The plains trembled under the arrival of Wave 5. 16,000 enemies, double the last wave, surged across the scorched battlefield. Wolves, serpents, molten giants, and new monstrosities I hadn't seen before moved in perfect coordination, a tide of chaos fueled by elemental fury.
My body screamed with exhaustion from the previous waves, every muscle aching, every cut still raw. Even the wraiths—Shadow, Rift, and Obsidian—seemed to flicker faintly, drained from the relentless advance of the horde.
The storm above churned violently. Violet lightning licked the clouds, reflecting my own surge of adrenaline and rage. I tightened my grip on my sword, amethyst energy coursing through my veins. 20% system support was all I had. No more. This was my will, my body, my storm.
"Let's make this one memorable," I muttered, smirking through the exhaustion, violet sparks flickering along my blade.
The first cluster of enemies hit like a tsunami. Wolves lunged in tight formations, serpents dived from above, molten giants slammed into the ground, sending fissures of fire and stone into the air. My sword flashed, arcs of Judgment Spark carving through dozens of enemies in a single swing.
But the sheer numbers overwhelmed instinct. Wolves leapt from every angle, serpents coiling with lethal precision. One serpent's fangs grazed my shoulder, searing pain into my muscles. A molten giant's fist slammed mere inches from my feet, sending shards of stone flying. I rolled, barely avoiding a crushing blow, and swung Abyssstorm outward, lightning tentacles cutting through the advancing horde.
The next hour was a blur of movement, pain, and chaos. Wolves screamed as they fell, serpents convulsed in lightning arcs, molten giants shattered under precise strikes. Yet, for every enemy I felled, two more took their place.
Then, the strongest minion of Wave 5 stepped forward—a colossal tornado elemental infused with lightning, spinning with terrifying force. Its roar rattled my bones. Its approach left devastation in its wake.
I lunged to meet it, swinging my sword, sending arcs of violet lightning slicing through the air. But a massive strike from a molten giant slammed into me mid-swing. Pain exploded through my chest. My vision blurred, lungs screamed, and I collapsed onto the scorched ground.
For a moment, the world went still. I felt my body give way, thought fleetingly that this could be the end. The tornado elemental swirled closer, releasing a scream of pure elemental fury. Its force shredded the air, debris flying in deadly arcs. Even my wraiths struggled to contain the minion's advance.
No… I can't die here. Not like this…
I gritted my teeth, remembering Lysera—her laugh, her scolding, the warmth of her hand in mine. I remembered my mother, my sister, the family I had saved and loved. I remembered the countless humans who had doubted me, betrayed me, or underestimated me. The rage and vengeance I had cultivated over years of pain boiled to the surface.
I rose, violet lightning cracking across my body, hands trembling with exertion. Pain lanced through my ribs, burns and cuts still raw, yet fury sharpened every sense.
This is my storm. My will. My battlefield.
I leapt forward with a roar, sword flashing in one hand, lightning arcing from my other. The wraiths flanked me instinctively, covering blind spots, but this time I carried the fight alone. One swing of my sword cleaved through dozens of wolves. Lightning lanced through serpents in midair, frying them instantly. The tornado elemental shrieked, debris and wind spinning violently around me, but I pushed through, moving faster than thought, faster than pain.
Another molten giant slammed toward me. I barely twisted, slicing it in half mid-charge. Wolves and serpents lunged at me from all directions—I met them with a combination of blade and lightning, a whirlwind of violent precision. Every strike, every surge of lightning, cost agony, yet the fury inside me overrode all pain.
The tornado elemental's shriek grew deafening. It spun closer, hurling debris and lightning in a deadly maelstrom. I ducked, rolled, struck, and surged forward, violet energy trailing behind me like fire.
Finally, I reached the elemental's core. Sword in one hand, lightning arcing in the other, I drove my energy into it. A surge of violet lightning ripped through the minion, cleaving the tornado in two. Its roar was deafening, yet it faltered, scattering shards of elemental energy across the plains.
The remaining 16,000 enemies fell in disarray. Wolves fled, serpents writhed in death, molten giants collapsed. The battlefield was silent save for the wind and residual sparks of violet lightning flickering across scorched earth.
I collapsed to one knee, chest heaving, body trembling from exhaustion. Wraiths hovered near, shadows flickering faintly, but alive. My vision blurred. Pain seared through every inch of me. And yet… I had survived.
The system chimed softly, glowing with recognition:
[Wave 5 Complete – Progress Recorded]
XP Gained: +40,000, Level Up Progress: +30%
Storm God Contract Reward Granted:
Authority: Storm's Heir Title: Lightning Warden Class Passive Skills Unlocked Recipe for Elemental Elixir (Storm Variant)
I looked to the horizon, body trembling, hair plastered with sweat and blood, violet lightning crackling faintly along my arms. My chest heaved. My hands shook. And yet, a smirk curved across my bloodied lips.
"Wave 5… you almost killed me. But I'm still standing."
The storm above gradually subsided, lightning crackling faintly as if acknowledging my victory. The plains were silent now, scorched and broken, a testament to the fury I had unleashed.
I stood, chest heaving, wraiths at my side, and whispered, "Let the world take notice. I am Ashura Bellet. And I will not bow."