“Champion, may I have a word with you?”

Aurora came to my side after checking on Artemeni. She was fine besides several bruises and Arcane Overload.

“Yes, of course.”

I turned around to face her and saw her serious expression. She raised her hand, weaving signs before all the noise from outside cut off.

“Are you okay?”

I thought she was about to speak about Blanche since she didn’t want others to hear us but no.

“Yeah, I am. Does something matter?”

Her face turned bitter as she signaled my leg. I looked down and saw it bouncing. I put a hand on my thigh and stopped it.

Aurora’s eyes softened, though her tone remained firm. “You’re shaking, Poyraz. It’s not just your leg. Your aura feels… unstable. Like you’re holding everything together with sheer force of will.”

I clenched my fists, my nails biting into my palms as I looked away. “I’m fine,” I said, but even I didn’t believe the words. My voice lacked conviction, and the way Aurora crossed her arms told me she saw through it.

“Champion, I have seen it. Your reactions when anyone else is in danger. I may not know what happened in your own world, but I can see that it eats you alive to think that it will happen again.”

I swallowed hard, unable to meet Aurora's gaze. Many jokes came to my mind to lighten to mood, to parry her worries to the side but I just couldn’t do it.

“We are our own people, you know. We have our own ambitions and goals. We won’t fall apart if you don’t treat us like porcelain dolls. By doing so you insult our capabilities.”

I opened my mouth to tell her that wasn’t it. Of course, they were their own people. Thalia was the glue that bound us together. Artemeni was a warrior whose strength rivaled me. Aurora had more knowledge than I could imagine. I respected them. That’s why I didn’t want them to get hurt. I didn’t want them to die…

But Aurora stopped me before I could talk.

“I know.”

Her voice wasn’t accusing me, nor was she pushing for answers I wasn’t ready to give. She was just... there.

“I see,”

I said.

Aurora studied me for a moment, her sharp gaze softening with something unspoken—understanding, maybe. She lowered her arms and took a step closer, close enough that I could feel the warmth of her presence cutting through the icy knot in my chest.

“You carry too much on your shoulders, Champion,” she said softly, her voice no longer firm but almost tender. “It’s not a weakness to share the weight. It’s human. Or… whatever it is we are.”

The knot tightened for a moment, a choking weight of guilt and fear threatening to rise. I clenched my fists tighter, nails digging into my palms until pain broke the spiral. “If I don’t carry it, who will?” My voice cracked at the edges. “If something happens to any of you—” I stopped, my throat tightening as I imagined Thalia’s laughter silenced, Artemeni’s fiery spirit extinguished, Aurora’s calm resolve fading into nothingness, just like many of my other friends and companions. “I can’t lose anyone else.”

Aurora didn’t flinch at the rawness in my voice. She nodded, her expression unchanging. “I understand. Truly, I do. But Poyraz, if you keep going like this, you’ll lose yourself before you lose anyone else.”

I looked away, staring at the far wall.

“I know. Thank you, Aurora. I probably would have gotten myself killed if you guys weren’t around to remind me.”

I turned back and shot her a fake smile, a skill I practiced for years. Thankfully, it didn’t disappoint me and Aurora smiled back.

Aurora gave me a small smile, one that didn’t fully reach her eyes but carried sincerity. “We are here to serve the Champion of our Goddess.”

She dropped the silence ward with a flick of her fingers, and the sounds of the world rushed back in.

“Time for the second boss, I guess.”

(Typhoon Fist, the Relentless Torrent)

(Once a guardian of a sacred spring, Typhoon Fist mastered the art of water-infused combat to protect his domain. When his enemies claimed his land, he turned his mastery into vengeance, becoming a storm of unrelenting blows. His opponents face not just his fists but the wrath of the ocean itself.)

(One may enter.)

The scenery in front of us was drastically different than the previous one. The amphibian being standing in ankle-deep water wore clothes that looked like came out of an old martial arts movie.

“It is a martial artist.”

Artemeni whispered out loud. I nodded.

“Yeah. That’s some impressive fighting spirit.”

Typhoon Fist’s stance was impeccable, a balance of stillness and anticipation. The water beneath him rippled in tune with his every breath, as if even the elements themselves obeyed his will. His bluish skin looked soft but I knew that it wasn’t.

“God. I can literally feel it around my skin. He is probably the best martial artist I have ever met.”

Blanche raised her eyebrow.

“Really? It looks like just a blue frog to me.”

I shook my head.

“Look at his breathing. His stance. He is anything but just a blue frog.”

She snorted as she unsheathed her rapier and sabre.

“I’ll go in. I am a good match.”

I agreed with her. Her lightning and ice resistance would counter water manipulation and ice attacks. But…

“I will be going in.”

The others turned to me, their expressions a mix of surprise and concern. Artemeni was the first to protest.

“Are you sure? Blanche has a better elemental advantage, and she’s just as skilled.”

I didn’t need to look at Blanche to feel the flash of irritation that crossed her face, but before she could say anything, I spoke.

“I know she does, but this fight isn’t about just elemental counters. Typhoon Fist’s strength isn’t in his element alone, it is his technique. Blanche isn’t a full warrior, she is a spellblade. Plus, I…” I hesitated but then pushed forward, “I need this one.”

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Blanche rolled her eyes but stepped back, spinning her sabre idly. “Fine, you are the leader.”

I shot her a smile.

“Thanks.”

