Ston

  After leaving my team, I made my way to the castle’s main entrance. I began to see many soldiers wielding their weapons—swords, spears, bows and arrows—and finally, massive, muscular warriors carrying enormous battle axes. A heavy and sharp aura radiated from them.

  As I approached, I noticed several eyes glaring at me with disdain, but I didn’t care. My attention was drawn to a man clad in silver armor, his helmet featuring a narrow visor. A crimson cape draped over his back, and he carried a massive black axe. His deep, commanding voice rang out:

  "Boy, what are you doing here?"

  His voice carried authority, but I met his gaze without a hint of hesitation or fear. I replied,

  "What do you think? I came to fight."

  A mocking laugh escaped his lips.

  "You? With that body?"

  My tone sharpened with irritation.

  "My body is big, but is your brain just as big?"

  I heard whispers around us.

  "Boy, you’re messing with the wrong person."

  Then, a deep, resonant voice interrupted,

  "Julius, that’s enough."

  Silence fell over the area.

  Julius immediately straightened, his arrogance dissipating into submission and respect.

  "Understood, my king."

  I turned my gaze toward the king—a man in his forties with golden blonde hair and a well-groomed beard that gave him a regal presence. His deep blue eyes carried wisdom, and every word he spoke held weight.

  "Julius, leave this boy alone. He has proven himself. He and his companions have done what even we struggled to achieve."

  Julius, now completely obedient, responded,

  "Understood, my king."

  Then, Julius looked at me.

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  "Boy, what is your name?"

  I replied confidently,

  "You can call me Ston."

  "A fine name, boy."

  Minutes later, the army had assembled outside the castle. The frontline consisted of the axe-wielders—towering figures of raw strength. Behind them stood the swordsmen, clad in dark armor with their weapons sheathed at their waists. Further back were the spearmen, each holding metallic spears with blood-red, triangular tips.

  Julius’s deep voice echoed,

  "Boy, you’ll take position with us in the front row."

  I snapped back, irritated,

  "I told you, my name is Ston, not 'boy'!"

  Julius smirked.

  "Where is your weapon? Don’t tell me you’re going to fight with that metal rod?"

  Grinning, I placed the rod’s tip on the ground. The earth trembled slightly as I began absorbing the surrounding stone. Slowly, my weapon took form—a colossal hammer on one end, and on the other, a massive battle axe. I lifted it effortlessly and declared,

  "This is my weapon—Ruin Hammer."

  Julius, astonished, muttered,

  "That’s one fine weapon."

  Without hesitation, I shot back,

  "Don’t even dream about having it."

  The king’s commanding voice resonated from the castle walls,

  "Prepare for battle!"

  From his vantage point, he surveyed the battlefield. At his side stood archers, their bows ready. Before him stretched a vast green plain—soon to be painted red with blood.

  Then, a shadow emerged from the edge of the forest, 200 meters away.

  It was him—the Lich.

  Standing nearly two meters tall, his decayed body was a grotesque mix of rotting flesh and exposed bone. He held a staff topped with a violet orb, and his face was a horrifying sight—half skull, half decomposed flesh. His eye sockets were hollow, save for glowing green pupils surrounded by endless darkness.

  Raising his staff, he struck the ground, summoning over 150 monstrous creatures—while the castle’s army numbered only 70 fighters:

  50 soldiers wielding various weapons.

  20 archers.

  The king, with a few reserve troops inside the castle.

  The soldiers’ expressions hardened—there was no room for fear or jokes.

  The battle began.

  The monsters surged forward in a frenzy, their only goal being to slaughter the humans before them. I tensed my muscles as the air around me grew noticeably hotter.

  Glancing to my left, I noticed the axe-wielders' weapons glowing red-hot, infused with fire magic.

  Blades clashed against monstrous flesh, sending blood spraying through the air. The battlefield became a storm of steel, screams, and torn flesh. The creatures fought with savage abandon—Flame Wolves, Ice Scorpions, Frost Bears, Ghouls, and giant insects.

  Near the Lich stood four orcs:

  Three ice-element orcs.

  One fire-element orc, in pitiful condition—blind, missing an arm, barely standing.

  Even the ice orcs seemed worn down.

  Swinging my weapon, I cleaved through three ghouls, their green blood splattering across my body. An Ice Scorpion lunged at me, but on the open grass, it had nowhere to hide. I transformed my weapon into a hammer and brought it down in a crushing blow. The sound of shattering exoskeleton and cracking bones echoed through the battlefield.

  Swordsmen and spearmen took turns pushing back the creatures, trying to conserve their stamina. But we, on the frontlines, had no such luxury.

  Then, a pack of Flame Wolves circled around, disrupting the formation. The intensity of the battle escalated rapidly.

  A voice rang out from atop the castle wall:

  "Break formation! Kill them all!"

  Grinning, I muttered,

  "Finally! I’m free!"

  I lunged forward, kicking a ghoul aside and swinging my axe, cleaving through a cluster of monsters. Blood drenched the earth. The only sounds were the crunching of bones and the enraged shouts of warriors.

  Suddenly, a thunderous noise caught my attention. I turned—the Ice Orcs were charging toward the castle!

  "Damn it! That ugly Lich is smart—he’s been using his pawns to exhaust our troops, and now he’s sending in his real power!"

  The first to reach me was an Ice Orc wielding a club the size of a tree. I barely dodged his strike, countering with a powerful hammer blow. The sickening crack of breaking bones echoed, but the orc retaliated with a vicious swing. I barely managed to block, the impact forcing me back several steps. My hands trembled from the sheer force.

  "You damn oversized gorilla—I’ll show you hell!"

  Roaring, I charged at him with everything I had. Our weapons clashed, sending shockwaves through the battlefield.

  "No good—this brute doesn’t even feel pain! I need to finish this in one blow!"

  His icy club came crashing down—I wasn’t in a position to dodge.

  "Shit!"

  I braced myself for impact. But—

  A loud CLANG rang out beside me!

  Julius had blocked the Ice Orc’s weapon with his axe, his presence radiating an overwhelming aura. His weapon glowed with a fiery golden-red hue, and as it clashed with the Ice Orc’s club, the sheer force of their battle created a powerful shockwave.

  Julius shouted,

  "Finish him, boy!"

  Letting out a primal roar, I poured every ounce of strength into my next attack.

  At that moment, my weapon tore the Ice Orc’s body in two.

  My legs trembled from exhaustion, but before I could collapse, Julius caught me.

  "Well done, boy."

  Gritting my teeth, I growled,

  "My name is Ston!"