They stood in a vast wasteland where the horizon could not be seen. Ancient ruins lay scattered about, their age impossible to guess. For two days and nights the squad marched tirelessly without spotting a single sign of life.
To make matters worse, the fog grew thicker with every step, shrouding everything in a pale veil. When they entered a jagged mountain range, the air grew denser, heavy with something eerie.
Most of the squad were Ascended, only a handful still Awakened, which at least made navigating this hellish terrain possible. But Ethan couldn't shake the thought that gnawed at him.
Something's not right… Even in a Tier 5 dungeon, we should have encountered beasts by now.
The unease twisted his gut.
Then it came.
A crushing pressure, so heavy it was hard to breathe.
"Everyone, be on alert!" Sony barked, his massive axe flashing as he drew it. His sharp instincts had already picked up on the evil presence lurking within the fog.
The Awakened tensed immediately. Sony didn't need to tell them twice.
Ethan steadied his grip on his blade. His Black Panther Hide armor, bought for fifty million Ace Tokens, pulsed with energy. Not only did it boost his speed, but its active skill, Shadow Panther, allowed him to conceal his presence. He may have only wielded a mutant-grade sword, but his techniques and his will made it lethal.
Hissss…
Their breaths turned ragged as the pressure thickened. The thirty-man squad quickly shifted into formation, mages and healers forming the center.
Then
BANG!
A wet shriek split the air. A purple fist shot from the fog and smashed into an Ascended clad in mutant beast armor. He didn't even have time to scream. His body burst apart like tofu, flesh and bone scattered across the rocks.
"Damn it!"
The mages unleashed a barrage of beams, but they sliced nothing but mist. The beast moved like a phantom. Another explosion rocked the ground, scattering their formation. By the time they regrouped, another Ascended had fallen, lifeless.
"It's a humanoid devilish beast!" Sony's voice thundered through the chaos. Only someone at Apex could read an enemy this fast.
"I already knew", Ethan thought grimly.His armor had warned him of the danger the moment it appeared.
"Protect the mages and healers—it's targeting them!" Ethan barked. His voice carried authority, and he dashed forward. His sword flared, wrapped in a condensed water blade.
CLANG!
The strike met flesh but it was like striking steel.
"What the hell…?!" Ethan's eyes widened. I thought humanoid beasts relied on intelligence and attack power, not defense!
He had used the Traceless Sword Technique, a Rank-S skill gifted to him by the Vanguard Guild after years of hard work. Even if it couldn't cut through, it should have left a scar. Instead, the beast stood unscathed.
From the fog stepped their nightmare.
A humanoid figure, skin purple as bruises, its tall frame lean but radiating deathly strength. It lacked muscle, yet its presence crushed them like a storm.
BANG! BANG!
Sony roared, aura bursting out as he activated his berserker skill. His energy scattered the fog, revealing the abomination.
He charged.
The clash shook the mountain, but within seconds Sony was hurled through the air, screaming. He landed hard, blood spraying as one arm was severed clean off.
"Damn it!" Ethan cursed then his eyes caught a fiery glow.
A massive fireball exploded against the beast, staggering it for a heartbeat. Ethan seized the chance, tossing Sony's battered body to the healers like he weighed nothing.
"Now!"
Fifteen Ascended surged forward with Ethan, raining down devastating blows. The beast blurred, dodging, before darting straight at the healers.
"Not a chance!" Ethan's speed exploded, his armor's skill kicking in. A colossal water serpent surged forth, coiling around the beast. Before it could break free, Ethan slammed his entire body into it.
BANG!
It was like ramming a steel mountain. Pain screamed through his bones, but he'd diverted its strike an inch away from a healer's skull.
"Damn… my whole body's numb"
"ROAAAR!" The beast shrieked in fury. This human this insectwas in its way. It shifted, honing in on Ethan.
Ethan smirked. His armor made him blur like a shadow. Right now, his speed rivaled Apex—over 220 points, faster than Sony himself.
The beast unleashed a storm of blows.
BANG! BOOM! CRACK!
Ethan slipped between them, every step like tracing fireworks in the dark. Not a single strike landed.
"Sony, now!" Ethan shouted, diving aside.
SPURT!
Sony's axe hacked down, biting deep into the beast's neck. Purple blood splattered the stones.
The beast staggered, shocked.
The battle raged for thirty more minutes. Together, they drove it back, mark after bloody mark tearing into its body. Ethan's panther armor and water skills worked in perfect rhythm, shackling the beast whenever it tried to retreat.
Finally, the creature was cornered. Wounded. Desperate.
Then
Puff.
It turned to purple smoke .
The awakened sensed more danger