Eleven champions stand valiantly against a formidable foe, with sweat tracing their determined faces. As the last droplet journeys down, their hands rummage swiftly through their inventory, unveiling their unique armaments. The city center holds its breath as the massive statue, Faithborn, inclines his gaze to acknowledge these mere humans.

With a mighty outcry, he brandishes his colossal claymore, initiating a sweeping strike.

Kanji "Shit! Everyone! Duck!"

Almost in a choreographed ballet, they swiftly obey, narrowly avoiding the lethal blade as it whistles overhead. Kanji's eyes meticulously assess the titan, realizing that only four of its many arms control the mammoth of a sword. To his dismay, four more arms reach behind and into the titan's bag, suggesting another—

Suddenly, a spectral spear lunges directly at him with two of the giant's lower right hands.

Kanji "Not good!"

With amazing reflexes, he morphs into an electric surge before traveling into the ground. The team observes the ethereal patterns enveloping the weapon resembling a spine, noting its primitive design but intricate details. Redirecting their focus back to Faithborn, they brace themselves once more—

In a flash, Faithborn's lower left hands wield a gargantuan hammer, slamming it into the earth.

Kanji "Everyone! To the rooftops!"

In synchronized leaps, they perch atop nearby structures, witnessing the cataclysm below. The force of the titan's hammer completely crumbled the city's foundations and left behind a gigantic fracture. The smoke then reveals the hammer's craftsmanship— a handle made from copper and a head made out of a high polish amethyst cylinder, connected by mending parts of the metal handle onto the gemstone.

Dave "For a big gigachad-looking dude. He sure has a much of bling, bro."

Diana "No time for playing around, Icarus! This is serious shit!"

Azan "Adrian. Kanji. I hope you guys have something in mind to deal with this madness."

Kanji "I have a rough idea in mind, but we need more insight. Adrian..."

Adrian "Sorry! My powers are super useless right now! All it says is that we should be careful of its weapon, the guy is very tough, and we should consider its... legs or arms? I mean the larger arm that is holding it up. I was thinking of calling them, "Lord Arms"."

Sarah "Lord Arms? That sounds sick but is it a weakness? It doesn't seem like it, dude."

Kanji "It's his support so that will be our target. Try to attack it using whatever means necessary but don't exhaust yourselves. We aim for info so escape if you're at risk. Also, make sure to stay clear of those weapons. I say we should attack once, retreat and regroup on the sea bed! Got it?!"

Another monstrous swing of the massive claymore annihilates their vantage points.

Their wings flare out in a blinding display, confounding Faithborn as he struggles for when to strike. Descending toward the Lord Arms, they see mysterious images illuminating the hammer. Only one of the wielders grasps its meaning...

Gwen "They resemble nerve cells? Interesting. I think I have an idea of what Kanji was thinking. Claire, we should be careful!"

Claire "Don't worry, bestie! We got this!"

Gwen "You need some assistance?"

Claire "No. I'll be alright by myself this time. Trust me!"

Gracefully, Claire is the pioneer to alight on the titan's right Lord arm, feeling it shaking beneath but she clings on. Crossbow at the ready, she lets loose several bolts, but they deflect off the titan's armored skin. Undeterred, she deploys her molten frog and its clawed counterpart.

Claire "Alright, little guys get this son of a bitch!"

Initially hesitant in the face of the colossus, the creatures soon spring into action. The molten frog showers the area with hot magma while its companion lunges, claws at the ready. A sudden tidal surge alerts Claire to retreat. Portions of Faithborn's main body morph into cascading water, quenching the scorching magma.

An imposing shadow descends from above— The hammers obliterate the frogs, splattering pieces of their insides in Claire's direction.

Claire "No... not this time! YOU MONSTER!"

She holsters her crossbows, her hands morphing into powerful fists. Charging at one of the massive fingers, she starts assaulting it. Yet, her strikes only seem to cause minor damage. Suddenly, the massive finger retaliates— flinging Claire beyond the city limits. Both Gwen and Kanji spin around, concern evident, but sigh in relief when they see she's defended herself in time.

Gwen/ Kanji "Good grief. That reckless girl."

Gwen descends, murmuring to Izzy. Izzy's form expands, transforming into a club embedded with husk missiles. On Gwen's cue, the missiles launch in a scattered pattern, targeting both Lord Arms, with a few reaching the titan's body. Observing closely, Gwen notes that some missiles appear to flow through Faithborn, suggesting a liquid-like composition.

Gwen "This is troublesome. Izzy, sailfish bill and surrounding it with conodont teeth."

From Izzy emerges a serrated saw-like weapon, which Gwen swings at the limb. Her strike connects, but the penetration is shallow. Undeterred, Gwen adjusts her grip and hacks away.

