The air around the group crackled with tension as Stark, Sora, Shock, and Artist stood in the eerie street of Termina, facing the Moonscorched Inquisitor.
Its blackened robes fluttered with the unearthly energy that radiated from it, a bell in its single remaining hand.
Stark kept his gaze steady, watching the other participants closely.
The Inquisitor was a real threat, but the greater danger now lay in the ones standing beside him.
"Guess it's finally time to put on a show," Shock muttered, electricity flickering around his body like a second skin.
His eyes darted between the Inquisitor and Stark, the grin on his face widening.
Artist, as usual, remained eerily silent, his gaze lost in the void as if his mind was consumed by something else entirely.
His paintbrushes, which seemed to materialize out of thin air, floated lazily by his side, dripping with vibrant, shifting colors.
Sora said nothing, her vines subtly twitching, ready to strike at a moment's notice.
Her eyes remained locked on the Inquisitor, but Stark knew she was just as aware of the others as he was.
It was Shock who spoke first. "Look, we all know we want the reward. But that thing's no joke." He pointed at the Inquisitor. "How about we form a temporary alliance? Just long enough to wipe out that thing."
"Temporary alliance, huh?" Stark said, his tone flat.
His eyes flickered to Artist, who still hadn't spoken.
Sora remained silent as well, but she gave a small nod, acknowledging the necessity of teamwork.
At least, for now.
Before they could finalize any agreement, the Inquisitor's bell rang—a sharp, haunting sound that cut through the air like a blade.
The street trembled, and from the shadows, five grotesque, three-headed beasts materialized, their monstrous forms twisting and writhing with malice.
[Three-Headed Beast - Level 550]
The same monsters he and Sora struggled against.
The monsters were vicious, relentless, but they weren't his immediate concern.
He needed to know who he was fighting alongside—or more accurately, against.
He turned his gaze toward the others then used [Perception].
The first one he used was against Sora since he hadn't done that since a while back.
...
[Name: Sora]
[Level: 109]
[Class: Domination; Plant Princess]
[HP: 153,000]
[Strength: 18,728]
[Stamina: 17,201]
[Speed: 16,472]
[Defense: 15,983]
[Skills: Domination, Flower Analysis, Radiance, Elements of Nature, Vine Surge, Pollen Bombs, The Flaming Rose, Regenerative Drop, Nature Distortion, Flower Barrier, The White Jade (Mythical), Evergreen Resilience, Petrification, Vine Barrier, Vine Smash, Carnivorous Plant, The Flower of Hope (Godly), Flora-Guns (Mythical), The Birth of a Star (Godly), Vine Transformation (Godly)...]
...
He already knew Sora's capabilities, but it was good to have a reminder.
Then, his eyes shifted to Shock, and his [Perception] skill activated once more.
...
[Name: Shock]
[Level: 127]
[Class: Domination; Electric Overlord]
[HP: 205,000]
[Strength: 20,742]
[Stamina: 19,991]
[Speed: 22,183]
[Defense: 17,632]
[Skills: Domination; Thunderclap, Lightning Flash, Electric Surge, Stormcaller (Mythical), Thunder Prison, Overload, Shockwave (Godly), Static Discharge, Arc Lightning, Volt Burst, Thunder Crash, Chain Lightning, Thunder Blitz, Lightning Blade, Electrocution, Surge Barrier, Ion Pulse (Mythical), Electromagnetic Field (Godly)...]
...
Shock was even more dangerous than Sora in sheer offensive power.
That much was clear.
-474,390! -501,238!
Artist remained oddly distant, his brush strokes growing more frantic.
Stark noticed that his abilities were subtly shifting the battlefield—colors bled into reality, warping the space around them.
The beasts would step forward only to be thrown off balance by what looked like nothing more than a splatter of paint.
But the Inquisitor wasn't idle.
Its bell rang out again, and with it came a wave of curses. Enjoy exclusive chapters from мѵʟ
Stark felt a cold shiver run through his body as the curses took hold.
[Cursed: Attack Power Reduced by 20%]
[Cursed: Movement Speed Reduced by 10%]
"Great," Stark muttered, his strength sapped by the curse.
The Inquisitor let out a hollow laugh, but before it could ring the bell again, Stark summoned his [Spear of Judgment] and launched it directly at the cursed figure.
The spear tore through the air, but the Inquisitor's bell rang once more, and the beasts surged forward, taking the blows meant for their master.
-1,193,928!
It killed three of them, but at least the inquisitor wasn't hit.
"Damn it!" Stark cursed, but he wasn't done yet.
He activated [Aura Smash], summoning five crimson fists that launched in rapid succession at the Inquisitor.
-145,892
-153,731
-149,321
The Inquisitor staggered but didn't fall.
It retaliated, swinging its bell in a wide arc that unleashed a wave of dark energy.
Sora barely dodged it, and Artist erected a shimmering canvas barrier just in time.
Shock wasn't as lucky.
He took the hit head-on.
[You have been moonscorched.]
But instead of retreating, he smiled. "That all you got?" With a roar, he unleashed [Chain Lightning], his body crackling with raw power as arcs of electricity jumped from him to the surrounding beasts.
-318,294!
-344,281!
-332,180!
The two beasts shrieked in pain, but none of them fell.
Stark, however, had seen enough.
Throwing another [Crimson Ball] into the air, he snapped his fingers and teleported directly behind the Inquisitor.
Without hesitation, he summoned [Asura's Arms] to summon four additional arms.
Crimson energy erupted around him in a violent whirlwind as he smashed ground with all 6 of his arms.
The energy smashed them into the ground, dealing devastating damage.
-789,482!
-823,193!
All creatures were now dead as the others also dealt damage.
The Inquisitor's bell slipped from its hand, clattering to the ground, but it wasn't done yet.
It raised its head, grinning beneath its mask, and slowly reached for the bell again.
"Not today!" Stark roared, summoning his [Crimson Spears] and aiming for the creature's hand.
Just as he was about to land the final blow, the Inquisitor raised the bell one last time, shaking it violently.
"THE ULTIMATE SUMMON!"
The ground trembled, and a massive, horrifying presence began to manifest in the sky above all of them.
"What the..."
"Huh."
Even the participants that were far could see it.
[Summoning Chaugnar...]
The battle was far from over.