The air trembled as the minotaur shouted. Smoke was coming out from its very nostrils. Its body was covered in scars and wields a mace. There were chains on its hand and feet.

The knights fled together with the adventurers. They were terrified and confused. There was one knight who ran but the lesser minotaur slashed his body in half.

"Idiots! Why are you all running?! We have to defeat it!" Mr. Arthur screamed at them

"I didn't sign up for this! I have children!"

"No! No! I don't want to die yet!"

"It's pointless! We can't defeat it! This is the first Cataclysm for thousands of years! We weren't prepared for it!"

They began to run faster than anyone could. It seems that based on their experiences, the Cataclysm we're experiencing now is the first Cataclysm in a thousand years. It was just last year when the great sage foresaw the prophecy. The books were old and ancient that n.o.body believed the great sage. Which explains why the knights and adventurers are weak because they were not prepared. They didn't know.

"Yakiro, Ayumi, Koneko. We are the last hope that this nation could wish for. But I must ask if all of you are willing to do it. If not, go now. I will stay."

"No! I will stay here with you, Mr. Arthur. I will fight with you until the end."

"Yakiro! T-then... I have no other choice... I must fight with Yakiro if he chooses to fight."

"I'm with master!"

"Then all of you three. Get ready for battle!"

"Yes!" We screamed.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhh!" We started charging at it.

"Shooting Star!" I shot two s.h.i.+ning swords at its face but it didn't hurt him. The skin of the minotaur was harder than anything we could imagine.

It started to walk towards us, dragging its mace by the dirt.

"Steal!"

Ayumi cast her skill but it didn't do anything. It looked like the minotaur's magic resist was higher than Ayumi's skill level.

It raised its mace and it started to shout.

"GRUUOOH!"

"Yakiro! Watch out!"

The mace struck down in my location but Ayumi had jumped in and pushed both of us away. When we glanced back, there was a huge hole from where the mace hit.

"Thanks, Ayumi!"

"No problem!"

We stood up. The minotaur raised it's mace again and this time, it struck Mr. Arthur.

"Mister!"

Boom!

A huge wind exploded when the minotaur's mace was blocked by the ax that Mr. Arthur was holding. I can't believe my eyes. This old man is still standing while facing a monster that sized like a house. He caught the brunt of the attack but he didn't even look hurt.

"Don't worry! I can handle him! Just keep attacking!"

"Right!"

Koneko stayed behind as back support and continued to heal us. The minotaur kept on thras.h.i.+ng its mace but Mr. Arthur kept on blocking it. The very ground that Mr. Arthur stood in, spiderwebbed as it started to crack.

"Lightning Dragon!" Mr. Arthur screamed his skill and the clouds above gathered. It started to thunder as light chained on each cloud. A bolt of lightning, formed like a dragon, fell from the sky and struck the minotaur.

"Gruoooooooh!" It shouted but after the skill disappeared, it came out unscathed.

This minotaur is stronger than we had expected. We ran towards it and sliced its flesh, in hopes that we can deal damage. But it only made our weapons bounce off from his skin.

"SILVER SWORD! CALIBUR!"

My SP had fully replenished and I pulled out my sword. Maybe my flames will devour him. I ran towards him and struck its leg but, just like any other, my sword just bounced back as it reverberated. My flames, however, struck him.

But it only diminishes without a single burn.

The minotaur glared at me with his furious eyes and stuck me with a kick. I felt my body smashed and my bones cracking. It sent me flying by the building in which I broke through the wooden wall. My blood came out from my mouth as I tried to stand up.

"Yakiro!" Ayumi came running at me. Koneko went inside together with her.

Ayumi held my back and tried to help me stand.

"Holy Healing tri-s.h.i.+eld!" Three s.h.i.+elds stacked up by each other appeared above me. It rained light like fireflies and started to heal me. The damage was painful and I could feel my self losing consciousness. But I have to stay alive. I have to save this world even when I suffered so much. It was my decision after all. It was my decision if I want to suffer or not.

"I'm fine... Cough... Continue to a.s.sist Mr. Arthur..."

"Are you sure?" I nodded and Ayumi went back to help Mr. Arthur. I stood by my own and walked out of the building, tottered. They were busy fighting the minotaur. Ayumi kept on attacking in open places as Mr. Arthur kept the minotaur distracted. My body feels a bit better now and I rejoined the battle. Koneko transferred her focus on Mr. Arthur and she started buffing him.

"Stride!" I swiftly drifted towards the minotaur, evading his mace I started to attack him as I dash out. I kept on repeating it but it only annoyed him.

A warning icon appeared in my vision.

*Warning!*

Suddenly the Minotaur shouted a thunderous roar.

"HUGRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOUHHH!"

We were knocked back as a strong wind exploded around it. Even Mr. Arthur was sent flying away and he hit the building behind him. The skin that was once black now turned into scarlet red. A warning icon appeared.

*WARNING: ENRAGED MINOTAUR KING*

No! This keeps getting harder and harder! It's like those games when you fight a boss and when their HP reaches a line, it will enrage and become more harder to defeat. But we didn't even deal a lot of damage! This is hard!

