The forest stretched endlessly, the faint scent of salt from the nearby sea mingling with the earthy aroma of pine. Towering trees stood like silent sentinels, their branches casting long shadows that twisted with the breeze. Above, the sky was obscured by the looming sight of the next battlefield stage—that hovered ominously, a constant reminder that this was only the beginning.

Musashi’s sharp eyes scanned his surroundings as the ground rumbled beneath him. His grip tightened on his both wooden wakizashi and katana, the thrill of battle surging through him. But his focus shifted when he saw Billy the Kid sprinting through the forest, his modified revolver spitting bullets at the 10 meter tall T-Rex-like monster covered in thick, matted fur.

“Should I kill him now?” Musashi thought coldly, eyeing Billy. But the ground-shaking roar of the monster barreling toward them made him discard the idea. “Later.”

The beast’s thunderous steps grew louder. Musashi stayed at a distance, his keen eyes studying its movements—the heavy swipes of its clawed forelimbs, its jagged teeth snapping at the air, and the lethal swing of its spiked tail that could tear through solid rock. This wasn’t a creature to underestimate.

Billy, however, seemed unfazed. His added camouflage hooded cape fluttered behind him, and his added modified dark robotic left arm gleamed in the dappled sunlight. With a reckless grin, in his right hand he is holding a black revolver he fired shot after shot, each bullet narrowly missing the monster’s snapping jaws.

“Damn ugly thing! Don’t you know it’s rude to chase a handsome cowboy?” Billy hollered, effortlessly dodging its lunges with fluid, almost playful movements.

The beast roared in frustration, lowering its head for another bite. Billy saw his chance. He slid across the forest floor, lowering his body dangerously close to the ground, almost like he was dodging bullets in mid-air like a habit he formed during his outlaw days. With a quick flick of his wrist, he aimed his revolver and fired, the bullet tearing through the creature’s right eye.

The beast let out a deafening roar, thrashing violently as it reeled from the pain.

Musashi, observing from a distance, narrowed his eyes.

“His movements… they’re sharp. Lowering his body that close to the ground while running? It’s like he’s trying to avoid some kind of attack that isn't even there. A habit? Fast… and unpredictable.”

The fight raged on. The monster, now half-blind and enraged, swiped its claws wildly, but Billy twisted and turned, staying just out of reach. His grin never faltered.

“Hey, samurai! You joining or what? Help your good ol’ pal here, dammit!” Billy shouted, his thick cowboy accent breaking through the tension.

Musashi smirked but remained still, analyzing every move. Billy continued to fire, but his bullets weren’t enough to bring the beast down.

“Sonuva b*tch,” Billy muttered, realizing Musashi wasn’t planning to help anytime soon.

“Tsk… Fine. Let’s see how I do that,” Musashi thought, a mischievous grin forming. Without warning, he sprinted toward the largest tree in the vicinity, its trunk wider than the monster itself.

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In seconds, Musashi scaled the massive tree, each movement precise and swift. He clung to a branch hanging from it like a monkey, high above the chaos below.

“Lure that big fur turd to me!” Musashi yelled down to Billy.

Billy groaned. “Really?! You’re gonna boss me around now? Damn vagabond.” But despite his complaints, he turned back to the monster.

“Alright, you overgrown chicken! You want me? Come get me!”

He fired several shots, deliberately missing but close enough to keep the beast’s attention. The monster, furious, charged after him. Billy weaved through the trees, narrowly avoiding the claws and spikes, leading it directly under Musashi’s perch.

“Sonuva bitch… telling me what to do. Fcking vagabond,*” Billy grumbled inwardly.

As the monster reached Musashi’s position, Musashi sliced through the thick upper part of the tree, sending the massive log hurtling down. But the creature reacted quickly, swinging its spiked tail and shattering the falling tree into pieces mid-air.

