Regardless of how the situation currently looked, Aren wasn't fazed. He faced the giant without a single hint of hesitation in his eyes.

The bad part of the situation was the fact that he had already used the majority of his good skills and was now left to fight with the residue.

He knew his domain wouldn't help. The giant would destroy it the moment it formed, nor would trying to bind him in any way work.

Even knowing this was do or die, there was no relenting in the madness he was willing to pull off to win.

He switched his wolf guard to his left hand and gripped the Ancient Devourer tightly in his right.

Once more, he summoned Riker, the Hydra, Fang, the lightning wolf, the snake, and the millipede to his side.

But rather than attack first, he decided to do something else.

He used the merge skill, merging Fang and the lightning wolf together.

"Please don't evolve now. Please don't evolve now," he prayed in his mind.

As the two merged, they formed a new version of Fang, standing taller than two meters, with a head wreathed in black flames and feet covered in lightning.

Fang now looked regal and powerful, but Aren had no time to admire the wolf's beauty. He was simply relieved it hadn't evolved and fallen asleep. Every ounce of strength mattered.

With the merge complete, he was ready for the next round.

Aren mounted Fang's back, while Riker climbed onto the horned snake, and all of them charged forward, including the Hydra.

The giant prepared himself, tossing his hammer into the air and catching it by the handle.

"Hmmmmmmmm."

A deep growl vibrated through the air around it.

When Aren, who was leading, got close enough, he gave the command.

"Full attack. Everything you've got, Fang," Aren barked.

Fang unleashed instantly, a mix of lightning and fire intertwined into a single powerful blast.

WHIR-CRACKLE!

The attack drowned out all sound, making itself the center of attention.

The giant faced it head-on, swinging his hammer down at the perfect moment.

BAM!

The attack collided with the hammer, and the explosion that followed was intense. The air shook violently, and the ground beneath cracked.

Aren immediately summoned all his Minotaur shadows, and they lunged forward, using the explosion as cover. He had no intention of using them for actual damage, only as a distraction to get close.

That was exactly what happened.

As the giant focused on them, he swung his hammer, and their heads were smashed apart, instantly unsummoning them with single blows.

That was enough time.

Enough time for Aren to move in.

He leaped into the air, the Minotaurs doing the same. To keep the giant from focusing on both him and the Minotaurs, he ordered the Hydra to attack.

The Hydra unleashed a powerful breath of lava, compressing the pressure as much as possible to create a high-powered blast. Combined with the attacking Minotaurs, it should have been enough to distract the giant, even for a moment.

Sadly, it didn't go as planned.

Rather than dodge or block the lava, the giant chose to eliminate the Hydra in one move.

He hurled his hammer. The runes glowed as it smashed through the lava, scattering it in all directions without losing any speed.

The hammer slammed into the Hydra's central head, obliterating it instantly. A chain reaction followed as the remaining heads exploded one after another.

With a swing of his arm, the giant sent the remaining Minotaur shadows flying. With the other hand, he recalled his hammer, and the moment it landed in his palm, he hurled it at Riker.

Riker blocked with his sword, but like before, he was sent flying, this time upward.

Aren was stunned by how the giant handled everything so easily. Still, he gritted his teeth.

The giant was momentarily without his hammer.

This was his chance.

Shadow tendrils erupted from the ground and wrapped around Aren, pulling him down faster.

Aren descended, gripping the sword with both hands.

"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

He roared from the depths of his gut and swung with full force.

The giant looked at the incoming blade. It was too fast to dodge, and his hammer wouldn't return in time. He chose the best option, clenching his fist and throwing a punch.

The punch alone broke the sound barrier, causing a sonic boom as it slammed into the edge of the sword.

There was a heavy silence.

As if time froze for a moment.

Then a blinding light erupted, followed by a shockwave that cracked the ground so wide a full hand could fit inside.

KA-BOOM!

Aren was thrown back.

The giant slid half a foot backward.

Aren slammed into the ground, bouncing like a ragdoll across shattered earth, crashing into rocks and leaving a trail of blood behind.

Those watching from outside were filled with fear.

Kira clenched her fists so tightly her knuckles turned white.

"We have to help him," she said, tears streaming down her face.

"You'll die," Zero said flatly.

"It doesn't matter. We still have to do something!" Kira shouted.

"We can't, Kira," Aiden said, clenching his fists as well. His breath shook, his eyes red. "The system said it. We die if we try to help him." He bowed his head.

"I don't care. I'll rush in and help, and if I die, then so be it," she said.

"Help how?" Aiden asked. "Aren is throwing his heaviest attacks, and they're being swatted away instantly. What could you possibly do?"

"You'd only get in Aren's way," Aiden continued. "He'd be too focused on protecting you. You'd become a distraction."

"And the system said you'll die if you try," Zero added. "Not if you succeed, if you try. You'd die before you could do anything."

Despite her calm tone, her heart was screaming for Aren to somehow win.

Kira collapsed to her knees, staring at Aren's broken body in the rubble.

"Arghhh…"

Aren groaned as he pushed himself up. He swayed from side to side, nearly falling, then coughed violently. Blood spilled from his mouth, pooling on the ground.

Still, he lifted his head.

Leaning back, gripping the sword tightly, he stared at the giant.

"Next round," he muttered.

Right now, he wasn't fighting because he wanted to fight. He was fighting to protect. He was fighting to see his loved ones again. He was fighting to give the largest middle finger to Elton and the trial.

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