[ZARUNETH CITY - MORNING]
RUMBLE... RUMBLE... RUMBLE...
The tremors grew stronger. In the city streets, residents began to panic as glasses in their homes rattled and fell scattered. Children cried in their parents' arms while merchants shouted, seeking shelter.
Kai, Azariel, and Ren stood on the palace balcony facing the desert, where the tremors originated.
"It's finally coming," Azariel muttered while gripping the balcony railing tightly. "Prepare yourselves."
Ren had already taken a fighting stance with her orange eyes sparkling with excitement. "I'm ready! How big is this monster anyway?"
Kai stood casually, both hands still in his hoodie pockets, his bluish-gray eyes gazing calmly at the horizon.
WHOOOOSH...
The wind began to change. From the dry, hot desert wind, it suddenly became cold wind carrying the scent of decay.
And then the sky began to darken.
"Huh?" Ren looked up while frowning. "Why is it getting cloudy?"
THUMP... THUMP... THUMP...
Something like a giant heartbeat began echoing from the distance. Growing louder and louder.
"Dark clouds?" Ren muttered while squinting, trying to see more clearly.
Azariel, who was also looking up, suddenly felt something was wrong. "But it's not raining—"
CRACK!
The sound of something like a massive shell cracking split the air. And in an instant...
Azariel and Ren's eyes widened until they nearly popped out of their sockets.
It wasn't clouds. It wasn't overcast weather.
What was covering the sky was a GIANT BODY that was enormous, enormous, enormously huge. Gleaming black pincers the size of skyscrapers moved slowly, while a tail filled with poisonous spikes curved high above their heads. Red eyes the size of soccer fields gazed down with a hungry stare.
ZARAKHESH - LEVEL ???
"Pretty big," Kai commented in his flat tone, though his eyes widened slightly seeing the monster's size. "No, this is way too big..."
"A-Are you sure we want to fight this...?" Ren's voice trembled. For the first time since they'd met, the girl who was always full of spirit looked frightened.
Azariel swallowed hard. "I-I didn't know it would be this big... I only followed the words of the fortune-telling wizard..."
---
[FLASHBACK - ONE WEEK AGO]
In a hidden cave in the mountains near Zaruneth, Azariel knelt before an old wizard dressed in tattered clothes. His blind eyes showed that he relied on spiritual sight.
"O wizard," Azariel said respectfully. "I sense a dark aura growing stronger. What's happening to my city?"
The old wizard moved his staff over a cracked crystal ball. Purple smoke began to rise.
"There will be a monster named Zarakhesh appearing soon in Zaruneth," the wizard's hoarse voice echoed in the cave. "That creature has two pincers... and a tail full of poison."
"How can we defeat it?" Azariel asked anxiously.
"Find someone in Ather. Or Yuelin. I don't know who, but... those two are the ones who can stop it. Choose one city, and bring them to Zaruneth. If not..." the wizard's blind eyes stared at Azariel with a terrifying gaze. "Zaruneth will be destroyed."
---
[BACK TO THE PRESENT]
"That's what the wizard said," Azariel explained while still staring at the giant monster with disbelief.
"B-But... it's so huge..." Ren was still in shock seeing Zarakhesh's size.
Meanwhile, Kai observed the monster with a serious expression. In his heart, he began calculating possibilities.
Hmm, impossible. My skills aren't sufficient to 'absorb' this creature into nothingness. It's too big.
The "Void Absorption" skill that Kai usually used to make monsters disappear had size limitations. And Zarakhesh clearly exceeded those limits.
HISSSSSSSS!!!
Suddenly, Zarakhesh's spike-filled tail moved with shocking speed!
WOOOOOSHHHHH!!!
From the tip of its tail, a spray of dark green poison like a giant laser shot toward them! The poison wasn't just dangerous, but also had destructive power that could demolish buildings!
"DANGER!" Azariel shouted while taking a magic dance stance.
