Chapter 199 – ???

Date : Day 3 of Frostfall 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.

The massive creature continued its slow advance from the Still Forest.

Its movements were unhurried. Almost leisurely. Yet, its enormous size made every step terrifyingly efficient. Each stride covered long distance.

The distance between it and Riverville Town rapidly disappeared.

THUMP.

The earth trembled.

THUMP.

Another step.

The ground shook once more.

Hyoren tightened his grip around Étendard Sacré du Lys and Dawn Breaker.

His instincts immediately reached a conclusion. The defenders would be useless against something like this. No, worse than useless. They would only become casualties. And inside the Domain of the Undead—every casualty risked becoming another Living Dead.

That would only make the situation even more disastrous.

Hyoren immediately turned toward the exhausted defenders. His voice rang across the southern entrance.

"Defenders! Run! Fall back to the behind the wall! Do not engage that monster!"

The militia froze. Even Arad looked toward him.

Hyoren continued without hesitation.

"Also please some of you, find the other members of Freedom Party… Tell them what happened here! If they're able… Ask them to come and help!"

He pointed firmly toward the town.

"Now! Go!"

The defenders only hesitated for a heartbeat. Then they understood.

Against a monster of that size, remaining here would only hinder Hyoren and the others.

"Yes, sir!"

One after another, they turned and sprinted back toward Riverville Town. They were holding their line inside the wall, while some of them ran towards the northern side, to inform the other members of Freedom Party.

Hyoren watched them fall back before turning toward Arad.

"You… Are you staying?"

Arad answered without hesitation.

"I am."

He tightened his grip on his steel spear.

"Don't worry. I won't get in your way."

Hyoren had already seen how the veteran fought. He simply nodded.

Arad might not be able to change the tide of this battle. But every capable hand still mattered.

Hyoren slowly turned back toward the approaching giant. It had already crossed nearly half the distance separating the forest from the town. Now—its details became clearer.

Hyoren's dark eyes widened. Horror slowly crept across his face.

The gigantic creature was made of flesh. Not ordinary flesh. Countless pieces of flesh.

As though innumerable bodies had been crudely stitched together into a single colossal humanoid shape. Human arms protruded from one leg. A mangled foot jutted from its shoulder. 

Several human faces were embedded across its body. Some twisted in expressions of agony. Others stared blankly into nothingness.

There was more than just human flesh. Bones protruded through torn flesh. Goblin limbs. Horned Rabbit carcasses. Fragments of beasts. Countless monsters.

Everything had been forced together.

Some sections had already rotted. Darkened flesh sagged from the creature's frame.

Yet other parts still looked horrifyingly fresh. Blood continued dripping from newly joined muscles.

Its entire surface slowly pulsed. As though thousands of mismatched bodies were somehow sharing one grotesque heartbeat. It looked—wrong. So wrong.

Every instinct inside Hyoren screamed that such a thing should never exist.

It wasn't merely a giant monster. Nor was it simply an undead.

It looked like someone had gathered countless corpses. Humans. Monster. Anything they could find. Then desperately tried to build a gigantic Frankenstein.

Only to abandon all sense of order halfway through—and simply throw every remaining corpse into the same horrific mass.

Before Hyoren stood a grotesque being born purely from horror.

***

Hyoren narrowed his eyes.

So… The corpse-type Living Dead that gradually dwindled near the end… They weren't simply running out...

His gaze remained fixed on the colossal abomination.

They used them… To create this...

Understanding slowly dawned upon him.

Instead of endlessly creating individual Living Dead. Creatures that were weak on their own. The Voided Covenant had gathered countless corpses together. Forging them into one gigantic existence. One monstrous weapon. Meant to crush the force that had thwarted their plans.

Hyoren slowly exhaled. Then activated his perception skill.

"Magic Eyes."

Aethell flowed into his eyes. His dark irises glowed faintly. The evolved skill of his activated—Magic Eyes: Diagnostic Sight.

The skill which was the culmination of four different abilities. Aethell Sense. Simple Appraisal. Anatomical Knowledge. Clinical Insight. Merged into a single skill.

