The enemy's silhouette crept out from the bushes. Ao dragged himself backward inch by inch, pulling his barely-moving leg away from danger.
Fwip!Thud!! A gravel bullet whizzed past him.
"Where the hell are you even aiming…?" Ao hissed, glancing at the bullet mark.
His body was still intact—no damage this time.
"I was just… warning you…" The boy's speech dragged on painfully slow.
He lifted his wand and aimed straight at Ao's forehead.
"Now then… the real thing… Gravel—" The spell began forming again at the wand's tip.
Ao's brows tightened. His breathing turned erratic; his fist clenched hard enough to tremble.
Fwip!!Thunk!!
The wand flew out of the boy's hand.
"Huhhh?"
He blinked slowly, staring at his own fingers.
A piece of bark had smashed into his hand, knocking the wand free.
He turned his eyes back— Ao's expression had already changed.
Good thing I grabbed that piece of bark earlier.
And good thing he didn't notice.
A small smirk tugged at Ao's lip. "Yes…" he whispered, shifting his weight—
Then he twisted his body and whipped his good leg into a powerful kick.
Fwush!!
The boy barely dodged, Ao's foot grazing the tip of his nose.
"You're… struggling… a lot…" He tilted his head. "Guess you… don't want to… die quietly."
He pointed the wand again.
Ao's expression darkened. His heartbeat hammered in his ears. He inhaled slowly—
5… 4… 3…
The spell formed.
2…1…
Fwip!!Thunk!!
Ao rolled aside just in time; the bullet flew past the spot his head had been.
His shattered knee regenerated at that very moment. Ao sprang to his feet, eyes sharp and locked onto the enemy.
"Huhh… so it's time to heal… already…"
The boy tilted his head again, voice dragging.
"Gravel—" But the incantation shot out at full speed, like a curse instead of a spell.
FWIP!!WHAM!!
"Gah—!!"
The boy folded over as Ao's fist sank into his gut. His spell went wide; Ao had dodged and countered instantly.
The boy collapsed face-first into the dirt, drooling as consciousness slipped away.
It ended just like that.
Silence washed over the forest. Ao's heartbeat slowed, his breath settling. Even the distant bangs and crashes faded, leaving only the chirping of birds above.
He stepped back from the boy's limp body.
Too close. If he stood just a little farther, I wouldn't have landed that counter…
He raised his wrist to check the sticker.
Nothing.
"No points…? Seriously? Don't tell me this guy didn't have any points at all…"
He groaned and looked back at the boy's body.
A strange heaviness settled over him.
The air stiffened.
The hairs on his arms stood up.
Something about that body wasn't right.
The boy was still intact. His lips moved—whispering something.
Suddenly his fingers twitched.
A familiar vibration shot through the ground beneath Ao's feet.
"—!!"
Ao launched himself sideways again.
BOOM!!
Earthen fangs erupted from the ground, slicing through where he'd stood.
"Ahh—hihihihihi!!"
The warped laughter echoed behind a stone pillar.
"Tsk… you're still alive!?"
Ao raised his guard again, though the shattered pillar blocked his view.
BANG!!
An explosion blasted the stone wall apart. A massive stone hand lunged out from the debris.
What the—!?
Ao dodged, barely avoiding the giant fingers that could've crushed him whole.
He looked up—
—and froze.
A towering figure rose before him, its shadow swallowing him entirely.
A golem.
Ao's brows tightened further. He forced himself upright, but the sight made his mind race in panic.
"How is it…? My golem… Impressive… right…?"
The boy's slow, eerie voice came from behind the creature.
He stroked its stone surface, dirt smearing across his palms.
The golem stood tall—maybe three Aos stacked on top of each other. Its arms were thick enough to pulverize entire trees with a single swing.
The more Ao took in the sight, the colder his spine became.
Sweat poured down his cheek. His legs shook.
"Damn it…" He snarled under his breath.
He barely had a second to breathe.
The next attack came.
The golem's massive palm swept down like a meteor.
Dust and debris exploded everywhere.
Ao dodged again— but fragments of shattered branches and rocks struck his body, hurling him backward.
"Gah!!"
Pain shot through him—muted, but real. He groaned and pushed himself up—
Only for another shadow to fall over him.
WHACK!!
"Guaahh!!"
The golem swatted him like a fly. He crashed through multiple trees, splintering wood with each impact.
He finally hit the last trunk and fell limp against it.
His body refused to move. No strength left.
"Damn… it…" He coughed metallic-tasting air.
Dust clouded his vision. Another shadow loomed over him again.
"Ahi—hihihihi…" That twisted laugh echoed.
Everything around him sounded muffled— like he was underwater.
His vision blurred. His limbs were numb.
Is this it…? I'm done for…?
He tried to rise— and failed.
I can't feel my arms… or my legs… damn it…
His ears rang. Only his heartbeat thumped inside his skull.
"How is it…? My golem…" The boy's distorted voice dragged on.
The golem's steps shook the ground.
Ao slid down the tree trunk, barely holding himself up.
His legs were numb all the way to the ankles.
I need… an opening. Before it raises its arm again…
The golem's massive arm lifted. Air cracked from the sheer force.
I can't see… can't hear…
His breath caught; he coughed violently.
He inhaled sharply— choking on air like a drowning animal.
His vision slowly returned.
The golem was right in front of him.
Too close.
"Damn… it…"
His mind was fog. No strategy. No plan.
Then—
Renuru's voice echoed in his head.
"You need a trigger— something to ignite your emotions. Imagine yourself truly fighting."
Ao's eyes widened.
A trigger… Not rage. Not panic.
I interpreted it wrong…
And just as the golem's massive hand swung downward