The eastern perimeter of Military Base 07 had become a battlefield.
Explosions rocked the defensive walls as dozens of monsters poured through the damaged barricades. Soldiers fired their weapons desperately, trying to stop the creatures from advancing toward the civilian shelters.
At the center of the battlefield stood Destiny.
His eyes were fixed on the enormous D-Rank monster approaching him.
The creature was nearly four meters tall, with thick black scales covering its body. Its muscular arms ended in razor-sharp claws, and its long tail dragged across the ground, leaving deep marks in the concrete.
A terrifying smile spread across its monstrous face.
"SO... YOU ARE THE HUMAN WHO KILLED THE IRON TITAN."
Destiny tightened his grip on his combat knife.
"Who are you?"
The monster laughed.
"YOU MAY CALL ME ASHCLAW, THE HUNTER OF HUMAN COMMANDERS."
[DING!]
[HOSTILE CREATURE ANALYZED.]
[NAME: ASHCLAW]
[RANK: D-RANK]
[LEVEL: 18]
[STRENGTH: 320]
[AGILITY: 240]
[VITALITY: 380]
[DEFENSE: 300]
[SKILLS:
- SHADOW CLAW
- BLOOD RAGE
- MONSTER COMMAND]
[THREAT LEVEL: EXTREME]
[WARNING! HOST'S CURRENT COMBAT ABILITY IS INSUFFICIENT FOR A DIRECT CONFRONTATION.]
Destiny's expression hardened.
The monster was stronger than the Iron Titan in several attributes. Worse, it possessed three abilities that could make the battle extremely dangerous.
"System, analyze its weaknesses."
[DING!]
[ANALYZING TARGET...]
[ANALYSIS COMPLETE.]
[WEAKNESS DETECTED: NECK JOINT.]
[SECONDARY WEAKNESS: ENERGY CORE LOCATED BEHIND THE LEFT SHOULDER.]
[WARNING! TARGET POSSESSES RAPID REGENERATION.]
Destiny's eyes narrowed.
A weak point behind the left shoulder.
That was useful information, but reaching it would be difficult.
"Commander!" Daniel shouted from behind him.
Destiny turned briefly.
His squad was struggling to hold the defensive line.
Joseph was using his shield to block the smaller monsters, while Brian unleashed powerful gusts of wind to push them away from the damaged wall.
Michael and Ethan were nowhere to be seen.
"Naomi! Report!"
Naomi crouched behind a concrete barrier, closing her eyes as she activated her life-sensing ability.
"Commander, there are at least thirty more monsters approaching from the forest! They're surrounding the eastern perimeter!"
Destiny's heart sank.
They were being surrounded.
"Captain Marcus!" he shouted into his communication device. "We need immediate reinforcement at the eastern wall!"
Static crackled through the device.
Then Marcus's voice came through.
"Understood, Destiny! Our forces are currently holding the main gate. We'll send a unit as soon as possible!"
Destiny looked toward Ashclaw.
The monster slowly raised its enormous claws.
"LET US BEGIN."
It disappeared.
Destiny's eyes widened.
[DING!]
[WARNING! HOSTILE SKILL DETECTED.]
[SHADOW CLAW ACTIVATED.]
Before Destiny could react, a powerful impact struck his chest.
BOOOOM!
He was thrown backward and crashed into a concrete barrier.
Pain spread through his body.
[WARNING! HOST VITALITY DECREASED.]
Destiny coughed and struggled to stand.
Ashclaw appeared several meters away, slowly licking the blood from one of its claws.
"WEAK."
Destiny wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
"System, activate Combat Prediction!"
[DING!]
[COMBAT PREDICTION ACTIVATED.]
[ANALYZING ENEMY MOVEMENT...]
[WARNING! TARGET MOVEMENT SPEED EXCEEDS CURRENT PREDICTION ACCURACY.]
Destiny frowned.
Even his Combat Prediction skill was struggling to keep up.
Ashclaw charged again.
This time, Destiny moved sideways just before the monster's claws struck the ground.
CRAAACK!
The concrete shattered.
Destiny used the opening to slash at the creature's arm.
His knife scraped against its scales, producing a shower of sparks.
The monster barely reacted.
It swung its tail.
Destiny jumped backward, but the attack caught his legs and sent him tumbling across the ground.
"DESTINY!"
Daniel rushed toward him.
"STAY BACK!" Destiny shouted.
Ashclaw turned toward Daniel.
Its eyes glowed red.
"ANOTHER HUMAN COMMANDER?"
Daniel froze.
The monster raised its claw.
Destiny's heart tightened.
He forced himself to his feet and sprinted toward Daniel.
[DING!]
[HIDDEN PASSIVE SKILL ACTIVATED.]
[SOLDIER'S WILL.]
