Atlas kept running, dodging with every ounce of strength he had whenever the wild elental particles around him began to shift.
In a state like this, he had completely switched into survival mode, alternating between analyzing the movents of the elental particles and relying purely on his instincts.
Every so often, he used his spear to probe for incoming attacks, testing the air for changes that signaled danger. At the very least, if a direct hit was imminent, he could position himself to avoid taking even more devastating damage.
Nearly an entire day had passed. All Atlas had been doing was running and dodging, over and over again.
He had been relentlessly targeting the monster’s ankle, hoping to reduce its mobility.
Atlas was certain he had struck that spot countless tis, but the monster’s enormous size and near-impenetrable defense made it feel like he was chipping away at a mountain. Progress was painstakingly slow and required endless repetition.
He just kept running, tirelessly evading the crushing blows aid at him. Yet, through sheer persistence, he started to notice the results of his attacks. The area around the monster’s ankle seed to be weakening, the force of its movents losing a fraction of their impact.
Atlas had also begun to pick up on the monster’s attack patterns. Based on its behavior, it was likely a troll or a giant. Probably more of a troll, judging by its approximate height, around 350 cm (11’6"). Its massive hands and the stone club it wielded only added to its overwhelming presence.
The real danger, however, was that stone club. One direct hit from that, and it would be over for him.
To avoid this, Atlas kept moving, spinning his spear as he ran to scatter waves of elental particles in every direction. These particles served as both a shield and a distraction, giving him precious seconds to dodge the troll’s relentless attacks.
Each ti there was a sudden movent, he would imdiately dart away to avoid it.
Once again, his body was hurled violently through the air. He tumbled, nearly losing his grip on his spear, but quickly repositioned himself. Another attack was coming. He could feel it.
Now!
The monster seed to be about to land another crushing blow, but Atlas reacted faster. With precision and speed, he pivoted sharply, dashing to the side just in ti to evade the attack.
In one fluid motion, he spun and launched his counterattack.
[Elite - Flurry of Spears Lv. 2]
His spear moved with blinding speed, delivering a rapid series of strikes to the monster’s target point. Atlas could feel the impact resonate through the weapon, his attacks had landed directly on their mark.
Without waiting, he retreated to another position, putting as much distance as possible between himself and the monster to avoid a direct counterstrike.
From the very beginning, Atlas had resolved to see this challenge through to the end. He wasn’t going to stop until he defeated his opponent.
That unshakable determination was exactly why he made the most of every opportunity, even in the heat of battle, to eat and drink from the supplies provided to him.
He reached down and grabbed the water bottle strapped to his waist. He jabbed the nozzle into a small port on his helt, one specifically designed for this very purpose.
The water flowed instantly, cool and refreshing as it slid down his throat.
Damn! It tasted amazing.
Even sothing as simple as water felt like a blessing when your body was screaming and drenched in sweat.
Next, he grabbed a handful of dried at. He had no choice but to eat, it wasn’t a luxury; it was survival. He was only human, after all. Without proper sustenance, his body wouldn’t be able to regenerate, and he could very well die from exhaustion.
"Alright," he muttered. "Back to it."
Renewed, Atlas moved faster, his strategy sharpening. He had practically mapped out the entire arena by now. He knew where to leap onto the hill walls, where to maneuver for cover, and most importantly, where the monster’s movents were concentrated.
Each ti he spun his spear and sent waves of elental particles radiating outwards, it wasn’t just an attack, it was a makeshift radar, allowing him to detect his opponent’s position and actions.
The tactic worked well, giving him a vital edge in this grueling battle.
Day two!
The troops could barely see what was happening anymore. Even as they trained harder than ever before, pushing their own limits day after day, they always ended up taking breaks. And every single ti they looked up during those monts of rest... Atlas was still fighting.
"It’s impossible," one of them muttered. "There’s no way a human can keep that up."
"Yeah, sure is impossible," another added quietly.
Edrik, standing nearby, responded calmly, without even looking away.
"It always seems impossible... until it’s done."
Lyrassa, standing beside him, nodded. "The Lord is constantly walking on the edge. And every ti he forces himself to go further... his capacity expands. It’s not just physical, his mind, his will, they’re being pushed to their absolute limits."
She exhaled softly, her voice lowering. "His ntal state is getting torn to pieces with training this harsh. Yet he still chooses to keep going."
Edrik gave a faint smile, his eyes steady. "Like I said, his ntal resilience is frightening. At his age, to have a will like that... it’s like he’s lived for centuries already."
Kurogasa, silent nearby, simply nodded in agreent.
The others listened in silence.
A few let out quiet whistles, others shook their heads in disbelief. They were watching sothing beyond talent. They were witnessing willpower incarnate!
Atlas now had a way to track how long he had been fighting, using the intervals between his water breaks as a makeshift tir. He was certain this marked the second day of his grueling battle.
One thing he couldn’t help but marvel at was how in the world he had managed to survive a prolonged fight like this without any real rest.
"Well, this isn’t exactly an easy fight."
He had to carefully manage his montum, timing when to unleash his skills and when to retreat, conserving his stamina for the monts that mattered most.
There!
He darted away once more, narrowly avoiding the monster’s attack. With precision born from experience, he countered swiftly.
[Elite - Flurry of Spears Lv. 2]
A direct hit!
This ti, the monster fell. Without wasting a second, Atlas dashed forward, targeting its face and neck with a rapid series of strikes.
Spinning his spear with deadly speed, he pressed the advantage. But the monster wasn’t finished yet, it swung at him, a retaliation that could crush him in an instant.
Atlas dodged, planting his spear firmly as he maneuvered to keep his position. Gritting his teeth, he aid for its face again, delivering several more strikes with relentless force.
He had dealt significant damage, but it still wasn’t enough. The cycle of attacks and dodges repeated endlessly, testing every ounce of his endurance.
Until, finally, on the third day, Atlas noticed sothing different. His opponent was beginning to falter.
Seizing the mont, Atlas leapt high into the air, landing squarely on the monster’s shoulder. It struggled to lift its massive stone club, giving Atlas the perfect opening.
With unrelenting force, he struck over and over again with his spear.
And then, finally, the monster collapsed, crashing heavily to the ground.
Atlas dropped to his knees, panting for breath. The sheer exhaustion of the battle weighed on him, but a faint smile crossed his face as realization set in.
He had won.
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