—–
As Truhan and Celica fought Gustav, they were able to easily overwhelm him with their cheap tactics and amazing combat capabilities. Attacking in conjunction while pressuring the Champion with the myriad of skills at their disposal.
Although Gustav held immense power in each of his blows, Truhan was able to easily take them with his own [Legendary Relic] or even, his nude body, which was as sturdy as adamantine.
Gustav quickly discovered that each of his blows was completely stopped by the amazingly dense musculature of the Fiery Oni. Each of his attacks only managed to do a small amount of damage, as most of the power put into his punches were dispersed into shockwaves through Truhan's massive body.
Even worst, as he jumped around and released Martial Arts techniques, Truhan would constantly release his Inferno Domain, overwhelming the Champion with a terrible heat that slowly burned most of his clothes off, only leaving his pants and chest plate. If it wasn't for Gustav's amazing regeneration capabilities, he would have been roasted alive long ago.
Gustav was a pure fighter, and lacked any defensive skills or magic shields, as his body was that of a rock, he never found the necessity to learn any type of shielding magic or techniques. He found himself confident in his own arms, that could shatter everything.
However, he never expected to fight such a resilient warrior like Truhan before. And to make things worse, the Fiery Oni was accompanied by his wife, Celica, the Dark Elf Giantess. Although Gustav could keep up with Truhan just fine, and possibly win against him in a fight of resiliency and intelligence, the factor that made him lose was Celica.
Celica's classes and skills are centered around her ability to hide in the shadows and attack at incredible speeds despite her massive size. Even more, because of her size accompanied by her illogical speed, her sneak attacks hold insane strength.
As Gustav tried to fight off Truhan as best as he could, he would put all his attention in dodging or countering Truhan's attacks while evading his Inferno Domain, which made him susceptible to any attack from outside of his range.
Celica used her Shadow Cloak and [Legendary Relic] to sneak bellow Gustav's back and slash his back several times, inflicting a terrible poison that slowed his movements down while causing damage over time.
Gustav quickly understood that he wasn't fighting conventional enemies or monsters, but cunning individuals that take the opportunity of anything for their advantage. On his own weakness, Gustav felt remorse, he was already too old to grow stronger anymore, and in his perspective, he was getting quite rusty.
His regeneration capabilities on his body were constantly fighting the severe wounds on his body, accompanied by the constant [Burn] and [Poison] damage. He fought as much as he could while making sure that the troops managed to escape. He used every trick, releasing countless of boosting abilities and even increasing his body size, but even after that, the combination of the two Giants was just too much.
For the first time since he was a child, Gustav felt fear for his life. The overwhelming strength of such beings was something he has never seen before. Not even the fiercest of Dungeon Bosses had such power. They were in a completely new league in his mind, and their frightening strength intimidated the 57 years old veteran.
In his despair, Gustav enhanced his body to the limits and went for the last attack against Truhan's head, however, before he could even touch him, the Fiery Oni had already moved his Axe towards him, and with a single slash, he blasted him away.
When Gustav regained consciousness, tremendous pain rushed through his entire body, as he noticed that his right arm and two legs were missing, in the Fiery Oni's attack, he somehow managed to survive such tremendous power, but at the cost of three of his limbs.
Although he had amazing regeneration capabilities, these would never be able to regenerate limbs from zero, perhaps, if he somehow reattached them, but his limbs were probably turned into minced meat the moment he was blown away.
As the pair of Giants approached Gustav to finish him off, he smiled. Although his mind was filled with fear, Gustav has never had such an entertaining fight on his life. A real battle of life and death, something that the old man had already forget how it felt like.
As he smiled at the two Giants, Truhan stopped for a moment, while admiring his gaze.
"He's a real warrior…" He said.
At this, Celica remained silent, and then, the Fiery Oni raised both of his arms, raising his axe towards the heavens.
"You fought well. Now rest, human" These were the last words from Truhan that Gustav heard before blacking out.