[ALL ATTRIBUTES INCREASED BY 100%.]
[DURATION: 30 SECONDS.]
Destiny moved faster than before.
He reached Daniel just as Ashclaw brought its claw down.
BOOOOM!
Destiny raised his combat knife and deflected part of the attack, but the force drove both boys into the ground.
"Are you crazy?" Daniel shouted.
"You're welcome!"
Daniel stared at him.
"That wasn't a thank-you!"
Destiny managed a weak smile.
"Then save it for later."
He pushed himself up and looked toward Ashclaw.
The monster was preparing another attack.
Destiny knew they couldn't continue fighting it like this.
They needed a plan.
"Daniel, we need to retreat toward the inner wall!"
Daniel nodded.
"Understood!"
Destiny activated his communication device.
"First Squad, fall back to the second defensive line! Joseph, cover the retreat! Brian, create a wind barrier to slow the monsters!"
"Understood, Commander!" Brian replied.
Joseph immediately moved toward the damaged barricade.
He raised his shield as several monsters charged toward the squad.
"COME ON, YOU UGLY BASTARDS!"
He slammed his shield into the first creature, knocking it backward.
Brian extended both hands.
A powerful gust of wind swept across the battlefield, forcing the approaching monsters to stumble.
"NOW! MOVE!"
Destiny and Daniel retreated with the others.
However, Ashclaw had no intention of allowing them to escape.
The monster opened its mouth and released a deafening roar.
ROOOOOAAAAARRR!
[DING!]
[HOSTILE SKILL DETECTED.]
[MONSTER COMMAND ACTIVATED.]
[NEARBY MONSTERS HAVE RECEIVED A COMBAT ENHANCEMENT.]
The smaller creatures suddenly became more aggressive.
Their eyes glowed brighter, and their movements became faster.
Destiny's expression changed.
"Everyone, be careful! The monsters have become stronger!"
A creature leaped toward Grace.
Before it could reach her, Michael appeared in a blur of movement and kicked it sideways.
"Medic, get behind me!"
Grace quickly moved away.
Ethan raised his hands.
Electricity crackled around his fingers.
"Take this!"
A bolt of electricity struck the monster, throwing it against the wall.
[DING!]
[PRIVATE ETHAN HAS ELIMINATED AN F-RANK MONSTER.]
[EXPERIENCE AWARDED.]
Destiny glanced at the notification.
His soldiers were improving.
But they still lacked the strength to fight Ashclaw.
Suddenly, Naomi shouted.
"COMMANDER! THE MONSTER IS MOVING!"
Destiny turned.
Ashclaw had disappeared again.
[DING!]
[WARNING! SHADOW CLAW DETECTED.]
Destiny activated Combat Prediction.
A red warning flashed across his vision.
[ATTACK TRAJECTORY: REAR LEFT.]
He immediately turned and raised his knife.
CLANG!
Ashclaw's claws struck the blade.
The impact forced Destiny to one knee.
The monster leaned closer.
"YOU HAVE SURVIVED LONGER THAN EXPECTED, HUMAN."
Destiny gritted his teeth.
"That's because I'm not planning to die today!"
He pushed against the monster's claws.
Then he noticed something.
Every time Ashclaw used Shadow Claw, the scales around its left shoulder briefly glowed red.
The monster's energy core was behind that shoulder.
Destiny smiled.
He finally understood.
"Daniel! Its left shoulder! Attack the left shoulder!"
Daniel immediately rushed forward and struck the creature's arm.
Ashclaw turned toward him.
Destiny used the distraction to slash at the glowing scales.
CRACK!
A small piece of armor broke away.
The monster roared in fury.
It threw Destiny backward and released a powerful shockwave.
BOOOOM!
Destiny crashed into the ground.
His Soldier's Will began to fade.
[DING!]
[SOLDIER'S WILL HAS ENDED.]
[WARNING! HOST IS EXPERIENCING EXTREME PHYSICAL STRAIN.]
Destiny struggled to breathe.
Ashclaw approached him.
"ENOUGH."
The monster raised its claw.
Suddenly, a loud explosion erupted behind it.
BOOOOOOM!
A military armored vehicle smashed through the remaining barricade.
Captain Marcus stood on top of it, holding a military rifle.
"DESTINY! GET YOUR SQUAD OUT OF THERE!"
Several military soldiers jumped from the vehicle and opened fire.
Bullets struck Ashclaw's body.
The monster roared and turned toward the new arrivals.
Marcus shouted into his radio.
"ALL UNITS! CONCENTRATE FIRE ON THE TARGET!"
The military soldiers obeyed.
Explosions and gunfire filled the air.
Destiny slowly stood.
He looked toward Marcus.
"Sir! Its weakness is behind its left shoulder!"
