Chapter 422: Hell Of A Fight

Ethan’s eyes remained fixed on the monster.

There was something strangely exciting about the situation.

’I get to fight another A Rank so soon.’

Against the Leviathan, he had been fighting it in an environment where it possessed every possible advantage. The ocean had belonged to it. Its control over the water had turned the entire floor into a weapon, while Ethan’s flames were suppressed and his beasts weren’t as effective.

This was different.

Here, neither of them had the advantage of the environment.

There was no ocean.

And, most importantly, Ethan didn’t have to hold back like in his spar against Mark.

He could finally unleash everything he had.

A grin spread across his face.

’I finally get to fight on even ground.’

The monster roared.

ROOOOAAAR!

The sound shook the entire realm.

Ethan’s hair whipped backwards as the wave of pressure slammed into him. The ground beneath his feet cracked, and the dense green mana filling the air churned violently around his body.

He dug his feet into the ground.

His smile widened.

’And I can let loose after basically losing for the first time in a while.’

The giant monster charged.

The distance between them disappeared almost instantly.

Ethan prepared himself at the same time.

But unlike against Mark, he knew he couldn’t hold back at the start as the creature ramped up.

It was an A Rank born from the deepest part of Mark’s mind, a distorted manifestation of the Boss Monster Mark had consumed. Its body had been recreated from Mark’s memories and corrupted by the monstrous mana flowing through this realm.

Unless he wanted to be crushed instantly, he needed to go all-out from the start.

His eyes sharpened.

’Partial Assimilation: Spark.’

The change was immediate.

Flames erupted across Ethan’s body.

Orange fire burst from his shoulders, chest, arms, and legs, wrapping around him like a living mantle. His hair was thrown upward by the sudden heat as brilliant flames danced around his body.

More importantly, he felt his mana surge.

It more than doubled.

Ethan’s eyes widened for half a second as the sudden flood of mana rushed through him.

The sensation was incredible as always.

It was as though someone had opened a floodgate inside his body. His mana reserves expanded violently, and the flames surrounding him grew brighter as they fed from the enormous increase.

’This is still fucking insane.’

The monster was already upon him.

Its enormous claw descended.

Ethan burst away.

The claw struck the ground where he had been standing.

BOOM!

The impact sent chunks of twisted earth flying in every direction.

Ethan flew straight at the monster.

Its head turned, one giant eye following him.

He reached the monster’s shoulder and drove his flaming fist into the side of its head using Beast Impact.

BOOM!

The monster’s head barely moved.

His grin disappeared.

’That’s some serious durability.’

The monster turned toward him, its horns suddenly glowing.

Ethan’s eyes widened.

’Wait-’

Dark-green mana erupted from the creature’s horns.

Two enormous beams tore through the air.

’Flare Drive!’

Ethan barely evaded in time.

BOOOOOOM!

The landscape behind him disappeared.

The dark-green energy carved enormous trenches through the twisted terrain before exploding against the distant horizon.

Ethan stared.

’Okay.’

He looked at the smoking landscape.

’That’s new.’

The monster wasn’t finished yet, opening its mouth.

A dense sphere of corrupted green mana began forming inside its throat.

Ethan’s expression changed.

’Oh, fuck.’

He immediately summoned his beasts for back up.

Wolfy appeared first.

The giant Fenrir landed on all fours, red eyes already locked onto the monstrous guardian.

Another flash of light followed.

Storm appeared beside him, the Lightning Dragonfly’s wings buzzing violently as electricity crackled through the surrounding air.

As for Talon, Ethan decided against summoning it as he had recently.

He could feel its irritation immediately.

’I’m sorry, buddy.’

The Griffling’s emotions came through the connection.

It wanted to fight and prove itself, but it simply wasn’t powerful enough to keep up.

And it knew that.

Ethan could also feel its frustration and guilt, blaming itself more than Ethan could for all the failed Race Crystal uses.

