Chapter 04: Cyclops - Part 1

The environment was silent and all that could be heard inside the cave were the crackling of the fire and the heavy breathing of the creature.

Everyone in Max's group was wide-eyed and transfixed as they stared at the monster blocking the cave's exit.

The presence of the cyclops forced a fear in the young people who thought that facing that creature was madness.

They remained motionless as the creature breathed heavily and stared at them blankly as if its hateful expression spoke for itself.

None of them could move, until Max slowly turned around with his eyes still wide, seeing the monster as he slowly extended his hand towards the axe.

Even if he saw it, the monster showed no reaction, it just took a deep breath and let out a breath that echoed like a monstrous growl, making Johnny widen his eyes and emit a moan of fright.

The silence had been broken and the monster took the hammer with both hands while Max took his ax still scared.

The creature roared and the sound emitted from the walls, shaking its stalactites, making the adventuring team feel fear as Johnny quickly pulled his bombs still shaking.

But then he heard a scream.

"DO NOT USE."

Johnny froze as he saw running with his heavy steps towards the group while Max got up with the ax in hand, running against the monster.

The cyclops already raised his hammer and struck horizontally, Max widened his eyes and blocked with the ax on the side.

However, the monster's strength was greater and soon the ax was thrust into the boy's body, which together with the hammer pushed him, throwing him against the cave wall.

Max slammed his back against the stones, his eyes widening as he sank into the wall and spit bloody spittle, landing on his feet on the floor feeling his strength fail.

He looked surprised and disbelieving the strength of the monster, but soon saw the cyclops again advancing with the raised hammer.

Soon the axeman clenched his teeth as his eyes glowed orange and the hammer came down violently.

Max's speed was greater and he managed to propel himself to the side of the creature, dodging the blow that hit the ground and sank the hammer.

Seeing that the monster's arm was outstretched, his eyes still glowing, Max turned his body and slashed at the cyclops' arm with his axe.

By using the aura, the weapon again glowed and sank into the creature's forearm, but stopped halfway through feeling it hit something as resistant as iron.

Max's eyes widened in surprise, seeing that the weapon had not cut as much as it should and even if he tried, he soon realized that the ax was stuck.

The boy looked scared and saw the fist of the cyclops rise.

But before he could strike, the axman heard the wind being ripped and an arrow hit the cyclops' neck, who looked expressionless.

A scream was heard behind Max who saw Johnny pass with his eyes glowing green as he had his spear pointed and running quickly towards the creature.

The monster's arm remained immobile and the spear entered the monster's waist, piercing and making a dry noise.

Johnny grunted as he tried to thrust the spear even deeper and Max looked on in surprise as Johnny said.

"You are not alone!"

The spearman spoke with a smile and Max was still surprised as he showed a slight smile;

However, before he could answer, a huge fist hit the axman squarely, making his head tilt slightly to the side while his face was disfigured by the blow.

Max was hit and flew backwards still with the ax in hand, falling to the ground while still sliding under the power of the blow.

His eyes were wide open and he fell with no air in his lungs, shaking from the power of the blow and with his bright eyes already going out.

Karen and Johnny widened their eyes in unison, but soon the spearman felt his weapon being grabbed by an inexplicable force.

He looked slowly forward and saw that the Cyclops' free hand was holding his spear as he looked at him removing the hammer from the ground.

Max felt his senses slowly coming back as he tried to get up.

His sight shook and he felt the pain of the blow as his mouth bled.

His whole body was shaking and he tried to look in the direction of the cyclops, but as soon as he turned his eyes, he saw Johnny flying while leaving a trail of blood, being thrown into the wall that sank by the force with which the spearman was thrown.

The axeman's eyes widened and he saw Johnny with a devastated expression as he stood on the wall, his chest seemed sunken while his mouth was drenched in blood.

Gradually the spearman's body fell face down on the ground, only shaking showing that he couldn't even react anymore.

Karen saw that and was paralyzed, letting the arrow slip from her fingers, falling to the ground as her legs shook and her terrified expression looked at the cyclops.

Max could see that the blow had been delivered by that iron hammer that was now being held with only one hand.

Still feeling the pain in his body, Max forced his body to stand up while looking at the monster that was standing there looking as if it hadn't suffered any damage, despite its arm bleeding to the point of dripping.

With difficulty, Max got to his feet and spoke.

"Karen!... I need help..."

