Damon quickly helped Martins to his feet, supporting his injured friend with one arm.
"We have to get you to the hospital," Damon said urgently.
Martins shook his head weakly.
"Don't worry about me... You're hurt too."
Damon smiled despite the blood running down his face.
"It doesn't matter."
"I'll make sure you're safe first."
The two had barely taken a few steps when a furious voice echoed behind them.
"Stop!"
Damon froze.
Behind him, Brock slowly climbed to his feet. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his eyes burned with rage.
"You think..."
"...that a mere cut is enough to defeat me?"
He wiped the blood from his lips before glaring at Damon.
"I am Brock!"
"The leader of this gang!"
"No one defeats me!"
"ARGHHHHH!"
A violent surge of Spirit Energy erupted from Brock's body.
Powerful gusts of wind exploded in every direction, forcing everyone nearby to shield their faces.
The pressure alone was enough to make several villagers stumble backward.
Damon's expression grew serious.
"This pressure..."
"It's much stronger than before."
Brock slowly raised one hand toward the sky.
"I call upon the earth..."
"...Bring forth the being that shall fight in my stead!"
"Earth Magic... Rock Golem!"
RUMBLE!
The ground shook violently.
Cracks spread across the street as massive rocks burst from beneath the earth.
One after another, the boulders floated into the air before assembling themselves together.
Arms.
Legs.
Torso.
Head.
Within seconds...
A gigantic creature made entirely of stone stood before everyone.
Its enormous body towered over the surrounding buildings, casting a dark shadow across the street.
Its glowing yellow eyes slowly opened.
The crowd gasped.
"A monster..."
"It's a Rock Golem!"
"Run!"
Panic spread throughout the village as people fled in every direction.
Even Damon couldn't hide the shock on his face.
"So... this is real magic."
His grip tightened around the dagger.
But there was no time to admire it.
He immediately turned toward Martins.
"We have to leave!"
"Come on!"
Martins didn't move.
His eyes remained fixed on the enormous monster.
His entire body trembled uncontrollably.
"Martins..."
Damon grabbed his shoulders.
"Snap out of it!"
"We have to run!"
There was no response.
"Martins!"
Still nothing.
Brock threw his head back and laughed.
"Hahaha!"
"That's right!"
"Be afraid!"
"That's exactly how you should look before you die!"
He pointed toward Damon.
"Golem!"
"Crush them!"
The massive creature let out a deep roar before leaping high into the air.
WHOOSH!
Its gigantic shadow swallowed both Damon and Martins.
"It's coming!"
At the last possible second, Damon shoved Martins away with all his strength before throwing himself in the opposite direction.
BOOM!!
The Rock Golem crashed into the ground, sending chunks of stone flying in every direction.
The impact shook the entire street.
Dust filled the air.
Damon quickly stood up despite the pain throughout his body.
"Martins!"
"Run!"
"Get out of here!"
Martins struggled to stand.
His legs refused to obey him.
Before he could move—
A massive shadow loomed over him.
Slowly...
He looked up.
The Rock Golem stared down at him with its glowing eyes.
Martins' face turned pale.
"N-No..."
"Stay away..."
"P-Please..."
"Someone..."
"Help me!"
His legs shook violently.
No matter how desperately he wanted to run...
Fear had completely paralyzed him.
The Rock Golem slowly raised its enormous fist.
Its shadow covered Martins completely.
The crowd could only watch in horror.
"No..."
"He's going to die!"
Just as the fist came crashing down—
SWISH!
CLANG!
A silver blade flashed through the air.
Damon drove his dagger deep into the Rock Golem's leg.
"Don't you dare touch him!"
"Fight me instead!"
The attack caused almost no damage.
The dagger barely pierced the stone.
However...
It achieved exactly what Damon wanted.
The monster turned its attention away from Martins.
Its glowing eyes locked onto Damon instead.
Without hesitation—
It swung its gigantic fist.
BAAAM!!
Damon barely managed to leap backward.
Although the punch missed, the shockwave alone blasted him across the ground.
He rolled several times before finally stopping.
His entire body screamed in pain.
Even so...
He forced himself back onto his feet.
"Martins!"
"RUN!"
This time...
Martins finally heard him.
He looked toward Damon.
His friend stood alone before a monster far stronger than either of them.
Bruised.
Bleeding.
Exhausted.
Yet...
There wasn't the slightest hint of fear in his eyes.
Martins couldn't understand it.
"Why...?"
"Why is he risking his life for me?"
"He's weaker than I am..."
"He should have run..."
"So why is he still fighting?"
Tears streamed down Martins' face.
For the first time...
He realized how powerless he truly was.
"I'm..."
"I'm sorry, Damon."
With trembling legs, he finally turned and began to run.
He never once looked back.
No! Don't let him get away!" Brock roared.
"Golem! Chase him!"
RUMBLE!
The Rock Golem immediately shifted its attention toward Martins and thundered after him.
"You're not going anywhere!"
WHOOSH!
Damon sprinted forward, leaping high into the air before landing on the giant's back.
CLANG!
He drove his dagger into the creature's rocky body.
The Golem didn't even flinch.
It continued chasing Martins as if Damon wasn't there.
"Tch..."
"So that's not enough?"
Damon gritted his teeth.
"If that's the case..."
"Take this!"
KLANG!
He yanked the dagger free and plunged it directly into the Golem's glowing eye.
"RRAAAHHH!!"
The giant let out a deafening roar of pain and staggered to a halt.
THUD! THUD! BAAM!
Driven into a frenzy, the Rock Golem began smashing everything around it. Buildings crumbled beneath its fists, while the ground cracked with every blow.
Damon desperately clung to its back, struggling to maintain his balance.
Eventually—
WHOOSH!
He was thrown violently to the ground.
Before he could recover, the enraged monster turned toward him.
BAAM!
Its enormous fist crashed down.
Damon rolled aside just in time.
BAAM!
Another punch followed.
Again, he barely escaped.
The Golem continued its relentless assault, smashing the ground over and over.
BAAM!
BAAM!
BAAM!
Dust and debris filled the air.
Despite his injuries, Damon continued dodging.
He quickly realized something.
"It's powerful..."
"But it's slow."
As long as he kept moving...
He could avoid its attacks.
Damon began circling around the monster, narrowly evading each devastating blow.
However...
The battlefield had already been reduced to rubble.
Broken stones littered the ground.
THUD!
His foot caught on a loose rock.
He lost his balance.
"No...!"
Before he could recover—
The Rock Golem seized him in its massive hand.
CRACK!
Its crushing grip tightened around his body.
"AARGHHH!!"
Pain shot through every bone in his body.
Brock burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
"That's it!"
"Keep going, Golem!"
"Smash him into the ground!"
SLAM!
The monster slammed Damon into the earth.
The impact sent shockwaves through the street.
Blood spilled from the corner of Damon's mouth.
"Again!"
Brock shouted excitedly.
SLAM!
The Golem obeyed without hesitation.
The crowd watched in horror.
"Please..."
"Stop this..."
"He's just a child..."
Several villagers begged Brock to stop.
He merely sneered.
"If you want me to stop..."
"...then come and make me."
Silence followed.
No one dared step forward.
Everyone knew they were no match for Brock.
SLAM!
Once more, Damon was driven into the ground.
His vision blurred.
Blood trickled from his forehead.
His body finally went limp.
He had lost consciousness.
Brock's smile widened.
"Puhahaha!"
"Golem..."
"Finish him!"
The Rock Golem pinned Damon to the ground with one hand.
Slowly...
It raised its other enormous fist high into the air.
The entire village watched helplessly as the giant prepared its final blow.
Just then—
"Light Magic... Ray of Light."
A calm voice echoed across the battlefield.
PEW!!
BOOM!!
A brilliant beam of light shot across the street with blinding speed, instantly piercing the Rock Golem's raised arm.
The gigantic limb exploded into countless fragments of stone.
The crowd gasped.
"What just happened?!"
"Who attacked the Golem?"
Even Brock's confident expression vanished.
His eyes darted around furiously.
"Who dares interfere with my business?!"
No one answered.
A moment later—
"Light Magic... Ray of Light."
PEW!!
BOOM!!
A second beam streaked across the battlefield, blasting apart the Golem's remaining arm and freeing Damon from its grasp.
Before the giant could recover—
"Light Magic... Ray of Light."
PEW!!
KA-BOOM!!
The third beam struck the center of the Rock Golem's body.
Cracks spread rapidly across its rocky frame.
BOOM!!
The enormous monster exploded into countless pieces, scattering stone across the battlefield.
Silence fell over the village.
The crowd stared in disbelief.
Standing at the end of the street was a young woman about Damon's age.
She possessed a slender yet athletic figure, with long, dark brown hair cascading down her back and sharp brown eyes filled with determination. A gentle breeze caused her clothes and hair to sway as she walked calmly toward the fallen Damon, her expression cold and unwavering.
