Germain conjured a butcher's cleaver and a Firearm in his hands.
He moved slowly, circling to the side of the creature known as "Flesh," his eyes never leaving it, watching its every movement.
This was a terrifying opponent—by far the strongest enemy he had ever faced.
No amount of caution would be excessive here.
Around them, the tide of grotesque flesh monsters either grappled relentlessly with Ging and the remnants of a massive beast, or kept their distance, cowed by the combined presence of Germain and the creature.
Everyone knew—stepping closer to this place meant certain death.
The skirmishes around them left a wide, open plain exposed, perfect for a battlefield.
"Flesh" approached without hurry, its scarlet eyes fixed on Germain for a long moment before suddenly raising its left hand—a grotesque bloom of flesh.
From between the rows of fine, jagged teeth, a pink, whip-like tongue shot out in a blur.
It lashed around Germain's leg before he could dodge or block.
With a violent tug, the creature yanked him off his feet, dragging him across the ground toward its towering frame.
Its right hand lifted, clutching a crimson spear, and with a sharp whoosh it thrust straight for his chest.
Clang!
Germain had anticipated the strike.
He swung the butcher's cleaver up just in time, the flat of the blade catching the spearhead.
Sparks burst from the impact.
With his right hand straining to hold back the weapon, Germain raised his left hand, aiming the Firearm directly at "Flesh's" chest.
He pulled the trigger with a thunderous boom.
His strength now was far beyond what it had once been, and the Firearm's destructive power surpassed any ordinary firearm.
The blast tore open a gaping wound in the creature's chest.
Yet "Flesh" barely flinched, advancing as though unhurt.
In truth, it wasn't—its rotting wound began knitting itself back together at an alarming speed.
The crimson spear slammed Germain down, pinning him to the ground.
The tongue withdrew into the bloom of flesh.
The creature raised it high once more, maw splitting wide as it lunged down—aiming to bite Germain's head clean off.
Germain swiftly switched his Firearm for a spiral-handled cane.
The sharp tip shot forward like a spear, piercing straight through the center of the creature's mouthparts with a wet, sickening squelch.
With a sharp kick to the monster's massive thigh, Germain used the recoil to slide backward across the ground, narrowly slipping out of its crushing grasp.
Once he had put some distance between them, Germain twisted his body mid-movement and landed on his feet.
He immediately stood at the ready, eyes locked on the grotesque mass of flesh before him, not daring to let his guard down for even a second.
The thing known as "Flesh" glanced at the gaping wound in its flower-like maw, already knitting itself back together, and let out a low, sinister chuckle.
"It seems you have some skill after all. The mere fact that you can injure me is proof enough that you're among the finest of the so-called 'Apostles of God.'"
"How interesting… Perhaps I should remodel you, just as I once did with Don Freecss, and make you serve me in the future."
"That fool… Had he not been swayed by your lot, he would have already advanced to a higher state. I wouldn't even have needed to come here myself."
In the next instant, Flesh's body began to change once again.
Its frame swelled violently, while the flower-like maw and spear-like appendages withdrew, merging seamlessly into its bulk.
It now loomed even larger — easily the size of a mid-tier creature — its stitched-together face unchanged, but a pair of curved, twisted horns now jutted from the crown of its head.
In its hands was no longer the same weapon as before, but a massive cleaver, rust-eaten and pitted, with an unnaturally wide blade and a handle nearly as long as its wielder's arm span.
Gripping the enormous weapon, Flesh spun its hulking body, unleashing a wide, sweeping slash that could cleave everything in its path.
Swoosh—
Germain timed his leap perfectly, springing into the air to avoid the ground-level sweep.
The creatures nearby weren't as fortunate — the slash ripped through them in an instant, cutting every last one in half.
He had barely touched down when Flesh was already upon him, bringing the giant cleaver down in a vicious overhead strike.
This second-stage transformation had clearly made it far deadlier than before.
Its body was larger, but its movements were even more swift and aggressive.
Clang—
Germain raised the Sacred Moonlight Sword, blocking the massive cleaver wielded by Flesh.
