I felt the familiar surge of energy flood my system, my muscles tightening, preparing to absorb and generate Essence.
I was ready.
I turned to Steve.
"Let's go."
He nodded without hesitation.
Bending my legs, I launched forward.
The ground cracked beneath my feet as I shot across the battlefield like a bullet.
I scanned the front row of Abominations, quickly checking their levels.
Most of them were around level 10 or 11.
Good. That was exactly what I wanted.
With a burst of speed, I shot straight into the pack of Inferno Hounds leading the charge.
My first target, a level 10 beast, barely had time to react before my knee slammed into its skull.
With my Strength sitting at 38, the impact was overkill, its head exploded, shards of rock and molten lava scattering through the air.
I landed smoothly in the middle of the pack, heat radiating from their burning bodies.
Spinning on my heel, I lashed out with a brutal kick, my leg smashing into the stomach of another hound. Its body split clean in half, molten insides spilling onto the ground.
The heat around me intensified, the air thick with scorching energy, but I ignored it. My eyes locked onto another hound lunging at me, jaws wide open, flames flickering between its teeth.
I caught it mid-attack, gripping its lower jaw with one hand. With a grunt, I lifted the beast and slammed it down onto another hound, their bodies crunching against the rocky ground.
A deep roar tore from my throat as I charged forward, fists flying.
My knuckles cracked against the skull of one hound, shattering it instantly. Another lunged at me from the side, and I pivoted, driving my fist into its throat. It collapsed with a single fist.
From the corner of my eye, I spotted Steve moving through the pack, his sword flashing as he slit their throats with precise, controlled strikes.
The sweat on my body was thick now, my bare chest drenched from the sheer heat surrounding me.
My core absorbed that energy, heat pooling inside my chest, and I felt the familiar pulse as Essence began generating.
I grinned.
Pushing forward, I seized two hounds by their throats, my enhanced Dexterity making my movements near-invisible to them.
With a powerful leap, I shot high into the air, carrying both beasts with me. Mid-spin, I twisted my body, and with a roar, I hurled them downward, smashing them into the rest of the pack below.
Lava splattered, bodies broke, and I landed in the chaos, ready for more.
I glanced over my shoulder. The members of Unit 02 who were still standing at the sidelines were staring at me and Steve, their faces filled with shock and disbelief.
I ignored them. Their reactions didn't matter.
Instead, my eyes searched the battlefield until they landed on North.
She was sprinting across the ground, her longbow in hand, moving toward the Magma Golems. Her group followed closely behind her, their formation tight, their movements coordinated.
I watched her for a second longer, then turned back. There was no point in hesitating, I had my own targets to deal with.
My gaze locked onto the next group.
[Smoldering Apes.]
"Time to see what you are capable of."
I dashed toward the Smoldering Apes, my body still thrumming with power. The temporary boost to my Dexterity was ticking down but I was still good to go.
The heat around them was even worse than the Inferno Hounds. Streams of molten saliva dripped from their mouths, sizzling against the ground.
Their bright red eyes locked onto me, their massive, muscular bodies tensing as they prepared to attack.
One of them, a level 11, let out a guttural roar and swung its massive fist down at me.
I dodged to the side, feeling the rush of hot air as its punch slammed into the earth, sending chunks of molten rock flying.
Without wasting a second, I shot forward, my fist smashing into its thick ribs.
Crack!
And with a boom its upper body exploded.
I turned to another Ape.
Snarling, it swiped at me, faster this time.
I ducked, then exploded upward with a vicious uppercut. My knuckles crashed against its chin, bursting its head.
I spun on my heel and kicked another ape right into its chest. Its body lifted off the ground for a split second before it came crashing down.
Before it could recover, I grabbed it by the throat and slammed it onto the ground again, a burst of heat rising from its body.
The other apes howled in rage and charged.
One leaped high into the air, its arms raised to smash me into the ground.
I bent my knees and jumped toward it, meeting it mid-air.
My knee drove into its gut, and before it could react, I grabbed its arms and spun, using the momentum to hurl it straight into another ape below. The two collided, a burst of steam rising as their burning bodies crashed together.
I landed smoothly, rolling my shoulders.
Three left.
One of them, a level 10, charged at me with surprising speed, its thick arms swinging wildly.
I weaved through its attacks, my enhanced Dexterity making it feel slow. I ducked under a wide hook and countered with a brutal punch to its ribs. A crack split the air, but I didn't stop.
I grabbed its head and yanked it downward, my knee shooting up to meet its face.
A loud crunch then silence.
It collapsed.
I exhaled and dashed forward, closing the distance before the remaining apes could react. My foot slammed into one's knee, shattering it instantly.
As it howled in pain, I grabbed its arm and wrenched it clean off, lava spraying from the wound.
Then, with a backhanded slap, I shattered its head.
Only one ape remained from this group.
In a blur, I appeared behind it. My arm wrapped around its thick neck, and with a sharp twist, I snapped its neck and pulled the head out from its body.
Its burning body slumped to the ground, lifeless.
I straightened, rolling my neck.
My heart thrummed as my core absorbed the energy, converting it into fresh Essence. I clenched my fists, feeling the surge of power run through me.
'Now, onto the next enemy.'
I set my sights on the group of six [Magma Golems] marching forward, their molten veins pulsing beneath thick black stone.
They moved slow, their heavy steps shaking the ground, but that didn't matter to me.
I pushed off the ground, dirt and rock exploding beneath my feet. I sprinted for few seconds and then burst forward.
In an instant, I was in front of the first golem. My fist shot out, slamming into its face.
Boom!
Its head shattered, molten rock spraying as its body collapsed.
Before the pieces even hit the ground, I twisted mid-air, my fist already driving into the next golem's skull.
Crack!
Its head exploded, chunks of burning rock flying in all directions.
I didn't stop. I shifted my weight, launching toward the third.
My knuckles buried into its cheek with a sickening crunch, its entire upper body caving in before bursting into rocks.
I spun, caught movement in my peripheral, and snapped my elbow into the jaw of another golem behind me.
Its head cracked apart like brittle stone, and I followed through with a backhand that sent its remains flying.
The last two golems raised their arms, too slow. I was already moving.
I crouched low, then surged upward, an uppercut slamming into the fifth golem's chin.
Boom!
It shot into the air before breaking apart mid-flight, lava and stone raining down.
The final golem barely had time to turn before I leaped and my palm came crashing down onto its head.
Bang!
Its head shattered instantly, and its massive body slumped over like a puppet with its strings cut.
I exhaled, shaking dust off my hand.
So far, the [Magma Golems] were the easiest to deal with.
Too slow, too predictable. My increased Dexterity made them nothing more than stationary targets. I barely had to think—just move, strike, and shatter them one after another.
I checked my Essence store.
In such a short time, I had already generated 4 points of Essence.
The sheer amount of kinetic and heat energy around me was fueling my core at an insane rate. Every punch, every movement, every impact, it was all being converted into more power.
I rolled my shoulders, feeling the raw energy coursing through me.
I glanced around, taking in the battlefield.
Steve was carving through the Inferno Hounds, his sword flashing as he sliced through their throats and backs with brutal efficiency.
North had reached the [Magma Golems] on the other side, her bowstring snapping as she loosed arrow after arrow.
Beyond them, more members of Unit 02 were finally joining the battle.
I shifted my gaze and locked onto the [Blazing Orcs] next.