He softened slightly.

’You’ll have your time, just wait.’

The Griffling reluctantly accepted it, not that it had much choice.

Ethan turned his attention back toward the monster, not having the luxury of losing focus. Wolfy lowered itself, Storm’s wings fluttered, and his flames burned brighter.

The monster roared.

This time, the three of them charged.

Wolfy reached it first.

The Fenrir leapt toward its leg and slashed downward.

CLANG!

His claws struck the creature’s natural armour.

The impact sent sparks flying.

The monster barely reacted, swinging its massive leg sideways.

Wolfy was struck.

BOOM!

The Fenrir was sent flying across the landscape.

Ethan’s eyes widened.

"Wolfy!"

He launched himself after it.

Storm moved next.

The Lightning Dragonfly shot forward and unleashed a stream of electricity.

Lightning struck the monster’s back.

The creature roared.

For the first time, it actually reacted.

Ethan smiled.

"That’s more like it!"

He accelerated back towards the monster after confirming his summon was fine. Flames exploded behind him as he used Flare Drive to propel himself forward.

Ethan reached the monster’s side and unleashed a blast of flames.

BOOM!

The attack struck its armour, cracking the natural plates slightly.

Its horn began glowing again.

Ethan’s instincts screamed, and he burst out of the way.

A dark-green beam passed beneath him.

He twisted in midair.

Another beam followed.

He barely avoided that one too.

’If one of those hits me...’

Ethan had to be careful, and so did his beasts, against such a powerful monster, and what was unnerving was the mana signature it exuded.

’I can’t allow this to be a battle of attrition.’

He landed beside Wolfy.

The durable Fenrir was back on its feet, and though one of its legs trembled slightly, it didn’t show it.

Ethan’s expression hardened.

"You okay?"

Wolfy growled confidently.

Ethan grinned.

"Good."

The monster charged again.

Wolfy and Ethan split in opposite directions.

The creature’s enormous body thundered between them.

Storm zipped overhead.

Its wings buzzed faster as lightning gathered around its body using Kinetic Charge.

Then it unleashed it all at once.

A massive electrical discharge struck the monster’s back.

KRAKOOOM!

The monster roared.

Ethan took advantage of the opening.

He burst forward, flames roaring around his body, before landing onto the creature’s back. Wedging his feet between two enormous armour plates, he placed both his palms onto it and channelled his flames directly onto it in explosive bursts.

BOOM!

The armour cracked.

Again.

BOOM!

Another crack appeared.

The monster screamed, in both a fit of rage and pain.

As if in response to the successful attacks, its entire body suddenly began glowing.

Ethan’s eyes widened.

’Something’s wrong!’

The green mana wasn’t gathering in its mouth or its horns.

It was gathering everywhere.

The armour plates began pulsing, and the monster’s entire body expanded with energy.

Ethan’s instincts screamed at him.

"Get away!"

He pushed Flame Flight to its limits, Wolfy sprinted, and Storm shot upward.

The monster released everything.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

A massive explosion erupted from its body.

Dark-green mana expanded in every direction.

The landscape was erased.

Trees, rocks, twisted structures, and everything else caught in the blast was obliterated.

Ethan was thrown through the air, his flames nearly extinguished.

He slammed into the ground and rolled several times before finally stopping.

For a moment, he couldn’t move.

His body hurt, and he had literally just survived an atomic-bomb-level explosion. Wolfy lay several metres away, enduring the blast much better than he had. Storm, on the other hand, was knocked out of the sky and had cracks all over its exoskeleton.

Ethan slowly pushed himself upright.

He stared at the monster, which was mostly unharmed aside from some damaged armour plating.

’Mark really beat this thing alone.’

Ethan laughed weakly.

"I guess he’s an even bigger monster."

The monster roared as they locked eyes while he wiped blood from his mouth.

’Yeah.’

His flames reignited.

’This is going to be one hell of a fight.’