The sky howled with the echoes of battle.
A violent gust swept through the charred battlefield as the Blazebane Howler crashed through the forest, its massive form ripping through countless trees, reducing them to splinters. The once-proud canopy of green now lay in ruin, scattered across the land like brittle twigs beneath the weight of a storm. Smoke rose from the crater where the Disaster had landed, its body twitching from the force of Garrick's previous strike.
But it was far from defeated.
Garrick descended like a meteor, his spear spinning in a deadly arc, aiming straight for the lynx's exposed side—but this time, the beast was ready.
BOOM!
A shimmering shield of purple essence erupted around the Blazebane, stopping the spear dead in its tracks. The impact sent out a concussive blast, flattening the nearby brush, but Garrick had already expected resistance. His eyes gleamed with anticipation as he dug his boots into the ground, preparing for retaliation.
The lynx snarled, its lips peeling back to reveal fangs that glowed with a sickly purple hue. Its tail whipped around, burning sigils flaring to life along its length.
Then, it struck.
A roaring beam of blue fire shot forth from its tail, the temperature rising to infernal levels in an instant. The sheer intensity of the blast caused the air itself to warp, superheating the battlefield. The trees behind Garrick ignited instantly, turning to blazing pillars as the inferno roared toward him.
But Garrick was already moving.
He spun his spear, the runes along its shaft igniting in brilliant purple, forming an unbreakable vortex of whirling energy. The beam collided with the spinning spear, its flames splitting apart and dispersing into harmless embers.
Garrick grinned, his voice a low murmur beneath the roaring wind.
"Predictable."
The lynx lunged with frightening speed, its claws aiming straight for his throat. But Garrick twisted mid-air, narrowly evading the attack before slamming the blunt end of his spear into the lynx's exposed ribcage.
CRACK!
The Disaster howled in pain, its body skidding backward, tearing deep trenches into the ruined earth.
Garrick didn't relent.
His spear lashed out again, this time aimed at the lynx's left eye. The beast barely managed to raise its mana shield in time, but the force of the strike still sent it reeling. The shield flickered, weakened.
"It's slowing down," Garrick noted, his mind already calculating his next move.
---
Back in front the Dome
Roy, Denwen, Jay, and Mellissa stood at the battlefield's edge, watching as the violent waves of energy from the ongoing fight rippled through the air, making their very bones tremble.
The sheer scale of the clash between Garrick and the Blazebane was beyond anything they had ever seen.
Denwen could still hear the echoes of trees collapsing miles away.
But they had no time to admire the fight.
A Rank 1 Lynx prowled toward them, its golden eyes locked onto its prey.
It barely took a single step before Roy moved.
His blade flashed once—and the lynx was cleaved in half.
Blood splattered across the cracked dirt as Roy swung the excess from his sword, his expression as cold as steel.
Mellissa stepped forward, her silver hair billowing in the rising heat. Her eyes glowed as she brought her palms together, whispering an incantation.
Then—
FWOOM!
A ring of fire erupted around them, its scorching embers rising like vengeful spirits into the night. The flames flickered hungrily, their searing heat warding off any lurking threats.
Denwen stared, awed by the sheer scale of her spell.
"That's… a high-level incantation," he muttered.
Mellissa smirked, wiping the sweat from her brow. "It should at least cause trouble for the weaker ones," she said casually, though Denwen knew better.
That spell wasn't just powerful—it was draining.
For someone at Peak Rank 1, maintaining such a large-scale burn effect required immense mana control. Either she was burning through her reserves dangerously fast, or…
Denwen's eyes narrowed.
"She must have an artifact or pill to sustain her mana."
Jay gave a whistle, slamming his mace against his palm. "Damn, I almost feel bad for these lynx."
Denwen smirked. "Then don't."
They had work to do.
While Roy and Mellissa held off the Rank 1 lynx, Denwen and Jay moved swiftly through the wreckage, dragging the injured away from danger.
A lynx leaped toward Denwen from behind—but he was ready.
His gauntlet-clad fist slammed into the beast's skull, sending it reeling. Jay followed up with a mace swing to its ribs, the heavy weapon cracking bones on impact. The beast yelped and stumbled back, its movements sluggish from the fire's heat.
They weren't just watching anymore.
They were fighting.
---
The battlefield was unrecognizable.
The once-majestic forest had been reduced to scorched ruins, nothing but ash and broken ground stretching for miles.
The Blazebane Howler was tattered and wounded. One of its eyes had been destroyed, its body covered in deep gashes that oozed dark essence. Its breaths were ragged, but its hatred burned brighter than ever.
Garrick stood tall, his clothes ripped and burned in places, but otherwise unshaken.
"This," he murmured, stepping forward, "is the price of baring your fangs at innocent people."
He rushed in—but before his finishing blow could land, a sudden burst of energy erupted from the lynx.
Its pupils disappeared.
Its entire eyes turned blood-red.
Garrick's eyes widened. "Shit."
The beast had entered Rampage Mode.
A Disaster's final, desperate act.
When pushed beyond its limits, a Disaster could ignite its own essence core, sacrificing itself for an explosive surge of power.
But there was no time to think.
The lynx's paw lashed out faster than before, catching Garrick across the chest.
BOOM!
He was sent flying, crashing through a boulder, his ribs cracking from the impact.
The lynx didn't stop. Its tail ignited, forming rings of burning blue energy as it lashed out repeatedly.
Garrick gritted his teeth, spinning his spear to deflect each strike, but the sheer heat was suffocating.
"I have to end this—NOW."
He took a deep breath, stepping back to gain distance. His hands tightened around his spear.
The runes along its length began to glow.
The weapon hummed with power, a deep, resounding pulse that shook the air itself.
The Blazebane sensed danger.
It lunged—one final, desperate attack.
Garrick's eyes snapped open.
He launched his spear.
The weapon cut through the air like a shooting star, its runes burning with an ethereal glow.
The rank 3 lynx activated its shield—
But it shattered on impact.
The spear buried itself deep into the Disaster's skull.
A heartbeat passed.
Garrick raised his palm.
"You were a worthy opponent."
He clenched his fist.
The spear exploded.
A shockwave tore through the battlefield, the Disaster's head shattering into oblivion, its massive body collapsing in utter defeat.
Silence.
Then—
A loud blast echoed through the battlefield.