Chapter 14: Kaiju Attack? Oh, Who Takes the Throne

Chapter 14: Kaiju Attack? Oh, Who Takes the Throne

Axel shifted his gaze to the entrance he had used to enter the throne room. Now, there was nothing left of it but thin air, as though it had disappeared after leading him there. The once solid doorway was gone, leaving behind an eerie void. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks—there was no escape. Whoever orchestrated these trials had sealed his fate.

'That's fine. It's not like I was planning to run anyway.'

The low rumble of Doom's growl reverberated through the chamber, his fangs gleaming with malevolence as the dim light caught them. The colossal Kaiju spread its arms wide, muscles bulging grotesquely, and sprang forward with terrifying speed. The ground cracked beneath the immense weight of the beast as it lunged at Axel with a predatory gleam in its eyes.

But this time, Axel was ready. He tightened his grip on the hilt of his dagger, determination burning in his chest. He decided to take the initiative and attack Doom, hoping to force the monstrous creature into a retreat.

With a swift motion, Axel sliced the air, aiming for Doom's cranium, but the Kaiju was faster than he anticipated. Doom stopped abruptly, its massive frame shifting with unnerving agility, and stepped out of the way, leaving Axel's strike to cut through empty space. The sudden evasion left Axel overextended, an opening that Doom did not hesitate to exploit.

With a roar that shook the walls, Doom swung its massive fist, driving it into Axel's side with bone-crushing force. Axel was thrown across the room like a ragdoll, his body slamming into the stone floor with a sickening thud. Pain exploded in his ribs, and for a moment, his vision blurred from the impact.

Gritting his teeth, Axel grasped the point of impact, feeling the sharp sting of broken ribs. "No! Not yet!" he growled through clenched teeth. The pain was excruciating, but he refused to be defeated.

Axel forced himself to stand, his legs wobbling beneath him. The room seemed to spin as he struggled to find his balance, but he couldn't afford to show weakness. Not now. Not when his life depended on it.

**[Hp 6/10]**

The Kaiju let out an ear-piercing shriek that reverberated through the chamber, causing the very air to tremble. Its muscles bulged even more violently, veins pulsating with raw power as it prepared to launch another attack.

'Study its weak spots… just like humans. The joints—attack the space between its joints.'

Axel's mind raced as he made a small yet crucial realization. Doom's thick armor was nearly impenetrable, but where the armor plates met, there were gaps—small but exploitable. Seizing this newfound strategy, Axel decided to go on the offensive.

With a burst of adrenaline, Axel charged forward, determination blazing in his eyes. Doom's head jerked angrily, its eyes narrowing as it saw Axel coming. The Kaiju roared, its breath hot and foul as it swung a mighty punch downward, aiming to crush Axel's skull with a single blow.

But Axel was quicker. He ducked under the Kaiju's arm, the massive fist barely missing him, and with precision born of desperation, he drove his dagger into Doom's armpit. The blade pierced through the gap in the armor, sinking deep into the creature's flesh.

Doom shrieked in agony, the sound so loud it felt like it could shatter the very walls around them. Dark, viscous blood gushed from the wound, and Axel's heart pounded with grim satisfaction. He had found the Kaiju's weakness—the gaps in its armor were its Achilles' heel.

Doom reeled back, its massive hand flailing as it tried to dislodge Axel's dagger. The creature's blood spattered across the stone floor, hissing as it burned through the rock. But Axel wasn't done yet.

'I'm not done yet!'

Summoning all his strength, Axel twisted the blade deeper into Doom's flesh, determined to inflict as much damage as possible. But Doom's survival instincts kicked in. The Kaiju roared in fury and swung its massive elbow down at Axel, aiming to crush him into the ground.

Axel sidestepped quickly, barely avoiding the crushing blow. The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the floor, cracking the stone beneath it. Axel's heart raced as he realized how close he had come to being pulverized.

Axel planted his feet firmly on the ground, his muscles tense with anticipation. He knew he couldn't afford to let up now. He had to end this fight before Doom could recover. With both hands gripping his dagger, he lunged at Doom's face, aiming for the creature's eye socket—a direct, lethal strike.

But Doom's reflexes were sharp. The Kaiju jerked its head back just in time, and Axel's dagger barely grazed the thick skin, sending sparks flying as the blade skidded off the armor-like hide. The Kaiju's armor was too tough for a direct assault—Axel needed to find another weak spot.

'I need to attack another of its weak spots!'

Axel's mind raced as he recalibrated his strategy. He had to think fast. Doom was already recovering, and Axel knew he wouldn't get another chance if he failed now.

Gathering his resolve, Axel pulled back his hand and thrust his dagger at Doom's face once more. But this time, Doom was ready. The Kaiju's massive hand shot out, catching the dagger mid-thrust. Axel's eyes widened in shock as Doom's grip tightened, the immense pressure causing the dagger's blade to crack and shatter.

**[Doom's Rage has Evolved]**

A horrifying transformation began to take place. Doom's throat started to sizzle, a red-hot fume rising from deep within its gaping maw. The beast's throat turned a vivid blue, pulsating with a menacing energy. Axel's heart pounded as he realized what was coming.

