"Waaaaahhh!"
Maru scread and bolted in panic.
The Guardian Ape swung its massive hand down with earth-shaking force. The ground quaked violently, dirt and stones exploding upward, chunks of rock raining down like a storm. One particularly round boulder landed squarely beneath Maru's foot.
"Ahhh!"
She slipped, nearly smashing her face into the dirt like a dog skidding muzzle-first. At the last instant, she twisted her body awkwardly and barely managed to stay upright.
But in that clumsy spin—the Ring of Favor flew out of her hand!
"Oh no!"
Maru spun back to grab it, but the Guardian Ape's speed was monstrous. With a feral roar, it lunged straight at her.
"[Mage Hand]!"
At the critical mont, a phantom hand yanked her out of the way.
The Guardian Ape's body slamd down with the force of a collapsing mountain. The ground split open, trees snapped and toppled, and several unlucky monkeys were crushed beneath the crashing trunks.
"Th-thank you, Drew…" Maru gasped, catching her breath. She drew her twin blades and slid into a low, ready stance.
"Stay sharp," Drew muttered, gripping his staff tighter, chanting an incantation under his breath.
"So this is the real boss, huh?" Leon smirked, brushing back golden hair that glead even beneath the shadow of the trees.
The Guardian Ape lood like a demon, white fur bristling with killing intent. The sword lodged in its neck only made it look more terrifying, like a monster marked by vengeance.
Leon raised his sword and declared with burning confidence:
"Everyone—forward!"
"[Minor Inspire]!"
"[Minor Fortify]!"
"[Fla Enchant]!"
"[Interdiate Sharpen]!"
"[Interdiate Stonewall Guard]!"
"You're all buffed—go!"
Glowing sigils cascaded over the party, flooding them with energy. Terl's already-massive fra swelled, muscles bulging until he looked like a titan. His warhamr erupted in roaring fla, his silhouette towering like a legendary hero. In that mont—who could possibly stand against him?
"ROAAARR!"
The Guardian Ape pounded its chest, the sound reverberating like thunder.
"Co at !"
Terl roared back, swinging his blazing warhamr in a crushing arc as he charged like a rampaging beast.
Hamr and claw collided with an explosive crack. Both staggered, then lunged again, colliding like titans in a savage struggle.
As the clash raged, Terl's skin slowly flushed green. With a guttural snarl, he sank his tusks deep into the ape's hand, tearing away a bloody chunk of flesh.
His half-orc blood had awakened. Normally, he looked almost human. But in the furnace of battle, his true nature erupted. Only when the rage subsided would he return to normal.
"ROAR!"
The Guardian Ape howled in pain, swatting him aside like an insect. Terl twisted in midair, slamd into the ground, and rolled upright—imdiately unleashing a thunderous roar, a taunt no beast could ignore.
The ape's eyes turned blood-red. In its mind, Terl was no longer just an opponent—he had beco the very image of the one who had slain its mate. Rage consud it. It had to rip him apart.
"Co on, beast!"
Terl pounded his chest and charged back in, grappling with the berserk Guardian Ape. Monkeys screeched and scattered in terror; those too slow were crushed to pulp beneath the frenzy.
Suddenly, the ape vaulted skyward and slamd down on its back. The shockwave nearly toppled Terl, but he steadied himself and moved to strike—
The Guardian Ape rolled violently, thrashing like a tantrum-throwing child. Terl was too slow to shield himself. Two bone-crushing slams smashed into him, driving blood from his mouth.
The ape bellowed in triumph, raising its arms to finish him—only to collapse with a scream as pain ripped through its legs.
Behind it stood Maru, her twin blades dripping blood. She had carved deep slashes across its hamstrings.
Her specialty—the Accel Slash. A sudden burst of speed and a precise, brutal strike. Against a boss like this, it wouldn't kill outright, but it was perfect for support.
The Guardian Ape struggled to rise, but then the battlefield brightened—sunlight itself seed to blaze down.
"Well done, Maru."
Leon raised his sword, the blade engulfed in holy radiance that lanced skyward. His family's secret technique—Light of Victory.
"Die!"
The sword fell in a dazzling arc of brilliance.
The Guardian Ape curled in on itself, presenting its armored back. The blade struck with an explosion of light and blood, carving a savage gash deep across its spine. The monster roared but endured.
"Don't give it ti! Drew, restore my stamina!" Leon panted, drained by the skill.
Terl hurled himself back into the fray, grappling to buy ti. Maru darted around, blades poised to strike its exposed flank.
Then—the ape scrambled up a tree.
"Running scared?" Leon sneered. "Good. More ti to charge another strike."
"ROAR!"
The Guardian Ape bellowed, reaching behind itself.
Leon's gut dropped. A chill seized his chest. But locked in his charging stance, he couldn't move.
The ape hurled sothing.
A massive… ball of dung.
Not just dung. A teor of shit so huge it defied reason.
And it was coming straight for Leon.
Drew was mid-incantation—too late to raise a shield.
"No—!"
Direct hit. Even Kobe couldn't have dunked it better.
SPLAT!
The colossal dung ball slamd down, exploding like a filthy bomb. Leon and Drew, dead center, were drenched head to toe.
They didn't dare open their mouths. One wrong gasp, and the filth would choke them.
"Why do monkeys always have to fling shit?!"
"Can't they think of sothing new?!"
"We're sick of this already!"
"You… son… of… a… bitch!!!"
Leon finally snapped. His golden hair, once radiant, now dripped a sickly greenish sludge.
Bathed in filth, he lunged forward like an unleashed arrow.
Rage burned through him, unlocking monstrous strength. His blows ca heavier than even Terl's. He uppercut the Guardian Ape into the air, then wrenched free the sword from its neck.
"DIEEEEEE!"
With a roar, he twisted the blade savagely. Flesh ripped, blood sprayed—and the monster's head crashed to the ground.
Thud!
But even headless, even dead, Leon didn't stop. He pumled the twitching body with fist after fist, screaming in madness.
"Enough! Enough!"
Terl rushed in, grabbing him despite the stench. "Boss, calm down! I'll treat you to a hot bath, alright?!"
"Let go! I'll kill it! I'll kill it again!"
"It's already dead, nya…"
"Haahhh…" Drew sighed heavily, summoning streams of water to wash away the filth. "In all my years, I've never witnessed anything so vulgar."
None of them looked back. None of them even considered the corpse.
Why would they?
A headless body couldn't rise again.
…
But the fingers of the Guardian Ape twitched.
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