The earth shook violently under Krad's feet. The leaves of the trees quivered, bowing to the waking presence.
Mist stood solid, his eyes growing narrow. "It's waking up."
Krad's stomach churned. "What's waking up exactly?"
As if in response, a brutal bellow echoed out of the fog-wrapped ruins. The rumbling boom ripped through the air, sending crows scattering in panicked flights. The stench of rot and aged earth filled his nostrils. And then the mist parted.
Out of the darkness, a gigantic form stepped forth—an orc, no, a titan. Almost fifteen feet tall, its greenish skin was wrinkled and capped with stone-hard muscle. Bony, jagged armor protruded from its limbs, and throbbing crimson veins were visible beneath the skin. Its eyes blazed with raw, primal fury.
Krad took an uneasy step back as the Orc Titan's massive form loomed over him. Every instinct in his body screamed at him to run.
DING!
[ Enemy Detected: Level 200 Orc Titan ]
[ Threat Level: Extreme ]
Krad's heart pounded against his ribs. Level 200?! He was only Level 10!
From above, Mist sat casually on a thick branch of the towering tree, arms crossed as he observed. His expression was completely unreadable.
"Oi! Aren't you gonna help?!" Krad yelled, glancing up desperately.
Mist smirked. "Nope."
Krad's stomach dropped. "What?!"
Mist leaned back against the trunk like he was settling in to watch a show. "You want to grow stronger, right? Then fight."
Krad gritted his teeth. Unbelievable! He didn't even have a weapon!
The Orc Titan growled, lifting a giant stone club. The air around it shimmered with power.
DING!
[ System Alert! ]
[ Orc Titan is preparing a Heavy Smash attack. Dodge or take massive damage! ]
"Crap---!" Krad jumped to the side just as the club crashed into the ground where he'd been standing. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the earth, nearly knocking him off balance.
He barely had time to process before the Titan swung again. Krad rolled under the next attack, his mind racing frantically.
Think! You have no weapon, you only have your fists. His fists…
Mist's words echoed in his head. "You already have a weapon."
Krad clenched his jaw. "Fine. If my body is my weapon… then I'll use it!"
He dashed toward the Titan, weaving between its massive legs. He clenched his fist and threw a punch at its knee with everything he had.
A sharp crack rang out.
[ Direct Hit! ]
[ Damage Inflicted: 5 ]
"…Seriously?" Krad muttered, staring at the pathetic number. Five?! Against a monster with 2,000 HP, that was nothing!
The Titan roared and kicked. Krad barely managed to dodge, rolling across the dirt and nearly eating a mouthful of grass.
Mist watched from above, completely unimpressed. "You're just flailing. Think."
Krad scowled. "Easy for you to say!"
But Mist's words hit him anyway.
Think.
He couldn't match the Titan's strength head-on. But what if he didn't need to?
Krad's eyes darted to the glowing veins pulsing under the Titan's skin.
That's it!
Instead of attacking randomly, he focused. He waited… watched… then, when the Titan raised its club again, he sprinted forward with purpose.
[ Skill Activated: Evade ]
Krad's fists glowed faintly as he aimed directly at the glowing veins in the Titan's leg.
BAM!
A critical hit! The Titan roared, stumbling slightly.
[ Critical Hit! ]
[ Damage Inflicted: 200 ]
Krad grinned, energy surging through him. "Oh, so that's your weak spot?"
He darted in again, ducking past a slow swing. Another punch right into the Titan's ribs where the veins glowed brightest.
[ Critical Hit! ]
[ Damage Inflicted: 230 ]
The Titan staggered, its movements slowing noticeably.
From above, Mist smirked. "He's getting it."
Krad's confidence soared. He was landing real damage! He could actually win this!
But then...
DING!
[ System Alert! ]
[ Orc Titan is enraged! ]
[ Attack Power Doubled. ]
Krad's eyes widened. "Wait, what?!"
The Titan bellowed and swung its club with terrifying speed. Krad barely dodged in time, but the shockwave still sent him flying. He crashed into the dirt hard, coughing and gasping for air.
Mist sighed. "Too reckless."
Krad groaned, pushing himself up. His arms ached like they'd been hit with hammers. His HP had dropped to 35%.
The Titan was charging again, the ground shaking with each thunderous step.
Krad exhaled sharply. "If brute force wouldn't work, then..." His eyes flickered toward the Titan's legs. "What if I took out its balance?"
As the Titan swung again, Krad didn't dodge away. He dodged forward, sliding under its massive legs. Then, with all his strength concentrated into one point...
[ Skill Activated: Evade ]
He slammed his fist into the Titan's ankle joint.
CRACK!
[ Brutal Hit! ]
[ Damage Inflicted: 400 ]
The Titan lost its footing. Its massive body tilted awkwardly, then crashed to the ground with an earth-shaking BOOM!
Mist raised an eyebrow, genuinely impressed. "Not bad."
Krad didn't waste a single second. He leaped onto the fallen Titan's chest, pulling his fist back.
"Let's end this!"
DING!
[ Unknown Skill Activated: Moon Eater's Awakening 10% ]
A faint silver aura surrounded Krad's fist, cold and otherworldly, as he drove it straight into the Titan's exposed core vein.
BOOM!
The Titan let out a final, agonized roar before its body shattered into particles of light that scattered into the air like dying stars.
DING!
[ Quest Completed! ]
[ EXP Gained: 8,500 ]
[ Level Up! (Lv. 10 → Lv. 20) ]
Krad collapsed onto his back, breathing hard and staring up at the canopy above. His whole body hurt, but he couldn't help the grin spreading across his face. He'd done it. He'd actually done it!
Mist landed beside him, arms still crossed. "Well?"
Krad groaned. "I hate you."
Mist actually chuckled at that.
But then---
DING!
SYSTEM ALERT!
[ Warning: 10% Moon Eater's Awakening Triggered! User Control Compromised. ]
A sharp pain ripped through Krad's chest like someone had plunged ice into his heart. His breath hitched. His fingers twitched uncontrollably.
Then---
A wave of raw, overwhelming power exploded from his body.
The ground beneath him cracked violently, the force sending debris flying in all directions. The trees trembled as an unnatural wind surged through the plaza. Mist took a cautious step back, his smirk fading as his hand instinctively gripped his longsword.
Krad's once-bright golden eyes darkened into a deep, lunar silver that seemed to swallow the light around them. His veins pulsed with eerie, glowing purple patterns that slithered beneath his skin like living things. His expression? Vacant, emotionless... empty.
Then he moved.
Faster than Mist had ever seen him move.
Mist barely had time to react before a fist slammed into his gut. A shockwave erupted from the impact, sending him crashing through multiple trees like they were paper before he skidded to a stop in a cloud of dust and leaves.
Mist coughed, gripping his stomach. "Shit… That actually hurt."
He looked up. Krad was already standing in front of him, moving impossibly fast.
Mist's reflexes saved him. His longsword flashed as he parried Krad's next strike, but the sheer force behind it sent him sliding several feet back, his arms burning from the impact.
"Not bad," Mist muttered, his gaze sharpening dangerously. "But you're not yourself anymore, are you?"