The fight wasn't over.
We barely had time to breathe before the Juggernaut roared again, surging through the mist with earth-shaking steps. Its massive bulk, plated in barnacle-like armor, shimmered in the half-light—an unstoppable wall of flesh and force.
But this time, we weren't alone.
The creature that had been lurking behind me finally stirred. Its segmented legs clicked softly against the concrete. The glow in its many eyes pulsed faintly, cold and intelligent. It had bowed to me earlier—an eerie, silent gesture—but now I felt it watching again, expectantly.
I turned toward it, mist curling around its jagged, insectoid form. "Alright, you," I muttered. "Time for a name."
The creature shifted slightly, waiting.
I glanced at Smoke, still crouched and growling low at the advancing Juggernaut. "Specter," I said. "You're like a ghost in the fog. And I've got a feeling you're not going anywhere."
The name stuck. Something shimmered faintly along its shell, like it was reacting.
[Bond Formed: Specter – Initiate Form]
The Juggernaut bellowed again.
"Specter!" I barked. "Distract it!"
The creature hissed and vanished into the mist—literally.
[Skill Unlocked: Phase Skitter]Momentarily shifts out of the physical plane to reposition or evade. Can strike from hiding.
Specter blinked out of sight, then reappeared on the Juggernaut's flank, skittering up its armored side in a blur of segmented limbs. Its tail lashed once, slashing across the creature's shoulder.
The Juggernaut thrashed, swinging its massive head to dislodge the attacker—but Specter was already gone, flickering through the fog again.
"Smoke! Move!"
Smoke darted in from the side, his crimson eyes narrowing.
[Skill Activated: Shadow Coil]Condenses smoke around the body to increase speed and physical resilience for a short time.
His form blurred, the shadows wrapping tightly around his legs and shoulders. He weaved through the Juggernaut's stomps, drawing closer.
Specter's tail wrapped around one of the Juggernaut's back legs, the barbs along it glowing faintly.
[Skill Unlocked: Neurothread Sting]Injects a disorienting venom that scrambles target reflexes. Deals minor damage over time.
The massive beast faltered, one foot dragging unexpectedly.
I charged.
My grip tightened on the spear as I called out: "Pierce!"
[Skill Activated: Spear Art – Piercing Lunge]A precision thrust aimed to exploit weak points in armor. Deals bonus damage to vulnerable zones.
The tip struck a seam in its plating and slid deep into the flesh beneath. The Juggernaut howled in fury, stumbling backward.
Specter struck again, mandibles flashing as its tail whipped around, slicing across the beast's snout.
Smoke darted in behind it, shadows twisting around his jaws.
[Skill Activated: Smoke Fang]A shadow-empowered bite that latches and siphons strength. Deals medium damage and drains energy.
His fangs sank into a tendon just above the ankle, drawing a pulse of dark energy from the creature's leg. The Juggernaut bellowed, buckled, and swayed.
"We've got it now!" I shouted.
The beast roared and surged forward in one last, desperate charge.
Specter blinked beneath it.
[Phase Skitter – Recast]
Smoke leapt.
[Skill Chain: Shadow Coil → Smoke Fang]
He struck the Juggernaut's face dead-on, slamming into its eye ridge and knocking the beast's balance off again.
I dashed forward, my spear raised for one last hit.
[Spear Art – Piercing Lunge: Critical!]Critical hit. Damage significantly increased.
The tip punched through the Juggernaut's chest. With a final, gurgling bellow, the beast collapsed.
Silence.
Smoke staggered back, breathing hard. Specter stood at my side again, its form barely visible against the shifting fog. We'd done it.
[You have slain: Altered Juggernaut – Lv. 12][EXP Gained: 250][Level Up! Rai: Lv. 3 → Lv. 4][Level Up! Smoke: Lv. 4 → Lv. 5][Level Up! Specter: Lv. 4 → Lv. 5]
I sank to one knee, sweat pouring down my face. I could feel the rush of energy—my body buzzing as the level-up notifications flooded my senses. New skills unlocked. Stat increases. A hint of strength beyond what I'd known moments ago.
[Skill Unlocked: Beast Tamer – Synchronize]Temporarily bond more deeply with a beast, enhancing all abilities.
"Good job," I said hoarsely. "All of you."
No response—just the wind and the faint creak of a ruined support beam above.
I stood and took one last look at the battlefield. Just another broken ruin in a world that had forgotten mercy. But this one—we had conquered.
I exhaled slowly. "We're heading to one of the cities," I said aloud. "One of the six."
Smoke gave a tired nod. Specter simply turned to the mist, waiting.
We left the wreckage behind, stepping out into the abandoned streets. Fog pressed in from all sides, heavy and quiet. Specter's form flickered near the edge of vision—a blur, a shimmer, a threat to anything that dared follow.
Far ahead, faint lights danced in the fog.
City perimeter.
I knew better than to hope we'd just walk in. No one got through the gates without proving themselves. Trials. Challenges. Maybe worse.
But we had no choice.
"Let's move," I said.
[Beast Tamer – Synchronize Activated: +20% Strength, +15% Agility for 30 seconds]
We vanished into the fog—hunter, shadow, and phantom—heading toward whatever test the world had waiting next.