The minotaur was now starting to run around us. The lesser monsters started to move to the kingdom. From the outside, the village, the adventurers and knights that fled, kept the monsters at bay before any of them could stray out to the other villages and towns.

"Look at them. They've left us with the boss. But it's okay. At least they continued to defend." Mr. Arthur spoke as he walked out by the huge hole in the wall where he was thrown.

"Now the real fun has started." He added.

We charged at it again and fought with all our strength. Koneko casts a s.h.i.+eld before the mace was able to reach me. It made a huge clanging sound as the air reverberated.

"Lightning Dragon!" Mr. Arthur cast again and struck the minotaur. It swung its mace and Mr. Arthur blocked it. Ayumi found an opening and ran as she strikes the Minotaur by the scar. The blade of her knife went through.

That's when we found out.

"Yakiro! The scars! The scars are his weak spots!" Ayumi screamed. Mr. Arthur was busy keeping the minotaur distracted and I was the only one who was able to attack.

"Koneko! Try screech!" A huge mist exploded and Koneko transformed into her Fox Queen form. She cast screech but it didn't affect him. Well, it was worth to try. Koneko reverted back into her Crescent Lynx and started to heal Mr. Arthur.

The metals were clanging and I waited for an opening. Ayumi kept on stealing attacks but her blade wasn't strong enough to cut deeper. If she wielded a sword, it would easily weaken the minotaur but it would only hinder her speed as an a.s.sa.s.sin.

"Shooting Star!" I cast two swords and I shot them through the minotaur's scars.

"GRAAAAAAAH!"

"Stride!"

I decided to boost my stride with Ren.

"Ren!"

My stride became stronger. But I noticed something. My flames were stronger than before. Ren Aura also affects my pure flaming soul.

It made it clear. I can do it!

I dashed in as fast as I could but suddenly I caught a moment. It was like slow motion. The minotaur's eye turned to me. It noticed me. By each pa.s.sing second, he kicked Mr. Arthur, punched Ayumi, and threw a stone at Koneko. All three of them were sent flying away. Only that, Mr. Arthur was sent further away into the forest. Ayumi vomited blood as she was floating mid-air. Her face grimaced with pain. I looked behind and Koneko was there no more. She was also sent further away. The minotaur raised his mace up in the air with wrath in his eyes.

"GROH!"

BOOM!

By the time I opened my eyes. Half of my body was smashed. My legs were broken and twisted into a different position. I felt my self getting dizzy as the pain rattles upwards my spine. My abdomen was squashed and blood was flooding out.

*WARNING! FATAL DAMAGE RECEIVED!*

The Minotaur started to walk towards me dragging his mace.

Ayumi suddenly walked towards me and stretched her arms wide on each side. Her face was drenched in soot and blood.

"A... Ayumi? No... Don't..."

"Groh!" The minotaur struck her on the side by the mace and sent her flying away. She stood, with her right arm holding her left shoulder, she tottered as she returned to her position.

"Ayumi... What are you doing?.." I was confused. I didn't know what to say.

"GRAH!" The minotaur struck him again and she repeated her action. Her left arm was twisted in the opposite direction.

"Ayumi... What are..."

"I want to protect you..."

"What are you saying?! Run! Don't do this for me!"

"No..."

Why is she being such a rebel? What is her purpose? She's going to die!

"It's me that the monster wants! Please run! We can't defeat it!"

"No..."

"Haven't you suffered enough?!"

She looked at me with guilt in her eyes. Her tears were streaming down her face and blood came dripping down her chin.

"No, I haven't! I haven't... The time I was reincarnated to this world... I've done so many horrible things... I didn't want it but it was out of my control..."

She started crying. Her right arm raised by her side.

"I killed a whole village... With fear in their blood... I killed hundreds of innocent people... But I didn't feel anything... I lost hope the moment I was murdered and sent to this world... But then I met you..."

"You made me feel special... You didn't abuse me... Maybe because you didn't know anything about me... But you cared for me..."

"Lies! You always save me Ayumi!"

"No! I was saved by you!"

I was speechless. What is she talking about?

"But I betrayed you... I haven't suffered enough... Yakiro... I haven't suffered enough... The moment I saw your fragile face down the chamber... I couldn't stop crying... Night after night... I cried about you..."

"Ayumi..."

"I love you, Yakiro..."

I glanced back and the minotaur's mace was glowing red. He was charging his mace and that's why he didn't attack. The moment Ayumi spoke those words...

BLAG!

She was sent flying even farther away than Mr. Arthur did.

My heart was filled with anger. My heart began to fill with hate. What did Ayumi do to deserve this? What did she do?!

All my hatred that I've been resisting went loose. My memories came cras.h.i.+ng back. My suffering, my misery, my agony... My pain!

I wish I would burn this world!

-WRATH-

Wrath: Furious Devastation: All conditions met.

"....Kill... Kill them all..."

