There looming at the far end of the clearing was the thing that had grabbed him stepping out of the fog.
It was monstrous nearly three meters tall, its body a grotesque mismatch of muscle and metal. Its skin was gleaming bronze like armor but streaked with dark crimson that oozed slowly down its sides.
The abomination face was a mask of agony, tears carving tracks down from its black eyes. It looked both tortured and furious, as if it wanted to howl and weep all at once. Two thick arms hung at its sides one ending with a spiked fist and the other gripping a golden hammer. Spikes rose from its forearms and shoulders, each one slicked with black mist stain.
Ophieus felt his body start to tremble as his heart hammered in his chest. His focus was locked on the abomination, Dark Animas at his side as he gripped it tighter.
Then above the abomination, he saw a silver screen hovering in the air.
[Bronze Regret]
[Abomination]
That's an odd name…
The abomination mouth twisted and baring jagged teeth. It raised its hammer and stomped on the ground shaking as its eyes fixed on Ophieus.
In the next moment, the Abomination rushed forward towards Ophieus, each of its steps shaking the ground as it brought its hammer up. As the hammer came crashing down, Ophieus instinctively side-stepped to the right just as the impact shattered the ground where he had stood.
Cracks spider-webbed outward and chunks of earth flying. Pebbles struck his jacket, but Ophieus was already moving with his heart racing.
Bronze Regret released an ear-splitting roar. Its eyes glowed as it swept the hammer sideways, plowing through the air as it rushed towards Ophieus. But he quickly ducked, feeling the wind whistling just above his head. Yet the Bronze Regret wasn't done as its other arm shot forward, rushing towards him. Just as the hilt of Dark Animas rushed up, striking the underpart of the Abomination golden fist.
The Abomination fist was redirected upwards while Lorian lashed out with a kick and striking its chest. The abomination was pushed back a bit before roaring out as it rushed back towards him, blasting out with a fist. Ophieus batted the oncoming fist to his right but that made his arm tremble.
The Bronze Regret only roared!
Bronze Regret once more swinging its massive arms and golden hammer in barrages. Ophieus deflected the hammer strike to the side with Dark Animas, then shifted to the left as the spike fist rushed forward, and then he ducked low as the hammer came sweeping in. Before he hacked out with his sword, slashing a cut on the shoulder of the abomination. Before he pivoted just in time to avoid another fist, which produced a crater into the ground where he just was.
Bronze Regret rushed towards Ophieus, leading to them exchanging over twenty moves between each other. Ophieus leapt back away as the hammer struck the ground, sending a new wave of stone and dirt into the air.
The ground beneath his feet trembled before pillars of gold erupted, leading Ophieus to push off, flipping through the air and landing. Before then shifting to the side as another set of pillars erupted from the ground.
Then the Bronze Regret grinned with a broken smile as it stomped, leading to the ground to shift beneath Ophieus.
The world tilted.
Ophieus felt himself rising up in the air just as golden spikes burst from the ground below him. He quickly thrust out with Dark Animas, the black sword sinking into one of the spikes that continued rising.
But it never struck as Ophieus landed on top of his sword before hurling his body over as his sword vanished. Just as he landed on the ground, the bronze abomination was already in front of him. Its body shimmering as golden armor manifested over its gash Ophieus had left.
Ophieus twisted his body, his sword appearing in his hand as he swung against the golden hammer.
An ear-splitting sound rang out!
The golden hammer and Dark Animas were both pushed back!
Then Dark Animas disperse from Ophieus right hand as he steps forward and then black sword reappears in his left hand. A predator smile appeared as the blade hacked out, a blur in the air that struck the abomination joints. The sword rang against golden armor, sending shivers up his arm, but he saw dents appear.
"Protect… I must…" The abomination slowly spoke as it swung its hammer in a brutal arc. Ophieus ducks under it, then pushes up and slash at the abomination side.
Bronze blood and golden sparks splashed out!
The abomination stomped again, and the earth beneath Ophieus feet buckled. A wave of stone rippled toward him and jagged rocks trying to strike him. Ophieus flipped back, landing on the side of the rising pillar, tensing his muscle and then pushing off the pillars.
Cracks appeared on the rising pillar as he rushed towards the abomination head and as he soared over it. He pulled himself down as Dark Animas chopped down, slashing at the golden armor covering the abomination shoulder.