Chapter 2 – The Rock Golem (Part 3)
Just as the Rock Golem's massive fist was about to come crashing down—
A calm voice echoed through the battlefield.
"Light Magic... Ray of Light."
A brilliant golden light erupted from behind the crowd.
PEW!
BOOM!
A beam of concentrated light shot across the street at incredible speed and struck the Rock Golem's raised arm.
The explosion echoed throughout the village.
Stone fragments flew in every direction as the monster's arm was completely blown apart.
The Rock Golem staggered backward with a deafening roar.
Everyone stood frozen.
"W-What just happened?"
"Who cast that spell?"
Even Brock's confident expression disappeared.
He quickly looked around, searching for the mysterious mage.
The crowd slowly parted.
A young girl stepped forward.
She looked no older than Damon.
Her long dark-brown hair flowed gently behind her as the wind brushed past her. Her sharp brown eyes were fixed on Brock, burning with anger. Although her expression remained calm, the powerful Spirit Energy surrounding her was enough to silence the entire street.
No one dared to speak.
Brock frowned.
"Who do you think you are..."
"...to interfere in my business?"
The girl didn't even acknowledge him.
Instead, she calmly raised her right hand once more.
"Light Magic... Ray of Light."
PEW!
Another beam of golden light pierced through the air.
BOOM!
The Rock Golem's remaining arm exploded into countless pieces.
Its grip loosened instantly.
Damon's unconscious body fell toward the ground.
The girl disappeared in a flash.
Before anyone realized what had happened—
She had already caught Damon safely in her arms.
The crowd gasped.
"So fast..."
"Did she just move that quickly?"
Without wasting another second, she pointed toward the Rock Golem one final time.
"Light Magic... Ray of Light."
PEW!
The beam struck directly through the center of the monster's chest.
For a brief moment...
Nothing happened.
Then—
KRAAAK!
Cracks spread throughout the Rock Golem's enormous body.
BOOOOM!!
The monster shattered into thousands of pieces, its remains collapsing across the battlefield.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
The villagers stared in disbelief.
The terrifying monster that had nearly killed Damon...
Had been destroyed by three spells.
The mysterious girl gently adjusted Damon in her arms before turning to leave.
Only then did someone in the crowd recognize her.
"Wait..."
"Isn't that Julia?"
Another villager looked carefully before nodding.
"It is!"
"The Village Chief's daughter!"
"I can't believe she came to save Damon."
As whispers spread through the crowd, Brock's face twisted with rage.
His fists trembled.
"You think..."
"...I'm just going to let you leave?"
"I don't care if you're the Village Chief's daughter!"
"I'll make you regret humiliating me!"
He slammed both hands onto the ground.
"Earth Magic... Rock Armor!"
RUMBLE!
Large chunks of stone rose from the earth and wrapped themselves around Brock's body.
Within seconds, a heavy suit of rocky armor completely covered him.
His Spirit Energy surged once more.
With an angry roar, Brock charged toward Julia.
"This time..."
"I've got you!"
Julia didn't even bother looking back.
She continued walking as if Brock didn't exist.
When he was only a few meters away...
She spoke softly.
"Thou lights that shine in the heavens..."
"...descend and erase the darkness."
"Light Magic... Falling Light."
The sky suddenly lit up.
A massive pillar of golden light descended from above.
KAAAA-BOOOOM!!
The ground exploded.
A blinding flash swallowed Brock completely.
The impact sent a powerful shockwave throughout the village.
Dust rose high into the sky.
When it finally settled...
A massive crater had formed where Brock once stood.
The crowd could only stare.
"...Is he dead?"
"No..."
"I think I see him."
Brock lay at the bottom of the crater, unconscious and barely breathing.
One of the villagers sighed with relief.
"Maybe now..."
"He'll finally stop bullying everyone."
Julia never looked back.
Carrying Damon in her arms, she quietly walked toward the village hospital.
---
News of the incident spread throughout the village within minutes.
When Anita heard that Damon had been seriously injured, she dropped everything and rushed to the hospital.
She burst into the room where Damon had been admitted.
A doctor was carefully examining him.
Without hesitation, Anita hurried to her son's bedside.
"Doctor..."
"How is my son?"
The doctor offered a reassuring smile.
"He suffered several broken bones and lost consciousness from the severe blows."
"But don't worry."
"He'll recover."
The words brought little comfort.
Seeing Damon covered in bandages broke Anita's heart.
She couldn't stop the tears from falling.