The sheer force behind the strike was so overwhelming that it drove him down to one knee.
Splurt—splurt—splurt—
Beneath his feet, the soft, slippery ground—like living entrails—ruptured, sending foul fluids splashing outward.
Flesh didn't care in the slightest.
It hefted the cleaver again and brought it down in a vicious arc, the blade splitting the air with a deafening crack.
Germain rolled to the side just in time, the strike carving a long, jagged fissure into the fleshy ground.
But there was no pause.
Flesh refused to give him even a second to breathe, raising the cleaver once more, preparing for another sweeping strike that would scour the ground clean.
Germain quickly reversed his grip on the Sacred Moonlight Sword, both hands tightening around the hilt as the blade's tip drove into the ground.
Hum—
Waves of azure light rippled outward, staggering Flesh mid-charge.
Its cleaver smashed into the ground, breaking the rhythm of its relentless assault.
Germain seized the chance, lifting the Sacred Moonlight Sword high, gathering the concentrated glow of moonlight for a decisive blow.
But Flesh recovered far too quickly.
With a sudden burst of movement, it leapt forward, cleaver poised, landing right in front of Germain.
Forced to act, Germain released the attack before it was fully charged, slashing upward.
A crescent of azure light tore through the air, but Flesh, still mid-leap, raised its cleaver to meet it head-on.
With a violent twist of its arms, the cleaver shattered the moonlight slash into scattering fragments of light.
The counter stopped its diving strike, forcing it to land with a thud.
Its gaze locked onto Germain, cold and venomous.
"Moonlight… I should have known. I should have known. Peace was never meant for me… My divine battle with the Curse of Resentment—it was because of Him…"
"And now, Curse of Resentment is dead. I've only just regained my strength… and here you are, hunting me already. Isn't that right? Isn't that right? Hoh hoh hoh hoh hoh—"
Squelch—squelch—
Once again, Flesh began to transform.
Pustules swelled and burst across its skin, oozing foulness, while its body expanded further and further—
This time, taking the form of a towering, monstrous giant.
The horns atop "Flesh" grew larger and more complete, spiral grooves now clearly visible.
A long, thick tail swayed behind it, sweeping from side to side with a menacing rhythm.
The weapon in its hands had transformed into a massive double-headed axe.
Without a word, "Flesh" suddenly lunged forward.
Its speed surged, the heavy axe thrust out like a spear.
Germain reacted instantly, twisting aside to avoid the strike.
But as he dodged the axe, "Flesh" spun abruptly, its tail sweeping low across the ground.
The blow struck Germain squarely in the torso.
Boom!
He crashed into the ground, sinking into the pulpy mess of flesh beneath them.
Ignoring the pain, Germain tried to spring back to his feet—
Shu!
A beam of crimson light shot from the horns atop "Flesh", striking him before he could fully rise.
Germain barely evaded a shot aimed straight at his head, but his shoulder wasn't as lucky—a bloody hole tore through it, blood gushing out in streams.
Clenching his teeth, he activated the Ring of Darkness, shrouding himself in a thick black mist before retreating.
Within the obscuring fog, he called upon the Ring of Lightning, sparks crackling as the Nen surged through him.
But "Flesh" was not deceived by such tricks.
Its crimson eyes glowed, locking onto Germain's exact location through the haze.
With a sudden stomp, "Flesh" launched itself into the air—
Landing directly in front of Germain, it swung the massive axe in a wide, deadly arc, cleaving down toward him with brutal force.
Screech—Screech—Screech—
Lightning crackled within the dark, swirling mist.
Germain swung his Thunder Warhammer in a wide arc, the head of the hammer colliding head-on with the twin axes of Flesh.
Clang—!
The impact exploded with a deafening boom and a shower of sparks.
The difference in their size made it seem as if Germain was being crushed beneath the weight of a mountain.
Yet Germain held his ground, meeting Flesh's earth-shattering strike head-on.
Through the clash of their weapons, he summoned a roaring thunder dragon.
The beast of lightning coiled around Flesh, spiraling tighter and tighter, unleashing arcs of blinding electricity without restraint.
*******
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