With a roar the Bronze Regret raised its arms as the golden plates knitted together. Ophieus' blade bounced off, but he used the force to spin and land behind the abomination.
He didn't hesitate.
Ophieus attacked swiftly, hacking out seven times with his sword. Whip-like slashes struck its shoulder and its back, the black blade leaving behind after-images. Each strike striking at the armor before breaching and shattering it as pieces scattered around. The abomination released a terrifying roar as spikes erupted from its back, as the armor was ripped apart.
Ophieus had already stepped back as he watched the Bronze Regret stumble but then slammed its hammer down with both hands. The ground exploded in a ring of golden light pillars shot up in a circle, trapping Ophieus with the abomination inside.
Ophieus grinned with a chuckle, excitement bubbling in his chest. "You're clever," he muttered.
The abomination eyes blazed. It pounded its chest, golden armor spreading further, fusing with bone and muscle. With a snarl, it swept its hammer in a wide arc, sending a shockwave that shattered several pillars and forced Ophieus to leap high, flipping between falling debris.
As Ophieus landed, the ground trembled again. The abomination twisted its hand, and the grass beneath Ophieus' boots turned to mud trying to pull him under. Just as a multiple golden spike shot toward his ribs and back from both sides. Ophieus pulled his feet up as he hurled Dark Animas behind him towards the rushing spike.
Then he flipped backwards just as the black sword smashed through the top half of the golden spikes. Ophieus flew over the spikes from behind before landing on the ground and side stepping the other one.
Then rushed towards the bronze abomination who stomped on the ground. Instantly four massive pillars rushed out of the ground, bending and blasting towards him.
Ophieus swiftly stepped to the left for the first before flipping to the right for the second and began running onto the first pillar. He then gripped Dark Animas before hurling it straight towards the bronze abomination. The sword rushed through the air, leading to the Bronze Regret to swing its hammer and block it.
Sword and hammer clashed in a burst of sparks!
Then Golden Hammer and Dark Animas were pushed back by the impact but then Dark Anima dispersed into lights.
Just as Ophieus reached and chopped down with the black sword reappearing in his hand. He landed a deep gash on the abomination shoulder but the bronze abomination fist rushed towards his chest. He quickly dispersed Dark Animas and then black sword reappeared in the other hand which he moved to block the fist.
Instantly he was sent backwards, boot skidding over the ground and Ophieus just laughing with his golden eyes shining.
Bronze Regret stumbles with its cracked golden armor and bleeding bronze flesh. Still, it pressed forward, dragging the hammer behind and golden energy swirling around the weapon's head.
"Protect. I promise…" the abomination groaned, blood pouring down and golden armor struggling to repair itself. Its hammer glowed brighter as it gripped the hammer tighter.
The ground erupted in front of Ophieus with another pillar trying to impale him. He sidestepped before jumping up and using it as a springboard. Then he pushed off, rushing towards the Bronze Regret as his black sword cut through the air in a wide arc. The abomination caught the blow on the edge of its hammer, sparks flying but Ophieus pressed forward. Pushing the hammer back, Dark Animas vanished and reappeared in his other hand.
Before it chopped out once more on the shoulder of the Bronze Regret.
Ophieus , as a black sword descended, chopping into bronze.
Yet Ophieus watched in fascination as the abomination charged, absorbing the slash on its shoulder while returning with a swing strike against the black sword. Ophieus stumbled slightly, his right arm trembling, a feeling of numbness.
"Protect. I promise…" The creature's body, battered and bloodied. It moved once more just as Ophieus already around it, the black sword rushing out with seven lightning-fast whip-like attacks.
Seven gashes appeared, spilling blood as it screamed yet even then, it swung its hammer towards Ophieus and pressing on. But each of its swings were getting slower before Ophieus moved step in close to the abomination.
"I…I can't stop… I must keep-"
A black sword slashed in a beautiful arc.
Slicing through flesh and bone with blood scattering off the sword as it came out from the other side. The abomination top half slid right off the bottom, falling behind while the bottom fell forward. Blood poured out of the abomination bisected body, but even as it collapsed.
Its eyes that were fading, stared at Ophieus as it continued speaking. "Protect."