However, as Gustav immersed himself in the void of death, a strange spark of light appeared. Although he had accepted his death and had lived a long life for this world's human standards, he still wanted to hang on whatever hope for the life he had.
He didn't know what was that spark of light, but perhaps, it could be something else than just death… As he swam his consciousness through the endless void, he pursued the spark of light, which seemed to become further and further as he followed it.
Gustav was a strong and stoic man; he wouldn't give up so easily. He pursued the light until he finally approached it and with the phantom resembling a hand, that came from the very deeps of his soul, he tightly grabbed it.
Flash!
As the sparkling light enveloped his vision, he suddenly awoke in the middle of the battlefield, he saw as his body had completely regenerated and even a new set of equipment that he has never seen before in his new and youthful body. He saw as his skin was completely healed of all those old scars, his old and tired face was rejuvenated and he resembled a handsome adult man with a gray mustache, and not the tired old man that he always saw in the mirror.
It was as if he has born again. Such thing, was it even possible?
As Gustav admired his new body and equipment, he saw what seemed to be his old [Legendary Relic], [Earth's Anguish], which suddenly evolved into a next tier, and became a [Phantasmal Relic], [Heaven's and Earth's Anguish].
He felt as his equipment was also of [Phantasmal] rank, and that was bounded to his very soul, strengthening beyond his beliefs.
Suddenly, a system notification blew away everything he knew or considered possible in his life.
[You have successfully met the requirements for [Awakening]
[Due to the severe damage in the user's body, and the awakening of its [Epic], the user's body has been regenerated and rejuvenated]
[User has received a new Title; [Hero of Earth-Shattering Might]
[All stats have been increased accordingly]
[All skills have been strengthened accordingly]
[A small portion of the [World's Truth] has been granted to the user]
As he saw these notifications, Gustav's mind was overwhelmed with an immense amount of information, telling the story of the world and the origin of this Realm, alongside the catastrophe that led to the original world, Genesis, to break apart into hundreds of different Realms.
He also learned his destiny, and the mission he was given by the gods and the [World's Will]. His mission was simple, he was awakened for the sole reason of defeating the Realm Menace of Lust, and its servants and subordinates, alongside its family.
Since he was a child, Gustav has never known his real purpose in life, after finally avenging his family, he felt empty. And perhaps, he always felt empty. He never knew his true purpose, his true mission, the reason he was left alive, the reason why he didn't die…
And now, everything was as clear as water, from his mission to his purpose, to even what to do afterward, each step was on his mind, all the knowledge he needed to see life in a new way, was given by a divine decree.
He was truly awakened.
However, to accomplish his goal, he needed to go through one last trial, and that was defeating the two Giants, Truhan and Celica, who were direct subordinates of the Realm Menace of Lust, Kireina.
With a confident smile and brilliant golden eyes, Gustav released his immense aura all across the battlefield, which seemed to resemble an immovable fortress.
As his aura expanded, it took the properties of a domain, granting him new strength and superhuman capabilities.
When Truhan and Celica thought to have killed Gustav, they were distracted by enemy soldiers and didn't manage to grab his corpse into their Item Box, after defeating the army of enemies, they went in their way to support their comrades.
However, as the couple was chatting while wondering what they would eat for dinner, an immense pressure quickly filled their backs. By instinct, Truhan quickly released his Inferno Domain to counter the invading presence, which was completely ominous.
Celica also covered her body in her Shadow Cloak, which was a type of Organic Armor and Domain.
While looking at the source of such powerful pressure, they saw him. The one they just killed and ripped to shreds was standing proudly, completely regenerated. For a moment, the couple couldn't believe what their eyes were seeing.
They were sure to have killed him! How could he come back from death like that?
Suddenly, Truhan instincts kicked in, but it was already too late, as Gustav had already pounced over him with incredible speed, and in less than one second, he appeared right in front of him.
"Hm?! You!" Yelled Truhan as he tried to intercept Gustav speed with his Axe.
CRASH!
