Katsuo sprinted into the mouth of Glintstone Cave, his breath ragged, his heart pounding not only from the physical exertion but from the weight of his anger and grief. Behind him, the ruined Aegis Guild branch smoldered, and the bodies of Yuu and Dachi lay cold. The sight of them—his friends, comrades—murdered by the mage who had fled into the cave burned in his memory, driving him forward.

The moment he crossed the threshold of the cave, the world seemed to change. The oppressive darkness swallowed him whole, but there was light—eerie, unnatural light. Glintstones, embedded in the walls, pulsed with a cold glow that flickered like dying stars. The stones shone with a pale, ghostly light, illuminating the narrow, winding tunnels ahead. The cold dampness of the air seemed to seep into his very bones.

His odachi gleamed faintly in the strange light as he gripped it tightly, every muscle in his body tense. He had trained for this, had fought for moments like this, but nothing had prepared him for the twisted labyrinth that was Glintstone Cave. The path before him was a maze of twisting corridors and dead ends, the walls almost closing in on him with their strange, shimmering light.

Ahead, the sound of soft footsteps echoed, barely audible, and Katsuo’s sharp eyes caught glimpses of the mage’s fluttering red robes disappearing into the shadows. Her cruel laughter reverberated through the cave, mocking him, taunting him. His hands clenched tighter on his sword.

"You won’t get away this time," Katsuo growled under his breath, his voice barely audible over the echoing sounds of the cave. "Not after everything you’ve done."

The air grew colder the deeper he went. His breath misted in front of him, and the eerie silence of the cave, broken only by the faint hum of the glintstones, seemed to press in on him from all sides. Every step felt heavier, as if the cave itself resisted him. It felt alive, warping and twisting with each step, turning the tunnels into a maze designed to disorient and trap him. The light from the stones flickered more violently, casting long shadows that seemed to move on their own.

Katsuo’s legs burned with fatigue, but he pressed on, his resolve unshaken. His mind replayed the sight of Yuu and Dachi’s bodies—his friends, who had fought so valiantly only to fall to the cruel hands of the mages. Their deaths would not be in vain. He had made a vow, and he would see it through.

"Where are you?" Katsuo muttered, his voice swallowed by the cave’s echo. The silence was unnerving, as if the cave itself held its breath, waiting for something.

Suddenly, the ground beneath him trembled. Katsuo froze, his senses going into overdrive as the faint rumbling grew louder. The walls vibrated with a low, ominous hum. The glintstones pulsed in time with the tremor, their cold light flashing like a warning. Katsuo’s eyes widened as he took a cautious step back, gripping his sword tighter.

The rumbling grew into a full-blown earthquake, shaking the cavern with enough force to knock him off balance. The ground beneath his feet cracked open with a deafening roar, and a massive shape began to rise from the depths of the earth. Dirt and stone exploded into the air as a gigantic creature emerged, casting a massive shadow that loomed over Katsuo.

When the dust settled, Katsuo found himself staring up at a gigantic crab, its body covered in glintstones that shimmered with an otherworldly glow. Each stone embedded in its shell pulsed with dark energy, casting eerie blue and green lights across the cavern. The creature’s pincers, each the size of a house, snapped with a sound like thunder, sending vibrations through the ground. Its cold, emotionless eyes fixed on Katsuo, as if it recognized him as a threat.

And there, perched atop the monstrous beast, her red robes fluttering in the cold air, was the mage.

"Did you really think you could chase me into the darkness?" the mage called out, her voice dripping with mockery and arrogance. Dark magic swirled around her hands, her eyes gleaming with malevolent amusement. "This is where your journey ends, vanguard. You’ll die in the belly of this cave, just like so many before you."

Katsuo’s anger flared, but he kept his composure. His breath was steady, his heart pounding with controlled fury. "I don’t care what beast you hide behind," Katsuo growled, his voice low and dangerous. "I’ll cut through it. And then I’ll cut you down."

The mage laughed, a cruel, high-pitched sound that echoed off the cave walls. "We’ll see how long that bravado lasts."

With a flick of her wrist, the crab let out a deafening screech and lunged forward, its massive pincers snapping with terrifying speed. The ground shook with each movement, the weight of the creature sending cracks splintering across the stone floor. Katsuo leaped to the side, narrowly avoiding the crushing blow of the crab’s claw. The impact sent debris flying, a spray of dirt and stone that forced Katsuo to roll out of the way.

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He rose to his feet, his eyes narrowing as he took in the sheer size of the creature. It was like fighting a walking fortress, its entire body covered in the glowing glintstones that seemed to pulse with dark energy. Each step the crab took sent tremors through the ground, making it difficult to keep his balance. Katsuo had faced powerful enemies before, but nothing like this.