With it, he could perceive Aethell flow. Estimate an enemy's strength. Identify weaknesses. And determine injuries, illnesses, or abnormal conditions.

His glowing eyes settled upon the gigantic creature.

Immediately, information appeared before his vision.

Hyoren's expression stiffened. His throat tightened. He unconsciously swallowed hard.

Beside him, Elise immediately noticed.

"Hyoren?"

He remained silent for a moment.

Only after reading everything did he slowly open his mouth.

"That thing… is far more troublesome than we thought."

The appraisal continued floating before his eyes.

??? — Level ???

Weakpoint: ???

State: Undead? Made with ? Possible ?? Flesh? Bones?

Question marks. Almost every line contained question marks and garbled sentences.

Hyoren felt a chill crawl down his spine.

The creature level being unknown. He could understand that. His old simple appraisal had always failed against beings whose levels greatly exceeded his own.

That much wasn't unusual.

But, for Magic Eyes—to fail at identifying what the creature even was—had never happened before.

Even the monsters inside a dungeon. Creatures created by Demon God Gidol that didn't belong to any established monster hierarchy. His appraisal had still recognized them. Yet, this thing could not even be named.

Then there was the weak point.

Normally, his Anatomical Knowledge allowed Magic Eyes to determine a creature's vulnerable areas. Living beings. Monsters. Even Living Dead. Everything possessed weaknesses.

Yet, this creature simply displayed ???.

Magic Eyes itself couldn't determine its weakness.

Then came the final line—state.

Even his evolved skill couldn't confidently decide whether this creature was actually undead or not.  The uncertainty alone was terrifying. Couples with the garbled sentences which followed. It was like his skill failed to identify its state because the creature state was too far from the Law of Aethell.

Hyoren’s gaze slowly narrowed. There is another thing which made him terrified.

Every living creature possessed a single Aethell Core. That core was its greatest weakness. Destroy it. And the creature died. Even Wraiths, beings without physical bodies, still possessed one glowing Aethell Core.

Living Dead were no different. Break their core. And they stopped moving.

Yet, the gigantic creature before him was different. Far different.

Magic Eyes clearly revealed. Not one. Not two. But, five glowing Aethell Cores.

One rested inside what could only vaguely be called its head. Or perhaps, one of the swollen masses of flesh fused to its upper torso.

The remaining four were embedded throughout its enormous body.

One occupied roughly the position where a heart should exist. Assuming such a grotesque thing even possessed a heart. Another pulsed somewhere along its back. The final two glowed deep within its lower body. On its hip.

Every known creature. Humans. Monster. Spirit.Ghost. Undead. Had only one Aethell Core. Destroy that single core, and everything ended. Yet this abomination possessed—five.

Does every one of them need to be destroyed...?

Or… Must they all be destroyed at the same time...?

If it were the latter, then defeating this monster would become unimaginably difficult. Especially considering its colossal size.

Hyoren finally broke the silence.

"That thing… has five Aethell Cores, Elise."

Elise's emerald eyes widened.

"W-What...? How is that even possible...?"

Hyoren slowly shook his head.

"I don't know. One is in its head. The other four are inside its torso."

His gaze remained locked on the advancing giant.

"I'm not sure whether all five need to be destroyed simultaneously… but if they do..."

He tightened his grip around Étendard Sacré du Lys.

"...then defeating it will be far harder than we imagined."

The gigantic creature continued approaching.

Now that it was closer. The grotesque details became even clearer. The writhing flesh. The countless bodies. The twisted faces. The exposed bones. Everything about it screamed that it should never have existed.

Hyoren stared at the horrific creation. But seeing the creature closer, at last, he found a fitting name.

"That grotesque thing is…”

He paused.

“A Flesh Golem."

Elise tightened her grip around Moonveil Bow. Her lips quietly repeated the name.

"Flesh Golem..."

For several long heartbeats, Hyoren, Elise, and Arad could only stand there. Watching the grotesque giant slowly advance toward Riverville Town in silent horror.

***

Hyoren kept his eyes fixed on the approaching monstrosity. The Flesh Golem advanced relentlessly. Slow. Steady. Every step carried it frighteningly closer to Riverville Town.

