“What kind of monster is that?!”
Atlas barely had time to pull himself free from where he was stuck against the side of the hill. Before he could move, another force—unbelievably strong—slammed into him!
“D-D-DAMN!”
“Urgh…”
His body crumpled under the impact. His ribs... they were probably shattered by now. Blood poured from his mouth as he coughed violently.
He struggled to free himself, only to realize something massive had grabbed hold of him. Whatever it was, it ripped him away from the hillside with terrifying strength.
Even with his body screaming in pain, his hand clung to his spear. Desperate, he jabbed wildly at whatever was holding him, hoping to pierce it. Panic surged through his mind.
What the hell kind of monster has hands this big?!
Before he could make sense of what was happening, the creature hurled him through the air. He shot toward the ground like a comet.
OARGH!!!
The impact was devastating. Every bone in his body felt like it had shattered. It was as if all his insides were trying to force their way out through his mouth. The pain was blinding, overwhelming.
Get up. I have to get up!
He told himself, forcing his broken body to move.
He knew he couldn’t stay down, no matter how impossible it felt.
But no! No! Hell no!
His body was grabbed again, and once more, he was slammed into the ground with overwhelming force!
OARGHGG!
He was flung mercilessly, his body crashing over and over again. There was no room for resistance—he was utterly powerless against an assault of this magnitude. His opponent was clearly a massive monster, towering and powerful, its hand so large it could easily grip him like a mere toy.
This time, Atlas forced himself to rise faster. He couldn’t afford to stay down. Not now.
Channeling his energy, he cloaked his body in the Water Element, summoning protective strength from the ground beneath him. He spun his spear rapidly, scattering elemental particles in all directions, creating a shimmering veil of energy.
Move!
He darted to the right at full speed, not knowing what lay in that direction but desperate to escape the monster’s reach.
Yet, before he could gain any distance, another attack came, slamming toward the exact spot where he had just stood.
It became clear—this wasn’t just random destruction.
Does this monster have a weapon?
“Damn it!”
Was that a club? A massive one at that. If it hit him, he’d be completely obliterated.
Atlas knew his body was badly injured, but staying still wasn’t an option. If he stopped moving, he would lose.
He kept running, dodging with every ounce of strength he had whenever the wild elemental particles around him began to shift.
In a state like this, he had completely switched into survival mode, alternating between analyzing the movements of the elemental particles and relying purely on his instincts.
Every so often, he used his spear to probe for incoming attacks, testing the air for changes that signaled danger. At the very least, if a direct hit was imminent, he could position himself to avoid taking even more devastating damage.
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Nearly an entire day had passed. All Atlas had been doing was running and dodging, over and over again.
He had been relentlessly targeting the monster's ankle, hoping to reduce its mobility.
Atlas was certain he had struck that spot countless times, but the monster’s enormous size and near-impenetrable defense made it feel like he was chipping away at a mountain. Progress was painstakingly slow and required endless repetition.
He just kept running, tirelessly evading the crushing blows aimed at him. Yet, through sheer persistence, he started to notice the results of his attacks. The area around the monster’s ankle seemed to be weakening, the force of its movements losing a fraction of their impact.
Atlas had also begun to pick up on the monster’s attack patterns. Based on its behavior, it was likely a troll or a giant. Probably more of a troll, judging by its approximate height—around 350 cm (11’6”). Its massive hands and the stone club it wielded only added to its overwhelming presence.
The real danger, however, was that stone club. One direct hit from that, and it would be over for him.
To avoid this, Atlas kept moving, spinning his spear as he ran to scatter waves of elemental particles in every direction. These particles served as both a shield and a distraction, giving him precious seconds to dodge the troll’s relentless attacks.
Each time there was a sudden movement, he would immediately dart away to avoid it.
Once again, his body was hurled violently through the air. He tumbled, nearly losing his grip on his spear, but quickly repositioned himself. Another attack was coming—he could feel it.
Now!
The monster seemed to be about to land another crushing blow, but Atlas reacted faster. With precision and speed, he pivoted sharply, dashing to the side just in time to evade the attack.
In one fluid motion, he spun and launched his counterattack.
[Elite - Flurry of Spears Lv. 2]
His spear moved with blinding speed, delivering a rapid series of strikes to the monster’s target point. Atlas could feel the impact resonate through the weapon—his attacks had landed directly on their mark.
Without waiting, he retreated to another position, putting as much distance as possible between himself and the monster to avoid a direct counterstrike.
From the very beginning, Atlas had resolved to see this challenge through to the end. He wasn’t going to stop until he defeated his opponent.
That determination was why he took every opportunity to eat and drink from the supplies provided to him during the battle. Grabbing a water bottle, he secured it near his helmet, spraying water over his face to wash away the blood before taking a long drink.
Next, he grabbed a handful of dried meat. He had no choice but to eat—it wasn’t a luxury; it was survival. He was only human, after all. Without proper sustenance, his body wouldn’t be able to regenerate, and he could very well die from exhaustion.
Renewed, Atlas moved faster, his strategy sharpening. He had practically mapped out the entire arena by now—he knew where to leap onto the hill walls, where to maneuver for cover, and most importantly, where the monster’s movements were concentrated.
Each time he spun his spear and sent waves of elemental particles radiating outwards, it wasn’t just an attack—it was a makeshift radar, allowing him to detect his opponent’s position and actions.
The tactic worked well, giving him a vital edge in this grueling battle.
Day two!
Atlas now had a way to track how long he had been fighting, using the intervals between his water breaks as a makeshift timer. He was certain this marked the second day of his grueling battle.
One thing he couldn’t help but marvel at was how in the world he had managed to survive a prolonged fight like this without any real rest.
Well, this isn’t exactly an easy fight.
He had to carefully manage his momentum—timing when to unleash his skills and when to retreat, conserving his stamina for the moments that mattered most.
There!
He darted away once more, narrowly avoiding the monster’s attack. With precision born from experience, he countered swiftly.
[Elite - Flurry of Spears Lv. 2]
A direct hit!
This time, the monster fell. Without wasting a second, Atlas dashed forward, targeting its face and neck with a rapid series of strikes.
Spinning his spear with deadly speed, he pressed the advantage. But the monster wasn’t finished yet—it swung at him, a retaliation that could crush him in an instant.
Atlas dodged, planting his spear firmly as he maneuvered to keep his position. Gritting his teeth, he aimed for its face again, delivering several more strikes with relentless force.
He had dealt significant damage, but it still wasn’t enough. The cycle of attacks and dodges repeated endlessly, testing every ounce of his endurance.
Until—finally—on the third day, Atlas noticed something different. His opponent was beginning to falter.
Seizing the moment, Atlas leapt high into the air, landing squarely on the monster’s shoulder. It struggled to lift its massive stone club, giving Atlas the perfect opening.
With unrelenting force, he struck over and over again with his spear.
And then—finally—the monster collapsed, crashing heavily to the ground.
Atlas dropped to his knees, panting for breath. The sheer exhaustion of the battle weighed on him, but a faint smile crossed his face as realization set in.
He had won.