Riku stepped into the Hollow, his senses immediately assaulted by the damp, musty air. The ground beneath his feet squelched with each step, water seeping into his boots. He grimaced, scanning the area.

A swamp stretched out before him, murky water dotted with patches of soggy earth and twisted vegetation. The air hung heavy, thick with the scent of decay and stagnant water.

Movement caught his eye. Small, amphibious creatures scuttled through the muck - Mud Puppies. They looked like salamanders with brown, mottled skin and bulging, frilly-gilled eyes. Mere F-rank monsters, barely a threat to even the weakest hunter. Riku relaxed slightly. This was perfect for testing the Driver.

He glanced down at his waist, expecting to see the buckle. Closing his eyes, Riku focused inward, feeling a warm, living presence just beneath his skin. He willed it to appear, and the sleek, metal Gaio Driver materialized at his waist, its insect-like emblem gleaming.

Riku's heart raced. This was it - time to see what the device could really do. He took a deep breath, steadying himself, and raised his hand, ready to activate the transformation.

"Gaio!" he called out, his voice echoing across the swamp.

The Driver hummed to life, energy pulsing through it. An electronic voice rang out, clear and crisp in the muggy air. [VANGUARD FORM: ONLINE]

Power surged through Riku's body, the familiar sensation of the armor forming around him sending shivers down his spine. In seconds, he stood transformed, the sleek exoskeleton of Gaio gleaming despite the murky surroundings.

Riku flexed his armored hands, marveling at the strength coursing through him. He took a step forward, noting how easily he moved through the muck that had hindered him moments before. A group of Mud Puppies nearby turned towards him, their bulbous eyes fixed on this new intruder. Riku tensed, ready for action. It was time to see what Gaio could really do.

Riku, now transformed into the powerful Gaio, faced the group of Mud Puppies. Their slimy bodies glistened in the dim light, their bulbous eyes fixed on him with a predatory gleam. Gaio flexed his armored fingers, feeling the surge of power coursing through him.

The first Mud Puppy lunged, but Gaio's enhanced reflexes kicked in. He sidestepped effortlessly, and the creature sailed past him, splashing into the murky water. A grin spread across Gaio's face beneath the helmet. This was incredible.

Two more Mud Puppies charged, and Gaio decided to test his newfound strength. He cocked back his fist and threw a punch at the nearest one. His armored fist connected with a satisfying thud, and the Mud Puppy flew backward, skipping across the water's surface before sinking with a gurgle. "Whoa," Gaio breathed, glancing at his fist and then back at where the creature had disappeared. He'd barely put any effort into that punch.

The second Mud Puppy was almost upon him. Gaio pivoted, bringing his leg up in a roundhouse kick. His boot connected with the creature's side, sending it spinning through the air. It crashed into a twisted tree trunk with a wet splat and slid to the ground, motionless. Gaio's eyes widened behind his visor. The kick had felt as natural as breathing, yet it packed enough force to knock out the Mud Puppy in one hit. He looked down at his legs, marveling at the strength they now possessed.

A chorus of angry barks drew his attention. More Mud Puppies were emerging from the swamp, their eyes gleaming with malice. Gaio counted at least a dozen. "Alright," he muttered. "Let's see how fast I can go."

Gaio crouched slightly, then pushed off. He shot forward like a bullet, water spraying in his wake. The world blurred around him as he zipped between the Mud Puppies, striking each one in passing. His fists and feet connected in rapid succession, each blow precise and powerful.

In seconds, it was over. Gaio skidded to a stop, water sloshing around his ankles. He turned to survey his handiwork. The Mud Puppies lay scattered across the swamp, some floating unconscious in the water, others sprawled on patches of soggy earth. None were moving.

Gaio's breath came fast, not from exertion, but from sheer exhilaration. He'd moved faster than he'd ever thought possible, striking with a precision that felt almost superhuman. And yet, he'd barely tapped into the armor's power. He could feel it thrumming beneath the surface, ready to be unleashed.

He looked down at his armored hands again, clenching and unclenching his fists. The strength he now possessed was intoxicating. With this power, he could be more than just a low-rank hunter scraping by.

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

A splash in the distance caught his attention. Gaio's head snapped up, his enhanced senses immediately pinpointing the source. Something big was moving through the swamp, heading his way. The water churned and bubbled, parting to reveal a massive, slimy form.

The Muck Mother emerged from the murky water, its massive form dwarfing Gaio. The creature's wet, leathery skin glistened, and its eyes gleamed with a disturbing intelligence that sent a chill down Gaio's spine. Frilled gills flared, a clear sign of aggression.

Around the Muck Mother, more Mud Puppies surfaced, their bulbous eyes fixed on Gaio with predatory intent. He was completely encircled.

