The moment Lisa and Rylan turned to leave, the mountain behind them erupted with shrill screeches—so sharp and numerous they seemed to tear the sky apart. Rylan froze mid-step, his eyes narrowing. Lisa turned, confused, and then her jaw dropped.
From the steep cliffs, a black wave poured downward—hundreds of monkeys, fur dark as soot, eyes glowing crimson, claws scraping rock into powder. The mass moved like a living avalanche.
Rylan's face turned grim.
"These are Spirit Rank beasts… most of them weak. But…" His eyes tightened. "This many together is a problem."
Before Lisa could reply, the ground trembled.
A larger figure emerged from the horde—a monster nearly three times the height of the others, with six enormous arms, each thick as ancient tree roots. Its tusks curled outward, and its roar blasted loose leaves from nearby trees.
Lisa swallowed hard.
"That… that one isn't normal."
Rylan gripped his spear, jaw clenched.
"That is a Deputy Rank Six-Armed Mountain Ape. Its power is close to Earth Rank Late Stage. Strong enough to level a small fort."
Lisa felt her soul leave her body.
The system popped up with a cheerful ping—
[System Notification: Good luck, Host ^_^]
Lisa wanted to punch something.
Rylan spoke sharply, "Lisa. Hide. Now. You will only be targeted."
She hated how true that was. With a frustrated glare at herself and the world, she nodded and ran behind thick bushes. Branches tangled in her hair, her clothes snagged, and she hissed at everything in her path.
The system added unhelpfully:
[Host, please be safe… also you are indeed a burden right now.]
"SHUT UP!" she hissed under her breath.
She peeked through the leaves—just in time to see Rylan rolling his shoulders and spinning his spear with a grin that looked far too excited.
"Well then," Rylan muttered, lifting his weapon, "buddy… let's have a feast tonight."
Lisa choked.
"He's crazy. Completely crazy."
The First Wave
The horde screeched and charged. Hundreds of black shapes crossed the ground like a storm of fur and fangs. Their claws sliced at the earth, carving long trenches as they sprinted with terrifying speed.
But Rylan didn't retreat.
He stepped forward.
A monkey leapt at him, claws swinging. Rylan tilted his head—the claws cut only air. His spear flashed once.
Pshuk!
The creature's head flew off its shoulders.
Lisa covered her mouth.
"That was… one move…?"
The next ten came at him simultaneously. Rylan danced through them like a shadow—leaning, spinning, sliding between attacks that would have gutted most warriors. His movements were fluid, elegant, almost mocking.
He stabbed one monkey through the chest, ripped the spear free, twisted, and sliced another's arm off. A third lunged at his back—Rylan didn't even turn.
CRACK!
He kicked backward, shattering its skull like a melon.
Lisa whispered, "That should be illegal…"
The system chimed,
[Host, please stop drooling over the warrior.]
"WHO IS DROOLING?!" she whisper-screamed.
The Battle Thickens
The apes grew more agitated, screeching in rage as their fallen piled on the ground. Dozens jumped at Rylan at once, their claws glowing faintly with beast energy—sharp enough to cut through stone.
One monkey slashed across Rylan's arm, leaving a thin, bleeding line.
Lisa gasped softly.
But Rylan didn't even flinch.
Instead, he smirked.
"Finally warmed up."
He stomped the ground.
The earth cracked.
He swung his spear in a horizontal arc—
SLAASH!
Four bodies split in half.
Another seven tried to circle him. Rylan leapt, using a monkey's head as a stepping stone, flipping through the air and landing behind them before they even noticed.
Thunk!
His spear impaled two at once.
Crack!
A swift elbow crushed another's throat.
Lisa was trembling behind the bushes—not from fear, but from pure disbelief.
"Rylan… you're terrifying…"
The system added:
[Host, his fighting power is indeed attractive. You should consider—]
"IF YOU FINISH THAT SENTENCE I WILL UNINSTALL YOU!"
The Earth Totem Spear Skill
But the monkeys weren't mindless.
More climbed from the mountain, hundreds upon hundreds. Enough to drown Rylan in bodies.
Their eyes glowed with murderous instinct as they tightened the circle.
Rylan spat blood to the side.
"Annoying pests… time to end your warm-up."
He planted his feet.
His aura surged—earth-colored, heavy and dense. The ground shook.
Lisa felt pressure slam into her even from her hiding place.
Rylan raised the spear high.
"EARTH TOTEM SPIRIT SKILL—
HUNDRED-SPEAR SHADOW SLASH!"
The air trembled.
In a blinding flash, hundreds of spear-shaped shadows burst forward like a tidal wave, slashing through the monkey horde.
Each spectral spear sliced cleanly—bodies exploded in sprays of dark fur and blood. Screeches turned into gurgles. The sky itself felt full of raining limbs.
Lisa flinched, unable to look away.
"That… that's… horrifying and beautiful at the same time…"
The system whispered dramatically:
[Host… I think we should marry him.]
"SHUT UP!!!!"
The ghostly spears tore through dozens more. The monkeys tried to dodge, but the shadows curved, stabbed, and hunted them mercilessly. Not a single beast survived the wave of phantom blades.
Soon only the corpses remained—scattered everywhere like grotesque offerings.
Lisa felt sick. And impressed. And sick again.
The Six-Armed Ape's Entrance
But then—
A thunderous roar shook the valley.
Rylan froze.
Lisa peeked and saw it—the six-armed monster standing atop a boulder like a demon king. Its six hands clenched into boulders. Its fangs dripped molten saliva. The mountain wind wrapped around it, carrying the scent of blood and fury.
With a single leap, it crashed into the battlefield.
BOOOOM!
The ground cratered beneath it.
Lisa flew back from the shockwave, slamming softly into the bushes.
The giant ape stared down at the countless corpses, then lifted its head and roared so powerfully the trees trembled.
The last of Rylan's spear shadows streaked toward the beast—
The ape slapped it.
Just slapped.
And the glowing spear shadow shattered like glass.
Lisa's heart froze.
"It… destroyed it… in one hit?"
The system beeped in shock.
[Warning! Warning! Host, that monster is extremely dangerous—]
"I KNOW THAT!"
Rylan's face changed. His playful grin vanished, replaced by cold focus. He tightened his grip on the spear.
"So… it's you."
The giant ape beat its chest, all six arms pounding like war drums. Its roar carried a clear meaning:
Territory. Fight. Blood.
Lisa whispered, trembling, "Rylan … you can win… right?"
The system didn't answer.
Rylan slowly stepped forward, earth energy swirling around him.
His spear glowed.
The ape cracked its knuckles—six hands, six times.
Both stared at each other.
The valley fell into silence.
The wind paused.
Even the forest held its breath.
Then—
Rylan lowered his stance.
The six-armed monster leaned forward.
And in the next heartbeat—
Rylan charged.
The Six-Armed Ape charged.
And their terrifying clash was about to begin…