Bang!
A sharp crack echoed through the cavern like a gunshot.
In the next instant, Miyoshi appeared in front of the first crab, his fist driving upward from below.
Bang!
Another explosive sound rang out—this time from the impact of his punch slamming into the crab's thorax.
His strike landed hard, smashing against the armored shell protecting its body.
Crack!
A fracture spidered across the crab's shell where his fist connected, and the massive creature was lifted into the air.
"Ghh—!"
Gritting his teeth to suppress the shout threatening to escape his throat. He twisted his body and drove his other fist forward with all his might—not at the reinforced thorax this time, but instead at the softer underbelly.
The blow detonated on impact, blasting the creature upward and sending it hurtling toward the cavern ceiling.
The other crab, realizing what had just happened, lashed out with its pincer—but it was too late. Miyoshi had already vanished.
No pause, no hesitation.
He leapt after the first crab's airborne form, his fingers curling into a fist mid-flight.
"Aghh!"
He unleashed it.
The punch struck with brutal force, smashing into the same spot as before, driving the crab higher and rattling its massive frame.
Gleuch!
Bang!
The sound of flesh tearing echoed, almost drowned out by the explosive impact.
His fist struck true, sending the crab crashing toward the ceiling. The force of the blow propelled Miyoshi downward as well, his own body following through, coated in the creature's blood.
He twisted midair, executing a perfect flip, and landed with a thunderous thud. The ground shuddered beneath him, dust and debris scattering from the impact.
I can't waste any more time. I need to finish this. Now!
Immediately after the thought crossed his mind, he ducked.. A pincer flying past where his head was at earlier.
His fist drove forward, targeting the joint on the massive claw.
Crack!
The joint cracked, the armoured limb falling limply to the side. The crab was fully exposed now.
got you where I wanted. Miyoshi muttered, diving straight at the creature. His fist aimed unerringly at its thorax.
Bang!
The punch landed with a resounding impact.
Another followed—cracking the armor, sending shards flying.
Miyoshi didn't stop there. Instead he threw another punch. And another. Each blow struck the same vulnerable point with unrelenting force, hammering the crab without mercy.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
The blows kept coming, each strike landing on the same fractured spot.
Cracks spread across the crab's armor like a spiderweb. The once solid shell began to cave inward under the relentless barrage.
Miyoshi's fists blurred as he continued hammering the same point, refusing to give the creature a moment to recover.
"Break already!" he growled through clenched teeth.
Bang!
This time the shell finally gave way.
Crack—!
The thorax shattered inward, fragments of armor bursting apart as his fist drove deep into the opening.
The crab released a shrill, distorted screech.
Miyoshi didn't stop.
Twisting his hips, he drove one final punch forward with everything he had left.
BAANG!
The force erupted through the creature's body.
The crab's massive frame jerked violently before collapsing, its limbs twitching as it crashed onto the cavern floor with a thunderous thud.
[Absolute Creature Crab soldier Slained]
[No Beast Memory Gained]
[Consume to Gain Ascension Point]
For a moment, the cavern fell silent. the only sound being the system chime announcing the death of the crab in Miyoshi's mind.
One more to go. Miyoshi murmured as he slowly turned his head toward the last crab, the jade markings glowing faintly across his skin.
"Alright," he muttered.
"Your turn."
The remaining crab froze for a brief moment.
Its red eyes glowed fiercely as it watched the shattered corpse of its companion collapse onto the cavern floor. The creature let out a sharp, furious screech that echoed through the passage.
Miyoshi rolled his shoulders slowly, his breathing steady despite the blood running down his chin.
"Come on then," he muttered.
The crab answered immediately. almost as if recognizing the faint mockery beneath the human's tone.
Its massive body lunged forward, pincers slicing through the air with violent speed.
Miyoshi stepped forward instead of retreating.
The first pincer slammed down—
—but Miyoshi slipped to the side at the last instant. The claw smashed into the stone floor, cracking the rock.
Before the crab could pull it back, Miyoshi drove his fist down onto the joint.
Bang!
The impact sent a shock through the limb, forcing the pincer downward.
The crab screeched and swung its other claw in a wide arc.
Miyoshi ducked beneath it.
Dust and wind blasted past his head as the claw cut through the air.
He stepped inside the creature's guard.
Too close.
Far too close.
Miyoshi twisted his body and drove his fist straight into the crab's underbelly.
Bang!
The blow lifted the enormous creature slightly off the ground.
The crab thrashed violently, trying to regain control, but Miyoshi was already moving.
Another punch.
Bang!
Then another.
Bang!
The shell began to crack.
Green tattoos across Miyoshi's body glowed brighter as he drew in a deep breath.
"One more."
He planted his feet firmly into the ground and pulled his fist back.
For a brief moment the cavern fell completely still.
Then he launched the final strike.
BAAANG!
The punch exploded into the crab's abdomen.
The armor shattered inward as the force tore through the creature's body. A violent shockwave burst outward as the crab was hurled backward across the cavern.
Its massive body smashed into the stone wall.
BOOM!
The wall cracked.
The crab slid slowly down the rock face before collapsing onto the ground with a heavy thud.
Its legs twitched once.
Then went still.
Silence returned to the cavern.
Miyoshi stood there for a moment, his fists still raised.
The glow on his tattoos slowly dimmed as the second notification chime came in
[Absolute Creature Crab soldier Slained]
[No Beast Memory Gained]
[Consume to Gain Ascension Point]
Finally he exhaled and wiped the blood from his chin with the back of his hand.
"…Done."
Behind him, inside the cave entrance, Ren remained frozen.
He had watched everything.
And the only thought running through his mind was—
What kind of monster is this guy?
-----
Meanwhile.
As the jade glow of the tattoos faded, exhaustion crashed down on Miyoshi like a heavy wave.
His shoulders sank slightly as the strength that had filled his body moments ago drained away. The dark green markings across his skin dimmed until they were nothing more than faint lines.
Miyoshi exhaled slowly.
"…That took more out of me than I thought."
The cavern had gone quiet again.
Broken shells and scattered limbs of the crabs littered the stone floor, the smell of blood thick in the air.
For a few seconds, nothing moved.
Then—
A faint sound of footsteps echoed from the cave entrance.
Miyoshi's gaze shifted faintly as the thought surfaced.
When did he wake up?
The noise must have done it.
A faint sigh escaped him. I must've gotten too caught up in the fight to notice.
The regal, oppressive aura surrounding him gradually faded. The brutal presence of a warrior receded as he deactivated his class ability, leaving behind nothing more than the appearance of a normal human.
And then. Ren stepped out cautiously from the cave, his gaze moving between the massive corpses of the crabs and the lone figure standing in the middle of the passage.
Even up close, it was hard to believe what he had just witnessed.
Three Absolute Beasts.
And Miyoshi had destroyed them alone.
Ren swallowed.
"…You're insane."
Miyoshi glanced at him, raising an eyebrow.
"That's the first thing you say after watching all that?"
Ren scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"I mean… I'm still trying to figure out if what I just saw was real."
Miyoshi let out a small tired chuckle before turning his gaze back toward the fallen crabs.
"Trust me," he said.
"I wish it wasn't."
For a moment, the two of them simply stood there in the quiet cavern, surrounded by the aftermath of the battle.
But somewhere deep within the tunnels…
Something else was stirring.