With that, I entered into the barrier. The water rushed to my feet. It was colder than I thought. Typhoon Fist’s amphibian eyes locked onto mine, unblinking.

He bowed slightly, his webbed hands coming together in a gesture of respect, though his aura remained sharp, unwavering. I returned the bow, keeping my posture straight.

I grabbed the handle of Luminous Willblade which was in my back. Technically it wasn’t a good fit. It was too long and the enemy I was fighting wasn’t armored. Yet, I had to use its options if I wanted to absorb it with my Armory of Fallen.

“Wha-“

I gasped as a massive fist covered my vision. Neither my Combat Sense nor Enhanced Perception managed to pick him up before he got this close? Fuck!

I ducked beneath the fist, pulling my sword and blocking the second punch but the impact didn’t stop. It traveled through my blade to my forearm and then to my shoulder. I was pushed back.

“Fajin. Soft strike. Flow strike.”

I muttered.

“It has too many names. The thing you use.”

It almost felt like my arm was about to fall off but I recognized why it was. A type of strike that didn’t aim to destroy the outer shell but destroyed the stuff inside. An eastern approach. Quite fitting.

Typhoon Fist tilted his head at my muttering, his unblinking amphibian eyes almost inquisitive. His posture shifted slightly, fluid yet coiled like a tidal wave ready to crash. He didn’t waste words. This was a man—or rather, a being—who spoke only with his fists.

I tightened my grip on the Luminous Willblade and steadied my stance, exhaling to reset my nerves. If his first strike had been a test, then I barely passed. My Combat Sense and Enhanced Perception had failed to register his approach. This wasn’t just about his speed; his movements blended seamlessly with the water around us, masking intent until the moment of impact.

The ripples beneath him stilled as he resumed his stance, a single fist extended while his other hand rested near his side, palm open. A classic approach—but nothing about it felt simple. I decided to borrow Gökbörü’s Combat Instincts.

“Alright,” I muttered under my breath, my voice steady now. “You want a clean fight? Let’s dance.”

Typhoon Fist launched again, a blur of motion and crashing water. I parried his opening blow with the Luminous Willblade, angling the blade to deflect rather than absorb the full force. Still, the impact rattled up my arm, numbing my fingers momentarily. His second strike came from below, a rising palm aimed at my ribs. I twisted, using my enhanced agility to pivot out of the way and counter with a horizontal slash.

The amphibian warrior didn’t retreat. Instead, he stepped into my strike, the water beneath him surging upward as his movements drew it into his rhythm. A thick shield of liquid wrapped around his arm, absorbing the edge of my blade like a living barrier. His counterpunch was a hammer of force, and I barely managed to sidestep, the displaced air stinging my cheek.

“He’s not just fighting me—he’s fighting with the arena,” I realized, leaping back to create distance. “The water isn’t just for show.”

I activated Mana Erupt, channeling energy into my legs and arms. The aura of my purple mana surged around me, flaring like a stream of stars. The glow reflected in Typhoon Fist’s unblinking eyes. For the first time, his expression shifted—a faint curve of his lips that might have been approval.

I surged forward, my enhanced speed leaving a trail of shimmering mana in my wake. This time, I didn’t play defensively. I feinted high, drawing his guard upward, before pivoting and slashing low with a burst of mana-infused strength. The blade bit into his water shield, disrupting its flow, but his response was immediate. His foot lashed out in a low kick, sending a wave of water rippling toward me.

The force wasn’t just liquid; it carried a crushing weight that slammed into my side. I staggered, nearly losing my grip on the Luminous Willblade. Typhoon Fist didn’t relent, closing the gap with a spinning strike that blended fluidity and ferocity. His fist struck my sword mid-swing, sending sparks flying as the vibrations ran through my arms.

I gritted my teeth. “Fine. Looks like you are more skilled than me.”

I jumped back, borrowing Ice Wolf’s Breath and Lightning Clad from Gökbörü. I spun my cloak to hide three daggers I threw at him.

The daggers zipped through the air, their tips gleaming with lightning and frost. Typhoon Fist’s amphibian eyes narrowed as he shifted his stance. With fluid motions, his hands moved like crashing waves, deflecting the first dagger with a sharp, controlled burst of water that erupted from his palm. The second dagger he caught mid-air, its frosty coating melting against his water-infused grip. The third struck his chest, but instead of piercing, it was swallowed by the ripple of his liquid armor.

"Of course," I muttered, half-impressed and half-frustrated. My combination attack hadn’t been enough to even scratch him.

Typhoon Fist looked at me and threw the second dagger back, infused with his own energy. It hurtled toward me like a missile. I twisted out of the way, but the shockwave from its passing scraped my cheek, leaving a cold burn.

“Okay, one more.”

I once again threw the daggers but this time just as it was about to hit him I demanifested them. His eyes opened wide and I started to run to his side. He sent out waves of water with his kicks but I froze them and shattered them back to him.

Once again, I squared up to him, activating the Monstrous Strength, Beastification, and Ferocity of Wolf King. Let’s see if he can keep up with me now.

…

(You have slain the second boss. 8 bosses remain.)

An hour later my sword finally pierced his heart.

“Thanks. I learned a great deal from you.”

(Full Combat Mastery ranked up to A rank. Your body has fully synchronized with the martial techniques of countless warriors. Your understanding of combat is now absolute, allowing you to effortlessly execute any fighting style, be it swordsmanship, unarmed strikes, or martial arts.)