“Oh, I’m genuinely impressed that someone could assess my level just by looking,” Takashi said, a slight bow. “Might I have the honor of knowing the name of the master standing before me?”

  “Kurogasa, the Shadowed Fang,” Kurogasa replied, his voice calm.

  “Takashi here. A humble warrior who fights to serve my master’s son,” Takashi responded with a respectful nod.

  “Takashi, kill them at oake their isnd. I want all of their women!” Soren shouted.

  The man in heavy armor stood and pointed directly at Ats. “Kill that man! He’s dared to use deceit against me!”

  “Not deceit, Soren. It’s simply that you ck discipline.”

  “Shut up, Takashi! You’re here only to follow orders. Now fight and kill them all! This has gone on long enough. I’m sure you don’t want to face my father’s wrath, do you?!”

  Takashi then readied himself, moving his sword through a series of martial arts maneuvers before settling into a stance.

  “I’ll be taking on this master ninja. Look after yourself, because I won’t be able to protect you while I’m at it.”

  “You really are useless, Takashi. Just get this over with, and stop saying unnecessary things.”

  Takashi gave a faint smile. “Judging by their respo’s clear their level isn’t much higher than mihat gives me a signifit adva’s a shame, though, that a master ninja as strong-looking as you still has a lower level than I do,” he said, gng at Kurogasa.

  Kurogasa, too, took up his stance, preparing for the fight.

  “I’ll make this quick,” Takashi tinued. “But this will be the st time I work for you, Soren. You’d better beg your father to find you anuardian.”

  “Shut up, you’re worthless to me anyway!” Soren snapped.

  Takashi and Kurogasa squared off, each readying themselves for the csh. Ats took a few steps back, giving them space. Just as the fight was about to begin... suddenly!

  Everyone’s attention snapped in another dire as someone came crashing down from behind Takashi, nding with an impact that sent shockwaves through the ground.

  All eyes turo where Raze stood, looking furious, his fists ched as he let out a guttural, rage-filled scream.

  “hhh! Rhhh!”

  Takashi tried to leap away, but Raze lunged forward with blinding speed, swinging both fists in rapid succession toward him. Takashi sshed back with his sword, but Raze was simply too fast.

  In a fsh, Raze caught Takashi’s right arm in a powerful grip with his left hand. Without missing a beat, he lifted Takashi and smmed him down into the ground over and over. Up, down, up, down, tossing him like a ragdoll with relentless force.

  The final throw left Takashi sprawled against the ground, and Raze didn’t hesitate. He began pounding his right fist into Takashi’s face, blow after brutal blow, until Takashi’s head sank into the dirt beh him.

  “Stupid warrior, you look like Edrik, and that pisses me off. Just die already, idiot!” Raze snarled, tinuing to punch.

  It happened shogly fast, and the warrior with the mustache met his end in mere moments.

  Everyone fell silent, stuhey’d just withe warrior, who was even higher level than Mannam, sin in seds by Raze.

  Now, only oarget remained.

  Their Lord.

  Ats turned his gaze back to Soren, gripping his spear, ready to end this before the ing lord could pull any more tricks.

  “Stht there!” Soren yelled. “Don’t push me! Don’t make me do this!” he shouted desperately.

  Ats ighe plea, lunging forward in a fsh. He spun his spear and struck decisively toward Soren.

  Soren caught the spear with both hands, but the force threw him to the ground. He scrambled back to his feet, anger bzing in his eyes.

  “Stht there, you idiot! Don’t you know who you’re dealing with? I could kill you all with ease. Stop now and leave at once!” he screamed, his face twisted in terror.

  Ats didn’t even flinch. “Too many threats, Soren. You die now!” He lunged forward, spear poised to strike. But just then, Soren…

  Ripped off his gloves and bit down hard on his own palm. “You filthy bastards! If I’m going down, you’re all ing with me!”

  Ats stopped instantly, catg an ominous st in the air. Kurogasa darted in front of him. “Step back, My Lord.”

  Raze, still brimming with fury, gred at Soren. “That little coward still has tricks up his sleeve? Let’s see what he’s got!”

  A series of explosive bursts erupted from Soren’s dire. His entire body began to glow, radiating a blinding, intense light.

  Kurogasa tried to rush toward Soren, but the energy from the bsts was too powerful. Kurogasa was forced to fall back, grabbing Ats and pulling him away just in time.

  A self-destructive explosion?

  The ground shook as debris, walls, and ks of earth were hurled into the air. Amid the chaos, a deep, guttural roar pierced through, eg from within the destru.

  What just happened?

  As the dust and debris finally began to settle, they saw it.

  A massive, spectral beast, t three times the height of Raze. It was a creature, a fusion of bear, wolf, and stag.

  The beast stood with a hulking, muscur body like a bear’s, a wolf’s fierce head with razor-sharp fangs, and the majestitlers of a stag, stretg high and glowing with an eerie, spectral light.

  [Avatar of the A Wilds]

  [A maion of untamed, primal essehis form transforms the bearer into a t, spectral beast—a fusion of bear, wolf, and stag. While in this state, strength, speed, and resilience surge to unpreted levels. Every strike reverberates with shockwaves, shaking the very earth and disorienting enemies, while spectral roots emerge to ensnare and bind all who stand against it, rooting them helplessly in pce.]

  Ats stood firm, Kurogasa at his left side, while Raze tinued pounding his fists into the ground, growling and shouting in frustration.

  Manna appeared at Ats’s right. “So, he’s turned himself into a monster now?”

  Karian stepped up behind her, gripping his greatsword, followed by Edrik, who held his dagger and watched their transformed foe with steely eyes.

  Lyrassa moved closer, h just behind the others. Despite her small frame, she stood out, floating higher than Karian’s tall, imposing figure.

  "Ha ha! I warned you!" Soren's voied. "Now, none of you will be able to stop me. This is where you all meet your end!"

  Ats stood firm, his allies and troops gathered behind him in a solid line of defense. Soren’s forces had been pletely wiped out, leaving only this strange, spectral beast as their final oppo.

  “What do you think, Master Kurogasa?” Ats asked.

  Kurogasa nodded. “My Lord, he is strong, but we are many, and no less powerful.”

  Ats summoned his floating throne, leaping onto it effortlessly. He drew out his Rank-A item: the Stormcaller’s Amulet, and prepared for battle.

  "Elites, attack! Troops, find an opening and strike from a distance!" he anded.

  With a unified roar, they all sprang into a.

  Dark energy cloaked Manna's left side, and a shadowy red wing unfurled on her right as she soared forward with effortless speed.

  Raze charged in his usual urained fury, throwing himself headlong at the creature, ready to strike without a sed thought.