6 Survive the Invasion End
Beyond the thick fog, and gusty cold wind that impeded Aimer's vision were nine monsters heading towards him.
Each of them emitted a pressure that even from a distance it weighed over Aimer.
'These monsters...they're strong. One Titan, two Giants, three Gnolls, and lastly, three Ghouls. They all seem to be Horizon type monsters...except, for that Titan in the back'
Aimer had a calm expression as he scouted the monsters approaching from beyond the mist that served as a veil for their appearance.
Equipped with a variety of weapons from axes to hammers, the clustered monsters separated themselves as they moved closer towards what they deemed as a little 'ant.'
This wasn't an exaggeration because from the monster's perspective they towered over Aimer who stood below their gaze.
As the monsters closed the distance between them and Aimer, they all struck an intimidating pose with their weapons ready to attack at any given moment.
As for Aimer, he stood his ground before the overwhelming monsters in an emotionless state that glimpsed all nine creatures.
*GRRRR* All the monsters snarled at Aimer, except for the Titan.
"Hmm? Are you....what they call a human?"
'Huh? It can talk! But how!? I've never heard of such a thing before nor have I read any information as of such'
Aimer's eyes widened with a shocked expression after his perked ears heard the disorientated voice.
"You...can speak can you?"
Once again that strong, deep voice shook Aimer from his dazed state.
"How do you know our language?"
Was the single phrase that escaped Aimer's lips.
The Titan's expression shifted to a widened smile as he brought the hilt of his hammer in both hands.
"Heh...how you say? Simply, because I've killed many and absorbed their knowledge. Sadly, you'll be next...same as the others, your existence is my stepping stone."
Even though Aimer was unfazed by the Titan, it was what the monster said that created a rage that dwelled deep within Aimer.
His face frowned as he clenched his teeth tightly.
"DO YOU THINK WE HUMANS ARE MERE TOYS FOR YOU TO PLAY WITH!"
An overbearing tone could be heard within Aimer's voice after he shouted a response towards the Titan and fellow monsters.
"You've got spunk! I hope you'll give us a good show."
Disregarding what Aimer said as if it were irrelevant the Titan smirked as he made a remark filled with confidence.
*Tch* 'I guess that's all I'll get out of these simple-minded monsters'
Aimer thought simply because he believed all monsters operated on a single thought without reason nor logic. Whatever they decided to do is what they'll do.
"Get him!"
The monsters who stood on either side of the Titan charged at Aimer. Ahead of them all were the fastest, the Ghouls.
'I'd better take care of those first' Aimer thought as he pushed off from his spot towards the incoming monsters.
*ROAR* *KRRRR*
The monsters all screeched at Aimer in malicious intent.
But in a swift movement after closing the distance with the Ghouls, Aimer reached out and grab two of the three Ghouls who attacked him.
*SWAT* *shhh*
Aimer smashed the two heads together before a gush of thick purple blood splashed against his countenance.
With his awareness intact Aimer sensed the third Ghoul about to counterattack.
*GRRRAGGG* *squish* *Hugh*
Aimer pierced the chest of that Ghoul before flashing its carcass off his hands.
Immediately he was surrounded by the three Gnolls and diagonally from them were two 10-foot Giants.
The quick-witted Aimer quickly dashed towards the Gnoll directly ahead of him before stopping behind its legs.
With his first positioned far back preparing for a punch, Aimer launched his attack at the Gnoll's ankle.
*whoosh* *BOOOM*
Aimer landed a massive blow against the Gnoll's and though his next moment lasts for a second without a subtle change in his emotionless state he felt a terrifying fear creeping from within him as the Gnoll turned towards him with a devilish smile.
It... did not affect him! Aimer's attack was utterly useless against the Gnoll's almost impenetrable body.
Aimer was frozen like a statue and didn't realize the Gnoll preparing to counter. The Gnoll slashed down with an unnerving force that rippled the mist.
But that attack fell a few inches short before Aimer's face when he instinctively reacted.
Skill [Empathy] has been used!
The force from which the Gnoll stopped its attack brought forth a tremendous chill. Aimer could see the sharpened blade of the ax just shy from his countenance.
Suddenly, the Gnoll violently drew back its ax and swung to its right.
*shick* *KARRRGG!*
The Gnoll that attempted to attack Aimer instead beheaded its fellow brethren who wept in agony before succumbing to its demise.
How?! Simple.
For one, keep in mind that the skill [Empathy] could be used against any level monster, may they be higher or lower than Aimer.
Second, the skill had tapped into that Gnoll's emotion, forcefully taking control of its efforts while igniting a hatred towards the monsters.
And all it took was a single order from Aimer for him to fully control this Gnoll's next course of actions.
With the few monsters left in shock, Aimer was capable of using that Gnoll to take out the other Gnoll.
With a single strike, another one of its brethren was beheaded.
But that Gnoll was soon stopped by the two Giants when they instantly pummeled him with their hammer after taking akin to the situation.
All that happening, while the Titan stood its ground with a fluctuation of several expressions. Varying from a devilish smile to a blood-curdling frown.
As the Giants finished slaughtering the Gnoll Aimer took control of, they both shifted a daggering gaze towards him.
'Damn! If only I could've taken out just one more of them, then things could've gone much smoother'
Aimer focused all his attention on the remaining monsters.
Whilst he was busy devising a plan to defeat the two Giants something unexpected happened.
"Useless."
*swoosh!* *BOOM*
*ughh!!*
All that could be seen as an afterimage of the Titan's strike which bashed into the head of one of the two Giants.
The Giants body spasmed to the floor leaving the Titan's hammer drenched in dripping blood.
The last Giant felt despair when the Titan shifted his attention towards it.
"Die."