Marcus immediately relayed the information.
"ALL UNITS! TARGET THE LEFT SHOULDER!"
Heavy gunfire struck Ashclaw's damaged armor.
The monster staggered.
For the first time, it appeared genuinely injured.
Destiny looked at his soldiers.
"Now's our chance!"
Daniel nodded.
"Let's finish this!"
Destiny opened his system interface.
[DING!]
[TACTICAL OPPORTUNITY DETECTED.]
[ENEMY DEFENSE REDUCED.]
[RECOMMENDATION: COORDINATED ATTACK.]
Destiny raised his hand.
"First Squad! Formation Alpha!"
Joseph moved to the front.
Brian positioned himself behind him, while Ethan prepared an electrical attack.
Michael crouched, ready to move.
Naomi focused on Ashclaw's movements.
Grace remained behind the defensive line.
Destiny looked toward Daniel.
"On my signal!"
Ashclaw suddenly charged toward the soldiers.
"NOW!"
Brian unleashed a powerful wind blast.
The monster's movement slowed for a moment.
Ethan fired a concentrated bolt of electricity toward its damaged shoulder.
CRACK!
Ashclaw roared.
Joseph charged forward and slammed his shield into the monster's knee.
Michael used his enhanced speed to circle behind the creature and strike its injured shoulder.
Daniel followed with a powerful attack to the exposed scales.
The monster staggered.
Destiny activated Combat Prediction.
[DING!]
[ENEMY CORE EXPOSED.]
[ATTACK WINDOW: 3 SECONDS.]
Destiny sprinted forward.
Ashclaw noticed him and tried to raise its claw.
But Destiny was already moving.
He jumped onto the monster's back and drove his knife into the exposed energy core behind its left shoulder.
CRAAAAACK!
A bright flash erupted from the wound.
Ashclaw screamed.
Its enormous body shook violently.
Destiny held on as the monster tried to throw him off.
"YOU... INSIGNIFICANT... HUMAN!"
Destiny pushed the blade deeper.
"MY NAME IS DESTINY!"
The energy core shattered.
BOOOOOOOOM!
A wave of energy spread across the battlefield.
Ashclaw collapsed.
The remaining monsters immediately stopped moving.
[DING!]
[CONGRATULATIONS! D-RANK MONSTER ELIMINATED.]
[HOSTILE TARGET: ASHCLAW.]
[EXPERIENCE GAINED: 2,500 XP.]
[MILITARY POINTS AWARDED: 2,000.]
[MONSTER CORE ACQUIRED.]
[LEVEL UP!]
[HOST LEVEL: 6.]
[FREE ATTRIBUTE POINTS AWARDED: 5.]
[NEW SKILL UNLOCKED: BATTLEFIELD COMMAND.]
Destiny landed heavily on the ground.
He stared at the system notifications.
He had defeated another D-Rank monster.
But this time, he hadn't done it alone.
He turned toward his soldiers.
Daniel was smiling.
Joseph raised his shield in celebration.
Brian and Ethan exchanged excited looks, while Michael helped Naomi stand.
Grace rushed toward the injured soldiers.
Destiny smiled.
They had survived.
And his squad had taken its first major step toward becoming a real military force.
Suddenly, the system displayed another notification.
[DING!]
[MISSION UPDATE.]
[HOST HAS SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDED MILITARY BASE 07.]
[MISSION OBJECTIVES COMPLETED.]
[REWARD: 5,000 MILITARY POINTS.]
[ADVANCED MILITARY SUPPLY CRATE ACQUIRED.]
[RANDOM EPIC SKILL AVAILABLE.]
Destiny's eyes widened.
Five thousand Military Points.
An advanced supply crate.
And an Epic skill.
He had gained a considerable amount of resources.
However, before he could examine his rewards, Naomi suddenly looked toward the forest.
"Commander..."
Destiny turned.
"What is it?"
Naomi's face had gone pale.
"There are more creatures out there."
Destiny frowned.
"How many?"
Naomi swallowed.
"Thousands."
The battlefield fell silent.
Far beyond the eastern perimeter, the forest began to move.
Hundreds of glowing red eyes appeared between the trees.
Then a deep voice echoed from the darkness.
"ASHCLAW HAS FALLEN."
Destiny's blood ran cold.
"WHO DARES KILL ONE OF MY GENERALS?"
A gigantic shadow emerged from the forest.
The creature was so enormous that its head rose above the tallest trees.
Destiny's system flashed violently.
[DING!]
[EXTREME DANGER DETECTED.]
[UNKNOWN HIGH-RANK ENTITY APPROACHING.]
[THREAT LEVEL: UNMEASURABLE.]
Destiny stared at the approaching shadow.
For the first time, he wondered whether winning the battle had made the situation even worse.