The Imperial Guard stepped out of the crater, his body covered in shallow wounds that poured blood at an incredible pace. But every scratch healed instantly, as if his body refused to surrender. The stone forest around him was in ruins. The rocky trees were shattered and the ground was cracked into small and large craters. Every destroyed tree was a reminder that this place had turned into a ruthless battlefield.
The giant monstrosity did not delay its response. It raised its head with the terrifying vertical eye and unleashed the Catastrophe Howl ten consecutive times. Explosive blood-sound waves swept across the area, shaking the stones and the air violently, making the ground tremble as if it was about to burst. But the Imperial Guard stood before those waves with deadly calm. A transparent blood wall formed in front of him, pulsing with power. It shook under the impact, but it did not break, like iron transformed into blood.
In an instant, the blood wall suddenly split into hundreds of thin but deadly blood wires. They shot toward the giant monstrosity at lightning speed. The wires pierced its massive body and dragged it toward the Imperial Guard like a giant puppet. The sound of tearing flesh echoed through the air while the monstrosity howled wildly, its blood spraying in every direction.
The Imperial Guard did not give it a moment of rest. His sword lit up with blood flames and he attacked in one swift strike, cutting the monster's body in half. Its upper and lower halves tried to merge again, but the blood wires turned into a sharp network that pinned the creature firmly to the ground, leaving it no room to escape.
The Imperial Guard looked at the giant monstrosity with interest, as if examining a fascinating specimen, and murmured:
"Impressive… this is what the Corpse Refining Sect tries to create."
Ashen did not remain still. He charged toward the Imperial Guard, launching a spiritual attack using the Eye That Sees the Soul. Suddenly, blood poured from the guard's nose, eyes, mouth, and ears, but he was not fully affected.
However, the blood wires surrounding the two halves of the monstrosity disappeared suddenly, and its body merged again, restoring its massive form as it prepared for revenge.
The blood-covered guard spat blood, his eyes glowing with anger and madness. He looked at Ashen with clear annoyance, then began forming a massive blood spell. A giant rune circle appeared in the air, shining dark red and releasing energy that spread across the entire forest. His blood sword sank into the circle and exploded into dozens of smaller swords attached to blood wires. These swords shot forward with extreme speed and pierced the giant monstrosity like a sieve. Every limb was severed, blood pouring endlessly until the ground turned into a flowing crimson pool.
The small swords wove themselves into a tight net that fixed the monstrosity to the ground. Then a giant illusory blood sword, seven meters long, formed above and drove itself through its chest like a stake. The creature howled in madness, trying to merge its cut limbs again, but the tangled wires turned its body into a perfect trap. Blood sprayed into the air like red mist. Every part of its body struggled to move, pinned down by the vast network of blood and flame.
Ashen didn't stop. He used his spiritual attack again. The Eye That Sees the Soul unleashed a massive red wave. The Guardian's body trembled under the pressure. More blood flowed from his face, yet the spell binding the monstrosity did not weaken. The Imperial Guard smiled despite the blood covering him and said in a calm, heavy voice:
"You won't free this creature this time… now it's time for us to have some fun."
Ashen stared at him coldly, then directed a hellish wave of savage intent toward the blood spell. The intent flooded into the circle like a tide. The blood wires glowed and began to move slowly as if resisting the Imperial Guard. He felt the shift and tried to stabilize the spell, but Ashen's immense power pushed it more and more out of his control. Then the Guard laughed like a madman and said:
"Amazing… you really are amazing, boy. The surprises you bring never end. That's what makes this fight more enjoyable."
The monstrosity, despite being torn apart and pinned down, smashed the ground with its four arms. It tried to release scattered blood waves, but the transparent wall and the resources the Imperial Guard poured into the spell blocked every attempt. The stone forest shook. Rocks cracked. Trees collapsed. Everything around them turned into chaotic red destruction.
Ashen felt the surge of savage intent flooding into the spell as if it were an extension of his soul. He struck again with the spiritual attack. A second red wave hit the monstrosity. More blood erupted, and the air itself distorted under the immense force. The Imperial Guard, still smiling, simply watched Ashen attack, realizing that this overwhelming power would reshape the battle in unexpected ways.
In a sudden moment, the giant monstrosity tried to use its blood mist, its blood arms, and its sky blades all together in a frenzied attack. But everything crashed into the swords and wires surrounding it. The swords cut its limbs repeatedly. The massive blood network turned its entire body into a trapped battlefield. Every attempt at freedom failed.
Ashen did not stop. His spiritual strikes and savage intent tore through the sky like glowing red blades. Every attack shook the ground, shattered rocks, smashed the stone trees, and filled the air with blood and dust. The Imperial Guard remained standing, watching carefully, his smile never fading. The giant monstrosity seemed completely trapped, yet it refused to surrender. Its howls and wounds mixed with the grinding of wires cutting further into its flesh.
The stone forest was almost entirely destroyed. The rocks were cracked, the trees mixed with blood and flame, and the air was filled with the smell of iron and blood. The scene was like a living nightmare. The red wave of savage intent Ashen unleashed turned the place into a true battlefield. Every moment was sharp like a blade. Every strike shattered stone and tore the air.
Then the blood wires of the spell rose again, forming an even more complex shape. They turned into a massive net that completely pinned the monstrosity. The giant illusory sword remained driven through its chest, while blood flames consumed its body slowly, preventing any regeneration. The creature tried to reconnect to its severed limbs, but the blood network created from the Imperial Guard's swords and blood left no room for movement.
Ashen didn't leave any opening. He used the spiritual eye a third time. A powerful wave hit the monstrosity again. Blood poured endlessly while the spell remained firm. The Imperial Guard smiled once more, despite the blood covering his face, and said calmly:
"Now you truly can't escape, creature… now the real fun begins."
Ashen gave him a cold stare and ignited the aura of savage intent around his whole body. A wave of wild madness flooded the forest. The spell began to twist under the pressure. The Imperial Guard sensed the rising power, but instead of fear, he laughed wildly and looked at Ashen, saying:
"Incredible… every time you bring something new, boy. This fight is more entertaining than anything I've seen."