The three men raised their rifles and took aim at Cain. Without hesitation, they pulled the triggers, the sharp crack of gunfire echoing through the air as bullets zipped toward their target.
Cain didn't flinch.
A smirk curled on his lips as he stood his ground, completely unbothered. Then, in a sudden blur of motion, he dashed forward, weaving through the oncoming hail of bullets with inhuman speed and agility. The gunmen barely had time to react before he was already among them.
Cain skidded to a halt at the center of their formation. "Fire Pillar!" he shouted.
Flames erupted from the ground beneath the soldiers, a column of intense heat and fire engulfing them in an instant. Their screams were swallowed by the roar of the blaze. The three riflemen collapsed, charred and unconscious, their weapons clattering to the ground beside them.
Standing a few meters away, Gian and Patrick had managed to evade the blast. They stared in horror at their fallen comrades, then turned their gaze back to Cain, who now stood wreathed in smoke and heat like a demon born of flame.
The two exchanged a glance.
No words were needed.
They both nodded.
Patrick stepped forward, his hammer resting on his shoulder, while Gian dropped his sword to the ground. In a blink, their bodies began to change.
Patrick's body bulked up, muscle and bone stretching unnaturally. Thick black fur erupted from his skin, and curved horns jutted out from his forehead. His eyes burned red as his face morphed into a bull's snout. A monstrous minotaur now stood where Patrick had been.
Gian's form twisted grotesquely. His limbs grew longer and thinner, covered in a green exoskeleton. His hands split and formed razor-sharp raptorial claws. His eyes became solid crimson orbs, his mouth mandibles clicking with anticipation. He became a humanoid praying mantis—faster, sharper, and more lethal than before.
Both radiated a dark, pulsing aura.
Cain's smirk faded slightly. "Tch. Here we go."
Patrick let out a furious snort and charged. The ground trembled under his hooves. Cain tried to sidestep, but Patrick's hammer came down fast—too fast. It slammed into Cain's side, the impact launching him through the air like a ragdoll.
Cain crashed into a boulder, cracking it in half. He gasped, pain lancing through his ribs as he rolled onto the ground. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.
Before he could rise, Gian was on him.
The mantis-beast lunged, claws slashing in a deadly flurry. Cain twisted and ducked, avoiding some of the strikes—but not all. The claws raked across his chest and shoulder, drawing blood and shredding his coat.
"This damn insect…" Cain growled. He pushed off the ground, his arm flaring with intense heat. "Fire Blast!"
A narrow beam of concentrated fire shot from his palm, catching Gian mid-lunge. The mantis was flung backward, smoke trailing from his chest as he crashed into the trees.
Cain staggered to his feet, coughing. His wounds stung, but he was still standing—thanks to the monster core he had devoured earlier. It hadn't fully restored him, but it gave him enough to keep fighting.
Across the battlefield, Cassian sprinted. He'd seen the moment Gian dropped his sword—and now, he reached it. The blade still pulsed faintly with energy. Cassian gripped the hilt tightly.
He turned just in time to see Gian's come flying past, blasted by Cain's fire.
"Shit," Cassian muttered. "Cain's attacks are getting stronger."
He turned to Gian, who was struggling to stand. For a moment, the mantis-beast remained hunched and shaking—then suddenly, his head snapped around.
His glowing red eyes locked onto Cassian.
"RAAAAAARGH! I'LL KILL YOU BOTH!" Gian roared, his mandibles clattering with rage.
He bolted forward, claws raised. Cassian had only seconds to react.
Steel met chitin as Cassian blocked the strike with Gian's own sword. Sparks flew as the two forces collided. Cassian grunted, struggling under the weight of Gian's frenzied assault.
"Back off, you damn insect!" Cassian growled, parrying another slash. "You picked the wrong side."
But Gian didn't listen. He was beyond reason.
He unleashed another onslaught of slashes, his claws moving so fast they blurred. Cassian ducked, weaved, and countered when he could, but the sheer ferocity of the attack kept him on the defensive.
From the corner of his eye, Cassian spotted Cain circling around, his body crackling with fire again.
"Cassian! Drop when I say!" Cain shouted.
Cassian nodded slightly, keeping his eyes on Gian.
"Now!"
Cassian dropped to the ground instantly.
"Blazing Lance!" Cain roared.
A spear of fire tore through the air, aimed directly at Gian.
The mantis-beast twisted, but not fast enough. The lance struck him in the back, sending him flying, his shriek echoing through the clearing as he slammed into a nearby cliff wall.
Cassian scrambled to his feet, panting. "Thanks."
"Don't thank me yet," Cain muttered, wincing from his wounds. "The Minotaur is coming."
Patrick bellowed and charged again, his massive hammer leaving cracks in the ground with every step. Cassian and Cain both split apart to avoid being flattened.
Cassian rolled to the right, then came up behind Patrick and slashed at his back. The sword dug in, but only shallowly—Patrick's hide was like armor.
Cain attacked from the front, unleashing a wave of fire. Patrick crossed his arms to shield himself, roaring as the flames scorched his fur.
But the minotaur didn't stop.
He burst through the fire, hammer raised high, and brought it down toward Cain.
Cain barely dodged, the hammer smashing into the ground and sending dirt flying.
Cassian sprinted forward, leapt off a boulder, and brought his blade down across Patrick's shoulder. The minotaur howled in pain, stumbling.
Cain didn't waste the opportunity.
"Inferno Burst!"
A circle of flames exploded outward from Cain, engulfing Patrick completely.
The fire consumed the beast's form, and when the smoke cleared, the minotaur collapsed to his knees, then hit the ground with a loud thud, unconscious.
Gian, barely conscious, clawed at the ground, trying to rise—but Cain walked over and slammed a fiery boot into his back, pinning him down.
"You should've stayed down," Cain said coldly.
Cassian stood beside him, blade still ready. "Let's finish this."
Cain's eyes flared with fire. "Gladly."
Suddenly, Gian removes Cains feet, and burst a surprise attack, With a guttural snarl, Gian drove one of his raptorial claws straight into Cain's neck.
Blood spurted from the wound as Cain's eyes widened in shock. Gian let out a furious roar, lifting Cain's body into the air with brutal force. Then, with a poweful crash, he slammed Cain into the ground.
The impact shattered the earth beneath them, sending dust and debris flying.
Cain didn't move.
His body lay twisted in a shallow crater, blood pooling beneath him.
Cassian's eyes went wide. "Cain!"
Gian slowly turned to face him, his crimson insect eyes glowing with savage triumph. He crouched low, ready to pounce.
"You fucking bastard!" Cassian shouted, rage surging through his veins.
He charged.
Steel met claw as Cassian swung his sword with all his strength, aiming for Gian's head. Gian blocked the attack with one claw, the metal sparking off his chitinous arm. With his other claw, he struck low—ripping across Cassian's stomach.
Cassian gasped, staggering as blood dripped from the wound.
Before he could recover, Gian plunged his second claw into Cassian's left shoulder, then lifted him high into the air and hurled him across the clearing. Cassian crashed into a broken tree trunk, splinters stabbing into his back.
He groaned, struggling to rise. His vision blurred, blood dripping from his mouth.
Then Cassian activated his trump card.
[Skill Activated: Indomitable Spirit]
No matter how many times you get hurt, your HP will not fall below 1 for the next 60 seconds.
A faint blue glow surged across his body. Eyes glowing blue, His wounds still bled, but a strange strength welled up from within him.
Cassian gritted his teeth. "One minute… That's all I need."
He charged again.
The two collided like beasts.
Cassian's blade flashed, slicing across Gian's arm, green blood splattering across the dirt. Gian retaliated instantly, jabbing forward with a vicious thrust. Cassian twisted aside, narrowly avoiding a killing blow, and slashed at Gian's leg.
They fought like wild animals—slashing, stabbing, blocking, dodging.
Cassian's sword sliced through one of Gian's claws, severing the tip. Gian roared and lunged forward, biting into Cassian's shoulder with his mandibles. Cassian screamed and drove his blade up into Gian's abdomen.
For a moment, the two stood locked together—bloodied and breathless—then separated with a burst of power, each skidding backward.
Cassian coughed, his arms trembling. Gian's breathing was ragged, his body leaking green ichor from multiple wounds.
Still, neither fell.
Cassian charged again with a furious yell, spinning and striking with a wide arc. Gian ducked, responding with a powerful swipe that sent Cassian stumbling back. But Cassian didn't stop—he pressed the attack, driving the blade forward again and again, fueled by fury, pain, and desperation.
Gian howled, slamming both claws down to try to crush him, but Cassian leapt aside and spun behind him, driving his blade into Gian's back.
The mantis-beast shrieked.
But time was running out.
Cassian felt his limbs beginning to shake, the glow from his eyes and body, skill starting to fade. His vision dimmed. His strength was draining fast.
Gian turned, slower now, his red eyes flickering. He raised a claw for one final strike.
Cassian screamed and charged, sword raised high.
The two clashed once more, blades and claws sparking under the blood-red sky.
It's already evening, and the battle hasn't been finished yet.
And only one would be left standing.