They needed a plan. Now. Otherwise, that abomination would soon reach the town walls.

His glowing Magic Eyes remained focused on the creature.

That thing… If my appraisal only shows its level as "???"... Then it's at least five levels above me...

That alone would already make it a formidable opponent.

His gaze shifted toward the five glowing Aethell Cores pulsing within the creature's enormous body.

Considering the amount of Aethell contained inside those five cores...

He slowly narrowed his eyes.

Closer to Level 30...

A brief pause.

No… Level 35 wouldn't be impossible...

His grip around Etendard Sacré du Lys tightened.

Then he glanced toward Elise and Arad.

And there are only three of us… Jackey and Arianna… Our two strongest damage dealers… They're still at the rear...

Silence filled his thoughts. He reached a decision.

It seems… Using that skill… Is inevitable.

Hyoren glanced behind him.

The exhausted militia still stood beyond the wooden wall. Although they had retreated, most of them hadn't left. They watched him with anxious but trusting expressions.

If I use it… In front of everyone here… I won't be able to hide it anymore...

He remained silent.

Then—his eyes slowly shifted toward Elise. A painful memory resurfaced. The battle against the Servant of Gidol—Goblin Knight Hifoppe.

Back then, he had hesitated. He had been overconfident. Thinking he could win without using his true trump card simply because Hifoppe's level wasn't much higher than his own.

He also had feared the backlash.

Feared the unbearable pain awaiting him after Berserker ended. It wasn't ordinary exhaustion. It was agony. Every fiber of his muscles. Every bone in his body. It felt as though they were shattered one after another. Healed. Then shattered again. Over. And over. And Again. 

A pain so intense—he doubted anyone could ever become accustomed to it.

And because he hesitated. Because he delayed. Elise had nearly died.

The memory remained vivid. Hifoppe's dark blade had almost bisected her. From her right shoulder. Down toward her left flank.

Even her left wrist had been cleanly severed.

Hyoren had been forced to perform emergency surgery on the battlefield. He had managed to reattach her hand. But he hadn't been able to reconnect every nerve correctly. For a time, her left hand had remained paralyzed.

She had almost been forced to retire as an archer.

Only after Archbishop Sherine healed her with advanced Light Magic. Had her arm finally recovered.

Even now. Though she had regained full use of it. The scars remained. The long scar stretched diagonally across her torso. Then, the bracelet made of scar around her left wrist.

Permanent reminders of Hyoren's hesitation.

Every time Elise casually raised her left hand. He saw it. Every time they slept together. Whenever his eyes happened to fall upon the scar crossing her body. The guilt resurfaced.

I don't want to repeat that…

His dark eyes gradually lost every trace of hesitation.

I won't hide it anymore.

He tightened his grip around Dawn Breaker.

The crest of House Akela engraved upon the sword cross guard caught the dim light.

Things were different now. He was no longer alone. House Akela stood behind him. The Church of Luminara knew him.

There might  be nobles seeking to exploit his abilities.

He understood that. But, unlike when he had first arrived in Akela. He now had people willing to stand beside him.

He clenched his jaw.

I don't care about the cost anymore. I'll endure it. Even if it feels like walking through living hell...

His eyes drifted toward Elise once more.

The woman standing beside him was living proof of the price his hesitation had once demanded.

I don't want to see my loved one get hurt again.

His resolve solidified. He slowly nodded. Then looked directly at Elise.

"Elise...I'm going to use Berserker."

He smiled faintly.

"Please take care of me afterward…"

The silver-haired elf quietly looked into his eyes. Her emerald irises met his dark ones.

For several long heartbeats. Neither spoke.

She tightened her grip around Moonveil Bow. She understood. Hyoren had already made his decision. And as both his companion. And the woman who loved him. Her answer would never change.

She gave him a gentle nod.

"Understood, Hyoren."

A warm smile appeared on her face.

"I will always support you."

Hyoren smiled back. Then nodded firmly.

"Let's do this."

Elise raised her bow. Her emerald eyes reflected unwavering determination.

