The commander was still frozen in shock. That split-second hesitation was all Isaac needed.
With a sharp breath, he twisted his body and delivered a brutal kick to the commander's stomach.
"Guh…!"
The impact was devastating. The commander's eyes nearly bulged from the force as his body was sent flying backward. He skidded across the ground, coughing up blood before dropping to one knee.
Aiah watched in disbelief. Her hands trembled slightly, still warm from the flames she had unleashed to burn down the archers. She had just wiped them out, yet her mind could only focus on what she had just seen.
Isaac… was winning.
A deafening cry snapped her out of her daze.
"Aiah! The wagon! Free us!"
Her companions' desperate voices called to her from the locked wagon. Others were still tied up, unable to move.
Shaking off her shock, Aiah quickly leaped down from the top of the carriage and rushed toward them. She had no time to waste.
Meanwhile, the commander wiped the blood from his lips, his teeth bared in a snarl. He planted his foot firmly into the ground and lunged at Isaac, swinging his sword in a wide arc.
Isaac stepped forward instead of retreating.
CLANG!
Steel met steel once more. Sparks scattered like fireflies in the night as Isaac's axe intercepted the blow. This time, he didn't just block… he countered.
Using his superior reflexes, he twisted his axe, redirecting the commander's blade just enough to throw off his balance. Before the commander could recover, Isaac drove his knee into the man's gut.
THUD!
The commander's breath hitched as the force lifted him slightly off the ground. But Isaac wasn't done.
He shifted his grip on the axe and slammed the blunt end into the commander's chest.
CRACK!
The impact sent the commander flying backward, crashing against the dirt with a grunt.
Isaac rolled his shoulder. He had never fought like this before, yet his movements felt… natural. Instinctive.
The commander groaned as he pushed himself up, spitting blood. His eyes burned with fury, but before he could regain his footing…
Isaac was already in front of him.
A sharp swing of the axe. The commander barely managed to raise his sword to block, but the sheer force drove him down to one knee. His muscles trembled under the pressure.
Isaac didn't let up. He twisted his body and delivered a spinning kick to the commander's side.
BAM!
The commander coughed violently, his ribs creaking under the impact. He staggered to the side, vision blurring.
'What is this…?!' he thought, struggling to keep up.
This wasn't the same boy he had mocked before.
Isaac stepped forward again, relentless. He struck with his axe, forcing the commander to block… then immediately followed with an elbow to the face.
CRACK!
The commander's head snapped back, blood spurting from his nose. His stance faltered.
Isaac grabbed him by the collar and pulled him forward, slamming his forehead against the commander's skull.
THUD!
The commander stumbled back, his world spinning. His body ached, his pride shattered.
He collapsed to one knee, panting. His sword trembled in his grip.
Isaac towered over him, calm and composed. He tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable.
"Is that all?" he asked coldly.
The commander's fingers twitched. His breath was ragged.
His vision blurred between Isaac's form and the darkening edges of his sight.
And then… something inside him snapped.
A deep, guttural growl rumbled from his throat.
His muscles bulged unnaturally.
The veins on his body glowed golden white.
The ground beneath him cracked as his aura exploded outward.
Isaac narrowed his eyes.
'Here it comes…'
The commander's breaths came in ragged gasps. Blood dripped from his busted lip, his body battered from Isaac's relentless assault. But instead of despair, a wild grin stretched across his face.
"Hah… Hahaha…!" His laughter echoed in the air, low and twisted.
Isaac remained still, watching. He gripped his axe, his instincts warning him of what was coming next.
Suddenly…
FWOOM!
A golden light erupted from the commander's veins, spreading through his body like wildfire. His muscles swelled, his frame growing larger with every passing second. The ground beneath him cracked under the pressure of his transformation.
Then….
SHIIING!
His sword glowed pure white, radiating an overwhelming divine energy. Above his head, a shimmering halo formed, floating like a crown of power.
A heavy pressure filled the battlefield. The air vibrated. Even the ground seemed to tremble beneath his presence.
The commander lifted his gaze, his eyes now burning with an eerie golden light.