The crab lunged again, its claws snapping with the force of a landslide. Katsuo shifted into the 4th Form: The Iron Mountain, his stance solid and unyielding as he braced himself for the impact. The crab’s massive pincer slammed into his blade with a deafening crash, the force of the blow reverberating through his body. Katsuo’s arms shook from the sheer power behind the attack, but he held firm, his muscles straining as he pushed back against the creature’s weight.

For a moment, it felt like the weight of the world was pressing down on him.

But Katsuo pushed back.

With a roar of effort, he deflected the crab’s pincer, sending the massive claw crashing into the ground beside him. The impact shook the cave, sending chunks of stone flying, but Katsuo seized the opportunity. He darted forward, shifting seamlessly into the 1st Form, his body flowing like water as he slashed at the creature’s exposed joints.

His sword struck true, slicing through one of the crab’s legs with a satisfying hiss. Dark blood spurted from the wound, staining the ground beneath them. The crab screeched in pain, its massive body stumbling from the blow. But it wasn’t done yet.

From atop the crab, the mage raised her hands, dark energy swirling around her fingers as she unleashed a volley of dark projectiles at Katsuo. The air crackled with malevolent energy as the bolts shot toward him, each one deadly and fast.

Katsuo reacted on instinct. He shifted into the 4th Form once more, his sword raised to deflect the incoming attacks. The projectiles slammed into his blade, each one sending shockwaves through the cavern. Katsuo gritted his teeth, his arms aching from the strain, but he held his ground. He had to. There was no other choice.

"You’re starting to slow down," the mage taunted, her voice echoing through the cave. "How much longer do you think you can last?"

Katsuo’s chest heaved with exertion, his muscles burning from the effort of blocking the relentless attacks. But he refused to give in. He refused to let her win. Not after everything she had taken from him.

"I’m not stopping," Katsuo growled, his eyes blazing with fury. "Not until you’re dead."

The mage’s smile widened, her eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure. "Bold words, vanguard. But you’ll break, just like the others."

The ground trembled once more as the crab prepared to strike again, its pincers raised high, ready to crush him. Katsuo’s mind raced, searching for a weakness, a way to bring the creature down. His muscles ached, his breath came in ragged gasps, but he couldn’t afford to falter.

Not now. Not when he was so close.

The crab lunged at him again, its massive pincers snapping with terrifying speed. Katsuo leaped back, narrowly avoiding the crushing blow, but the sheer force of the creature’s movements sent him skidding across the slick stone floor. He rolled to his feet, his sword raised in a defensive stance as the crab advanced, its glowing eyes fixed on him.

"You’ll die here, vanguard," the mage sneered, her voice dripping with malice. "You can’t fight forever."

Katsuo’s chest heaved, his muscles burning with exhaustion, but he refused to back down. His mind flashed with images of Yuu and Dachi, of the countless vanguards who had fallen to the mages. Their faces, their voices, their dreams—all of it fueled his resolve.

"I’ll fight until my last breath," Katsuo growled, his grip tightening on his sword. "And I’ll see you fall before I do."

The mage laughed, a cold, cruel sound that echoed through the cavern. "Let’s see how long you can keep that promise."

The crab lunged once more, but this time, Katsuo was ready. He shifted into the 1st Form, his movements quick and precise as he darted to the side, narrowly avoiding the creature’s massive pincers. His sword flashed in the dim light, slashing at the crab’s exposed underbelly. The blade struck true, cutting deep into the creature’s flesh.

The crab screeched in pain, its massive body convulsing as dark blood poured from the wound. Katsuo didn’t hesitate. He pressed the attack, his sword moving with deadly precision as he aimed for the creature’s weak points.

But the mage wasn’t done.

She raised her hands, dark magic swirling around her as she unleashed a barrage of energy blasts at Katsuo. The air crackled with malevolent energy as the blasts shot toward him, each one fast and deadly. Katsuo barely had time to react, his body moving on instinct as he shifted into the 4th Form once more, his sword raised to block the incoming attacks.

Each blast slammed into his blade with the force of a cannon, sending shockwaves through his body. His arms shook from the impact, but Katsuo held firm, his determination unshaken. He couldn’t afford to stop. Not now.

"You’re persistent," the mage sneered, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "But persistence won’t save you."

Katsuo’s chest heaved with exertion, his muscles burning from the strain of the fight. But he refused to give in. He had to end this. For Yuu, for Dachi, for everyone the mage had taken from him.

With a roar of determination, Katsuo surged forward, his sword flashing as he aimed for the crab’s weak points. His blade struck true, cutting deep into the creature’s legs, and with a final, agonized screech, the crab stumbled, its massive body crashing to the ground.

Katsuo stood over the fallen beast, his breath ragged, his body trembling with exhaustion. But the mage remained, her eyes blazing with fury as she raised her hands, dark magic swirling around her.

"This isn’t over, vanguard," she hissed, her voice filled with venom.

Katsuo’s grip tightened on his sword as he prepared for the next round.

The battle was far from over.