Hope gasped for breath, every inch of his body aching from the explosion. His ears were still ringing, and his vision swam in a disoriented haze.
He barely had the strength to move—
But he didn't have a choice.
Something was watching him.
A heavy presence pressed down on him like an iron weight, making the air thick, suffocating.
Slowly, Hope turned his head—
And his blood ran cold.
The Abominable Centaur
The Centaur stood at the edge of the destruction, its towering form untouched by the inferno.
Its lower half was a massive, armored stallion, covered in unnatural plates of Veil-forged metal, each segment overlapping like the scales of a monster.
Its upper body was humanoid, grotesquely elongated, its pale flesh covered in twisted, vein-like patterns that pulsed faintly beneath its plate armor.
Its helmet was forged from the same dark steel, two curved horns protruding from the sides, and within its eye sockets, an unnatural red glow burned like smoldering embers.
And in its right hand—
A massive spear that pulsed with an eerie, dark energy.
The Centaur's gaze locked onto him, unblinking, unreadable.
Hope grimaced as he forced himself upright, his muscles screaming in protest.
A Warrior's Arrival
Then—
Footsteps.
Kelvin stepped forward from the smoke, his massive figure emerging like a war machine from the depths of battle.
His Greatsword rested on his back, a weapon that seemed too heavy for a normal man to carry, but in his grip, it looked like an extension of himself.
On his left arm, a wall-like shield was secured in place, its Veil-metal surface scarred from countless battles.
Kelvin didn't hesitate.
His gaze locked onto the Centaur's, unshaken, unwavering.
Then—he turned slightly, his voice carrying a calm yet commanding presence.
"Hopeless, this is the time we fight."
Hope barely had time to process the words before Kelvin continued.
"Check on Walker."
For a brief moment, Hope hesitated.
Check on Walker?
He turned his gaze, scanning the battlefield—
Then, his heart sank.
Walker's Condition
A few meters away, Walker's body lay crumpled against the rocky terrain, his mismatched armor dented from the impact of the explosion.
His cutlass memory was still clutched in his hand, but his fingers were limp, barely holding on.
A deep gash ran across his side, his blood pooling beneath him, staining the cracked ground.
He wasn't moving.
Hope cursed under his breath as he forced himself into motion.
Ignoring the fire in his muscles, he rushed toward Walker, his heartbeat pounding in his ears.
As he reached him, he crouched down, gripping his shoulder.
"Walker!"
No response.
Hope shook him slightly, his voice growing more urgent.
"Walker, wake up, damn it!"
Then—
A sharp intake of breath.
Walker's eyes fluttered open, hazy with pain.
"Hah… hah… damn…"
His voice was hoarse, weak—but he was alive.
Hope exhaled in relief.
"You're a reckless idiot," he muttered.
Walker gave a weak chuckle, then winced as pain shot through his body.
"Yeah… but at least I look cool doing it…"
Hope rolled his eyes, but a small smirk tugged at his lips.
Then—
A thunderous sound tore through the battlefield.
A war cry that sent shivers down Hope's spine.
Hope's head snapped up—
And his eyes widened.
Kelvin vs. The Centaur
Kelvin had charged forward, his massive Greatsword swinging down in a devastating arc.
The Centaur met him head-on, raising its blackened spear to parry the strike.
The collision sent shockwaves through the air, the sheer force of it cracking the ground beneath them.
Sparks exploded from the impact.
And then—
The real battle began.