Epic Of Caterpillar

Chapter 2806 - 2807: Fighting A Cosmic Beast Out Of Nowhere

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”Was this creature really born inside your Realm, Frank?” I asked, staring at the colossal mole-like bear monster.

”Yeah. Whenever Iʼm not here, time flows way faster. Monsters evolve into new species and multiply like crazy... Plant lifeʼs also flourished and diversified. This island used to be a tenth of its current size, and now itʼs trying to rival Australia,” Frank said, eyes fixed on the beast. ”Ah, itʼs coming!”

”GRUOOOHHHH!”

The Mole Bear roared, tearing a massive chunk of land from the ground and hurling it skyward. With a swipe of its claws, it shattered the mass into thousands of boulders, which rained upward toward us in a chaotic storm.

Going all out here wouldnʼt be wise. I was still partially ”sealed,” meaning I couldnʼt use my System or Skills. I wanted to grow beyond them.

That meant I had to overcome this foe without relying on any System-based abilities.

Not bad. Time to get serious.

I drew my rapier from my inventory ring and infused it with my Aura.

”Letʼs see what youʼve got.”

I swung the blade forward. My Aura surged, and my Consciousness—melding Ki and Mana—unleashed a sea of crimson blood and black shadows, blooming like a garden of spectral flowers.

This was a Pseudo Manifestation of my Unique Martial Arts, still in development as I trained under [Records of the Man Who Went Against the World].

My mastery of this Martial Arts Method was at 60%. I was only one step away from reaching the Third Stage of the Martial Artist Realms: Martial Ascension.

Even without fully stepping into that realm, I could feel it—my knowledge, body, soul, and mind slowly merging into one, thanks to my simultaneous study of the Arcane Path.

This fusion allowed me to create a Manifestation ahead of time, albeit a small and clunky one.

I havenʼt mastered it yet.

But Wasp always said a Martial Artist grows best when facing life-or-death trials.

So what better opportunity than this?

My Martial Arts versus a World-Devouring-Level Cosmic Beast at the peak of its Realm.

Therefore...

”Records of the Man Who Went Against the World!”

”Third Form!”

”Rice Harvest!”

”...?!”

”What?!”

Frank, Matsuo, Harumi, and Erika all stared at me in shock as I swung my rapier—its blade shaped like the stinger of a giant insect—piercing through dozens of massive boulders in a single motion.

”I forgot to mention—”

CRASH! CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!

”I also trained in Martial Arts under my fatherʼs guidance. Iʼm quite proficient with a rapier.”

BOOOM!

A massive explosion erupted from the concentrated energy of my strikes, obliterating the incoming boulders.

”GRYAAAGH!”

The Mole Bear roared, shielding its head and small, vulnerable eyes with its enormous claws.

”Huh, I really thought you were going to be useless,” Erika laughed, her body beginning to shift. She transformed into a towering, radiant golden werewolf. ”Guess I can go all out too! AWOOOOO!”

”I suppose we donʼt have much choice,” Harumi said, sprouting bat-like wings made of blood and hovering in midair. Her aura flared as dozens of blood-forged weapons materialized around her. She grabbed a pair of crimson knives and glared down at the beast. ”Letʼs kill this thing.”

”Aw man, I just wanted to sing karaoke and go to bed,” Matsuo sighed. His Aura of Light flared, radiating the Essence of Heaven and Earth—Yin and Yang in perfect balance. Dozens of white paper talismans floated around him, each carrying a familiar spirit, the Shikigami of Japanese Onmyōji. ”Alright, letʼs do this.”

”Iʼm sorry about this... Iʼll make sure to share the rewards with everyone as compensation,” Frank said, summoning White to his hand. The angelic spear glowed with divine light. ”Letʼs go!”

”Hmph...” Mammon smirked from a distance. ”Iʼll lend a hand if needed, but this seems like a good training session for you kids. Iʼll watch your backs.”

”Really? Thanks!” Frank replied.

Frank... heʼs just being lazy.

Heʼll understand once he sees Mammon doing absolutely nothing for the rest of the day.

Regardless, we charged forward.

”GRUOORR!”

The Mole Bear greeted Erika and Frank—our frontliners—with a devastating double swipe of its blazing claws. Each claw was ten meters long, a true challenge for even the strongest among us.

CLAAASH!

”Nnngh!”

”Resist!”

Erika and Frank held their ground, using their weapons and bodies to withstand the impact. Erika, surprisingly, was far stronger than Iʼd imagined. Her wolf claws extended like blades, sharp and durable as cosmic steel. Frank, meanwhile, endured the blow with his angelic spear, white scales forming across his body for protection.

”GRAAAAHHH!”

The Mole Bear unleashed a roar that shook the entire world, generating a shockwave that sent both of them flying.

”Damn it!” Frank shouted.

”Ugh, isnʼt this one a bit too big?!” Erika groaned.

They complained, but what theyʼd done was nothing short of incredible. They were holding their own against a monster capable of wiping out an entire planet in a single day—and all it managed was to push them back.

”Iʼve also studied Martial Arts, and I can combine it with my Blood Magic, Kireina! Youʼre not the only one with that trick!”

Harumi descended, slashing at the Mole Bearʼs face with her blood knives. Her magic amplified the damage, causing the blood she spilled to detonate from within the beastʼs body.

”Blood Detonation! Blood Flames!”

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

”GRUUAAAAHHH!”

Her control over Blood Magic was impressive. Not quite on Agatheinaʼs level, but with time, she could become a worthy disciple—if Agatheina ever agreed to teach her.

”Blood Weapon Style!”

”First Form!”

”Slashing Slaughter!”

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!

Harumi moved like lightning, carving dozens of deep gashes across the Mole Bearʼs massive frame. Her Blood Aura extended the reach of her strikes, multiplying their impact.

”GRRRRR!”

The beast retaliated, swinging its blazing claws and catching her off guard. Her body ignited as she was hurled backward.

BOOOM!

”Ugh!”

Harumi groaned, flames licking at her skin. Frank clapped his hands, summoning a wave of cold wind that crystallized the fire into tiny red shards.

”Harumi, are you okay?”

”Iʼm fine. I couldʼve handled it myself, Frank. More importantly, focus up—are you really getting handled by this thing?”

”Sorry. I mightʼve gotten a bit too relaxed... Time to show you what I can really do!”

Frank soared into the sky, casting a spell that manifested a compressed... Domain? He weaponized the phenomenon into a sphere of condensed space and white void, then hurled it at the creature.

”{Gravity Sphere Rain}!”

BOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM! BOOOM!

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