"Let's do this. May Sylvana bless us with her wind of victory."

Standing beside them.  Arad silently watched the exchange. He tightened his grip around his steel spear.

Without another word, he understood. The battle awaiting them. Would be unlike anything they had faced before.

Hyoren turned toward Arad.

Before activating his Unique Skill, there was something the veteran guard needed to know.

"Arad."

The town guard immediately looked at him.

"Yes, Mister Hyoren?"

Hyoren took a slow breath.

"After this… I'm going to use a skill."

He glanced briefly toward the approaching Flesh Golem before continuing.

"It will explosively increase my strength."

He smiled wryly.

"But… I won't be able to think straight."

Arad listened silently.

Hyoren continued.

"Don't worry. I should still be able to distinguish friend from foe."

His expression became more serious.

"But I definitely won't be able to give orders."

He gestured toward the silver-haired elf standing beside him.

"You'll need to work together with Elise. And follow her commands."

Arad tightened his grip around his steel spear. Without hesitation. He nodded.

"Understood, Mister Hyoren."

He looked toward the colossal abomination slowly approaching Riverville.

"I don't know how much I can contribute against… that thing."

For a brief moment—even the veteran guard's voice became heavy.

"But… If nothing else… I can become a distraction."

He then turned toward Elise. Giving the silver-haired elf a respectful bow.

"I'll follow Lady Elise's commands."

Elise returned the gesture with a calm nod.

"I'll be counting on you, Arad."

Hyoren smiled.

"Good. Then… Let's do this."

Arad nodded firmly. He raised his steel spear toward the dark sky.

"May Luminara's light guide us toward victory."

Hyoren quietly nodded in agreement.

He slowly turned back toward the Flesh Golem. The colossal monstrosity had drawn even closer. Its grotesque mass of fused flesh became clearer with every thunderous step.

THUMP.

The ground shook.

THUMP.

Another step.

Hyoren tightened his grip around Étendard Sacré du Lys in his left hand. His right hand firmly grasped Dawn Breaker.

Then, without another word, he stepped forward. Ready to confront the monstrous creation head-on.

***

Hyoren stood before the wooden barricade. His grip on Étendard Sacré du Lys remained firm.

Arad stood slightly behind him, steel spear lowered into a ready stance.

Farther back, Elise slowly nocked an arrow onto Moonveil Bow. Her emerald eyes never left the gigantic monstrosity.

The Flesh Golem continued its advance.

THUMP.

One final step.

Then, it stopped. Only a short distance separated the two sides now.

Up close, the grotesque details became even more horrifying.

Countless pieces of flesh had been crudely fused together. Rotting flesh oozed foul green fluid. Fresh muscles still dripped crimson blood. Human limbs protruded unnaturally from its enormous body. Twisted faces remained embedded within the flesh, frozen in expressions of agony.

The sinister aura surrounding it pressed heavily upon everyone present.

Then—without warning—a voice echoed across the battlefield.

It wasn't metallic. Nor did it carry the oily distortion Hyoren remembered from Gidol.

Instead. It sounded. Wrong. Loud yet strangely muffled. As though someone were speaking behind countless layers of thick cloth while shouting with all their strength.

Even more disturbing. It wasn't a single voice. It was like multiple people, All speaking, The exact same words. At the exact same moment. In the exact same rhythm. Only, each possessed a different voice.

And, every syllable sounded as though it required tremendous effort to force out.

"Shhooo… thheeesse… wwere… thheee… oonnneee… wwhoo… destrrroooyyy… ourrr… creeaaatiooon..."

Hyoren, Elise, and Arad—all widened their eyes.

It can speak...?

None of them answered the monstrosity.

They simply tightened their grips on their weapons. Watching. Waiting. The Flesh Golem remained motionless.

Then, the distorted chorus spoke once more.

"Bhuuut… thaaannkkksss… beeeccaaauuuseee… ooofff… yooouuu… weee… finaaalllyyy… coouuulld… peeerfffoorrmmm… thiiiss… miiirrraaaccllleee… beeessttooowweeeddd… byyy… ourrr… Goooodddeessssss… Noooccctttyyynnaaarrraaaa..."