Gwen "It's working!-

A spear descends, shattering her weapon and taking her hand with it.

Gwen "Huh? What's this? The bones in my right hand are gone. I see... my guess was right. Let's retreat for now, Izzy."

[Okay! Master! Nya!]

Izzy manifests giant falcon wings, and the duo makes a swift exit. From a distance, Diana and Adrian share anxious glances while Azan beckons them to regroup near Mina, stationed beside the left Lord Arm.

Diana "Okay why are we standing here again? Shouldn't we like punch this thing into bits?"

Azan "We can... but I'm talking about efficiency here. I say we protect Mina as she ages the limbs using her time powers."

Adrian "That's a great idea but... Diana can't defend cause her skin will make contact with those weapons."

Diana "Pft! Those things may be large and stronger but I'm stronger! Bring it on."

Azan "Well. We do need to know what those weapons actually do so this can work. Are you okay with this, Mina?"

Mina "Alright but if she gets really hurt, we will get out of here! Okay!"

Azan/Adrian "Agree!"

Mina hops onto the left Lord Arm and hugs it tightly. They watch with slight smiles on their faces as the metal limb begins to show signs of corrosion. Faithborn senses a pang of pain and looks down, focusing his eyes on the puny humans. All three weapons rise up and drop. Azan's suitcase transforms into a watch and his hand hovers over it, shaking with tension. On his left, Adrian holds up his shield high without the slightest hint of fear. Inspired by this display, Azan's hand stabilizes and looks up with confidence.

However... Diana lunges forward.

In a burst of adrenaline, she delivers a fierce right hook, dramatically altering the sword's trajectory. As a result, Faithborn's muscular arms recoil. Astonishingly, her right arm turns skeletal, a stark contrast to her living flesh. She grits her teeth, suppressing the waves of agony. As the spear whistles past, she retaliates with a swift left jab to its wooden shaft.

It comes crashing down, mere inches from where Mina stands.

Azan "Damn! That was close!"

Mina "Azzy! We should move to the right Lord Arm now!"

Azan "Why?! If we destroy this one-

Mina "I can tell that this will take too long! If we weaken both of them now, it will help us later!"

Azan "... Okay. Adrian! Let's move!"

Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

Adrian "Got it!"

Diana's glance shifts to her left arm, an eerie sensation making her feel as if her bones have evaporated. As her feet touch solid ground, she rotates her shoulders, a frantic effort to regain her bearing and command over her body. Soon, her focus narrows onto an imminent threat— the hammer.

Diana "What the- That fucker! NO!!!"

With calculated precision, the hammer targets the right Lord Arm... Diana executes a powerful jump kick. The force redirects the hammer, causing it to strike Faithborn's left arm.

Diana "Fuck! That thing doesn't take friendly fire! Wait.. m-my legs!"

A chilling numbness engulfs her. As her torso collapses to the dusty ground, Diana's gaze lifts, capturing the sight of all three menacing weapons poised high in the air. Alarmingly, their aim converges on her. Panic sets in as she attempts to roll away, but her unresponsive body betrays her.

Diana "Fuck! Guys! A little help here!"

Azan "Shit. Mina! How's the progress!"

Mina "It's weakened enough! Let's go!"

Azan dashes ahead of Diana, flicking his wrist. A protective bubble shields them momentarily before shattering. Adrian takes a stand, his guard rapidly deteriorating under the powerful onslaught.

Adrian "Enough is ENOUGH!"

Summoning every ounce of strength, he propels his guard-forward, knocking away the three weapons.

But... Adrian’s momentum doesn’t stop. The force of his defense not only fractures his shield but also sends the colossus toppling. The crew stares, awestruck, but a shadow of concern soon darkens their expressions.

Diana "Oh no! That stupid red hand is back! Stop!"

The mysterious crimson claw silences Adrian, rendering him limp and unconscious.

Azan "Just our damn luck. Mina! You grab Diana and I'll get Adrian."

Mina vaults off Faithborn's colossal arm, rushing to Diana. Demonstrating her plentiful strength, she effortlessly hoists her comrade. Azan consults his device, dismayed to find it non-responsive. Panicking, he hastens to Adrian's side, mimicking Mina's actions.

Mina "Azzy! What happened?! Where's the saucer?!"

Azan "This never happened before! I guess the impact was too strong! Not to worry! I have a backup weapon!"

Mina "Wait really?... Oh, you don't mean those boxing gloves."

Azan "Yes, I am serious. I have a way to help do some damage. For now, let's get out of here."

They retreat past the inner gate and out of sight of their comrades. Kanji gazes, almost poetic, at the fallen enemy. His reverie breaks with the sound of footsteps from his right—

Kanji "Ah, you guys are here."