Truhan's speed wasn't able to intercept the awakened Hero in time and received an incredible blow on his face, the power that Gustav showcased in his attack was on a completely new level. The attack was filled with tremendous might, that could even shatter mountains. It made the Giant six meters tall Oni fly through the battlefield like a bullet.
As his body was shoot through the air, it fell down the ground where a small army was fighting against the crazed berserk humans, Truhan's massive body turned everyone into minced meat, killing them instantly.
BOOOM!
When Gustav tried to go one more time against him, he was suddenly stopped by Celica, who in her [Stealth] and Shadow Cloak, sneaked behind him, going for another slash through his back.
However, as if Gustav already predicted her movements, he twisted his body and with his two claws, intercepted Celica's daggers, each of his blow having the power to shatter a mountain, the Giantess was not able to hold on the pressure and was thrown away.
While she was on the air, with a massive jump that shattered everything on his surroundings, leaving a deep crater, Gustav flew through the air and conjured a powerful and strange technique, that showed itself as a giant arm made of rock that slapped Celica entire body as if she were a mere flea, sending her through the air like a mad bullet.
CLASH!
"Guuaaahh!"
The new and awakened Gustav had surpassed the Giant Couple strength by far and was able to completely overwhelm them with his new skills and techniques.
Wanting to finish off the weakest of the couple, Gustav jumped over Celica and while using his massive Rock Arms, he began pulverizing Celica's body with countless punches and blows, that quickly blasted the entire ground beneath them.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
"It was a good fight, but it's time to fulfill my destiny, and you two are mere stepping stones in my journey!"
As Celica received each blow, her muscles and internal organs busted several times, while her bones shattered and broke. As she couldn't stop the Hero onslaught, she could only receive his attacks and wait for help.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
"Gggaaahh! T-Truhaan!!"
As if responding to his wife cries for help, Truhan quickly rushed towards Gustav who seemed to be too distracted on his own delusions. And with a fell of his Axe, which he previously enhanced with countless skills and flames, Truhan managed to blast Gustav away from Celica's range.
CRASH!
"W-What?! Ggah!"
Flash!
As Gustav's body flew through the air, his body was suddenly engulfed in undying flames, he never expected the Fiery Oni to have even more strength after the punch he gave him on his face. It seems that he has miscalculated his power, and he feared that Truhan was actually holding back through their entire previous fight.
BOOOM!
As Gustav's body hit the ground, a ten meters deep crater was formed on his area of impact, giving him a strong headache.
"Ggh… This is not right… I should be winning this! It is my destiny!"
While Gustav wounds began to quickly recover, Truhan rushed towards Celica who was in a terrible state, most of her muscles were turned into minced meat and her bones were shattered, only her face remained mostly intact as she protected it with her arms and Shadow Cloak.
"C-Celica!!! Hang in there!"
As Celica glanced over Truhan with a smile, several Red Slimes surged from her equipment and quickly expanded through all her terrible wounds, as they infiltrate her destroyed insides, the Slimes quickly became parts of her muscles and even completely replaced internal organs. A big factor in Celica's survival was her incredible stamina as a Giantess, a normal Ogre or Troll would have died long ago.
"Ah! Master Slime Clones! I will protect you, Celica! You must rest for now"
"Truhan… Be careful…"
"Celica, don't worry! I will protect you! All this power I've gained, it's not for nothing!"
As Truhan gave a last glance at the hundreds of tiny Red Slimes quickly healing Celica's wounds, the Fiery Oni jumped towards Gustav's destination.
Although Truhan is a silent and slightly stupid man, he is capable of feeling strong emotions, and for the first time since long ago, he was feeling an incredible rage.
Although one could consider Truhan's emotions as selfish, as he was angered due to his wife being almost getting killed, even though they had killed thousands of innocents themselves. These thoughts did not go through the simple-minded Oni, as he had already set only one thing on his mind.
"That human…! I will burn him into ashes! Anyone who arms what I love shall be burned into ashes!"
—–