"This is your end, farm boy," he declared, his voice deeper, laced with unnatural power. He flexed his hands, testing his new strength as the ground trembled beneath his feet.
Isaac narrowed his eyes.
The commander smirked, spreading his arms wide.
"Behold! The divine gift of the Holy King—Sanctus Might! A strength that surpasses mortal limits! You should feel honored to die by its power."
Isaac exhaled through his nose.
Then…
Triggered by a surge of divine power nearby, a low ding echoed in his mind.
[Skill Activated: Abyssal Overdrive]
A burst of abyssal energy temporarily enhances all physical attributes. The darkness within strengthens your body.
[Warning: Overuse may weaken your soul.]
A dark force erupted from him.
Black smoke-like energy seeped from his body, tendrils of shadow curling around him like living entities. A chilling aura radiated from his very being, deep and endless like the abyss itself.
For a moment, the golden glow of the commander's power clashed against the black, swirling darkness surrounding Isaac. Light and shadow. Divine and abyssal.
Isaac tightened his grip on his axe, tilting his head slightly.
"You talk too much."
The commander's expression darkened.
The tension in the air thickened. Their eyes locked.
A beat of silence.
Then…
They lunged at each other.
BOOM!
The earth quaked. A deafening shockwave blasted outward, flattening the surrounding grass and shaking the trees.
Miles away, at a nearby military encampment, soldiers jolted in alarm.
Inside the largest tent, a high-ranking officer paused, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sword. He narrowed his eyes, sensing the unnatural disturbance in the air.
"That wasn't normal…" he muttered.
The ground still trembled faintly beneath his boots. His instincts screamed, something dangerous was happening.
"Prepare to move!" he barked, his voice sharp and commanding.
At once, over a hundred soldiers scrambled into formation, readying their weapons and armor.
"We march toward the source of that impact, now!"
With that, they moved out.
---
Back at the battlefield…
Isaac and the commander clashed again, their weapons colliding with explosive force. Sparks flew. Wind howled from the sheer power of their strikes.
The commander roared, pushing himself to match Isaac blow for blow. His golden energy burned fiercely, his speed and strength surpassing his limits.
Axe met sword in a violent exchange. The commander panted, his breath ragged, his movements growing sluggish. Meanwhile, Isaac remained composed, barely breaking a sweat.
A flicker of desperation crossed the commander's face. He gritted his teeth and went for a powerful overhead slash, aiming to cut Isaac down.
Isaac saw it coming. He could dodge… his body moved much faster now, reacting almost before he could think. But instead of stepping back, a thought struck him.
'Why should I dodge?'
He lifted his left hand…
And caught the chief's wrist.
'What?! I have surpassed my limit. With the power I possess, I can now match a class-A. But why?' The commander's eyes widened in disbelief.
Isaac felt it… the raw strength in his grip, the way the commander's arm trembled, unable to move. 'I stopped him… easily.'
'With his final form, he's supposed to be unstoppable. A monster strengthened by divine power. But now?'
'This is different.'
The commander grunted, struggling to pull free, but Isaac's grip didn't loosen. Instead, he tightened it slightly… just enough to feel the bones beneath. The realization settled in his mind.
'I'm stronger.'
Then…
Isaac raised his axe.
Seeing the danger, the commander snarled and grabbed Isaac's axe-wielding hand with his free arm, stopping the strike in midair. Their muscles strained as they locked in place, each trying to overpower the other.
For a moment, they were in a deadlock. Their eyes burned with determination, neither willing to back down.
But then…
Isaac smirked.
Tilting his head slightly, he spoke in a calm, almost amused tone.
"…Is that all?"
A flicker of horror passed through the commander's eyes.
Then…
SCHLIIIKT!
With terrifying ease, Isaac pushed through.
His axe cleaved straight through the commander's shoulder.
A split second later, an entire arm, along with the sword still clutched in its grip, separated from the commander's body.
The commander staggered, his expression frozen in shock as blood sprayed into the air. His knees buckled, and his body collapsed sideways onto the dirt.
Isaac stood still, holding the severed arm in his grasp.