*hook!*
Using its massive hand, the Titan grabbed hold of the Giant's neck. *crunch* *crunch*
With red bulging eyes and a wiggling body, black veins surfaced across the struggling Giant's face as his neck became lifeless.
*SPLAT*
The Titan crushed the Giant's neck before dropping it to the canvas.
*thud*
'What!? He killed them! He killed the underlings! What on earth is it thinking!? Well, it's a good thing it took care of the hassle for me'
Aimer locked eyes with the Titan who now faced him from a distance.
*hmph* "One measly human. They couldn't take care of one measly HUMAN. Disgraceful"
The Titan took one last glance at the carcasses with a scoff before he turned back towards Aimer.
'He's coming...and fast!'
*whoop* *BOOM*
*hyuk!*
*grunt* 'Th...this power!? This speed!! This is the capabilities of a Sky-dweller type monster!?'
In an instant, the Titan swung its hammer at Aimer as if it were hitting a golf ball. And though Aimer reacted fast enough to block, the power gap between the two was miles apart.
*swoosh*
Aimer's body was blasted a few meters back, almost to the same spot where he first stood from the beginning.
Acrobatically, Aimer propelled himself back to his feet only to hear a deep whisper.
"Too weak."
Aimer's eyes opened wide before he snapped his head upward to see the Titan before him, readying an attack from above.
'Ohhh...shit!'
*DOOOM* *arghh*
Like a nail being drilled into the wall, Aimer was hit from above. It took all his strength to parry the hammer that delivered a massive blow that rattles his arm bones.
'Heh...th..this sucks right now! How am I supposed to beat this?'
Aimer released his contact with the Titan's hammer after unexpectedly ducking forward and sliding between the Titans' legs.
The Titan arched its brows before tilting its head just over its shoulder to glimpse Aimer knelt.
"I guess this is all you've got to offer. At first, I thought you would put on a show because you seem to have something 'special' within you...different from the other humans. But it seems I was blinded by my passions."
The Titan faced Aimer, seemingly ready to give him his final beat down.
'Something special you say?
*grunt* I wonder...what could that be?'
Aimer struggled to stand upright before raising his head at the Titan in front of him.
Realizing Aimer still wore an unfazed expression the Titan became somewhat irritated and launched his hammer for an attack.
Skill [Empathy] has been used.
*halt*
The Titan became frozen, dead in its tracks, unable to move a muscle.
'Wha...what! It's this weird ability again! The one he used against that Gnoll. Silly brat! You think this can STOP ME!'
The Titan exclaimed inwardly before he did the unthinkable. The ability which can alter emotions and control a person/monster was being denied by the Titan's willpower.
'What's happening!? How is he able to move!?'
Aimer became confused as he noticed the Titan slowly budging from its position.
And as each second passed the Titan came closer to breaking the restraints of Aimer's ability.
*ROARGHHH* *stomp*
The Titan was now free as a bird in the sky.
'How!? This doesn't make sense! The skill I just used surely said no matter what level...it can be used against any monster/person! Unless...I'm the one not strong enough to utilize it or...'
*DOOM*
Being lost in thought the Titan took this chance and hammered Aimer deep into the canvas.
*heok* Aimer coughed up a truckload of blood as the hammer jammed him in his abdomen.
'Goddammit! Can't I think for a sec...?'
*DOOM* *DOOM* *DOOM* *DOOM* *DOOM*
With precision and consistency, the Titan savagely bashed its hammer into Aimer, caving him deeper into the platform below him.
If it were not for Aimer's skill [Animal Instincts] he would've been whimpering in misery. Luckily for him, he was somewhat numb to the pain.
'Is...is this it? After all that...this is what I've become? Even though I trained and level up continuously...this is all that I'm capable of. Did I choose the wrong conditions....? What did I do wrong?'
While beating, Aimer blames himself for his shortcomings.
'No, no, this can't be! I have to go back home...I have to see my mother's face. At least...at least one more time. I cannot die here nor will I die here! I need to become stronger...I need to become stronger...I NEED TO BECOME STRONGER!!'
At that moment, a tremendous amount of magical energy surfaced from within Aimer.
The light was so bright that even the Titan stopped attacking before back-peddling.
*DING!*
"New Skill Attained!"
[GRIT] - a powerful motivation to achieve an objective. This skill allows the user to go beyond their normal capabilities. All stats are boosted by %50. (Usage: once a day)
'Ahhk...this feeling...this overwhelming power that's surging throughout my body. It feels as if I'm taking in all the mana around me'
*DING*
"Additional notification!"
[Hidden Skill: Fire Elementalist (Lvl. 1]
(Requirements met)
Mana Use - 1700
Mana:
2000/2000
*cough* 'Oh, am I finally able to use this skill. But why does it need so much mana? Is it that powerful?'
Also, shouldn't I have more mana than that....oh? Maybe some of that mana I absorbed was used for my rapid leveling...'
Aimer now felt as he were reborn. With the bountiful amount of mana within him and the new skills he would now be able to use.
This was where things will take a change.
"Ah! Did you have some sort of a breakthrough boy! Isn't this surprising...you just needed a good beating to reveal you're true powers to me! Ahahahah!!!"
"Your too talkative, do you know that?"
Aimers gave the Titan a bitter stare and a slight smirk as soon as he stood upright to stretch his body.
"Arrogant!"
*swoosh*
Skill [GRIT] has been activated!
*BOOM*
The Titan swung his hammer horizontally at Aimer who surprisingly blocked it with little effort.
"You think so?"
Aimer's left hand was placed against the incoming hammer putting a slight distance between it and himself after stopping its movements.
*sigh*
'I feel good....really good. With the two additional skills I'm able to use now, I think I should be able to handle this much'
"Then, shall we get this over with?"