The voices trembled together.

"Ann… Undeeeaadd… Goooollleeemmm… Weee… saaaccrriiffiiiceeeddd… ourrr… sooouuulllsss… aaasss… offffeeerrriiinnngggsss… too… heeerrr… Aaannddd… shheee… aaannsswweeerrreeddd… ourrr… praaayyyeeerrrsss..."

The enormous creature slowly spread its massive arms.

"Beeehhoooolllddd… thiiisss… iiisss… thheee… pooowweeerrr… ooofff… thheee… Goooodddeessssss… ooofff… Daaarrkkknnneeessssss..."

Silence followed.

Then murmurs erupted among the defenders behind the barricade.

"It's the heretics!"

"Followers of the Goddess of Darkness!"

"Curse them!"

"Our town is doomed!"

Even Elise stood speechless.

Arad silently tightened his grip around his spear until his knuckles turned white.

But, Hyoren's reaction was different. The moment he heard Her name was spoken—Noctynara. Something inside him snapped.

Everyone else heard the name of the Goddess of Darkness—and felt fear.

Hyoren felt anger.

Because he knew the truth. He had met Noctynara. He had spoken with her. He had received her Divine Protection. Just as he had received Luminara's.

She was cold. Logical. Calculating. A seeker of knowledge above all else.

But beneath that distant exterior, Hyoren had sensed genuine kindness not losing to her twin sister. She would never command people to commit atrocities like this. Never.

What stood before him was not her miracle. It was blasphemy committed in her name.

His grip around Dawn Breaker tightened until his knuckles turned white. Every trace of hesitation disappeared. He raised the sword toward the Flesh Golem.

"HOW DARE YOU SPEAK HER NAME, YOU HERETICS!"

His voice thundered across the battlefield.

"I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CREATED THAT MONSTROSITY… BUT THAT IS DEFINITELY NOT A MIRACLE OF NOCTYNARA!"

He raised Étendard Sacré du Lys high.

The black bird of Aetovacus soared proudly in the cold wind. His dark eyes burned with conviction.

"AND I, HYOREN ENJO, ON HER BEHALF… WILL DELIVER JUDGMENT… UPON YOU HERETICS… WHO HAVE BLASPHEMED HER NAME!"

The declaration echoed across the battlefield.

Without another word—Hyoren exploded forward—charging straight toward the Flesh Golem.

***

There was nothing left to say. Hyoren charged straight toward the Flesh Golem.

With every step bringing him closer, the true scale of the monstrosity became unmistakable.

It was roughly humanoid. But, it was anything but human.

Its head was nothing more than a massive blob of fused flesh. Misshapen. Disproportionately big compared to its torso.

Its arms were grotesquely thick. Its legs looked as though countless bodies had simply been compressed together.

The entire creature resembled a clay doll sculpted by a child who had no understanding of human proportions. Only—that malformed doll stood more than ten meters tall.

Hyoren wasn't even tall enough to reach its torso.

The Flesh Golem slowly began moving again. Apparently, talking was not one of its strengths.

As he sprinted across the battlefield. Hyoren immediately began activating his abilities.

Against an undead opponent. Debuffs held little value. He decided not to use Enchant Maledict.

Instead, he activated another familiar skill.

"Magic Blade."

Pure Aethell surged from his body. It coated both Dawn Breaker and Étendard Sacré du Lys. The blade of his sword gleamed brilliantly. The mithril spear shone beneath the fluttering banner.

Both weapons became sharper. Heavier. More durable. Capable of enduring far greater impact.

Without slowing down, he immediately cast a spell.

"Accel Zone."

Light Aethell spread outward beneath his feet.

A glowing circle rapidly expanded across the battlefield. Everyone standing within its area. Including Hyoren himself. Their movements became faster. Their steps swifter. Even their attacks would flow more quickly.

Then, Hyoren finally reached for the power he had resolved to use.

His trump card.

The Unique Skill bestowed upon him by both the Goddess of Light and the Goddess of Darkness when they met within the endless white void.

A skill possessing absurd power. Matched only by its equally absurd price.

