The brilliant golden sparkles that once adorned Brian's blade began to flicker and fade, their radiant gleam diminishing with each clash against the relentless orc. It was a telltale sign, not of Brian's resolve waning, but of his strength slowly ebbing away.

Beads of sweat rolled down his furrowed brow, his labored breaths like the rhythm of a war drum in the midst of battle.

As the colossal beast swung its massive wooden weapon with bone-crushing force, Brian's efforts to keep pace with the onslaught became increasingly desperate.

The once-blazing beacon of his blade now smoldered like a fading ember. He fought valiantly, parrying the orc's brutal strikes, but the toll on his body was undeniable.

With a deafening impact, the orc's colossal hammer-like blow landed squarely on Brian's form. The force of the strike sent him hurtling through the air, his body tumbling uncontrollably for several meters before crashing onto the unforgiving forest floor.

Blood sprayed from his mouth as he skidded to a painful halt, his battered and broken form lying motionless.

The towering Giant Orc wasted no time, closing the gap between them with deliberate steps. Its eyes, filled with a menacing glint, locked onto Brian's vulnerable body. It seemed that Brian's valiant struggle had provided the orc with a modicum of entertainment, but now it was ready to deliver the final blow, ending the human's life with brutal finality.

The realization of Brian's impending demise struck Chrome like a bolt of lightning. Fear and desperation coursed through his veins as he watched his companion's suffering. He knew that if he didn't act, Brian would meet a gruesome end at the hands of the monstrous orc.

Chrome's thoughts raced, his mind a whirlwind of terror and resolve. He tried to move, to spring into action, but his legs betrayed him. They felt like lead, immovable and unresponsive. Panic clawed at his chest as he grappled with his own incapacitation.

[If I don't act, he will die.] Chrome's thoughts trembled with urgency. His eyes remained locked on Brian, who lay helpless and battered, his life hanging by a thread.

[But my legs won't move... I can't move them!] Chrome's frustration welled up, mingling with his desperation.

[He will die, move, you coward... please!] His silent pleas echoed in the confines of his mind, but his body remained frozen in fear.

Tears streamed down Chrome's face, his inner turmoil threatening to consume him. He had failed his companion, and his own cowardice had become a shackle, preventing him from taking action.

As he fought to force his legs to obey his will, the crippling fear within him drained the last remnants of his courage. Self-doubt and despair threatened to overtake him, drowning him in a sea of helplessness.

In the midst of this grim tableau, the colossal orc raised its massive wooden weapon high above its head, poised to deliver the final, fatal strike to the fallen Brian.

**Boom**

The earth-shaking explosion shattered the tense silence, drowning out the cacophony of battle. A thick cloud of smoke billowed and swirled, veiling the unfolding scene from view.

As the smoke gradually cleared, a new reality emerged. Standing tall amidst the dissipating haze was Decimus, a colossal figure radiating unwavering determination. At his feet lay the once-mighty orc, reduced to a grotesque heap of charred limbs and smoldering wreckage.

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Decimus had unleashed a cataclysmic blast of unparalleled might, utterly obliterating the orc. The forest floor bore the scars of their cataclysmic clash, marked by the remnants of the obliterated foe.

Chrome's heart weighed heavy in his chest as Decimus's stern gaze bore into him. Shame and self-doubt clouded his thoughts, rendering him unable to meet the unwavering judgment in Decimus's eyes.

Decimus's imposing presence weighed heavily on Chrome, paralyzing him with shame. His body refused to move, and he couldn't meet Decimus's piercing gaze. Doubt gnawed at his core, a relentless self-critique that spiraled endlessly.

Had he truly let his cowardice define him? Did he even deserve to be called a warrior when he had been so ready to abandon his companions in their time of need?

"I... I..." Chrome stammered, his voice a trembling whisper, unable to form the words to defend himself.

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{Back to present (ref. ch13)}

Following Decimus's instructions, Chrome and Brian embarked on the task of wrestling the Carnomalis, a creature with the body of a T-rex and Brachiosaurus reaching an imposing near seven feet tall.

The Carnomalis, known for their curious and non-aggressive nature, seemed like a reasonable challenge for the duo. Little did they anticipate the outcome – a failure that would nearly cost them their lives.

The She Carnomalis they confronted was renowned for its beauty, and as its call for help echoed through the region, other Carnomalis flocked to the scene in a desperate attempt to rescue their fallen comrade or crush to exact revenge on Brian and company. Despite their struggles, Brian succeeded in ending the creature's life with a thrust of his blade through her neck, leaving over a hundred enraged Carnomalis surrounding Decimus and his companions.

As they sprinted through the blood-soaked battleground, the wind carried the unsettling sounds of battle – splashes, gurgles, smacks, splatters, and clanging.

Decimus's earlier declaration that "You can't kill a hundred monsters until you become the 100th monster" may not have had the intended effect on Brian and Chrome.

They maneuvered through the storm of blood and the falling bodies of their adversaries, ultimately reaching Decimus, who now stood atop a mountain of corpses. Despite the gruesome carnage, Decimus's demeanor remained cool, although his crystal-greenish eyes gleamed with an eerie, otherworldly red.

"Is he even human?" Brian pondered, awe and envy warring within him as he regarded Decimus.

Chrome, too, wrestled with a tumult of emotions – jealousy, shame and admiration, his heart torn between the competing sentiments evoked by Decimus's incredible presence.

"AAahaaaaaaaahahahah," Chrome bellowed, clutching his weapon and raising his blade in a fervent bid to prove himself. He trudged through the blood-soaked terrain, careening over a nearly lifeless Carnomalis beneath his feet.

"What are you doing? It's already dead!" Brian exclaimed, baffled by Chrome's reckless charge.

"Shut up AAaaaaaa," Chrome roared, charging further into the swarm of Carnomalis. His eyes glittered with unwavering determination to redeem himself in Decimus's eyes. Shouting and screaming alone wouldn't grant him the strength to overcome this formidable challenge.

Driven by the realization that he needed to surpass his own limitations, Chrome decided to embrace madness if it meant impressing Decimus, whatever the cost.

"YOU DUMBASSS!" Brian vented his frustration, a mixture of anger and concern. Could he truly allow his childhood friend to throw his life away so recklessly?

Meanwhile, Decimus, Chrome, and Brian found themselves entangled in an ugly brawl with the Carnomalis, far from their original mission of investigating the 'Lord's Labyrinth.'

Amidst the chaos, Brian backed Chrome, and Decimus unleashed a frenzied assault, swinging his sword wildly, his laughter and roars creating a terrifying tableau of Carnomalis slaughter.

"AAAAAaaaaaa," Chrome screamed as they battled the horde.

"YOU FUCKHEAD, LOOK FORWARD!" Brian's furious shout was directed solely at Chrome, his frustration mounting as the bloody chaos of battle raged on.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAAHHAAHAHA."

In the midst of the turmoil, Decimus's maniacal laughter filled the air. He swung his longsword with savage abandon, leaping, crashing, and tearing through Carnomalis in a frenzied frenzy. His transformation was complete, as he was consumed by a brutal and animalistic instinct to kill.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAAHHAAHAHA."