The air grew heavier, the battlefield shifting with an oppressive weight that sent a chill down my spine.
Then, it emerged.
A massive figure stepped through the swirling black rift, each footfall shaking the ground. It towered over the other creatures—a living calamity. Its hunched frame unfurled, revealing a monstrous fusion of gorilla and rhinoceros, its jagged horns scraping against the air, its stone-like hide cracked with glowing red fissures pulsing like molten veins.
The Awakened around me staggered, their faces pale with exhaustion and dread. The fight had already pushed them to their limits, and now, faced with something far beyond their strength, despair settled over them like a suffocating fog.
A few fell to their knees. Others simply froze, their weapons trembling in their hands.
The last Fallen lunged at me, a desperate attempt to claw me down. I turned—a clean, decisive stroke split it in half.
[You have slain Fallen beast, Horned drone]
[Your soul grows stronger]
[You have recieved an echo]
[Your echo has been destroyed]
Silence.
I turned to face the Awakened, stepping forward, my voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
"Do not worry. As long as I stand here, this thing cannot harm anyone."
The words struck something deep within them. Their gazes lifted, a flicker of renewed strength burning in their weary eyes.
"Go." I commanded. "Regroup, tend to the civilians. Leave this to me."
Some hesitated, but as I stepped forward, placing myself between them and the monster, they understood. They turned, retreating toward safety.
The monster watched, its glowing eyes locked onto me.
Then, with a guttural roar, it charged.
The ground shattered beneath its massive weight as it lunged, one colossal arm swinging downward like a falling meteor. I dodged—barely—the impact sending a shockwave through the street, cracks spiderwebbing outward.
It was fast. Too fast for something that large.
I countered, slashing at its exposed side. My blade met its armored hide—and barely cut through. Sparks flew as my strike left only a shallow gash.
The Nighmare creature barely flinched.
With a snarl, it swung again. I raised my weapon to block—too late. A massive fist crashed into my side, launching me across the street. I twisted midair, slamming into a broken PTV, the impact rattling my bones.
Pain flared, but I pushed it down. I had no time for hesitation.
It was already upon me.
I rolled aside as its clawed hand obliterated the wreckage I had landed on. Shards of twisted metal rained around me. I sprang forward, my blade flashing, targeting the fissures along its limbs.
A clean hit—this time, my weapon sank deeper, the molten glow bursting under my strike.
The beast roared, staggering for the first time.
So that's the weakness.
I exhaled sharply. Then I'll carve this thing apart.
The battle raged on.
I danced between its devastating blows, each one powerful enough to turn a normal Awakened into paste. I struck, again and again, whittling it down, chipping away at the armor, forcing it to slow.
But it wasn't enough.
It reared back, its glowing fissures pulsating violently. I recognized the shift too late—
It was about to release something.
I couldn't let that happen.
Gritting my teeth, I summoned everything I had left. The weight of my experiences, my failures, my triumphs—all of it converged into a single, unyielding moment.
I charged.
The Nightmare creature lunged.
A blinding arc of light surged from my blade as I struck down with Shi Huang Yan Cut.
The impact split the air apart.
The monster let out a deafening, final roar—then its body cleaved in half.
[Your memory is destroyed.]
[You have slaind Corrupted Devil, Shatterhorn.]
[Your soul grows stronger.]
[You have recieved a memory.]
Memory Name: Fissure Fang
Rank: Transcendent
Type: Weapon
Description: From the depths of ruin it rose, unyielding and wrathful—its strength carved into steel, its fury echoing through the blade.
Name: Christopher
True Name: King of Men
Rank: Ascended
Soul Core: Terror
Soul Fragments: [1894/6000]
Memories: [Veil of the Sovereign's Sight],[Casket of Forgotten Threads],[Death trap],[Almighty Spaulders],[Endless Spring],[Fissure Fang]
Echoes: -
Attributes: [Mind-Body mastery], [Enhanced senses], [Master of the Chi-You], [Burning Anger]
Aspect: [Sovereign's Edict]
Aspect rank: Divine
Innate ability: [Sovereign's Tribute]
Aspect ability: [Heavenly Gaze],[Undying Conviction],[Imperial Stature]
Flaw: [Mirror Touch Synesthesia]
It was a sword made from stone and the hangle is wrapped in black leather.
Silence fell over the battlefield.
I stood there, my breath ragged, my muscles aching, few bones broken, blood trickled down on my arms. It was over.
I reached up, summoning my blindfold once more, concealing my eyes. But it was too late—a wave of pain and anguish already hit me.
A few pictures and videos had already been taken.
Images of me standing alone against the nightmare creatures, my weapon gleaming, my strikingly beautiful, star-like eyes burning like twin galaxies—they spread fast.
I let out a breath, glancing toward the distant streets where the first government forces had begun to arrive.