Violent earthquakes shook the earth as the two avatars clashed, bringing forth astronomical destruction.

However, Ajax was taking the harsher punishment, as he was thrown and ragdolled continuously.

The mother wolf has activated her final card, using her last ditch attempt to take out the Saint with her.

Now, they must survive the encounter until her life force burns out. Easier said than done.

Dashing back, a cold bead of sweat trickled down Ajax's forehead as he felt his essence plummet and drain along with his strength.

The shadow avatar looked like a mess. Its helmet was shattered, its armour was torn and shredded by the sharp canine fangs and claws of the mother beast, and two of its four arms are now gone.

Ajax had to endlessly spam his first gear just to deter the beast, but even that was not enough.

Ajax could feel its pressure rise every single second that passed by. By now, the wolf's power was already nearly surpassing that of a saint.

If it climbs to the next rank, then things will undoubtedly end for the worst.

Summoning the third gear, Ajax braced himself as a beam of rot struck him, shattering all four shields.

Slamming his staff to the ground, Ajax generated a wave of devouring shadows as he went on the offensive.

However, the mother wolf nimbly avoided the attacks as it closed the distance within seconds.

Ajax weaved back and forth as he dodged the incoming slashes, some hitting his armour as they sent waves of ice.

But before he could regain his distance, the wolf released a howl as a sheet of ice rooted his foot on the ground.

Brining his arm forward, a collision of blades and shadows erupted as he was thrown back.

He was now down to one arm.

Grasping his staff tight, Ajax slammed the weapon down as he burned through his essence, continuously casting gear one.

A violent surge of shadow encased the shadow saint as he watched the beast halt its steps.

Ajax did not know how long it would take, but judging by how strong it is now, it was soon to reach the next rank. But that also means its life force was nearing its limits.

Meanwhile, Samael soared through the air as he commanded some of the ravens to flock to the eyes of the wolf. Unfortunately, his plans and attacks were of no use as a fog of decay surrounded the mother beast, killing anything that came remotely close.

Samael's attack did no damage either, as the beast's hide has transformed and become harder. Even Nihility surge barely dealt a scratch.

But the real problem was that the mother beast's focus was on Ajax alone. Never did it once bothered to spare Samael a glance.

It was simply aiming to take the bastard who put her in such a state to hell.

Right now, Samael is useless.

Gritting his teeth, Ajax could feel his essence dry up like a puddle under the scorching heat of the sun.

Then the worst happened.

Ajax's eyes widened as he watched the wolven avatar march towards the unrelenting surge of shadow matter.

Before his eyes, Ajax saw the beast's fur slowly widdling away while its skin was cut and bruised. But it kept going.

One step after the other, it was closing the distance, just simply tanking all the attack like it did not even bother it.

Perhaps it did not, in fact, even feel it.

"It has reached the Morph rank!" Ajax hissed as he doubled the intensity of the attack.

For a brief moment, the beast skidded back, but it soon regained its footing as it went onwards unhindered.

Ajax's hands trembled as he felt his essence plummet, dropping down like rain in a ravine.

But the wolf showed no signs of exhaustion. There was only unrelenting rage and fury.

"Is this how I end?" Ajax asked himself.

If it was, then he might as well go loose.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"ARGHHHHH!!!" Channelling everything, Ajax released a burst of shadows, knocking back the wolf a few steps back.

However, it soon regained its position. Not giving it a chance, Ajax dashed forward as he pushed the wolf once more, pinning it as he attempted to crush it under the pressure.

Ajax's body was pushed to the limit as he felt blood exit his orifices, staining his clothes and face as his muscles screamed.

Unable to handle the pressure, the ground gave up. But Ajax kept going.

Eventually, the mother beast was nearly buried below the earth.

But Ajax's essence was gone.

In the blink of an eye, the shadow wave vanished. Ajax shakily stepped back as the staff he held slowly disintegrated.

Slowly, the shadow avatar collapsed, turning into mere specks as Ajax fell down, stirring the dust.

Samael's eyes widened as he dove down, forming before his mentor as he watched the mother beast rise from the rubble.

Slowly, it approached the two as Samael positioned himself before his mentor.

However, before he could even react, he saw a flash as the razor-sharp claws of the mother wolf appeared inches from his face.

At that moment, everything slowed down.

The seconds felt like minutes; the air became stale, and the world felt bleak.

Samael could see the claws slowly near him, but he could not will his body to move.

For a brief moment, Samael saw his life flash before his eyes.

It was shitty.

The number of good memories he had was countable with the fingers of his hand.

Everything else was nothing but pain and torture.

Was that how he wanted things to end?

But then again, what can he do?

"Good job, kid. Leave the rest to me."

