The towering monster cast an inquisitive gaze upon the peculiar duo, its four eyes lingering briefly on Steve before dismissing him with apparent disinterest. However, as its attention shifted to Noah, the creature emitted a shrilling screech, its mandibles menacingly snapping open and closed.

"Steve! Protect me..."

Clutching his weathered Greatsword with both skeletal hands, the fallen warrior assumed a fighting stance, poised for battle.

'Can he beat that massive monster?'

The six insectoid monsters that Steve had slain earlier appeared far less menacing to Noah, compared to the colossal monstrosity that was blocking their path now.

As the creature emitted another ear-splitting screech, Noah instinctively started to back away, while Steve stood his ground, unwavering. Ignoring the fallen warrior, the monster stomped its heavy leg and charged directly towards Noah.

'I'm so dead...' Noah was paralyzed with fear.

Steve attempted to slash the charging monstrosity's leg, but the blade merely glanced off the creature's carapace. In retaliation, the monster swung its sharp claws at the fallen warrior, sending him hurtling towards the cave wall. Then, refocused its attention on Noah.

'Think... I have to think!'

The hulking monster resumed charging towards its prey but stopped when a beam of light shone directly into its four eyes.

Noah directed his omni device's flashlight at the creature's head, assuming that a subterranean tunneling monster wouldn't particularly enjoy it.

The creature shielded its eyes with its claws but continued advancing slowly toward Noah.

'Well, what now?!'

Noah walked backwards, keeping the flashlight aimed at the advancing monster.

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The creature abruptly stopped, emitting a furious screech. Steve drove his Greatsword into a joint on the monster's carapace, targeting its back.

The fallen warrior seemed to have finally earned the colossal monster's attention, who turned around and gripped Steve tightly, causing him to crumple to the ground under its weight. The creature's furious onslaught began as it mercilessly mauled Steve, swiping its claws again and again.

"No!"

'I have to do something...'

Noah gazed at the monster's back, where Steve's Greatsword remained embedded in its tough carapace.

"Arghhhh!"

Noah let out a primal howl as he charged forward, slamming into the Greatsword's pommel with his shoulder, driving it deeper into the monster's flesh. The creature shrieked in agony as the blade bit deeper.

'Not enough.'

The monster lashed out with its claws, aiming at Noah's head. Despite his attempt to dodge, the sharp claws slashed across his cheek and up to his forehead. Noah tumbled backward, his hand instinctively covering his now-bloodied face.

Steve seized the opportunity while the hulking creature's attention was diverted and plunged his skeletal fingers into the monster's eyes.

The colossal monstrosity staggered away, clutching its mutilated eyes, while Steve rose to his feet and positioned himself behind the creature. He tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, still protruding from the monster's back, and twisted it deeper into the creature's flesh, eliciting another piercing shriek of agony.

The monstrous shrieks gradually faded into silence as the creature dropped to its knees and then collapsed onto the ground, face-first.

With one eye, Noah observed the unfolding scene from his prone position, his hand pressed against his bloodied face.

'...Is it over? We won?'

A cloud of shimmering green mist emerged from the now-motionless hulking monster and drifted ominously toward Noah.

'No... Not again.'

Noah steeled himself for the inevitable surge of pain as the mist enveloped him. Yet, to his surprise, the discomfort quickly gave way to a strange sensation of strength coursing through his veins.

"Huh?!"

'What changed since the last time...?' Noah pondered. 'Whatever, I don't have time for this now.'

With caution, Noah withdrew his hand from his bloodied face. A wave of relief washed over him as he managed to open his eye and see clearly through it.

'I thought I'll be known as One Eyed Noah from now on... For that matter, how did I even dodge that slash?'

Though he didn't escape unscathed, Noah knew that his entire head was supposed to be reduced to a red mist by the monster's claw.

'I'm changing... Is that how the Touched grow stronger? Like gaining experience points in virtual games? No, that doesn't make sense.'

Noah could understand why this kill might be attributed to him, given that Steve was his minion. However, Noah had played no part in the demise of the winged creature devoured in the upper reaches of the cave.

"Oh, Steve!"

His skeletal companion took a severe beating in this battle.