Dave "Yeah, bro. We are kinda lost since that fucking amazing shit happened."

Amelia "Should we proceed to bloody up those limbs, Kanji? Or may perhaps we retreat for now."

Kanji "... Not sure. We have got two major losses on our end. The situation is in a pendulum. If we initiate another attack, it should be from range."

Dave "Shit. Really, dude? You know me and Amby ain't about that shit!"

Kanji "I can understand Amelia's standpoint but you... don't you have that UNO ability?"

Dave "Yeah but I don't think I can like Steve Curry them shots from here, man."

Sarah "Oh! I know! Remember when Kanji fired whatever it was and made the bolt go super fast? Do that!"

Kanji "Right on target! That shouldn't be a problem now. However, there is a theory in mind I want to test."

Noah "It's going to be crazy. Isn't it?"

Kanji "Not quite. Amelia's powers can be illusions that she can turn off for allies thanks to the ability 'Connect'. I was thinking for a while about how she can use that to benefit us and well what if she uses Double on a pebble and-

Dave "HOLY SHIT! DUDE! THAT IS SO FUCKING SMART... Wait a minute. That only makes me waste less of them pebbles."

Kanji "I was about to get that. I wonder if she can duplicate it while the pebble is flying using the False movement ability along with it. I also want to test if you chose the direction where the cloning will take place."

Noah "Damn... I think I know where you are going with this. That sounds nuts!"

Amelia "Sounds interesting actually. I'm ready, mate!"

Dave "Are you sure you can affect that shit from that far, Amby?"

Amelia "Of course, darling."

Dave takes a deep breath and then takes out a single pebble from his inventory. Using "Delay", he sets the skill "UNO" to go off after five seconds. With a powerful throw, the object soars through the air. Kanji's eyes lock onto it and he fires a burst of sound from his index finger. The shot boosts the pebble and reaches the destination. However, it is too high— a microsecond off the five-second mark, Amelia conjures a copy below.

The pebbles change direction and fire down, passing its illusionary double. The object burrows right through the index finger of his right Lord Arm.

Dave "Holy. Shit..."

Amelia "... That was..."

Noah/Sarah "FUCKING SICK! Fuck yeah! It worked!"

Kanji "Once again, my hypothesis lands no flaws. Everyone. Let's regroup. Then we'll finish him off."

With morale coursing through them, they rally behind Kanji, approaching the main gateway where their companions await with bated breath. Among them stands Diana, her right arm restored, but her right now a curious prosthetic resembling a tentacle more than a human limb.

Diana "Woah. That is so fucking weird. Is this what it feels like to be an octopus? Also, how about my legs?"

Gwen "That's the anomaly. All your cells are in perfect order but... it just refuses to allow any nerve signals to pass through."

Azan "Maybe... I can use one of my change slots to heal everyone here."

Kanji "Don't. It would be a waste for just two members. Plus, I'm not sure if your powers work that way."

Azan "I mean I have to try! We can't leave them like this!"

Kanji "Don't worry. I'm confident that we should be fine with just us. Let's glide down and share our info."

With their wings materializing, they plunge toward the ocean floor, exchanging info as they go.

Kanji "I see so Faithborn's main body can turn into water just like those Watas which means it can also turn into ice so having Gwen rushing in there won't be the right move. Those weapons have the same effects as the Stogan's guns so melee is also out of the question. Also, I suggest not all of us should face him and instead protect these two."

Diana "Oh come on, Boss! I can still fight you know! I can still hold my own!"

Kanji "You have done well enough. You have a rest. As for who is taking care of you. Gwen, Claire, and Azan. You guys will be in charge."

Azan "Hey! I can still contribute!"

Kanji "With boxing gloves? Are you sure?"

Azan "Trust me! I can pack a bigger punch than you might think."

Kanji "Fine then! How about you two?"

Claire "Yeah, I'm on board with that. I believe in you!"

Gwen "I'm too relieved since I have a chance to resolve her leg injury once more. Perhaps a bit of experimentation is needed."

Kanji "Sounds ominous but I'll leave you to it. That leaves the seven of us. Azan and Noah, you two have the most reserved stamina here so you'll accompany me so prepare to fly up to his head. Remember, your job is to defend not attack. Oh! And Noah avoid blocking any weapon that has a different aura than what we have seen."

Azan/ Noah "Got it!"

Kanji "Sarah, Dave, and Amelia. You guys are the weapon obstruction team. You guys focus on destroying any weapon that Noah or Azan deflect since I noticed that is when they are most vulnerable. Dave and Amelia will be the main damage dealer so make sure to use lots of pebbles. Sarah, you're job is to finish off those weapons."