He spoke without looking back, but heard only grunts coming from the archer who remained motionless and terrified seeing the creature, but soon the axman screamed.

"KAREN!"

The archer heard the scream and widened her eyes, seeing that Max was panting and with the ax in hand as the monster approached.

He looked like he needed help and she pulled out another arrow even though she was still shaking as she held it.

Seeing that, even though he noticed the archer's nervousness, Max took his hand to his neck where it hurt and smiled speaking.

"I won't be able to beat him alone, let's get this animal out of the way and take care of Johnny..."

Gradually the archer's hands shook less and she looked still terrified, but confirmed with her head as she returned to aim at the creature.

The monster continued to advance slowly again Max took a deep breath, reigniting the orange glow in his eyes as he thought.

'We need to get him out of here...'

This time, the axeman held his weapon with both hands while squeezing the hilt tightly.

The instant the monster took another step, Max charged forward.

The axman ran trying to get around the monster so he could draw attention only to him and saw the cyclops turn his eye slowly towards him.

Again the monster raised his hand, but unlike before, he tried to reach the axman so he could grab it.

But soon an arrow imbued with wind cut the air and hit the jaw of the creature that looked to the side looking for what had hit it.

He saw the archer with her eyes shining yellow, still with a nervous expression, but soon the cyclops saw the axman jump towards the wall.

Still with his eyes shining and his feet on the wall, he jumped again and dodged the hand that tried to grab him, heading towards the monster's injured forearm.

With the fall, Max raised the ax upwards, which was soon enveloped in its orange aura.

Again the ax came down violently towards the creature's arm, by force and speed, the ax even seemed to leave behind an orange trace.

So the blow hit the monster's wound, piercing easily, but again Max felt his weapon hit something hard and resistant that made even his ax shake, as if it had hit pure iron, making his hands shake.

The cyclops soon saw the fighter within reach and again moved his other hand to try to grab him, but soon Max tightened the handle of the ax and screamed.

"GAAAAH!"

The whole ax now seemed to be enveloped by the orange aura of the boy who tried to push the ax with all his strength, realizing that he was fighting against the creature's bones.

Quickly his aura ignited and he clenched his teeth, doing as much strength as he could while his veins jumped all over his body.

Gradually he felt that he was winning the confrontation, until with one last impulse, he took a deep breath and struck another cut against the monster's bone.

This time the blow went through with speed and shattered the monster's bone, ripping its arm off and making the ax hit the ground at the same time as the severed limb fell.

Max widened his bright eyes still surprised as he thought.

'I cut?'

He gave a slight smile and turned around ready to see the monster's pained face.

However, the cyclops remained expressionless and surprised Max, who quickly undid his smile when he felt that he had been grabbed by a gigantic hand.

In his mind the axeman wondered,

'H-How?'

Until he felt an overwhelming pressure tighten his body, making him widen his eyes and again spit blood.

That creature's strength seemed to be able to crush all of Max's insides just in that grip and he felt his bones crunch, making the axman raise his head and scream.

"GAAAAAAAH!"

Seeing that, Karen's eyes widened, still terrified, and she began to shoot arrows frantically in an attempt to free her partner, but they all missed while Max screamed and felt his consciousness slip away.

He saw only the monster staring at him still expressionless as his vision slowly darkened.

All he saw was the coldness of the monster staring at him as he agonized in pain, it seemed to be the end and he barely saw the surroundings, seeing only something climb on the cyclops shoulder.

As he wondered if this was real, all he heard was someone talking.

"Swallow this..."

Soon the shadow pulled something shiny like a blade, leaving it aimed at the monster's neck and piercing, making blood spurt violently.

In an instant, Max felt the pressure of the grip ease and be released, as he widened his eyes and saw that the hand was now going towards the shadow.

However, the shadow jumped as it spun in the air, dodging the hand and as it descended, a quick kick was launched in the direction of the monster's eye, which was still looking without showing any reaction, but soon a trace of blood was drawn on its face and on its neck. eye, which turned completely red.

Feeling its sense of sight being lost, the creature screamed in despair and began to move, hitting the walls of the cave in despair.

The shadow stopped next to Max, who looking at his foot, saw a blade on the back of the boot, making him look surprised.

Until the shadow turned, revealing the same blue-haired boy as before, his eyes glowing bright blue as he held a dagger.

he asked.

"Are you okay?"