Fyar ran between the giant crystal pillars.
The ground shook violently behind him. The sound of crystal scales scraping against the sand grew louder, like the noise of a hunting chainsaw. The monster slid fast, closing the distance.
Illya hugged Fyar’s neck tightly, her face buried in the young man’s shoulder.
"Illya, listen," Fyar said. His breathing was steady even though his legs were moving fast.
"Teleport to the right side of that monster. I will shoot. Right when it freezes, move us directly in front of its belly. Hold on tight."
Fyar jumped to the side, dodging a chunk of crystal shot by the monster from behind.
Crack!
The chunk shattered a crystal pillar on their left. Glass shards scattered.
"Can you do it?" Fyar asked.
Illya lifted her face. Her eyes were focused. She nodded firmly beside Fyar’s ear. "I can."
Fyar stopped running abruptly. He turned around.
The two crystal penguin monsters were sliding straight towards them. Their transparent beaks were open, ready to ram.
"Now!"
Whoosh.
Fyar’s vision blurred for a moment.
In an instant, they changed positions. They were now hovering in the air, right on the right side of the first monster speeding by.
The monster didn’t have time to react. Its side was exposed.
Fyar raised his pistol. The barrel glowed gray.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three Neutralize bullets shot out at close range.
All three hit the monster’s shoulder and neck.
The effect was instant. The monster’s kinetic energy was forcibly halted. Its body went rigid, freezing in the middle of its sliding motion. Its momentum died.
"In!" Fyar commanded.
Whoosh.
They moved again. This time, they appeared right in front of the chest of the rigid monster. The distance was less than a meter.
Fyar holstered his pistol under his left armpit, holding it with his arm. His right hand drew his katana.
He channeled a large amount of remaining Neutralize energy into the blade. The katana’s metal vibrated, enveloped in a deadly, dense gray aura.
Fyar thrust his sword straight forward.
Thunk!
The katana blade pierced the gap in the scales on the monster’s belly. It went deep, up to the hilt.
"Screeeech!!"
The monster screamed. The sound was high-pitched, shattering several small crystals around them.
Thick blue blood spurted out, soaking Fyar’s coat.
Behind the stabbed monster, the second monster realized its friend was under attack. It turned its slide, preparing to ram Fyar and Illya from the side.
Fyar kept his right hand holding the hilt of the embedded katana, holding the first monster so it wouldn’t escape.
His left hand retrieved the pistol from his armpit.
Without turning fully, Fyar aimed the pistol muzzle towards the approaching second monster.
Bang! Bang!
The bullets hit both neon blue eyes of the second monster.
Shatter.
The crystal eyes broke.
The second monster howled in pain. It lost control, slipped, and crashed into a crystal pillar beside it.
Fyar refocused on the monster in front of him.
Taking advantage of the moment of paralysis, Fyar twisted the katana hilt inside the monster’s belly.
Rip.
He pulled his sword to the side with full force, tearing the monster’s belly horizontally. Blue liquid spilled onto the white sand.
The monster struggled weakly. Fyar showed no mercy. He pressed his pistol barrel against the monster’s left eye.
Bang!
The monster’s head jerked back. The light in its eyes went out. Its massive body collapsed to the ground, moving no more.
Fyar took a short breath. He immediately turned to the second monster trying to get up with blind eyes.
"Illya, teleport! In front of its face!"
Whoosh.
They appeared right in front of the second monster roaring blindly.
Fyar gave no pause. He reloaded his pistol magazine with a quick one-handed movement.
Click.
He aimed at the monster’s right eye, which was cracked but still intact.
Bang!
The bullet penetrated the eye socket, entering the brain.
The monster staggered back. Its neck was wide exposed.
Fyar took a step forward. He gripped his katana with two hands.
He stabbed the monster’s belly repeatedly.
Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.
Every stab was accompanied by a flow of mana damaging the internal organs. The monster vomited blue liquid.
As a finisher, Fyar aimed his pistol at the monster’s exposed neck. The point where the head and body connected.
Bang! Bang!
The last two shots severed the monster’s neck tendons.
Its head drooped limply. The giant body fell with a thud onto the crystal sand.
The sound of Fyar’s heavy breathing and the sound of blue blood dripping from the tip of his katana were clearly audible in the momentary silence.
"Teleport to Zaefal d-!"
Fyar’s sentence was cut off.
His heart beat rapidly, as if it wanted to explode. A searing heat spread from his chest to all his blood vessels.
Fyar collapsed. His knees hit the crystal sand. He fell forward, clutching his chest.
Illya immediately jumped down from Fyar’s back. Her face was deathly pale.
"Fyar?! What happened?! Are you okay?!" her voice rose in panic.
Without waiting for an answer, Illya placed both her hands on Fyar’s back. Faint green light appeared from her palms.
"Heal... Heal..."
Damn... it hurts... it hurts... this shit again?. Fyar thought. His muscles spasmed.
However, amidst the pain, Fyar felt another sensation. The pants pocket on his thigh felt hot. His Adventurer Card emitted a warmth that penetrated the fabric.
Fyar’s pupils dilated.
He realized what was happening.
Level up? Now? In the middle of a fight?
"I-impossible..." he hissed.
The sounds of explosions and clashing metal were heard from a distance. Zaefal and Rasie were still fighting. Fyar gritted his teeth. He couldn’t pass out now.
He forced his legs to stand. His legs trembled, but adrenaline forced him upright.
"Up, Illya! Quick!" Fyar commanded hoarsely.
Illya hesitated for a moment, but seeing Fyar’s gaze, she obeyed. She climbed back onto Fyar’s back.
"To Rasie. Now."
Whoosh.
They disappeared.
On the other side of the battlefield.
Rasie was thrown backward. Her back hit a crystal pillar until it cracked.
The penguin monster gave her no breath. Its crystal wings slashed the air, creating sharp wind.
Rasie rolled to the side, dodging the slash.
"Fire!"
Rasie got up. Her dagger burned with red fire. She tried to attack the monster’s legs, but its crystal skin was too hard. The fire only left black scorch marks without wounding it.
Next to her, Zaefal fought more tactically.
He utilized the environment. Zaefal ran circling behind large crystal pillars, luring the monster into hitting obstacles.
As the monster slowed down due to the collision, Zaefal enveloped his broken sword with black Void aura.
Clang!
Zaefal parried the monster’s beak. His black aura dampened the impact. He twisted his wrist, slashing horizontally.
Slash.
The tip of his sword managed to slice the monster’s belly.
Angry, the monster bent its body and spun rapidly like a spiked top.
Zaefal was forced to jump back, away from the deadly spin.
Meanwhile, the monster fighting Rasie jumped.
It landed right in front of the girl. Its crystal claws raised high, ready to split Rasie’s body in two.
Rasie was cornered. She raised her dagger to parry, even though she knew her strength was inferior.
Sst!!
The wind rustled.
Fyar and Illya appeared. Hovering right in front of the monster’s face.
Bang! Bang!
Two point-blank shots.
The bullets penetrated both of the monster’s blue eyeballs. Eye fluid squirted.
The monster roared, its movement stopped completely due to the stun effect.
"Finish it, Friend! Belly!!" Fyar shouted.
Sst!!
Fyar and Illya disappeared again as fast as they came.
Rasie saw the opening. Her eyes lit up ferociously.
"Die!!"
Rasie lunged forward. She held her dagger with two hands. The fire on the blade blazed twice as large.
She thrust the dagger into the rigid monster’s belly.
Thunk!
The dagger went deep. Rasie didn’t stop. She pulled her dagger upward with all her might, splitting the monster’s belly up to the chest. Fire burned its internal organs.
The monster convulsed, then collapsed.
On Zaefal’s side.
The fight was still fierce. Zaefal’s sword and the monster’s beak clashed rapidly. Sparks and crystal shards flew between them.
Zaefal started to tire. His movements slowed.
Sst!!
Fyar appeared in the air, right above the monster’s head.
He aimed his pistol downwards, targeting the monster’s crown and eyes.
Bang! Bang!
Two accurate shots.
The monster’s head jerked downwards. Its balance wavered.
"Zaefal!!" Fyar shouted before his body fell to the sand from weakness.
Zaefal did not waste the opportunity.
He dashed forward. His black sword slashed horizontally, tearing the monster’s belly until its entrails spilled out.
Not finished.
Zaefal stabbed his sword repeatedly into the monster’s chest at high speed.
Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.
Finally, he stabbed deep into the monster’s heart, then pulled his sword upward while jumping.
The vertical slash split the monster’s neck until it was half severed.
The massive body staggered, then fell with a thud to the ground.
The battlefield was finally silent.