Samael flinched as the claw vanished before his eyes, as though he blinked and everything was gone. Like an illusion.

But it was not.

In front of him stood a broad back. One he was familiar with.

"Icarius...?" Samael asked.

"Sorry, I was late," Icarius said.

The mother wolf growled as she shot a glare at the man. Just who was this human to interfere?

"How is he?" Icarius asked.

"He's knocked out, but he's still breathing," Samael said as he tended to Ajax.

"Good. He earned that rest," Icarius said, not giving a fuck about the beast near him.

"Do you need help with that?" Samael asked. However, the guild master simply chuckled as he replied.

"Don't worry, I won't lose."

Then he vanished.

There was simply no other way to explain it. It was as though he blinked out of reality.

Before Samael could even comprehend what just happened, an ear-shattering explosion reverberated in the field, followed by a violent tremor.

Shifting his gaze ahead, Samael could only watch with his jaw wide open as the mother beast was sent soaring in the sky.

But before it could even do anything, Icarius appeared above it as the man chanted.

"Thunder strike."

A blinding flash left ripples in the blue sky as a collosal streak of lightning descended from the heavens, like some form of punishment sent by the gods.

That same attack travelled within the blink of an eye, striking the wolf and sending her straight down in a fiery explosion.

Boulders and chunks of earth flew in the sky, raining down like snow on a winter day as it destroyed everything in its path.

The ground itself collapsed as the wolf was sent hundreds of metres down the earth, burying it in stones.

But Icarius was not done yet.

Raising his finger up, a small liquid like metal manifested in its tip, forming a small reflective sphere.

"Judgement of steel."

With one gesture, the sphere fell down like a droplet of rain before expanding and expanding until it blocked out the sun.

The liquid transformed into a nail-like structure as it struck the crater where the wolf lay.

Then, everything else did not matter.

A harrowing shockwave swept the entirety of the Georgo road as everything in its path was swept away.

Trees, boulders, and earth swatted back. The clouds in the sky were cast away while what seemed like an eruption of a supermassive volcano just occurred.

Samael had to brace as he cast the Void Dome, blocking themselves from the harm. But even so, he could feel the stress of the shockwave itself.

After that, there was only dust.

The beast was dead.

There was no more life force coming from it. It was simply gone.

As the towering dust clouds subsided, what was left was a large hole in the ground and a colossal steel structure in its midst.

Above it was Icarius, watching the horizon as the dense fog of decay truly vanished and the rays of light made their grand return.

The war... was indeed over.

But before Samael could even release a sigh, Icarius flashed before him, startling him.

"Save your breath; you still have to settle one more thing," Icarius said as he shot a glance at the distance.

***

Near Stellaris, dozens of warriors were armed to the teeth as they huddled close. Before them was an army of wolves led by Seth.

"How could you do this?!" A watcher roared.

"Everyone trusted you!" A woman spoke.

"TRUSTED ME?! DID I EVER ASK FOR THAT?!" Seth roared back, a crazy smile planted on his face.

"Did you actually believe I even gave a fuck about you parasites?" he asked.

"You were all below me!" He screamed.

"Below you? You must be out of your mind." A voice spoke.

The warriors and wolves simultaneously shifted their attention in the shadows as Samael strode out, unarmed.

"YOU! So you were alive!" Seth roared, joy welling in his heart.

"Do you know how much I endured because of you?" He asked as he pulled down his hood, revealing gnarly scars on his face.

"To think that you would return... It seems my revenge is inevitable," Seth said as he drew his blade.

However, Samael remained nonchalant as he slowly counted the wolves.

"Shouldn't be too hard," Samael muttered.

Confused, Seth asked. "What are you—? A fist connected to his jaw as he was sent sprawling down the ground.

"Did you actually think you stood a chance against me? Especially after what you did?" Samael asked, his voice grim.

Stepping on the man's arm, Seth released a loud cry as he felt his bone snap like a twig.

"So... weak. To think your arm would break this easily with such a simple action..." Samael taunted as he grabbed the man by the hair, leaning in closer.

Staring into the man's eyes, Samael could smell the fear in his heart.

"But don't worry, I'm not going to kill you. After all, the guild master is calling for you," Samael said.

Seth's face paled upon hearing Samael's words.

"Now, sleep," Samael said as he lightly flicked the man's forehead, knocking him out cold.

Shifting his gaze at the wolves cowering in fear, Samael rose up as he spoke.

"Abyss spikes."

Before the very eyes of the warriors, hundreds of imgrave wolves were impaled up, dying in one fell swoop as Samael did not even spare them a glance.

Making his way in front of the crowd, he spoke four words.

Four words that changed everything for the better.

"The war... is over."