Yet—time and time again—it had carried him through impossible battles. Against the Alpha Greenwolf. Against Goblin Knight Hifoppe.

And now—against the Flesh Golem.

Hyoren took one final breath. Then roared.

"BERSERKER!"

Aethell erupted violently from his body.

In an instant, his vision became tinged with crimson. Red haze spread across his vision. His eyes turned bloodshot.

His muscles visibly swelled. Veins rose beneath his skin. Crimson markings rapidly spread throughout his entire body. Steam escaped from his skin.

The overwhelming surge of power rushed through every muscle. Every bone. Every fiber of his being.

His strength. His speed. His reflexes. Everything was explosively amplified. His senses sharpened to an almost frightening degree.

Combined with the enhancement from the Stamina Potion, his combat ability now rivaled that of someone well beyond Level 30. Despite him being only Level 15.

Then, he felt it. The pain. It was there. Faint. Bearable.

The upgraded Berserker never demanded its true price during activation. Instead, the skill silently accumulated every strain. Every injury. Every ounce of pain his body should have suffered. Only after the skill ended would it repay everything. With interest. 

The agony waiting afterward would be beyond imagination. And the longer he used the skill, the more price he needed to pay.

But, Hyoren no longer cared. He had already made his decision. He would use everything he possessed. To ensure everyone survived.

And he would use this power to deliver judgment upon those who had twisted countless innocent lives into this abomination.

The empowered Hyoren closed the remaining distance.

At last, he met the Flesh Golem head-on.

***

The Flesh Golem moved first.

Its massive arm slowly rose. Then, it swung its gigantic fist toward Hyoren. The sheer size of the attack cast a shadow over him.

Hyoren's eyes narrowed. He sidestepped.

BOOM!

The colossal fist slammed into the earth. Although slow, The force behind it was monstrous.

The impact gouged a huge crater into the ground. A violent shockwave blasted outward. Loose dirt and shattered stones flew in every direction.

For a brief moment, the Flesh Golem's fist remained buried in the ground.

Hyoren immediately seized the opening. He dashed forward.

"Quick Slash!"

Dawn Breaker flashed.

SQUELCH!

The enchanted blade carved deeply into the grotesque flesh. A massive chunk of rotten meat was torn free from the creature's arm. It was a wound large enough to cripple any normal monster.

Yet, Compared to the Flesh Golem's colossal body, It looked disappointingly shallow.

Without pausing, Hyoren thrust his banner-bearing spear. The black bird of Aetovacus fluttered proudly behind the strike.

"Piercing Thrust!"

SQUELCH!

Étendard Sacré du Lys pierced effortlessly into the giant mass of flesh.

The spear met almost no resistance. It carved another deep wound. But, like the slash before it, the injury was tiny compared to the creature's enormous size.

The Flesh Golem suddenly moved its other arm.

Its gigantic fist swept toward Hyoren. There wasn't enough room to evade. Hyoren crossed Dawn Breaker and Étendard Sacré du Lys before himself.

BOOM!

The impact exploded against his weapons.

It felt as though it was an enormous wagon. No, a charging truck, had slammed directly into him.

Hyoren didn't even attempt to resist the force.

Instead, he allowed the momentum to carry him away. His body flew backward. The moment he landed, he rolled repeatedly across the ground. Using each roll to disperse the tremendous impact. Only after several rotations did he finally stop.

Behind him, Elise instinctively cried out.

"Hyoren!"

Hyoren immediately pushed himself back onto his feet.

"I'm fine!"

Without waiting another second, he charged once more.

The Flesh Golem slowly pulled its arms again, ready to strike.

Hyoren lowered his spear.

"Piercing Thrust!"

His skill launched him forward.

At almost the same instant—the Flesh Golem's fist crashed down behind him. The earth exploded where he had stood only moments earlier.

SQUELCH!

His mithril spear gouged deeply into the giant's right leg. A large mass of flesh tore free.

Before the Flesh Golem could react, Hyoren followed immediately.

"Quick Slash!"

SQUELCH!

His sword flashed once more. Another enormous chunk of flesh separated from the creature's body.