Ren also prepared with her Yuelin technique, but both knew their defenses wouldn't be enough to block an attack of that magnitude.
However, Kai, with casual movement, finally raised his right hand from his hoodie pocket.
BZZZZT!
A transparent light blue magic shield formed in front of them.
CRASH!
The poison laser struck the shield with tremendous force!
CRACKKKKK!!!!
Kai's magic shield began to crack! The crack lines spread rapidly!
SHATTER.
The shield broke into pieces!
Kai was momentarily surprised. Its attack power is greater than I estimated...
But in the last second...
SWOOOOOSHHHHH!!!
The poison laser suddenly bounced back toward Zarakhesh! As if there was an invisible shield that reversed the attack's direction!
BOOOOOMMMMM!!!
The poison hit Zarakhesh's left pincer, causing the giant monster to roar in pain!
ROAAAAAARRRRR!!!
Zarakhesh stepped back several paces, its left pincer slightly charred by its own poison.
Ren and Azariel stared at Kai with open mouths. "W-What just happened?!"
Kai calmly put his hand back in his pocket, as if nothing had occurred.
Phew... Good thing I have the Reflection Ring. A ring that can reflect anything dangerous—can reflect magic, physical attacks, anything harmful. An item I obtained after killing the Demon King two years ago...
On the middle finger of his right hand, a silver ring with a dark blue gemstone gleamed briefly before looking like an ordinary ring again.
Kai gazed at Zarakhesh with a more serious expression now. This monster was indeed not an opponent to be underestimated.
"Ren," Kai called in a calm but firm tone.
"Y-Yes!" Ren immediately stood straight despite still trembling slightly.
"Do you want to help?"
"O-Of course!" Ren's orange eyes blazed again, her fighting spirit rekindling. "I won't run away!"
Meanwhile, Azariel looked at Kai with a gaze full of suspicion and amazement.
Earlier... he reflected that poison...? Azariel thought while observing Kai's every movement. Isn't that... the legendary power of the Demon King from 3000 years ago...?
The Demon King who could reflect any attack with his magic ring... but they said that ring was lost along with the Demon King's death...
Then why...
Azariel shook his head. Impossible. This must be coincidence. Maybe he has a similar magic item.
But deep in his heart, suspicion began to grow. There were too many oddities about this silver-haired teenager.
THUMP... THUMP... THUMP...
Zarakhesh began moving again, this time more cautiously. Its giant red eyes stared at the three small humans on the balcony with a more serious gaze.
HISSSS...
A terrifying hissing sound came from its mouth, as if saying the game had just begun.
Kai looked at the giant monster with his cold bluish-gray eyes. For the first time in a long while, he felt enthusiasm.
"Interesting," he murmured softly while stepping forward to the edge of the balcony.
"Kai, what are you going to do?!" Ren screamed in panic.
Kai glanced briefly at Ren and Azariel, and for the first time, they saw a thin smile that was different. Not a friendly smile, but the smile of someone who had found something worthy to fight.
"Solving this problem," Kai answered while jumping from the balcony.
"KAI!!!" Ren and Azariel screamed in unison.
---
[GROUND LEVEL - BELOW PALACE BALCONY]
THUD.
Kai landed elegantly on the sandy ground, both hands still casually in his hoodie pockets. His bluish-gray eyes gazed up at Zarakhesh towering before him.
Zarakhesh lowered its massive head, red eyes the size of soccer fields staring at the small creature that dared approach.
HISSSS...
A threatening hiss came from the monster's mouth.
Kai casually snapped his right fingers.
SNAP!
WHOOSH!!!
In an instant, Kai's body vanished!
---
[PALACE BALCONY - REN AND AZARIEL'S PERSPECTIVE]
"HUH?!" Ren gaped with wide eyes. "KAI DISAPPEARED?!"
Azariel, witnessing this, fell silent with complete shock. His body stiffened, both hands gripping the balcony railing until his knuckles turned white.
