Misty leapt lightly, ears perked, eyes wide open.
"Two levels at once?!"
He chuckled, looking even more excited.
"Am I a monster or what?!"
A roar shook the natural arena. The fierce rabbit turned around, snickering:
"One down! Three left!"
Eyes gleaming with excitement, Misty faced the horde, unwavering.
Damons slowly got back up.
CRRRk
His breathing was hoarse, heavy.
Haa… haa…
Every movement made his aching bones crack.
CRACK. POP.
Yet, a smile stretched across his lips.
He was standing. He held on.
"Perfect. My turn now."
He raised his hands. Mana swirled around him, more fluid than before, more alive.
Misty landed on his paws, knees bent, panting.
"Haa… haa… I'm getting tired, damn it…"
His sides rose and fell rapidly. His sweat-soaked fur clung to his body. But his gaze remained sharp, his instincts sharper than ever.
Three mutant boars were charging at him, jaws open, tentacles quivering with frenzy.
"Come on then, you beasts… I'm gonna crush you."
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The first one leapt. Misty dodged with a quick sidestep.
WHOOSH!
Then struck the monster's temple with an extremely powerful paw strike.
BAM!
The creature staggered — Misty followed up.
[SYSTEM]
Crushing Leap Art – Second Form: Triple Impact!
He delivered a fierce blow to the back of the beast's skull.
BAM!
A shockwave exploded on impact.
BOOM!
Then a second.
BOOM!
And a third.
CRACK!
The creature's skull collapsed under the pressure, crushed by the power of the blows.
CRACK!! SKREEEEEHH!! THUD!!
It collapsed, dead on the spot. Its body disintegrated in a greenish breath.
FSSHHHH…
[SYSTEM]
[MISTY KILLED A STAGE 2 MUTANT BOAR]
[+250XP]
[SYSTEM]
[MISTY LEVELED UP]
LV16 > LV17
But Misty had no time to savor his victory. A guttural roar split the air — the two others were already charging, eyes filled with hatred, ready to avenge their fallen brother.
"Shit… no time to breathe!"
Misty leapt between them, spinning to dodge a charge.
WHOOSH!! WHOOSH
He struck again. His foot crashed onto the back of a charging boar, using it as an improvised springboard. His body rose in a leap, ready to strike from the skies.
BOING!
He soared into the air before diving straight down.
[SYSTEM]
Crushing Leap Art – First Form: Pure Speed!
BAAAM!!
The second's skull exploded on impact.
CRACK! BOOM!! GRUAAAAH!!
FSSHHHH…
The last one, furious, tried to flank him. Misty rolled on the ground, barely dodging the slicing tentacles.
SWISH! SWISH!
He plunged his claws into the left eye.
SLASH!!
Then, with a backflip, shattered its neck with a vertical strike.
BAM!!!
The last boar collapsed as well. Its body vanished.
FSSHHHH…
Misty, on the ground with trembling paws, lifted his head with a crooked smile.
[SYSTEM]
[MISTY KILLED A STAGE 2 MUTANT BOAR]
[MISTY KILLED A STAGE 2 MUTANT BOAR]
[+250XP]
[+250XP]
[MISTY LEVELED UP]
[MISTY LEVELED UP]
LV17 > LV19
"Three… at once… And I'm still standing…"
In the center of the devastated zone, Damons stood, energy drained. His arms trembled. He focused his mana into his daggers, eyes locked on the Alpha beast.
His aura was overwhelming.
"Damons, watch out!" Misty screamed, panicked.
The Alpha, massive, rose. The ground trembled beneath its colossal steps. It charged, lightning fast, its tentacles slicing the air.
GROAAAHH!
Misty, ears pinned back, watched helplessly.
Damons (thought):
"It's now or never…"
He had no time to hesitate.
"I have no choice. I have to go all out!"
He raised his arms. His daggers shone like two shooting stars.
The Alpha charged, ready to crush everything.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The tentacles cracked the air, but Damons struck in a cross.
SHHRRRT!
His blades traced an X in the air, ripping through the atmosphere.
The monster was sliced clean into four parts.
The blades kept going, slicing through several trees behind.
CRACK!! BOOM!!
The trunks exploded under the shockwave.
The Alpha collapsed. Its cry faded in a breath.
FSSSHHHH…
[SYSTEM]
[YOU KILLED AN ALPHA MUTANT BOAR]
[+700XP]
[SYSTEM]
[YOU LEVELED UP]
[YOU LEVELED UP]
[YOU LEVELED UP]
LV14 > LV17
Damons fell to his knees, drained.
"That was… too much. I can't hold on…"
But the portal… wasn't opening.
Damons (whispering):
"Shit… it's not over… and I've got nothing left…"
Misty collapsed next to him.
"I… I'm… exhausted…"
System: Calculating…
Calculation complete.
You received a 'Reduced Regeneration Potion'.
Mandatory use.
Damons turned his head to Misty, a faint smile on his lips.
"We still have a chance… we just need to hold on."
They looked at each other, trembling but alive.
"We have no choice left. Drink this, Misty. We have to finish this battle."
Misty grabbed the potion. He drank it in one gulp. Damons did the same.
A gentle warmth filled their veins.
System: Regeneration – 30% of Mana and HP restored.
The pain lessened. Not completely, but enough to stand.
Damons slowly stood up.
"I still feel the pain… but it'll do."
Misty, still dizzy, got back on his paws.
"I'm going to wreck that monster."
The ground around them was nothing but a field of ruins. They advanced, toward the massive silhouette at the center of the clearing.
Damons (thinking):
"It's not over… but we have to go. No other choice."
The wind rose, as if to challenge them.
Misty sighed.
"This is it. Let's show it what we're made of."
Damons clenched his fists.
"We attack right away. No time to waste."