Then—his sharpened instincts screamed. Without thinking, hyoren threw himself into a roll.

BOOM!

The Flesh Golem's fist smashed into the exact spot where he had been standing. Earth erupted into the air. Fragments of stone scattered everywhere.

Hyoren quickly jumped backward several times. Sword raised. Spear ready. He steadied his breathing.

Even with Berserker clouding part of his judgment, he could still analyze the battle. His crimson hazed vision settled upon the wounds he had inflicted.

The torn flesh remained scattered across the ground. The deep gashes were still there. They hadn't begun closing.

They… Didn't regenerate...

Hyoren's eyes sharpened.

The wounds I inflict… Stay.

The Flesh Golem still showed no reaction. It hadn't flinched. It hadn't screamed. It simply continued attacking as though nothing had happened.

Just like the Living Dead.

Its injuries remained. The torn flesh stayed torn. The missing chunks stayed missing.

A faint smile appeared beneath Hyoren's expression.

We can wear it down...

Bit by bit. Slowly. But surely.

Victory would not come easily. It would demand everything they had. Yet, it was not impossible.

***

Elise watched in horror as the Flesh Golem's gigantic fist struck Hyoren.

The impact sent him tumbling across the ground several times. Her emerald eyes widened.

"Hyoren!"

She instinctively took a step forward.

But, before she could rush toward him.

"I'm fine!"

Hyoren was already back on his feet. Charging once more.

Seeing him continue fighting without hesitation, Elise slowly calmed herself.

She took a deep breath. She knew Hyoren. If he said he was fine. Then now wasn't the time to panic.

She immediately resumed moving.

Rather than standing still, Elise continuously circled the battlefield, her footsteps light as she searched for an opportunity.

Her emerald eyes carefully observed every inch of the Flesh Golem. Looking. Searching. For any weakness. Or even the smallest opening.

She hadn't raised her bow yet. Instead, she analyzed.

Poison won't work against the undead… And ordinary arrows...

Her gaze traveled over the ten-meter-tall monstrosity.

...would be meaningless against something this massive…

Her grip around Moonveil Bow tightened.

What can I do...?

Almost unconsciously, her fingers touched the pendant resting against her chest. Sylvana's Lavalier. The pendant radiated gentle power.

Elise nodded to herself.

Then I'll pour as much Aethell as possible into every shot… Make every shot count…

Power… Instead of rapid fire…

Normally, Elise's fighting style relied upon mobility. She continuously repositioned herself around the battlefield. Firing swift, precise arrows. Every shot aimed at a weak point. Every arrow intended to kill.

But, this enemy was different.

The Flesh Golem possessed no obvious weak spot she could exploit. An ordinary arrow striking its enormous body would be no more significant than an insect's sting.

Elise finally stopped circling to the golem's left.

She slowly raised Moonveil Bow. An arrow rested upon the string. Then she activated her skill.

"Magic Arrow."

Aethell flowed from her body into the arrow. Its destructive power rapidly increased. Its speed became even greater.

At the same time, Sylvana's Lavalier responded. A gentle emerald glow enveloped the arrow. Wind Aethell intertwined with her own magic. Further strengthening the shot.

She continued pouring more Aethell into it than usual. The arrow shone brilliantly. A mixture of pale blue. And emerald green.

Her emerald eyes remained fixed upon the Flesh Golem. Searching. Calculating.

The grotesque combination of flesh and bone created an uneven body.

Her gaze first settled upon its head.

The oversized blob of flesh. Far too large for its torso. It possessed almost no visible neck.

Too thick… My arrow won't accomplish much there…

Her eyes shifted downward. Toward the torso.

Hyoren said four Aethell Cores are inside… But I can't pinpoint their exact positions…

The countless layers of flesh covering its body would make penetrating deeply enough almost impossible.

Her gaze continued downward. Toward the creature's limbs. Each limb differed slightly. Because the Flesh Golem had been assembled from countless corpses. Nothing about its body was symmetrical.

Some arms were thicker. Some legs bent unnaturally. One side supported more rotten flesh. The other more exposed bone.

Then—she found it. 