The black flame appeared again. All before my eyes were black and darkness surrounded me. But this dark fire continues to burn in this darkness.

"... Accept me... Yakiro... Become one with me..."

"... Accept your hatred... Accept your anger..."

The fire speaks to me.

I reached my hand to it but I was stopped again.

A cute little girl embraces me, stopping me from reaching my hatred.

"Brother... You promised..." She was crying.

"Namimi..."

"Don't... Don't touch it..." She cries.

"But..."

"I don't want to lose you... Do you really think Ayumi will be happy?"

She's right. If I let myself be devoured by my hatred, I might become what Ayumi didn't want to become. I might kill thousands of innocent people. I must not!

I opened my eyes and the minotaur was charging his mace again.

Justice... Let my sense of justice burn!

"REN!"

My fire started to grow stronger, more violent and more fierce. My pure white fire started to spread stronger. I held my hand in front of me and I gathered the fire in one place. I made the fire merge into one flaming ball that radiates light brighter than the star.

The minotaur had fully charged his mace then a skill name appeared in my vision.

The minotaur batted his mace down at me and I shouted the skill.

"INFERNAL SOUL!" The fire shot out from my hand and into the minotaur as his mace flung down at me.

I wasn't able to see what happened because I suddenly felt myself fading away.

----------

I slowly woke up and found my self wrapped in bandages and three priests chanting spell at me. I groggily opened my eyes and rose from the bed. The priests looked surprised.

"Where am I?"

The priests suddenly took a potion and made me drink each. I felt my body enveloped in soft light and felt myself a little bit better. I felt dizzy and as soon as I rose, I vomited on the floor.

The maid cleaned my vomit immediately and the priests went outside. Mr. Arthur walked inside the room with a basket of filled with fruits.

"How are you feeling, Yakiro?" Mr. Arthur said with bandages wrapped around his arm and his head.

"I feel... nauseous... and dizzy... and painful."

He giggled. He sat beside me.

"You should lay back and rest. Don't move yet. You are not fully covered. You've been out for two weeks."

"Two weeks? I've been unconscious for two weeks straight? Come to think about it, I can't feel my legs." But they were still there. It looked like there was no part taken away from me.

"Stop talking and rest."

I lied back on the bed. I rose again with fear whirling in my heart.

"WHERE'S AYUMI?!"

Smack! He karate chopped my head. Geez! The nerve of this old man! I'm injured and yet he hit me in my head. I lied back to my bed forcefully.

"Don't shout, Idiot! You'll wake her up!" But he was also shouting.

I looked on the left side and found Ayumi, wrapped in bandages, sleeping on the other bed. Koneko is also resting on other bed right beside Ayumi. We were resting on individual beds and each of us was wrapped in bandages. Koneko was being mended by nurses wearing robes.

I felt a tear drop in my eye as I reach Ayumi's hand. It feels warm and soft. She looks hurt but she's resting well. I held her hand as I began to cry.

"Ayumi... We're alive... We fulfilled our promise..." I saw a drop of tear fell from her eye.

"You're pretty brave, shooting your soul like that."

"How's the village, Mr. Arthur."

"They're fine. They are rebuilding. The villagers said that they are very thankful for you."

"I see... It looks like someone took care of that Minotaur King..."

"You really don't remember what happened?"

"No? What happened?"

"You were the one who killed that Minotaur. You made a very risky move."

"What? How?"

"When I returned, I saw you lifeless and the minotaur standing before you without its upper body. It seemed that you blasted it with your soul. You are pretty lucky for being alive. I can't believe you shot your soul out of your body and stay alive."

I didn't understand what he said but I just decided that the fire I gathered was my soul and when I shot it, it incinerated the minotaur's upper body and I fainted because my body lost its soul.

"How is Koneko?"

"She's fine. She was the only one who didn't get fatal damage. She's been awake and she even took care of you. She's just tired now."

"Really?"

"M-master?" I looked and Koneko was sitting on her bed awake. Her face suddenly painted with joy as soon as she noticed me.

"Master is awake!"

Koneko suddenly jumped from her bed and into mine. She landed on my injured body and I felt my face grimaced in pain.

"Ugh... Koneko!"

"Anoo... Koneko's been worried about you master... I've been scared... I don't want to lose master anymore..."

"Heh... I'm still alive Koneko and I won't ever leave you."

"Really? Yaaay!" Suddenly she jumped at me with her hands holding my face. She's kissing me! Koneko is kissing me in her human form! Her lips felt soft and her hand held my cheek carefully. My eyes were wide with stun and confusion.

"Emmf... Mfff... What's with all the rumbling?" Ayumi woke up and as soon as she saw me and Koneko kissing. She pounced out of her bed with her hand lifted up, ready for a slap.

I pushed Koneko away and lifted my arm to surrender.

"Wait! Wait! I can explain!"

But she's too confused and anger had already filled her mind.

"IDIOT! STUPID PERVERT! STUPID! LOLICON!"

SLAP!

"AAAAAAAAAH!"

My scream echoed through the town.