Chapter 919: Rey Vs Monsters
The group advanced cautiously, their weapons at the ready.
The silence was oppressive, broken only by the sound of their footsteps crunching against the brittle earth.
Then, without warning, the ground ahead of them erupted.
"GROOOOAHHH!!!"
Three hulking, misshapen creatures emerged, their bodies a grotesque amalgamation of flesh, bone, and what looked like molten metal. Their eyes glowed with an eerie, crimson light, and they let out guttural, inhuman roars that echoed across the plain.
Rey's heart raced, but he forced himself to stay calm.
'Damn... I'm missing some of my old skills right now.'
Tess barked orders, and the group moved into formation, each member preparing to engage.
"Rey," Tess called, her voice steady despite the chaos. "This is your chance. Show us what you can do."
Rey nodded, stepping forward as the first Monster charged toward him.
He focused intently, his [Doppel] ability activating as he analyzed the creature's movements.
'Let's see what you've got,' Rey thought, a determined grin spreading across his face as he prepared to fight. 'I hope you have some nice skills... but even if you don't I'm sure you have those nice EXP to spare!'
~WHOOOOSH!~
The first Monster lunged at Rey with molten-metal claws poised to tear him apart.
He activated [High Sense], heightening his awareness of its every movement. As the claws swung toward his torso, he countered with [Space-Shift], vanishing from its path and reappearing behind its lumbering form.
Without hesitation, he slammed a stone-encased fist-powered by [Stone Transformation] -into the back of the Monster's head.
~BAM!~
The impact sent it sprawling to the ground, molten sparks flying from its cracked skull.
A second Monster roared and charged at Rey's exposed flank.
Reacting instantly, he threw up a shimmering (Light Shield].
The creature's claws raked across the barrier, causing it to flicker and buckle, but it held just long enough for him to leap back. Extending a hand, Rey summoned moisture from the air using [Moist Meter], whipping it into a dense jet of water that struck the Monster square in its glowing eyes, eliciting a screech of pain.
The third Monster flanked him from the other side.
Planting his feet, Rey focused his energy as electricity crackled around his body. Activating [Electrical Surge], he cloaked himself in a deadly current that caused the creature to hesitate, its instincts warning it of danger.
Rey didn't wait.
Using a burst of speed fueled by [Physical Enhancement], he tackled the Monster head-on, slamming electrified fists into its chest.
The creature convulsed and collapsed to the ground, twitching from the residual charge.
Rey barely had time to breathe before the first Monster recovered, dazed but relentless, and lunged again.
He sidestepped with [Space-Shift], reappearing midair above it, and unleashed a concussive [Soundwave]. The force rattled the ground and caused the Monster to stumble, its molten- metal body vibrating uncontrollably.
Taking advantage of its disorientation, Rey extended his shadow with [Shadow Control], dark tendrils wrapping around the creature's limbs to immobilize it. A thunderous punch with his stone-covered fist shattered its skull, silencing it for good.
"GRRRIIKKKK!"
The second Monster, still thrashing from the water assault, recovered and lunged at him with renewed ferocity.
Rey shifted tactics, activating [Camouflage] to blend seamlessly into the ashen landscape. The creature screeched, its glowing eyes scanning the area in confusion.
Rey reappeared behind it, silently manipulating his shadow into a spiked construct.
With a sharp motion, the shadow spear drove through the Monster's back, ending its rampage.
~SQUELCH!~
The final Monster, still sparking from its earlier encounter with Rey's electricity, attempted
to retreat.
He wouldn't allow it.
Summoning the last remnants of moisture from the dry air, Rey condensed it into a blade of water and hurled it at the creature's neck.
The weapon struck true, slicing through its molten flesh and dropping the Monster with a gurgling roar.
Rey had little time to recover before the ground trembled anew.
A dozen more Monsters emerged from the desolate plain, their guttural growls reverberating
as they surrounded him. His team called out from the edge of the battlefield, but Rey raised a hand, signaling them to stay back.
"I've got this," he said, his voice firm despite his exhaustion.
The new wave attacked with relentless fury.
Rey activated [High Sense] once more, his heightened awareness turning the battlefield into a blur of potential threats and opportunities.
The first Monster lunged, and he retaliated with a bolt of lightning from [Electrical Surge], striking the molten creature through its core.
~TZZZTZ!~
Two more charged at him, but he evaded with [Space-Shift], reappearing above them to slam his stone-encased fists into their skulls, leaving them crumpled in the dirt.
A larger Monster roared and spat molten projectiles toward him.
Rey threw up his [Light Shield], but the molten shards pierced through, searing his arm.
"Gahhh!"
Gritting his teeth against the pain, he retaliated with a deafening [Soundwave], sending the creature staggering back. He followed up by extending his shadow, forming spikes and tendrils with [Shadow Control] that impaled and restrained three more Monsters at once.
The chaos continued as Rey cycled through his skills with precision.
When another Monster flanked him, he activated [Camouflage] to vanish, reappearing behind it to deliver a decisive blow. A charging Monster found its footing undone as Rey summoned water with [Moist Meter], freezing it into a slick sheet that caused the creature to skid uncontrollably into a nearby boulder.
The final two Monsters attacked together, their molten claws slashing with lethal intent.
Rey dodged one with [Space-Shift] and faced the other head-on, channeling all his strength through [Physical Enhancement].
Letting out a fierce roar, he drove his fist through the creature's chest, then spun around to hurl a bolt of lightning at the last Monster.
~BOOM!~
It fell with a smoldering thud, and the battlefield finally fell silent.
"Haaa... haaa..."
Rey stood in the center of the carnage, panting heavily, his body trembling from exertion. Blood-both his and the Monsters'-covered him, streaking his clothes and pooling at his feet. He turned to his team, who stared at him in stunned silence, their expressions a mix of
awe and disbelief.
A weary but triumphant smile crossed Rey's face as he met Tess's wide-eyed gaze.
"What's next?"