Chapter 47: Solid Hit!
Chapter 47
{Skill: Soft Touch is off cooldown and can now be used.}
"Fine. Let’s go get it then. We need all the help we can get," Jace sighed, as the four of them stood side by side, ready to tackle the beast while waiting for backup.
—
With the plan set, the small team dashed forward. Kael surged ahead faster than the others, his gaze locked firmly on his shield a few metres away.
The trio—Zen, Erin, and Jace bolted straight for the ogre. Upon noticing their approach, the beast’s grin widened. Its eyes scanned the battlefield, instantly realizing Kael was separated from the group, distracted with retrieving his shield.
With a malicious glint of Not on my watch, the ogre raised its massive hammer. Its head began glowing bright, and the trio’s eyes widened in horror.
"Shit!" Jace muttered, his voice laced with desperation as he pushed himself to the limit. Water swirled violently around his feet, propelling him forward like he was gliding on air. Yet, even with his sudden burst of speed, it was too late.
BANG!
Two blazing fireballs, each the size of a soccer ball, exploded outward with terrifying speed toward Kael—who hadn’t even noticed until the deafening crack hit his ears.
Looking up, his heart froze. The fiery projectiles screamed across the field, only seconds away from impact.
"Nope. Not today." Kael snarled, leaping into the air with every ounce of strength he had. His fingers clamped around his shield, just a metre away. Dropping down, he planted his knees into the ground, shield raised high just as the fireballs slammed into it.
BOOOM!
The explosion rocked him backward, sending his body tumbling across the dirt. He landed in a heap, blood dribbling from the corner of his mouth, but alive.
"He’s alright! Focus on the damn boss!" Erin barked sharply, noticing Jace’s head turn toward Kael for a split second.
"I hope you know what you’re about to do, newbie," Jace growled as they closed in on the beast. Finally, the ogre gave them its full attention.
"I just hope it works," Zen muttered under his breath as the hammer pulsed again, glowing with ominous heat. This time, four fireballs erupted in rapid succession, roaring toward the trio.
"Crap!" Erin hissed, springing into the air. She twisted mid-flight, narrowly dodging as the fireballs detonated behind her, blasting a gaping crater into the ground.
Jace, however, planted his feet, refusing to dodge. His eyes narrowed.
"The saying fight fire with fire doesn’t apply to me..." he muttered, water surging wildly around his blade. His grip tightened, gaze locked on the blazing projectile barreling toward him.
"So I’ll fight fire with water!"
With a roar, Jace swung his sword like a baseball bat, the water-imbued blade smashing into the fireball.
The impact sent tremors up his arms, the force overwhelming. His teeth clenched in pain as his boots screeched across the ground, dragging deep grooves into the dirt.
"I’ll never lose to a measly attack like this!" he bellowed. Water flared violently around his arms, forming a liquid gauntlet that doubled his strength. "I’m a Reaver!"
With one final cry, Jace twisted his body and whacked the fireball back toward the ogre—its speed doubling as it tore through the air.
CLICK!
The sound echoed. The ogre smirked and lazily waved its hammer. The fireball vanished instantly, erased from existence.
Jace froze, his chest heaving, his strength draining with every second of this prolonged fight. "What kind of monster are we even up against?!" he yelled, despair creeping into his tone.
The ogre didn’t relent. With frightening speed, it snapped its hammer back into its grip and swung it horizontally in a brutal arc—directly at Erin, who was still mid-air, icy sword raised for a downward strike.
"Fuck!" Erin’s heart sank as she realized she had no time to dodge. She grit her teeth and shouted, "Newbie! I think now’s your time to freaking shine!"
"Right on it!" Zen groaned as he leapt into the air, his hand stretched forward. "System! Activate the damn Soft Touch now! Jace, ready?"
{Skill Activated}
{Soft Touch is now in use. Time left for skill to be used: 55 seconds}
"Always ready." Jace replied. Despite his exhaustion, he grit his teeth and dashed toward the ogre’s massive body.
CLINK!
Zen’s fingertip brushed against the ogre’s hammer mid-swing. Instantly, the beast’s eyes widened. The cruel smile carved across its face vanished as its weapon, once unbearably heavy, became as light as a feather.
Caught off guard, the ogre lost its balance. Its enormous body lurched forward, struggling against its own momentum.
"Jace, now!" Zen roared. He sprinted along the hammer’s shaft as if it were a bridge, racing toward the beast’s looming head while Jace charged directly at its torso.
’Please, work!’ Zen prayed desperately. He vaulted off the hammer, aiming straight for the ogre’s face. Below, Jace launched upward, blade gleaming as he targeted the beast’s thick neck.
"Water Veil: Wheel of Death!" Jace cried. His sword carved through the air in a perfect arc, biting two inches into the ogre’s skin. Black blood seeped from the wound. At the same time, Zen drove his dagger with every ounce of strength toward the monster’s eye.
The ogre flinched, eyes widening at the dual assault. Jace’s strike landed true, but...
CRACK!
SHATTER!
Zen’s dagger splintered into dozens of shards against the ogre’s unyielding eyeball.
{Skill Soft Touch deactivated.}
{Skill has entered a cooldown.}
The notification blinked across Zen’s vision. Dread clamped down on his chest. The ogre’s hammer, its crushing weight restored, slammed into the earth to steady its falling frame.
Then, with terrifying speed, the beast wrenched the weapon upward in a fluid arc, aiming straight for Zen’s unprotected face.
"Shit! I’m... I’m de..."
BANG!
The hammer connected. Zen reflexively raised his hands, but the effort was useless. His bones cracked audibly as the colossal weapon smashed into him.
ZOOM!
His body was hurled across the chamber like a ragdoll, flung straight toward the glass case where Rina had hidden earlier.
{-30 HP}
{10/45 HP left}
CRASH!
SHATTER!
The case exploded into shards as Zen’s body collided with it. Rina shrieked, barely dodging the flying glass.
She stumbled back, eyes wide with horror as Zen crumpled among the wreckage, unmoving. Blood streamed down his face, one arm mangled beyond recognition.