ath Fist Mountain, Luca, known as Larion, stood
epared to face the fearsome mythical creature
n, yet its jaw was that of a lion, lined wi
d a faceless man's countenance, boasted wolf-like
a scorpion, thrashed menacing
an arrow and let it fly, aiming t
n front, his shield raised as a bul
d, its jaws snapping danger
snake head and the scorpion tail, his sheer strength and unwa
mbling stone staircase, his eyes locked on th
e Core, the Manticore's p
ted away Lily's arrows, se
monster's relentless assaults powerful leap propelled it hig
ned just in time to witness the Mant
k, but the force of his evasion se
gly as it charged toward Larion, its massi
e staircase, the Manticore closed
is left arm, lifting him off the ground and
for its own taste of victory, poi
and mustered the strength to sever th
rs found their mark, piercing Grand's s
es as he watched his companion meet a brutal and
eir feet, sprinted towards L
torn apart Larion's left arm and now poised
remaining mana, his shield hurtling t
as "Tears of Mercy." A radiant aura enveloped all of his allies,
ntless bleed damage inflicted upon Larion,
nticore's attention shifted to its back, a
age compromised, the beast struggled
e, valiantly engaged the Manticore, his
t of powerful strikes, his sword clashing
resolve, buying precious seconds for Larion
urgent reminder jolted Larion back to reali
h his pocket, his trembling hands
d consumed its contents, feeling the surge o
rmer state, the insidious bleed damage p
sprinted up the crumbling staircase, her
as she neared the Flame Core, her ey
e fought ferociously against Two, slashing its claws and gna
ticore recognized the futility of reachin
ts throat, shaking the very
ir, causing debris-laden spik
, narrowly avoiding the cascading roc
's desperate fury
d began to crumble beneath Lily's feet, thre
arrow from her quiver, its tip coated in a st
eashed the arrow, its adhesive grip
e rope acting as a lifeline as the
e weight of falling debris, Lily maneuvered
the Flame Core to Larion, the one person who could
he descended the crumbling staircase,
to block her path, but she dodged and leaped with
injured arm still bleeding profusel
Lily's determinat
nning out, that Larion's
ily upon her shoulders, but she refus
the Flame Core to him, for only he posse
cularly large piece of debris struck Lily's
over. With a desperate lunge, she reached out her hand and released
ticore, was momentarily distracted by the s
its instinctual desire to protect the precious art
east's attack, grabbing hold of its scorpion tail and
Flame Core landed perfectl
gh his veins, filling him with
rion attached the flam
his specially crafted gauntlet, the two becoming on
s hand, flames dancing and fli
comed it, relishing in the raw p
ng through his veins, the pote
d of magic. Now it's my turn," Larion declared,
th great responsibility, and he was read
ent, a voice called out to him, a v
reserves depleted,
ze this opportunity, and had to
ted. Go! Now!" Two's voice reverberated in Larion's ears, a st
tion, Larion steeled hims
ing in his gauntlet, he kn
rmination, and the unwaver
es that awaited him, to embrace
odded resolutely, his eyes shi
falter, he wo
and, he stepped forward, ready to e
arion intensified, his mind rac
power to wield magic, but he had
d drew upon his vast experiences from pl
ns before, faced with powerful enem
put those ski
ins, Larion launched himself into the air, his bod
to slow down, every detail e
, turned its head towards the sudden movement
a perfect uppercut, his flaming gauntl
g through the air, the force of the blo
he air, a grotesque sight against t
s not fin
scent, he leaped once again, his hands o
ion, he gripped the tail tightly, his muscles
he monster back down to the ground, the i
ature deep within the crumbling ruin
Core and driven by his unwavering resolve, he descended upon the monster
ng the way, he aimed a devastat
ne filled the air as Lario
nsity of the blow causing the monster's skull to c
rections, a grotesque testament
upon the scene, Larion stood amidst the wr
ated, its once formidable prese
flesh and victory, a tangible reminder o
himself a moment to absorb the en
of magic, honed his instincts an
g with energy, was a tangible
educed to a lifeless heap amidst the crumbling ruins,
to crawl out from under the rubble
as Larion, his armless left side now burni
hem, the toll of the hard-foug
em moments ago now dissipated, le
der of the relentless intensity of th
was of th
ucture, now groaned and quaked,
to tremble in anticipation, urging
y, turned to Two and Larion, he
he implored, her voice barely a
llapsing. We can't affo
Larion nodded we
broken, could no long
defeated monster, the weight of his
s encroaching at the edges,
heart pounding with fea
a gasp escaped his lips, his ey
ruck out with one final act of defiance, landing
to the ground, his cons
sion, his senses dulled
his companions' voices, their urgent plea
body being lifted, the gentle ye
clung to the sound of their voices,
resolve, knowing that they would
succumbed to unconsciousness, his body car