Gaio swallowed hard, his heart racing. Despite the incredible power of the Gaio armor, a flicker of nervousness crept in. He'd never faced so many opponents at once, let alone a creature as formidable as the Muck Mother.

But as he clenched his fists, feeling the strength coursing through his armored body, Gaio steeled himself. He had power now. Real power. He could do this.

The Muck Mother let out a guttural croak, and the Mud Puppies attacked as one. Gaio sprang into action, ducking under the first Mud Puppy that lunged at him and delivering a powerful roundhouse kick to another. Two more Mud Puppies leaped at him from opposite sides, but Gaio jumped higher than ever before, causing the creatures to collide beneath him.

"Come on!" Gaio shouted, adrenaline pumping through his veins. "Is that all you've got?"

The Muck Mother answered by spitting a large glob of sticky mud at Gaio. His enhanced reflexes allowed him to dodge just in time, and the mud splattered against a twisted tree trunk behind him, instantly hardening.

Gaio launched into a flurry of punches and kicks, each strike sending a Fiend flying. His movements were fluid, almost graceful, as he danced between opponents. But for every Mud Puppy he took down, it seemed like two more took its place, and the Muck Mother watched, waiting for an opening.

Gaio's breath came fast as he fought. Despite the armor's power, he was starting to tire. He needed to end this quickly.

Remembering his fight with the Mana Hoppers, Gaio focused, channeling mana into his fist. "Vanguard Strike!" he shouted, driving his glowing fist into the ground. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the swamp, tossing Mud Puppies into the air and momentarily throwing the Muck Mother off balance.

Gaio used the moment of confusion to his advantage, charging at the Muck Mother and delivering a powerful blow to its underbelly. The creature staggered, but it wasn't down yet. It lashed out with its powerful tail, catching Gaio in the side and sending him flying.

As Gaio pushed himself to his feet, he realized that the armor had protected him from the worst of the impact. A newfound confidence surged through him. He could take these hits. He could win this fight.

The Muck Mother was advancing again, flanked by its Mud Puppy minions. Gaio took a deep breath, centering himself. He could feel the power of the armor humming through him, waiting to be unleashed.

"Alright," he muttered. "Round two."

Gaio faced the advancing horde, his mind racing. The Muck Mother loomed behind its minions, eyes gleaming with malice. He knew he had to take her out, or this fight would never end.

"Alright, time to get serious," he muttered.

Gaio crouched, feeling the power of the Gaio armor surging through him. In a burst of speed, he shot forward. Mud Puppies lunged at him, but he weaved between them, his movements fluid and precise.

A particularly large Mud Puppy blocked his path. Gaio didn't slow down. Instead, he channeled mana into his fist, feeling it build up like a pressure cooker.

"Vanguard Strike!" he cried, his fist connecting with the Mud Puppy's face. The creature exploded backward, taking out several of its brethren in the process. The path to the Muck Mother was clear.

Gaio leaped, soaring over the remaining Mud Puppies. He landed right in front of the Muck Mother, who reared back in surprise.

"Just you and me now, big girl," Gaio said, settling into a fighting stance.

The Muck Mother's response was immediate. It spat a massive glob of mud at Gaio's face. He ducked, feeling the sticky substance whoosh over his helmet.

Gaio countered with a flurry of punches to the creature's underbelly. Each impact sent shockwaves through the Muck Mother's body, but it stood its ground.

Suddenly, its tail whipped around. Gaio saw it coming this time. He jumped, the tail sweeping beneath him. As he descended, he brought his heel down hard on the appendage.

The Muck Mother let out a pained croak. It thrashed, nearly knocking Gaio off his feet. He stumbled back, narrowly avoiding another glob of mud.

"Okay, that made it mad," Gaio muttered.

The Muck Mother charged, its massive bulk cutting through the swamp water like a speedboat. Gaio braced himself, then at the last second, sidestepped. He grabbed one of the creature's frilled gills as it passed, using its momentum to swing himself onto its back.

The Muck Mother bucked and thrashed, trying to dislodge him. Gaio held on tight, his armored fingers digging into the creature's slippery hide.

"Time to end this," he said through gritted teeth.

Gaio focused, channeling mana throughout his body. The armor began to glow with intense green energy. He could feel the power building, swirling around him like a vortex.

[Vortex Crash] The Driver announced.

Gaio leaped high into the air, his body spinning rapidly. As he descended, he extended his leg, the vortex of energy concentrating around his foot.

He struck the Muck Mother with devastating force. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the swamp. Water parted in a circular wave, revealing the muddy bottom beneath.

When the water settled, Gaio stood over the unconscious form of the Muck Mother. Around him, the remaining Mud Puppies retreated into the murky depths, their alpha defeated.

Gaio's breath came in heavy gasps. He looked down at his hands, still glowing faintly with residual energy.

"That... was intense," he murmured, a mix of awe and exhaustion in his voice.