Dave "Yo, you got it, bro! Oh! I just realized I had my AK all this time lol."

Kanji "Do you have any ammo?"

Dave "... No. Fuck! Should I ask, Cla'bro to exchange it?"

Kanji "No need. I'll perhaps make you a bullet factory if you do a good enough job."

Mina "Kanji! What about me?!"

Kanji "You'll be our most important member. Your job is to continue aging those Lord Arms. It will cause Faithborn to contemplate who to target."

Azan "Wait! By herself?! That's too dangerous!"

Kanji "Calm down. I'm betting that it will target us instead of her."

Azan "How can you be so sure?!"

Kanji "Remember when it targeted Diana? It seems to focus on those that make the most impact."

Noah "But that means he would attack Dave and Amelia!"

Kanji "Yes, I thought that at first but-

A cataclysmic tremor sends the group sprawling onto the earth.

As they regain their footing, they cast a wary eye upon Faithborn, whose eyes smolder like molten blood. Four claymores, each swirling with menacing skull-shaped energy, now appear in its upper hands. Its lower right hands brandish spears, with ghostly spines dancing along them, while the lower left hands showcase luxurious gem hammers, pulsing with vibrant nerve cell imagery.

The team exchanges a silent, assuring glance and a unified nod of determination.

Kanji ignites the battle, reaching up toward the towering statue, wings bursting forth from his back. Azan and Noah soar beside him, radiant with protective determination. Faithborn, sensing the threat, unleashes a furious swing with its claymores. Azan and Noah, shield Kanji, their weapons cloaked in an ominous, billowing black cloud as a sense of fear resonates.

United, they deflect Faithborn's gigantic blades with unparalleled force.

Seizing a suitable moment, Mina quickly ascends the titan's mighty left Lord Arm, relief flooding her as she sees the limb decaying once more under her power. Dave, Amelia, and Sarah approach the throwing range. With a hand full of pebbles, he throws his hardest upward toward the handle of the claymores. Alas, it didn't reach that far and so Amelia focus... creating a duplicate of each pebble, aiming them toward the handle.

It works and the pebbles launch, destroying the entire handle of one of the claymores.

Noticing his lost weapon, Faithborn begins to sway his hands tempting him to stabilize. Dave notices it and fires off three more buck shots of pebbles. Amelia guides their trajectory and they lock on to the other claymores. Suddenly— Faithborn's hands crystalize into ice in an attempt to shield the swords from the attacks. However, the projectile carves through the layer of ice like butter. Kanji's triumphant ascent continues, a confident smile adorning his face.

Faithborn begins to move his remaining weapons.

His hammers arc skyward, aiming for Kanji's group. They're ponderously slow, enabling the trio to evade with ease. But when Faithborn's gaze narrows on Amelia's group, He pulls back on his spear which sends them into a panic. Taking advantage of this, he adds a bit more force to the hammers and they manage to hit Azan and Noah. Just as the hammers threaten to overpower them, Kanji’s chain whips down, repelling the attack.

He delivers another swing of his chain which pierces through the wrists of the titan's lower left hands, breaking the handle of the hammers.

Meanwhile, the spears are fired, both of which target Amelia. Dave takes out his bat and gets in front of her, ready to deflect the spears. Instead... Sarah steps up and focuses on her ring. With immense accuracy, they watch as the ring cuts right through the tip of the spear all the way and out the other end. The halves land on the sides and they brace for the spear's twin following close behind it. However, Sarah's ring hasn't returned so Dave faces the weapon head-on. His bat collides with the under part of the tip, causing the entire weapon to flip upward.

The butt end of the spear hits his chest, sending him flying.

At the same time, Faithborn reaches for his bag. A flash of light covers the battlefield as the wielder watches on with despair. A pair of vicious daggers that resemble the teeth of a shark slice off Azan and Noah's feet. The two begin to descend and a look of pure horror greets Mina's face. Her progress... it gonna take too long. Those daggers now aim for Kanji—

Mina puts on her boxing gloves and begins to swing with all her will.

Her effort completely destroys Faithborn's left Lord Arm and the behemoth begins to fall over. Kanji narrowly dodges the daggers and reach the statue's head. He sees The Heart Striker blade implanted deep into the center, radiating a pulsating green aura so pure that the surrounding area is covered with plant life. The Aspect of Energy approaches the weapon and conjures up his Umbral Cape.

With tender care, he wraps it around the blade and watches on.

Faithborn's entire body grows motionless and begins to crumble. It is a moment of peace but deep down they know that it wouldn't last. Another frightening but faint presence encroaches upon the rising of a new moon.

(To be continued)