"Everyone, stay back. I'll handle this," Rantaro commanded, voice steady like steel.
Some of the team didn't need to be told twice.
"Y-Yes! Okay! Everyone, let's run!" they shouted in panic, scattering into the shadows.
But two figures didn't move—Zek and Juijui.
"You want to run, then go," Zek growled, stepping forward beside Rantaro. "But we'd rather die than betray our comrade."
Juijui nodded firmly. "We're not leaving you behind."
Rantaro gave them a brief glance, eyes sharp. "If you're not leaving, then stay back and watch my back. Don't distract me—if you do, I won't be able to use my full power."
A scoff came from behind. "What are you saying? You're just a D-ranker."
But there was no time for doubt.
A shriek split the air—then a blur.
A monster, faster than lightning, lunged straight at them with jagged claws flashing—
SHHHING!
A single, clean slash tore through the creature mid-air.
Time seemed to freeze.
The monster's body fell in two pieces with a wet thud, blood splashing across the dirt.
Rantaro slowly lowered his blade, its edge steaming. He looked over his shoulder.
"Just watch my back."
Zek and Juijui didn't speak. They just nodded.
Then, the wind shifted. The ground pulsed.
Dark mist rose like smoke from Rantaro's feet, swirling up his arms.
He raised his hand—and with a crackling boom, summoned his Dark Soldier.
A towering figure stepped out of the void, cloaked in jagged, spiked armor. Its eyes were two burning crimson coals, unblinking, unfeeling.
Without a word, they moved.
Carnage followed.
Blade met flesh. Shadows danced through the field like tornados. The small monsters didn't stand a chance. They were torn apart—sliced, crushed, obliterated. Each death was clean, brutal, perfect.
The others stared, stunned—frozen in awe and fear.
Ding! Level Up.
> Current Level: 100
Restricted Skill Unlocked
But the real threat remained.
A single monster lumbered forward—the Ghined Goblin. Ten feet tall. Hulking. Muscles like stone. Eyes filled with savage bloodlust.
It roared—a roar that cracked trees.
It charged.
Rantaro stood firm, sword ready. The goblin slammed into him—but the attack barely left a mark.
The goblin snarled. Furious.
Rantaro's gaze sharpened. "Dark Berserk Mode."
The ground beneath him shattered. Black lightning arced around his body. His muscles swelled, and a surge of power erupted from his core.
BOOM!
A shockwave burst out, blinding dust clouding the battlefield.
Silence.
"Is it over…?" someone dared to whisper.
But Rantaro didn't relax. His eyes were still locked forward.
"No... it's not."
CRACK!
Like a missile, the goblin exploded through the dust and slammed its fist into Rantaro's gut.
BAM!
He was launched like a cannonball, crashing through stone and dirt.
Blood trailed from his lips as he staggered back to his feet.
"Damn it... No choice left..."
Demon Transformation—Activated.
His aura shifted. Dark wings of mist flared behind him.
But even mid-transformation—
WHACK!
Another blow landed. Hard.
Rantaro skidded backward, barely staying conscious.
"Huff... If I hadn't transformed just now… I'd be dead already..."
Then came the real fight.
The Ghined Goblin didn't hold back. Its fists rained down like meteors. The ground cracked under its stomps. Trees were uprooted. The battlefield shook.
Rantaro ducked, weaved, countered—his blade moving faster than the eye could follow.
But it wasn't enough.
He needed more.
"Dark Berserk... Full Power—Unleashed!"
For the first time—
he let the dark power flood into his own body.
His transformation evolved:
His eyes ignited with glowing purple fire.
His arms were wrapped in pitch-black energy, pulsing like veins of thunder.
His horns curved upward, longer, more vicious.
His claws gleamed—razor sharp, dripping shadows.
Every inch of his body radiated dark chaos.
"I... I can feel it. The power… running through me!"
He roared.
Then—
SWOOSH!
He swung. A massive Dark Slash burst forward like a scythe of destruction.
The goblin dodged—but the blast carved through the earth.
Gone. Obliterated. Nothing left.
Not even dust.
The terrain shook. A crater remained.
They clashed again.
Claws versus fists. Roars versus war cries.
Each blow echoed like thunder. Their speed blurred into afterimages. Trees snapped. Rocks exploded. Ground split.
It was a god-level brawl.
Finally—Rantaro found the opening.
With a scream of fury, he launched himself forward, blade glowing with pure dark matter—
SLASH!
The goblin's chest burst open. Its eyes widened.
It fell.
Silence.
Victory.
But the power surge had taken its toll. Rantaro's body trembled. His vision blurred.
He dropped to one knee.
Then collapsed—unconscious, but undefeated.