Doom's jaw unhinged, and with a roar that split the air, a searing beam of blue energy shot forth, incinerating everything in its path. Axel barely managed to dive to the side, the intense heat singeing his skin even from a distance. The beam scorched the ground where he had been standing moments before, leaving nothing but molten rock in its wake.

'Shit… If I was hit by that, it would be the end of me. I have to end this—now.'

**[Your dagger has been destroyed by the Torch of Dominance]**

"Shit!" Axel cursed as he struggled to his feet. The loss of his weapon was a devastating blow, but he couldn't afford to dwell on it. Not now. Not with Doom still looming over him, its eyes burning with murderous intent.

Before Axel could fully recover, Doom's fist came crashing down again, slamming into his skull with a force that nearly knocked him unconscious. Axel's body hit the ground hard, pain radiating through his entire being. He groaned in agony, blood trickling from his mouth, but there was no time to give in to the pain.

'Damnit… I can't… let it end like this!'

Axel tried to push himself up, but Doom was relentless. The Kaiju's massive foot slammed down on his back, pinning him to the ground with crushing force. Axel gasped, the air driven from his lungs as the weight pressed him into the cold stone.

'I'm not… done yet!'

With sheer force of will, Axel pushed against the weight, his muscles trembling under the strain. He managed to roll out of the way just as Doom's foot came down again, narrowly avoiding being crushed. The ground where he had been moments before cracked under the impact, the stone splintering like glass.

**[Hp 3/10]**

Axel staggered to his feet, his vision swimming from the pain and exhaustion. He was weaponless, nearly broken, but not defeated. Summoning every ounce of strength left in him, he let out a roar of defiance.

"I won't lose to you, bastard!" Axel bellowed, adrenaline surging through his veins as he charged at Doom once more. The Kaiju's eyes widened in surprise at the sudden resurgence of energy, but it quickly reacted, swinging a massive fist toward Axel's head.

Axel ducked under the blow, weaving around the Kaiju's attacks with newfound agility. He knew he couldn't keep this up for long, but he had no choice. He had to find a way to bring the beast down.

As Axel closed in on Doom, he leaped forward, tackling the Kaiju with all his remaining strength. His arms wrapped around the beast's thick neck, his hands clamping down like a vice. Doom let out a roar of rage, thrashing violently as Axel squeezed tighter, cutting off its air supply.

"AHHHHHH-KAAAJAA!" Doom's roars turned to strangled gasps as Axel's grip tightened. The Kaiju's massive hands flailed, trying to grab Axel, but the angle was wrong—Doom couldn't reach him. The more it struggled, the harder Axel squeezed, pouring every ounce of his remaining strength into the chokehold.

But Doom wasn't done yet. In a desperate move, the Kaiju swung its clubbed tail, the thick appendage smashing into Axel's back with a sickening crack. Axel screamed in agony, the force of the blow nearly snapping his spine.

Axel's vision was fading, every breath a struggle as Doom's monstrous weight bore down on him. His hands were trembling, barely maintaining their grip around the Kaiju's thick, muscular neck. The impact against the wall had shattered it, and Axel could feel his consciousness slipping away. His HP had hit zero, and he was running on nothing but sheer determination.

'This can't be how it ends,' Axel thought, fighting the darkness creeping in at the edges of his vision. Just then, as if summoned by the depths of his despair, images of his family flashed before his eyes—their faces, their smiles, the moments that mattered most. The thought of never seeing them again ignited something deep within him.

"Not yet, you bastard!" Axel roared, his voice hoarse but filled with defiance. Doom's eyes widened in shock, his massive body frozen for just a moment as the human beneath him found an impossible reserve of strength. Axel's grip tightened, his muscles screaming in agony, but he refused to let go. Doom had thought he had already won, that this final crushing blow would end Axel's life. But he was wrong.

"I won't die! Not here, not now, not by your hand!" Axel's shout echoed through the ruined throne room as he pulled with everything he had left. His fingers dug deeper into Doom's thick neck, and suddenly, with a sickening crack, something gave way.

"Ugh?" Doom's face twisted in confusion as the strength drained from his body. His massive form slumped, his limbs going limp as the life faded from his eyes. Axel gasped for air, his hands finally releasing the Kaiju's neck as Doom's corpse toppled to the ground with a thunderous crash.

'I… I won…' The realization hit Axel like a wave, and he stumbled back, nearly falling to his knees. The battle was over. He had survived.

"I WON THE BATTLE, YOU ASSHOLE!" Axel shouted with all the strength he had left, his voice raw with emotion. The system notifications flooded his vision, but for the first time, they brought him a sense of relief rather than dread:

[You have killed the boss of your first trial]

[You have leveled up]

[You have leveled up]

[You have leveled up]

[Your HP has been replenished for Quest achievement]

[You Have gained one Pass to go back Home at the time you choose]

Axel's heart raced as he read the final notification. 'I'm finally… I'm finally free.' The realization that he had not only survived but gained a way home nearly brought him to tears. He had fought through impossible odds, faced death itself, and now, he had a chance to return to his family. Axel exhaled shakily, his hands still trembling as the adrenaline began to wear off. The pain in his body was intense, but it was nothing compared to the satisfaction of knowing he had won. With one final deep breath, Axel allowed himself a small, victorious smile.