"T-Teleportation...?" he muttered with a trembling voice. "Isn't that... magic that's extremely rare and... has been gone for thousands of years...?"
Azariel's blue-green eyes continued following where Kai would reappear. Teleportation is legendary magic of the highest level... Even in the palace library, it's only mentioned that such magic has been extinct for 3000 years...
"Where is he now?!" Ren stood on her tiptoes while searching.
---
[BACK TO KAI]
FLASH!
Kai reappeared on top of Zarakhesh's head, standing casually among the protruding spikes.
Zarakhesh sensed Kai's presence and shook its head violently!
WHOOSH!
Kai teleported again before falling.
FLASH!
This time he appeared on the monster's right side. His gray-blue eyes calmly observed Zarakhesh's body structure, looking for weak points.
Its size is indeed extraordinary, Kai thought while watching the giant pincers trying to catch him. But the bigger the body, the slower the movement...
SNAP!
Kai snapped his fingers again, this time with different intent.
"Shadow."
WOOOOOSHHHHH!!!!
What happened next made anyone watching unable to believe their eyes.
Kai began teleporting at incredible speed—moving from point to point in milliseconds! Each time he appeared, a shadow afterimage from his previous position lingered momentarily, creating an amazing visual effect.
FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH!
Thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions of Kai's shadows appeared throughout the area around Zarakhesh! In the air, on the ground, on buildings, beside the monster—all moving in extremely fast and complex patterns!
Zarakhesh was completely confused. Its giant red eyes spun trying to follow Kai's movements, but there were too many shadows!
---
[FLASHBACK - 2 YEARS AGO]
"O Chosen Hero!" King Zeptis extended a gleaming blue crystal orb. "Touch this crystal to receive your main magical power!"
Kai, still 16 years old, looked at the crystal doubtfully. "Main magical power?"
"Yes! Every summoned hero will receive one unique main magical ability. This crystal will determine your destiny!"
Kai placed his hand on the crystal.
BZZZZT!
Blue light blazed bright, and instantly, Kai felt new knowledge flowing into his mind.
"What magic...?" Kai muttered while looking at his own hands.
"I-Incredible!" King Zeptis clapped. "Teleportation magic! You've received a rare power!"
---
[BACK TO THE PRESENT]
When I was first summoned by King Zeptis, I was told to hold a strange crystal, and that's what gave me my main magic. And my main magic is... teleportation.
Kai stopped momentarily in the air, floating calmly while observing Zarakhesh still confused by his millions of shadows.
His right hand began glowing with intense blue fire.
FWOOOOSHHHH!!!
"Spiral Fire Dragon!"
BOOOOOOMMMMM!!!
A tremendous explosion of spiral dragon-shaped fire struck Zarakhesh from various directions simultaneously! Millions of Kai's shadows attacked with the same magic, creating a spectacular rain of fire!
The sky turned orange from the fire's intensity, and Zarakhesh roared in pain!
ROAAAAARRRRR!!!
---
[PALACE BALCONY]
Ren and Azariel stood transfixed watching the extraordinary display of power before them.
"H-He can use multiple magics too?!" Ren screamed with eyes nearly popping out. "Teleportation, fire magic, shadows... WHAT KIND OF CREATURE IS HE?!"
Azariel remained silent, his mind spinning rapidly trying to understand what he was witnessing.
Teleportation... millions of shadows... high-level fire magic... Azariel swallowed hard. This... this is like the power mentioned in the legend of the Hero from 3000 years ago...
But that's impossible... that's just a fairy tale...
---
[BACK TO THE BATTLE]
Kai descended approaching Zarakhesh, who was already burned in several parts of its body. The giant monster retreated with its charred pincers.
Now for the final attack... Kai raised his right fist, energy beginning to gather.
WHOOOOSH!
Kai prepared to attack with a teleportation-enhanced punch—a technique that would allow him to strike with maximum speed and power.
