Elric fell to his knees on the ground, his body shaking violently. Black shadows slithered out of his skin, like thick ink that pulsed and moved of its own accord.
"W-What happened to him?!" Lyra screamed, backing away in panic.
Darius drew his sword, but Reinhardt raised a hand to stop him. "Don't come any closer. This is… something else."
Elric's deep laughter grew more terrifying. The voice… wasn't his. It was Gorath's.
"Do you think I can be destroyed so easily?"
Suddenly, Elric's body floated in the air, surrounded by a black aura that pulsed like hellfire. From the darkness, something began to take shape—a large form that slowly emerged from within his body.
"I cannot die. I am darkness itself."
The changes happened quickly. Elric's body expanded, his flesh transforming into something no longer human. His muscles bulged, his skin turning a dark green like steel. Long fangs protruded from his jaws.
And in the midst of the darkness… Gorath was reborn.
Darius' blood ran cold. "Impossible…"
Reinhardt gritted his teeth and raised his sword high. "He… reincarnated?"
Gorath stared at them with his eyes burning red. A harsh laugh escaped his throat.
"I am more than just reborn. I have evolved."
The ground beneath him shook as black energy surged from his body. The dark aura crept into the ground, spreading like a plague, corrupting everything it touched.
Darius took a step back. This… was no ordinary monster. This was something worse.
Reinhardt didn't wait any longer. With a single leap, he charged forward, his sword glowing brightly with holy energy. "I will end you again, demon!"
However, before his sword could strike, Gorath's claws blocked it.
CLANG!
Sparks flew as the holy sword met Gorath's power. Reinhardt was shocked—his attack… had not harmed Gorath at all.
"Impossible!"
Gorath smiled savagely.
"I told you, I've evolved."
In an instant, Gorath's claws slashed at Reinhardt with impossible speed.
SLASH!
Blood splattered. Reinhardt was thrown back, his chest torn open.
"Reinhardt!" Lyra shouted, running towards the holy knight who was now lying on the ground, his body covered in wounds.
Darius gripped his sword tighter. His breathing was heavy.
This was bad.
The monster they fought before was nothing compared to the one standing before them now.
Gorath looked at them with a triumphant smile.
"Do you think you can stop me?"
"Now... it's your turn to be my meal."
Ruins covered the ground, black smoke rose into the sky, and the air was filled with the scent of blood and burning ash.
In the midst of the sea of destruction, Gorath stood with his body straight, his breathing heavy, but full of ferocity. A black aura pulsed around him, hovering like a living creature waiting to pounce on its prey.
In front of him, Darius and Reinhardt struggled to stand, their bodies covered in wounds. Only a few human soldiers remained, their faces filled with fear.
They had seen monsters, they had faced many enemies, but none of them were comparable to what was before them now.
Gorath, the Devourer, had evolved into something more than an orc.
He had become the Overlord of Darkness.
"This is impossible..." Darius muttered, his trembling hand still holding his sword. "Is he... really a monster?"
Reinhardt, who was even known as the strongest warrior among humans, could only stare at Gorath with wide eyes. "He... is not just a monster. He is a walking disaster."
The ground beneath Gorath's feet shook as he stepped forward. Each step shattered rocks and cracked the ground, as if the world itself rejected his presence.
Gorath stared at the remaining humans with fiery red eyes, filled with hatred.
Those who once hunted monsters, were now their prey.
"How do you feel now?" Gorath's voice echoed, low and deep like a demonic growl.
Fear began to creep onto the faces of the human soldiers. One of them tried to flee, but—
SWOOSH!
Gorath moved so fast. In one leap, he appeared before the fleeing soldier.
"Tch... humans are always the same," he said in a cold voice.
HIS LARGE HAND GRABBED THE SOLDIER'S HEAD AND—
CRACK!
His head was crushed like rotten fruit.
Blood splattered onto the faces of the other soldiers, making them tremble in fear.
Darius could not stay still. He mustered all his strength, raised his sword high, and slashed towards Gorath with all his remaining strength.
However—
CLANG!
The attack was blocked by just one hand!
Darius' eyes widened.
"An enemy stronger than you has tried, human," Gorath said as he pushed the sword aside with ease.
Then, with one powerful fist, he slammed into Darius' chest.
BOOM!
Darius was thrown tens of meters away, crashing heavily into the ruins of a building.
"ARGH...!"
Blood spurted from his mouth.
Reinhardt gritted his teeth, stepping forward, but his feet felt heavy. Gorath's intimidation was too overwhelming.
Gorath raised his hand slowly, the black aura that enveloped him began to form a vortex of energy that grew larger.
The sky above them turned dark, as if the sun itself was afraid to shine on this battlefield.
The ground began to tremble, rocks rose into the air, and a suffocating pressure filled the area.
"This is no ordinary power..." Reinhardt muttered, his body trembling.
The surviving soldiers began to fall to their knees involuntarily, losing all hope.
Gorath stared at them with a judging gaze.
"You have hunted monsters all this time..." he said, his voice deepening.
"...but now, you are the prey."
He raised his hand higher. Black aura began to swirl fiercely, forming a vortex of destruction that swallowed even the sound around it.
Then—
He uttered words that would be remembered in the history of darkness.
"Crawl in fear, humans..."
Gorath's voice echoed throughout the area, sending shivers down the spines of every creature that heard it.
"For this is the true power of the Devourer..."
The wind began to swirl faster, a thunderous roar could be heard from the sky.
"Say goodbye to this world..."
Gorath's eyes glowed bright red, his power reaching its peak.
Then—
"ULTIMATE SKILL—ABYSSAL DEVOURER!"
A blast of darkness erupted from Gorath's body.
A wave of destruction swept across everything.
The ground cracked. The air shook. Buildings collapsed instantly.
The human soldiers didn't even have time to scream before their bodies disappeared into the endless darkness.
Darius, still half-conscious, could only stare with despairing eyes as the world around him turned into nothingness.
When the dust and darkness settled, only Gorath stood.
The land that was once filled with buildings and life was now a barren, featureless wasteland.
There was no sound. No movement. Nothing remained.
He looked up at the sky, then raised one hand.
From within him, a new power began to pulse.
This was the beginning of something greater.
He was no longer just a monster.
He was a disaster.
He was the Overlord who would devour the world.