High above, Gerald floated, staring down at a white dot on the ground—the Mountain-Eater Prince, clad in crystalline armor.
'This is going nowhere,' he thought. 'My spells can't break through his armor. I need Isaac's strength.'
He contacted Isaac while keeping an eye on the Prince. "General Isaac, come in. I need your assistance." No response. After several tries, Gerald frowned.
'Something's wrong. I need to find him.'
He flew off, hoping to shake the Prince.
But the Prince reacted instantly, leaping into the sky with a powerful jump that cracked the ground, forming a small crater.
With a few leaps, he caught up to Gerald.
"As persistent as ever," Gerald muttered, weaving his staff.
Runic words swirled around its gemstone as he chanted softly. A massive fireball, bright as a sun, formed above him and plummeted toward the Prince.
With another leap, the Prince bent his insect-like legs, curled into a ball, and shot through the flames unscathed. The fireball burst behind him, propelling him forward.
But before he could unroll, a boulder-sized sphere of compressed earth slammed into him, driving him to the ground and burying him deep beneath the rubble.
The boulder shattered as the Prince leaped out, unharmed, and gave chase again.
"This is wasting my time," Gerald muttered.
His staff glowed purple as three massive dirt chunks, outlined in purple, floated up, compressing into spheres as they flew toward the Prince.
The Prince leaped into the air again. As the boulders neared, he smashed his armored arms together, sending an anti-magic shockwave.
The purple outlines vanished, and the chunks fell, pulled by their weight. Using them as footholds, the Prince leaped toward Gerald at greater speed.
The shockwave disrupted Gerald's flight spell, making him fall briefly before he caught himself by reinforcing the spell.
'This fight has dragged on too long. I need a decisive end,' he thought.
Holding his staff with both hands, Gerald's body glowed fiery red. As the Prince reached arm's distance, Gerald swung his staff with full force while the Prince threw a punch.
Just before their attacks connected, the light in Gerald's staff converged into a single sphere above the Prince's stomach.
A colossal explosion erupted, white light engulfing both. The shockwave uprooted trees and scorched everything within a 100-yard radius. When the dust settled, only charred earth remained.
***
Atop the Eclipse Orchid, Jacob stood, his sword blazing blue, a constellation-like crown glowing above his head. His aura radiated celestial power.
The Behemoth glared up, grumbling with rage. Stone pillars erupted from the ground at its stomp, and with a thunderous roar, it charged Jacob, jaws wide to swallow him whole.
Earlier, Back when Jacob's units were under siege…
Jacob stared at the Eclipse Orchid sinking into the ground. An idea sparked.
He charged toward the Orchid, slashing a flying sword projectile to stop it from descending further.
"Crown of Power, come forth!" he shouted, as a constellation-like crown formed above his head.
Without hesitation, he stabbed his sword into the Orchid, causing it to tremble.
With a mighty pull, he ripped the five-story plant from the ground, tearing chunks off in the process.
His crown glowed brighter as he hurled the Orchid into the air, sending it flying across the sky.
With his sword embedded in the plant, Jacob flew up with it.
After witnessing everything, the Behemoth roared in fury, shaking the ground as it burst from the earth and charged toward Jacob.
Back at the faceoff between Jacob and the Behemoth…
Jacob sidestepped, dodging the stone pillars and the Behemoth's charge.
He swung his sword, a blade of light carving a bloody scar across the beast's hide.
'RAAAGH!' it roared, and gathered red energy in its mouth.
Seeing an opening, Jacob aimed his sword straight for the Behemoth's heart.
Just as the sword neared, the Behemoth cut off its attack and snapped its jaws shut around Jacob's blade.
With a violent twist, it dove underground, dragging the weapon with it despite being burned by it.
Jacob let go, knowing he couldn't fight it below the surface.
'I was too impatient!' he scoffed. 'To think this monster is cunning as well.'
Without his sword, Jacob was exposed. The ground shook as the Behemoth tunneled below, stone pillars erupting toward him with each surge.
He dodged again and again, barely keeping ahead, but the beast struck from underground with sudden, brutal leaps.
Minutes dragged by, his body slowing, vision blurring. The Crown of Power had stayed on too long, and now his strength was failing him.
As dozens of pillars shot toward him, one scraped Jacob's leg, throwing him off balance. The Behemoth burst from the ground, jaws gaping to swallow him whole.
In desperation, Jacob shouted, "To hell with this!" and stomped down with all his might, launching himself clear of its teeth.
But the beast's massive body slammed into him midair, hurling him through trees and dirt. His Crown of Power was shattered, forcibly canceled.
"RAAAGH!" the Behemoth roared in triumph.
From the wreckage, Jacob staggered to his feet—bloodied, swaying, but still defiant.
Across the battlefield, the monster exhaled with a mocking rumble, charging a red beam inside its maw.
Jacob didn't move. The blast fired, engulfing him in crimson light, tearing the land apart. When the glow faded, the Behemoth froze—its eyes widening.
Through the smoke, a faint blue glow shone.
An azure helmet and breastplate etched with intricate designs clung to Jacob's body.
The armor dissolved a moment later, leaving him exposed. His limbs were burned raw, but his chest and head were untouched.
The Behemoth snarled, charging another beam—only for a grenade to detonate in its face.
Enraged, it turned toward the approaching column of vehicles, jaw opening wide. But a voice thundered from above:
"That's enough of you!"
A searing heatwave struck the monster, followed by a massive explosion that cloaked the battlefield in dust.
Through the haze, Gerald descended, hauling Jacob and the unconscious General Isaac.
With both men in his arms, he flew to the vehicles. "Get your best healers—now!" he barked, lowering them inside.
"Yes, sir… but what about you?" a soldier asked, eyeing Gerald's condition.
"I'll be fine. Just get me new mage attire."
The soldier hesitated but obeyed. Gerald's upper clothes were burned away, his body charred with deep scars. He looked worse than Isaac.
A soldier brought him a fresh set. "What happened, sir?" she asked.
Gerald slipped on the attire, his voice firm despite his wounds. "Tough situations sometimes call for extreme measures."
Once dressed, he stepped out, taking to the sky. "Return to the main army. I'll secure the Orchid and handle the Behemoth."
But before he could leave, his earpiece crackled with panic:
"Emergency! High-Mage Gerald, we're under ambush by the Mountain-Eaters, led by their Prince! Return to base immediately!"