Martins, who had already received treatment for his injuries, stood nearby with Julia.
Both of them tried their best to comfort her.
Not long afterward, Martins' parents arrived at the hospital.
Soon after...
Damon's father also rushed into the room.
The small hospital room gradually filled with worried faces.
None of them noticed...
That while Damon's body lay unconscious—
His mind had awakened somewhere else.
Darkness.
An endless sea of darkness stretched in every direction.
Damon slowly opened his eyes.
"...Where am I?"
He looked around, but there was nothing.
No sky.
No ground.
Only an endless void.
Before he could take another step, a brilliant light suddenly appeared before him.
It grew brighter and brighter until he was forced to shield his eyes.
"What is... this?"
When the light finally faded, Damon cautiously lowered his arm.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
He was no longer standing in the darkness.
Instead, he found himself on the summit of a towering mountain.
A vast forest stretched endlessly below him, while clouds drifted beneath the peak as though he were standing above the world itself.
"What... is this place?"
Then...
He looked up.
His heart nearly stopped.
Twelve mysterious beings floated high in the sky.
Their appearances were hidden beneath blinding light, making it impossible to distinguish their faces.
Six of them radiated brilliant white energy.
The other six were enveloped in a deep crimson aura.
The atmosphere between the two groups was suffocating.
Neither side spoke.
Neither side moved.
Yet Damon could feel overwhelming hostility filling the heavens.
"...They're going to fight."
The next instant...
They vanished.
BOOM!!
The twelve beings collided in midair.
The impact shook the heavens.
A deafening explosion echoed across the world.
The sky itself seemed to shatter.
An unimaginable wave of power swept across the land.
Mountains crumbled.
Forests disappeared beneath roaring flames.
The earth split apart.
Everything...
Was destroyed.
Damon stood frozen.
He could do nothing but watch as the world burned before his eyes.
Then...
A single figure slowly emerged from the sea of flames.
One of the crimson beings.
Unlike the others, its aura was far more terrifying.
The moment it appeared, Damon instinctively realized...
This being was the strongest among them.
His entire body trembled uncontrollably.
Every instinct screamed at him to run.
Yet he couldn't move.
The crimson figure slowly stopped before him.
Its face remained hidden behind the scarlet light.
Damon swallowed nervously.
"W-Who are you?"
There was no reply.
"Where did you come from?"
Silence.
"What do you want from me?"
For the first time...
The mysterious being moved.
It slowly raised one hand...
And pointed directly at Damon.
"...Me?"
Before Damon could understand what it meant—
The entire world shattered like broken glass.
Everything around him vanished.
Once again...
He found himself standing within the endless darkness.
This time, however...
A small crimson sphere floated quietly before him.
It pulsed gently, as though it possessed a heartbeat of its own.
Damon stared at it in confusion.
"What is this?"
For some reason...
He felt strangely drawn toward it.
Almost as though it had been waiting for him.
Without realizing it, he slowly reached out his hand.
The crimson sphere glowed even brighter.
Just as his fingertips were about to touch it—
His eyes flew open.
"Gasp!"
Damon suddenly sat upright, his right arm still stretched toward the ceiling.
His breathing was uneven.
Sweat covered his forehead.
"...A dream?"
He looked around.
White walls.
Medicine cabinets.
The familiar scent of herbs.
He was back in the hospital.
Confused, Damon slowly lowered his hand.
Only then did he notice someone sleeping beside him.
His mother.
Anita had fallen asleep with her head resting beside his bed, one hand tightly holding his.
On the opposite side of the room, his father sat asleep in a chair, exhaustion evident on his face.
Damon's heart tightened.
"They've... been here the whole time."
Carefully, he touched his mother's shoulder.
"Mom..."
Anita stirred slightly before opening her eyes.
For a brief moment, she simply stared at him.
Then tears immediately filled her eyes.
"Damon..."
"You're awake!"
She threw her arms around him without hesitation.
"I was so worried!"
Hearing the commotion, Drake woke up as well.
The moment he saw Damon sitting up, relief washed over his face.
"You scared us, son."
Damon smiled weakly.
"I'm sorry..."
"I made you both worry again."
Drake walked over and gently placed a hand on his son's shoulder.
"As long as you're awake..."
"That's all that matters."
Surrounded by his parents' embrace, Damon smiled.
However...
The image of the crimson being...
And the mysterious crimson sphere...
Remained vividly etched into his mind.
He couldn't shake the feeling that what he had witnessed...
Was far more than just a dream.