"What's happening to him?"

"Don't you think it's dangerous?"

As Ethan underwent an abrupt metamorphosis, a shiver raced down the spines of every member of the Nila group. Their eyes widened in disbelief, mouths agape, as they confronted the towering, monstrous figure before them.

"What are you all doing? We have no time to waste. Command the monster to attack him." Nila's voice pierced the air, sharp and commanding, her eyes ablaze with fury as she fixed her gaze on her subordinates. Clenching her fists and gritting her teeth, she adamantly refused to concede defeat.

"Ma'am, but... even the monsters are too afraid to approach him." her subordinate stammered, his voice trembling with fear. He cast a glance towards the creature, their supposed trump card, now cowering and whimpering in the corner, evidently sensing the overwhelming power emanating from Ethan.

"What!?" Nila gasped, disbelief and horror etched across her face. A cold sweat broke out on her forehead as her heart sank, realizing the grave mistake she had made.

Meanwhile, behind the barrier, Ethan's family and team were consumed with worry. They could see his distorted form but were helpless to reach or communicate with him.

"Ethan! Ethan, please, can you hear me?" Norman's voice cracked with desperation and panic as he called out to his son. Worried about Ethan's transformed state, he couldn't shake the fear of whether his son was still alive, still human, still his son.

"Ethan! Ethan!" Wanda's cry was filled with anguish as she desperately shouted his name, her voice choked with grief and pain. She sobbed uncontrollably, unable to muster any words beyond calling out to her son, praying for his return. A sharp ache pierced her chest, as if her heart was shattering into irreparable pieces.

"Ethan! please, don't lose yourself!" Emily pleaded, her voice laced with worry and hope. She couldn't bear the thought of her childhood friend succumbing to darkness and becoming something unrecognizable. Stretching out her hand, she longed to breach the barrier that kept them apart.

"Boss! Boss! Remember who you are!" Leo urged, his voice trembling with anxiety and concern. He couldn't bear the idea of his benefactor losing sight of his true self. Recalling how Ethan had offered him a fresh start by inviting him onto the team, Leo was determined to remind him of his identity.

"Leader, come on, snap out of it!" Dagger commanded, his voice stern and serious, his eyes ablaze with determination and defiance. He refused to accept defeat, unwilling to witness his leader succumb.

"Leader, please, don't do this. Get a hold of yourself!" Mia pleaded, her voice trembling with nervousness and her eyes welling up with tears. She dreaded the thought of her leader becoming the very thing he had always fought against.

But Ethan couldn’t hear them. He was engulfed in his own world, a tumultuous realm of pain and anger.

“Why don’t you try to smile? You'll feel better.” he recalled Gorgon's words echoing in his mind. A wave of sorrow washed over him, leaving him adrift in a sea of grief.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

He longed to heed Gorgon's advice, to find solace in a simple smile, but the weight of his emotions held him captive, rendering him unable to break free from his turmoil.

“He is approaching us! Attack him!" Nila's voice rang out, desperate and furious.

Despite their fear, the monsters charged forward at Ethan's looming figure, obediently following Nila's command. Deep down, however, they understood the futility of their actions, knowing that they were no match for the overwhelming power radiating from Ethan.

The first creature to reach him was a colossal spider, its eight hairy legs propelling it swiftly forward, venomous fangs dripping with poison. It lunged at Ethan, aiming for his neck, but with lightning reflexes, Ethan seized its head, wrenching it clean off. Disposing of the severed head with a swift throw, he mercilessly stomped on the creature's lifeless body, ensuring it posed no further threat.

Gorgon’s words echoed hauntingly in his mind: "Never feel that you are alone." Yet, in this moment of turmoil, those words held no solace for him. Instead, a surge of loneliness engulfed him, a stark reminder of Gorgon's absence, amplifying the weight of his isolation.

With his razor-sharp claws, he mercilessly tore through the monsters that dared to draw near. Biting off their heads and pulverizing their bodies to pulp, he operated on instinct, driven solely by pain and anger.

Amidst the chaos, only one voice reverberated in his mind.

'Release your wrath and annihilate everything.'

He couldn't discern the origin of the voice, yet an inexplicable sense of assurance enveloped him, compelling him to heed its call.

"Aaaagh!" With a deafening roar, he surrendered to the command and unleashed his devastating power.

The blood staining the ground coalesced around him, swirling into a crimson vortex that erupted into a tempest of gore, tearing the monsters asunder.

"What's happening?" Nila screamed in terror, her face drained of color as she witnessed the nightmarish scene of carnage and devastation.

"God! That's the power of God." Marcus muttered, trembling with a mix of awe and fascination. Never before had he beheld such an awe-inspiring display of raw power.

"What!? This... this is the power of the demon lord?" Nila gasped, her voice trembling with incredulity and shock.

"Yes, indeed. But we must retreat for now. He's far too powerful." Marcus urged, his tone both sensible and urgent.

"But..." Nila hesitated, her voice laced with reluctance and bitterness. She couldn't bear the thought of conceding defeat after sacrificing so many troops.

"I understand your concerns. But if we don't retreat now, we would be putting ourselves in grave danger." Marcus asserted firmly, his voice rational and composed.

"Fine. Let's get out of here." Nila conceded, her tone resigned and defeated.

As they turned to leave, a blood-red spear, glowing like a dying ember, pierced through one of their comrades, killing him instantly. They spun around, their hearts sinking as they realized they were trapped within Ethan's blood domain—a cage of crimson sealing their fate.

"We must retreat swiftly. Everyone, buy us some time." Marcus commanded, his voice exuding authority and bravery.

Though all the players endeavored to stall Ethan, their efforts proved futile. Arrows flew, spells were cast, swords swung, and spears hurled, yet none of their attacks made a dent against Ethan's overwhelming power.

"Damn it!" Nila cursed, her voice thick with frustration and anger. She watched helplessly as her group members fell one by one, and Ethan drew closer with each passing moment. Her heart pounded in her chest, the thunderous rhythm drowning out all other sounds.

"Grr!" the wolf beneath Nila emitted a low, loyal growl.

"What is it trying to say?" Marcus inquired, his tone a blend of curiosity and concern.

"He says he'll buy us some time." Nila explained, her voice a mix of gratitude and sorrow. She understood the wolf's silent communication; he was prepared to sacrifice himself to shield her from danger.

"Okay. Good." Marcus responded respectfully, his tone tinged with gratitude and admiration. Locking eyes with the wolf, he felt a surge of respect and appreciation pass between them. They exchanged a solemn nod, acknowledging the weight of their shared sacrifice.

"Goodbye, Ragna." Nila whispered, her voice tender and sincere. She gently caressed the wolf's fur, feeling his warmth beneath her fingertips. Meeting his gaze, she pressed her forehead against his, a silent farewell passing between them.

With a bark and a snarl, Ragna drew Ethan's attention. He lunged at Ethan, teeth bared and claws extended, aiming for his arm. But Ethan evaded his attack, seizing Ragna by the neck in a vice-like grip. With brutal force, Ethan attempted to snap Ragna's spine, his fingers tightening around the wolf's throat.

Ragna whimpered and struggled, feeling the excruciating pain and relentless pressure. Kicking and scratching desperately, he fought to break free from Ethan's merciless grip. But his efforts were in vain as Ethan's cruel smile widened, and with a swift snap, he crushed Ragna's neck, ending his life in an instant.

Callously tossing the lifeless body aside like a discarded ragdoll, Ethan showed no hint of remorse or pity as he began to advance towards the portal, intent on finishing them all.

However, before he could take another step, numerous golden rings coiled around him, ensnaring him in their radiant embrace and halting his advance.