Back in the guardian rift chamber, Thranak raised his head. The gigantic figure made the earth tremble with his every move. He gasped when the figure became crystal clear.

A massive humanoid figure. Perfectly drawn muscles adorned its body. Its huge black horns spiraled upward, shooting to the sky. Its legs, those of a horse, crushed the rocky ground as it approached.

It had thin armor, made of metal and fur, barely protecting its body. Its face was furious and bestial, the type to instill fear even in the greatest of warriors. It roared, causing the entire area to shake. In each of its hands, a massive double-edged axe. That was the rift guardian: Gromash.

Thranak waved his axe, shattering the humanoid rock figure, raising his guard for what would be one of his greatest opponents.

"Leave, intruder," his voice shook.

"I need to go through the rift. If the guardian could grant me this request, I, Thranak, will be eternally grateful."

The winds blew, and Gromash swung his axe down. The earth split and cracked in his direction. Thranak used his axe as a shield, taking the attack head-on. His body was whipped back upon impact. The tattoos on his body hummed alive. He landed on his feet.

He smiled, glancing at his forearm. It was trembling from the residual force. Sweat trickled down his face. "I can't take him head-on," he murmured to himself. Gromash leaned forward; like a machine let loose, he zoomed in.

His horns pierced forward. Thranak stepped to the side and waved his axe in a wide arc. Gromash countered, slamming his double axe down.

They exchanged blows, sparks blooming in the void after every collision. Thranak maneuvered through the battlefield, trying his best to avoid direct confrontation. He slid down as the axe sailed above his head.

Letting out a primal roar, his tattoo was burning underneath his skin. Gromash raised his axe, but it slowed down as his body was enveloped by a bloody hue. Thranak seized the opportunity and struck his chest.

His axe hammered the guardian's body. "Leave," Gromash said as if he had not felt anything. His skin was intact, like the blow had barely been a threat. He lifted his horse foot. With unyielding power, it smashed forward.

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Thranak felt his chest contract upon impact, sending him biting the ground. He traced his palm on his chest; it was like his rib cage had bent inward. Blood continuously flowed from his mouth. He understood why many had failed at summoning the barbarian order of rulers. If this was just the first obstacle, could he really do it?

Shaking away distracting thoughts, he rolled to the side before the axe split him into two. He flipped to his feet, circling around his opponent.

No matter how Gromash attacked, he managed to evade, keeping a wide distance between them. The face of the beast shifted into a frown. Thranak was thinking of a solution while avoiding a direct confrontation, and Gromash seemed to have understood.

Thranak's eyes opened as he glanced upward. The massive Gromash had leaped into the air. Despite its size, it shot several meters high.

Thranak's heart skipped a beat as he understood its objective. He jumped back, but Gromash landed, slamming his axe on the ground. The brunt of it shook the earth like an earthquake had descended.

His face changed as he lost his balance under the quake, stumbling forward. Gromash zoomed in with its horn, so fast he could barely react. His tattoo went into action, his skin turning grey. The horn pierced through his chest, sending him flying once more.

His axe fell to the side. His hands darted to his chest. It was burning. Blood flowed down, one droplet after the other, tainting the ground red. His body was turning heavy, and his vision was playing tricks on him.

"Leave," Gromash repeated. Its imposing frame turned and began walking back into the golden door.

Give up? He hadn't given up when his father died. He hadn't given up when his sister was captured. "Even if I have to die each time, I would rise. Rise again and again, till the debts of blood are paid." He rose back to his feet.

"You have chosen your path," Gromash's eyes turned bloody. With a sudden burst of speed, he zoomed in once more, swinging his double axe in a wide arc. Thranak gripped his axe and charged forward. Giving up had never been part of him and never will it be.

As the two figures closed in, he threw his axe into the void and flipped. Gromash's double axe scissored the void. Spinning in the void, Thranak's left hand gripped his horn. The other rose forward and caught the falling axe, which he swung down into his opponent's shoulder.

With a loud cry, Gromash swung furiously without real aim. Thranak jumped back. Using his axe as a shield, he countered the blow. With a loud, deafening impact, his body was sent flying. But this time in the direction of the golden door.

"How dare you!" Gromash went berserk as he saw him approach the door. He dashed out the blood from his shoulder, drawing a macabre scene on the stones.

Thranak landed with much effort, dragging his body towards the door. He wouldn't have another opportunity; it was now or never. He pushed himself past his limit and jumped in the door before it shut close.

He dragged his body to the light; it was a portal which gave way to a forest. His vision was turning blurry. The sound of the approaching Gromash turned silent. He couldn't hear anything anymore. He fell down, rolling into the portal and disappearing into the rift.

He landed with a loud thud on the cold ground. His head was spinning. "I..." his eyes closed, and he fell into a deep slumber.