken sword — materialized in Akito's hand.
The metal was cracked, the blade darkened… but it still held strong.
"One more fight. Hang in there."
Graknar moved.
A sudden burst — faster than sight. He struck from above.
Targus' shield flared with blue light, absorbing the blow, but the sheer force pushed him back several steps.
"He's insanely fast…" whispered Akito. But without hesitation, he rushed in and swung.
Graknar dodged gracefully — as if he already knew the attack's angle.
He retreated, raised a hand, and spoke:
"Rise… my servants."
From the cracked ground, skeletons clawed their way out —
Covered in bits of flesh and dirt, twisting into grotesque shapes, howling as they came forward.
"Now!" Akito shouted. "Targus — second skill!"
"Already on it!" the giant growled.
[Skill Activated: Thunder Anchor]
Targus slammed the ground —
A shockwave burst in all directions. The skeletons shattered into dust instantly.
"Now activate your mode. Let's crush him together!"
"Understood, Jarl."
[Skill Activated: Jotun's Blood]
Targus' body was wrapped in a glowing aura. His eyes flared. The air around him thickened.
And then—
He charged forward.
"He's that fast?!" Akito thought. "I can barely keep track…"
The giant streaked past like a missile, slamming into Graknar from the left.
Akito flanked from the right.
A two-sided assault.
Graknar, trapped in the middle, spun and blocked, dodged, countered —
Each dark pulse he released shook the hall.
Akito's sword — sparks off the mask.
Targus' hammer — shattering tiles.
The air itself vibrated. Walls began to crumble.
But Graknar wasn't a cornered beast.
He was a king.
He moved with grace, like dancing between blows.
"Skilled," he whispered,
"But you fail to see the truth."
He raised both arms. The floor lit up with glowing violet runes.
Akito reacted instantly:
"Back! It's a trap!"
But too late.
A wave of darkness erupted, hurling all three in different directions.
Akito slammed into a wall.
A system message flashed:
[You have received: Curse Effect]
– [-250 HP]
– -25% Resistance
– -50% Regen
– Defense Reduced (Temporary)
He groaned, standing with clenched teeth.
"He's getting serious…"
They charged again — but Graknar had grown even faster.
Only Targus, in Jotun Mode, could keep up — barely.
"I decide who dies and who remains," echoed the cold voice.
"I am no enemy. I am the last to stand."
With a swift motion, he kicked Targus aside like a sack of potatoes.
In a blink, he appeared before Akito.
His cold hand wrapped around Akito's neck —
And the two vanished.
A heartbeat later —
Akito was suspended mid-air, held up by one arm.
Graknar stared into his eyes.
"He chose you.
And you turned out… weak."
The grip tightened.
[-100 HP]
Blood dripped from Akito's mouth.
"Shit… if this keeps up, I'm dead…"
Graknar raised his other hand — aiming for Akito's stomach.
He struck.
Akito kicked at his head out of desperation — no effect.
The blade pierced his stomach.
[-50 HP]
Akito's arms fell limp. Graknar let go —
His body dropped to the ground.
Silence.
Then—
The system pulsed to life:
[Skill "Victor" Activated]
[Skill "Ruthless" Activated]
A wave of dark energy surged from Akito.
His eyes turned cold. His expression — hollow.
He stood — reborn in another form.
Even Graknar took a step back.
"I… do not lo—"
A punch to the face.
Akito was in front of him in a flash, landing a crushing blow that sent Graknar flying.
Crash. The wall cracked. Dust flew.
Targus returned to the hall, his mode ended.
He froze at the sight:
Akito stood like a harbinger of death, sword in hand, blood on his face.
"Damn…" he whispered.
A wide grin stretched across the giant's face —
Filled with admiration and excitement.
"I've been waiting for this, Jarl.
Show me everything you've got!"
Akito vanished again — reappearing beside him.
Strike.
A shield flared before Targus —
It cracked.
The giant flew back, crashing into a column.