Ryo collapsed onto the floor, his chest heaving with air as he struggled to breathe. The previous phase had left him more tired than he had anticipated, using only Elemental Manipulation to hold on. He had battled ogres, trolls, wyverns, and vampire behemoths, making it through with little more than a scratch. Now, he had half an hour to catch his breath before the next phase.
"This trial is crazy…" he thought, closing his eyes.
His body hurt, his muscles protesting fiercely, but he couldn't collapse now. He turned on the regeneration of Paradox Physique, healing his stamina and bruises at lightning-fast speed.
[SYSTEM NOTICE: Phase 5 will now initiate.]
A chilling shiver shot down Ryo's spine when the system's voice rang in his ears yet again.
[In this phase, only combat-related physical ability is permitted. All other skills will be frozen.]
Ryo's eyes widened. No elemental magic, no blood abilities, no flight, nothing but brute force?
He groaned, tugging at his unkempt hair. "Great! Now this?!" he yelled in frustration.
Combat with Elemental Manipulation had been simpler—he could control the battlefield, attack at a distance, and wear down his opponents before finishing them. But pure melee combat? He would have to use his fists, speed, reflexes, and Draconic traits regarding strength and stamina.
[Phase 5 – Beginning Now.]
The earth shook. Dust whirled into the air as a new horde of creatures stepped forth out of the darkness ahead.
At the forefront were *minotaurs armored, their giant forms draped in heavy plates of steel and muscle. Behind them, black-furred giant lycans howled beneath the blood-red sky. Stone golems, as large as a small fortress, marched forward, causing the battlefield to tremble with each stride.
Above in the sky, bat-like abominations with serrated wings shrieked loudly, their soulless red eyes focused on Ryo.
Ryo cracked his knuckles. No illusions. Fists and instincts only.
"Bring it on."
The first minotaur snarled, running at him with its enormous twin axes. Its quickness was astonishing for something of its size, but Ryo's reflexes responded.
He dodged at the last moment, avoiding a crushing downward swing that broke the ground. Seizing the opening, Ryo rotated his body and landed a tremendous uppercut, launching the minotaur high into the air.
Before it could fall and crush him, he sprang up and slammed his knee into its head, knocking it out immediately.
A piercing blast of wind heralded another attack.
Ryo managed to turn just in time to watch a lycan charging towards him, its claws outstretched.
He tightened his fist and hurled a straight punch, punching it right into the chest of the lycan. The blow sent out a shockwave, knocking the creature back, slamming into a pack of minotaurs.
Additional foes attacked him—three minotaurs, two lycans, and a golem wielding an enormous stone fist.
Ryo invoked Paradox Physique, his body strengthening immediately, adding power and speed to his frame.
In a flash, he rushed toward the minotaurs.
With a mere *spinning kick, he destroyed one's helmet and collapsed its skull.
He wrapped a hand around another minotaur's arm and ripped it out of its socket, employing the amputated limb as a club to swipe the third away.
The *lycans charged once more, but Ryo sidestepped with ease. He retaliated by taking one by the throat and slamming it into the ground with such force that the earth split.
The other lycan bit down on his shoulder, but his Draconic Scales sprang into action immediately, halting the attack.
With a frustrated growl, Ryo seized the beast's head and wrenched it around with a brutal motion, breaking its neck.
BOOM!
A giant stone fist came crashing down, and Ryo had to leap back. The golem roared, its body radiating runes as it lifted another huge arm.
Ryo grinned.
"Let's see how strong you really are."
He turned on Draconic Strength, his muscles bulging slightly. Then, he charged forward, dodging another fist before digging his feet into the ground.
As the *golem swung down its second fist, Ryo caught it in mid-air with both hands!
The brute strength caused the ground below him to give way, but he clenched his teeth, his veins throbbing on his arms.
"Not bad… but you're too slow!"
With a thunderous bellow, he picked up the golem by its arm and threw it headfirst onto the battlefield, breaking its stony body into half a thousand pieces!
Final Opponent – The Sky Reaper
A blood-curdling shriek resounded from above.
Ryo glanced up to find an enormous bat creature with six wings, its torso armored in deep red.
[Sky Reaper – Elite Monster Identified.]
The Sky Reaper swooped towards him, its deadly-wound wings stretched out.
Ryo leapt high, striking it halfway in mid-air. The creature smashed its wings fiercely, firing out air blades which cut through the earth below.
He barely avoided, then applied Draconic Aura to his arms and gave it a crushing double-fist slam on its back. The force slammed the Sky Reaper into the ground, where it crashed, creating a huge crater.
Before it could get up, Ryo jumped next to it and stamped on its head, smashing its skull to pieces.
There was a moment of silence before the voice of the system echoed.
Phase 5 Ends
[SYSTEM NOTICE: Phase 5 Completed.]
Ryo breathed out, his body aflame with exhaustion. His back, legs, and arms were sore from the non-stop fighting.
[Phase 6 starts in 30 minutes.]
Groaning. "Another one? Give me a damn break…"
Lying down on the ground, he gazed up at the sky.
"What's next? Fighting gods?"
[yes. ] Author's Note:
what's next? With Phase 6 looming ahead, what kind of insane challenge awaits him? And will he even get a moment to breathe before the system whips another curveball at him?
What do you think of this chapter? What was your favorite fight scene? And do you have any theories about the next phases?
Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for the next chapter!