The dust and splinters clouded the area for a moment, but before the monster could react—

Musashi shot through the debris like a blur, using the falling pieces as cover. His wooden wakizashi and katana glinted as he swung, slicing cleanly through the monster’s jaw, severing half of it. Blood sprayed across the forest floor as the beast roared in agony.

But the monster wasn’t done. It swung its tail fiercely, aiming for Musashi. But he leaped off the ground, using the broken tree as a springboard to dodge sideways. He landed with a roll, coming up beside Billy.

Billy, reloading his revolver, raised an eyebrow. “Bout time you showed up.”

Musashi ignored him, eyes locked on the monster.

“Let’s end this,” Billy muttered. With precise aim, he fired again, this time hitting the monster’s left eye, probably blinding it completely.

Billy chuckled. “Damn, I’m good.”

Still paying attention, Musashi not taking his eyes off towards the beast.

The monster, now fully blind, let out an earth-shaking roar, the entire forest trembling. Musashi and Billy covered their ears, the sound nearly unbearable. But even blind, the creature charged at them, its sense of smell guiding it.

“What the hell! Why’s it still after us?!” Billy shouted, already preparing to run.

“It’s probably using its nose. It’s been with you the longest, it will chase you down.” Musashi replied coolly.

“Oh, screw off!*” Billy snapped.

Musashi darted away from Billy, forcing the monster to keep its attention on him. Billy, still shooting, dodged the monster’s wild attacks.

Musashi thought for a moment. “Should I leave him to handle it alone? But… running away from my first prey in years? What a cowardly thought.”

A grin spread across his face.

He dashed toward the monster’s rear, staying a clear distance from its swinging tail. The beast, now relying on its remaining senses, attacked relentlessly, its claws and tail aiming to tear Billy apart. Billy barely managed to evade, frustration growing.

Musashi, observing its patterns, smirked. “It’s predictable now. Time to finish this.”

Both blades in hand, Musashi launched forward, aiming to sever the monster’s leg. But just as he approached—

The monster’s left eye snapped open, glaring directly at him.

“Sh*t!” Musashi muttered, barely having time to block as the tail whipped toward him with blinding speed. He crossed his blades, absorbing the blow mid-air, but the force sent him flying backward into a massive boulder.

He collided hard, a trickle of blood running down his forehead.

Billy, watching from a distance, grinned.

“Perfect.”

“Let’s see what you do now, samurai. Its last sight was on you. You’re screwed!”

The monster, enraged, charged toward Musashi at terrifying speed. Musashi, still catching his breath, prepared to move—but then—

A figure emerged from the trees.

Tall, muscular, having many tattoos all over his imposing body, and exuding a charismatic aura, he stepped forward, heading towards the beast, waking slowly. In his right hand gripping his sword, the Kampilan, and his left holding his sturdy shield, the Kalasag.

It was Lapulapu!

The forest grew still. The air turned cold. Even the monster seemed momentarily unsettled.

Lapulapu took a stance, raised his shield and sword next to his face, his eyes locked onto the charging beast.

With a deep breath, his face about to burst he thrust his sword forward with incredible force. Making his surroundings be blown away the stones, the grass and the small insects. Breaking the sound barrier.

A powerful drill-like gust of wind spiraled from his blade, colliding with the monster’s head. The beast’s massive form spun violently, its head twisting clockwise, detaching from its body.

Then the body spun twisting clockwise through the air before crashing behind Lapulapu, landing with a deafening thud in front of Musashi.

As the dust settled, Musashi stood, wiping the blood from his forehead, and saw Lapulapu standing tall—calm, composed but breathing heavily. Looking down he sees a faint shine on the dirt ground.

At Lapulapu’s feet glinted a golden medallion piece.

“Now this… just got interesting.”

Musashi smiles intensely.

In Musashi eyes a reflection of Lapalapu burning inside of it.

“I want to fight him!!!”

You are the first person to have slain a rank 3 monster.

As a reward you have obtain one of the piece of the golden medallion.