But just as he was about to launch the attack...
WOOOOOSSSSSHHHHHH!!!
The world suddenly became dark.
Not ordinary darkness. This was a total, strange darkness, as if sunlight, firelight, even the light from eyes—everything vanished in an instant.
"What...?" Kai stopped mid-air, completely confused.
---
[ZARAKHESH'S PERSPECTIVE]
On the other side, Zarakhesh also felt the same thing. The world around it became pitch black. Its giant red eyes spun in confusion.
However, there was something strange. Zarakhesh could sense a presence.
A very powerful presence. A power equal to its own.
---
[AURA CLASH]
BZZZZZTTTT...
Strange energy began flowing through the air. Like static electricity, but far more intense and terrifying.
THUMP... THUMP... THUMP...
A heartbeat-like pounding echoed in the darkness.
And then...
BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!!!!
TREMENDOUS AURA EXPLOSION!
Two great powers—Kai's aura and Zarakhesh's aura—collided in the dark void! Energy waves spun at high speed, creating a terrifying power vortex!
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
Even space and time around them began cracking from the intensity of the aura collision!
This was an extremely rare phenomenon—Aura Clash. When two entities with equal aura power meet, the world becomes isolated in darkness, and their pure powers clash without any intervention. Not because of special bonds or rituals, but because the universe itself recognizes that this meeting is too dangerous for the outside world.
WOOOOOSSSSHHHHH!!!
Strong winds spun within the darkness, carrying energy from both sides.
Kai felt tremendous pressure—as if his entire body was compressed by multiplied gravity. This was the first time since defeating the Demon King that he felt resistance this strong.
Zarakhesh also felt the same. The creature that hadn't met an equal opponent for thousands of years finally found someone who could match its power.
CRAAAACK!!!
And then... the darkness SHATTERED like glass!
FLASH!!!
Sunlight returned to illuminate the world.
No one won. Both were equally STRONG.
---
[AFTER THE AURA CLASH]
Kai slowly opened his eyes, adjusting to the returning light. He landed gently on the sandy ground while looking around.
"Zarakhesh disappeared...?" he muttered while scanning his surroundings.
The giant monster that had threatened the city was gone. Only traces of battle remained—cracked earth, burned sand, and...
"Hmm...?"
In front of Kai stood a small boy.
About 12-13 years old, with a thin but upright body. Most striking was his snow-white hair, exactly like Kai's but more disheveled. His eyes were blood-red, gazing at Kai with the same confused expression.
But strangest of all... on the boy's back was a small scorpion tail swaying gently.
Kai stared at the child with a puzzled expression. "Hmm...?"
The white-haired boy with the scorpion tail stared back at Kai with innocent red eyes.
"You're... pretty strong too..." the child said in a still-squeaky voice.
And there was one thing Kai was certain of—this child was Zarakhesh. Somehow, the giant monster had transformed into a small human after the Aura Clash.
Meanwhile, from the palace balcony, Ren and Azariel had no idea what had just happened. During the Aura Clash, Kai and Zarakhesh had suddenly disappeared. They didn't know an Aura Clash had occurred, didn't realize Kai had returned, and didn't realize that Zarakhesh had transformed into a small child.
---
Looking at this small boy who was once a giant monster, I feel a strange sense of familiarity. Not because we just fought, but something deeper. The way his red eyes hold ancient knowledge, the casual way he speaks despite his childlike appearance...
"You're pretty strong too," he said. Coming from someone who just matched my power in an Aura Clash, that's oddly reassuring. It's been so long since I've fought someone who could truly challenge me.
I wonder what happens now. Do I explain to the others that this child is the monster that was threatening their city? Do I try to send him away? Or...
Maybe, just maybe, this could be the beginning of something interesting. After all, strength recognizes strength, and in this world full of changes and mysteries, perhaps having someone who understands power wouldn't be such a bad thing.
[TO BE CONTINUED...]