The left leg. Around the knee, the flesh had decayed considerably. Parts of the joint were already exposed.

Her eyes immediately moved to the right arm. Where it connected to the torso. The structure appeared noticeably weaker. Smaller. Less stable. As though that section had been assembled from inferior flesh.

Elise slowly nodded.

Those two places… I'll weaken them first…

She inhaled deeply. Then released the bowstring.

"Charged Magic Arrow!"

The empowered arrow shot forward with a sharp sound. A pale blue and emerald-green trail streaked across the battlefield.

It struck the Flesh Golem's upper right arm.

BOOM!

The impact exploded outward. Rotting flesh burst apart. Fragments scattered through the air.

A hole roughly the size of a human fist remained where the arrow had struck.

The Flesh Golem didn't even flinch. It felt no pain. Compared to its colossal body, the damage remained insignificant.

Yet—Elise showed no disappointment.

She calmly nocked another arrow. Her emerald eyes never left the weakened joint.

A faint smile appeared upon her lips.

Slowly… But surely…

Elise immediately nocked another arrow. Without taking her eyes off the Flesh Golem, she raised her voice.

"Arad!"

The veteran guard instantly turned toward her.

"Yes, Lady Elise!"

She pointed toward the monster's left leg.

"Attack its left leg! The knee joint! Keep striking that area repeatedly!"

She continued pouring Aethell into the arrow resting upon Moonveil Bow.

"But don't overcommit! Only attack when Hyoren has its attention!"

Arad immediately understood her intention.

"Understood, Lady Elise!"

Satisfied, Elise released her bowstring.

"Charged Magic Arrow!"

The empowered arrow streaked across the battlefield. It struck the same weakened point on the Flesh Golem's right upper arm.

BOOM!

Rotting flesh exploded apart. Another fist-sized crater appeared beside the previous one.

The damage still seemed insignificant. But every attack mattered.

Meanwhile—the Flesh Golem swung another gigantic punch toward Hyoren. He sidestepped at the last possible moment.

Seeing the opening, Arad dashed forward. He lowered his steel spear.

"Piercing Thrust!"

SQUELCH!

His spear drove into the Flesh Golem's left knee joint from below. Rotten flesh burst apart. The exposed joint suffered a deep gouge.

Without becoming greedy, Arad immediately retreated. Jumping backward before the giant could retaliate.

Elise gave a small nod.

Arad is skilled… Good…

She quickly nocked another arrow. The battle continued.

Hyoren remained at the front.

Continuously drawing the Flesh Golem's attention. His sword slashed. His spear thrust. Every exchange carved away more of the gigantic body.

Slowly. But surely. The mountain of flesh diminished.

Meanwhile, Elise and Arad relentlessly focused on the same weak points.

The upper right arm always met with Elise’s Charged Magic Arrow. The left knee was always struck by Arad’s Piercing Thrust. Gradually weakening the creature's structure. Hoping to eventually cripple its balance.

Elise steadied her breathing. She prepared to loose another arrow.

Then—something caught the corner of her eye.

Her emerald eyes widened. The color drained from her face.

Throughout the battle, Hyoren had carved away enormous chunks of flesh. From both legs. From its massive arms when it punched and stuck on the ground.

The battlefield had become littered with grotesque piles of flesh. Rotten meat. Fresh flesh. Broken bones. Dark blood pooled across the ground.

Then—one of the larger chunks suddenly—twitched.

Elise froze.

The severed flesh writhed unnaturally. It pulsed. Contracted. Then—it began changing shape. The lump of flesh slowly pulled itself together. Stubby limbs formed. A crude torso emerged. A misshapen head followed.

Within only a few heartbeats—the severed chunk had transformed into a miniature version of the Flesh Golem. Small. Grotesque. Yet unmistakably alive.

It staggered upright. Then silently raised its stubby arms.

Its target, Hyoren's unprotected back. He never noticed. He remained completely focused on the towering Flesh Golem before him. Dodging another colossal punch. Preparing his next counterattack.

Only Elise saw the danger. Her heart nearly stopped. She screamed with all her strength.

"HYOREN!”