Ryuta And Zodiac Ruins (3)

The warmth of the meal still lingered, but before anyone could speak further, the entire castle shook violently. Plates clattered, cups tipped over, and the grand hall's chandelier swayed dangerously.

BOOM!

A deep, echoing sound rumbled through the world, like something ancient had awakened.

The Zodiac Ruins shot to their feet, their instincts flaring. Ryuta immediately grabbed his sword as the tremors grew stronger.

"What the hell was that?" Orion muttered, his sharp eyes narrowing.

"We need to check it out—now!" Leonis commanded, already moving toward the doors.

Without hesitation, the group rushed outside, the castle doors flying open.

The sky outside was no longer calm—dark storm clouds swirled above, and the air felt heavy, charged with an unfamiliar energy. Then, from the horizon, a colossal figure emerged.

A giant, bearded elf towered over the land, his massive body covered in golden armor, his long silver beard flowing like a river. In his right hand, he clutched an enormous war hammer, its surface glowing with runes of ancient power.

His presence alone sent shockwaves through the very fabric of the world.

Zephyr took a step back. "That's not just an elf... That thing is a Titan-level being."

Aelius' eyes burned with excitement. "Tch. Good. It's been a while since I fought something this huge."

The giant's voice boomed, shaking the skies.

"WHO DARES ALTER THE COURSE OF FATE?"

His eyes locked onto Ryuta, as if he already knew the answer.

Ryuta felt an invisible pressure pressing against his chest, but he refused to falter. He tightened his grip on his sword and stepped forward.

"I don't know who you are, but if you're here to fight, then we'll give you one."

The Zodiac Ruins immediately activated their abilities—

Aelius' body ignited in flames, his fists burning like molten rock.

Leonis' golden aura flared, radiating the power of the sun itself.

Kael's shadowy venom seeped into the ground, ready to strike.

Orion's bow materialized, a glowing arrow of energy already drawn.

Zephyr raised his hand, and crackling water formed below.

And then—

Ryuta's voice rang out.

"Return to Life!"

A brilliant white light exploded from his body, engulfing him in pure energy. His hair turned white, his eyes shone like silver, and his sword pulsed with unstoppable divine force.

The battle was about to begin.

The moment of silence broke—all at once, Ryuta and the Zodiac Ruins lunged forward, their abilities flaring like stars in the darkened sky.

Aelius ignited his fists, each strike sending waves of searing heat.

Leonis slashed with burning golden light, his blade carving through the air like a sunbeam.

Kael weaved through the battlefield, her venomous strikes aimed at the elf's exposed areas.

Orion fired a relentless storm of arrows, each one glowing with wild energy.

Zephyr raised his hands, summoning a violent cyclone water below to disorient the massive enemy.

CLANG!

The giant's war hammer swung, releasing a shockwave so powerful it sent cracks splitting through the battlefield. The impact alone was enough to shake mountains.

"Tch—his hammer is too strong!" Aelius growled, leaping back before he was crushed.

The Titan Elf roared, his booming voice shaking the heavens. He swung the hammer once more, barely missing Orion, who barely dodged in time.

"That thing lands, and we're dead!" Zephyr shouted.

Ryuta charged in, his sword glowing.

"Heaven Slash!"

A massive crescent of energy erupted from his sword, streaking toward the giant. But—

CLANG!

The Elf raised his hammer and blocked the attack completely.

Ryuta's eyes narrowed.

Heaven Slash was a physical attack… that's why it didn't work.

He tightened his grip on his sword, his mind racing. The Elf could physically block their attacks, which meant brute force wouldn't be enough.

He needed something deeper.

Something that couldn't be blocked.

Ryuta closed his eyes for a moment, then took a deep breath. His entire body suddenly radiated an intense energy.

Then—his voice rang out.

"Return to Life: SOUL'S SLASH!"

His blade erupted with blinding white and neon-colored energy, unlike anything the others had seen before. The entire battlefield trembled as a colossal wave of glowing energy surged forward—

But this was different.

It wasn't just an attack.

It wasn't a physical slash.

It was an attack that targeted the soul itself.

The Zodiac Ruins watched in shock.

"What… is that power?" Kael whispered, eyes wide.

"That's not a normal sword technique," Orion muttered, gripping his bow.

The Soul's Slash surged forward, undeterred, unstoppable.

The **Elf raised his hammer again—**but this time, it passed right through.

Because this attack wasn't something he could block.

"GUAAAHHHHHH!"

The Elf let out a deafening roar as the Soul's Slash struck him directly, bypassing his physical form and tearing into his very essence.

For the first time, the Titan Elf staggered.

As the giant elf's body slowly faded into the wind, his roar of agony still echoed across the battlefield. Ryuta's Soul's Slash had struck true, ending the massive foe in a single decisive blow.

For a brief moment, the Zodiac Ruins stood in silence, watching the towering figure dissolve into glowing particles.

Then—Kael clicked her tongue.

"That was almost too easy," she muttered, her sharp eyes scanning the battlefield.

Leonis frowned. "You call that easy?" he scoffed, wiping sweat from his forehead.

But Ryuta didn't respond. His instincts screamed at him—something was still off.

Then—

A cold wind swept through the battlefield.

A presence loomed behind the fading giant elf.

The Zodiac Ruins turned sharply, eyes widening.

There they stood.

A group of five elves, each radiating overwhelming power. Their armor gleamed, their weapons hummed with elemental energy.

These weren't ordinary elves.

These were the strongest of their kind.

The Elite Elf Squad Appears

The Elf Knight – Cubi

Known as the Fastest Elf Knight, his lightning-infused sword crackled with raw energy. His golden eyes locked onto Ryuta, a smirk tugging at his lips.

The Elf Ranger – Zircon

A master marksman, wielding a Wind Bow that never missed. He lazily twirled an arrow between his fingers, his emerald green cloak billowing in the wind.

The Elf Necromancer – Sibiya

A Dark Elf cloaked in shadows, gripping a staff that pulsed with eerie magic. Her red eyes glowed with ancient knowledge, her presence sending chills through the air.

The Elf Tank – Phi

A giant of an elf, clad in golden armor that shimmered like the earth itself. He stood like a fortress, gripping an unbreakable Earth Shield.

The Elf Dragon Rider – Zen

A warrior in white, perched atop a massive ice dragon with frost-covered scales. His silver hair shimmered in the moonlight, his piercing blue eyes locked onto Ryuta with intrigue.

---

A tense silence fell over the battlefield.

Then—

"Well, well," Cubi stepped forward, resting his sword on his shoulder. "Guess that giant was just the warm-up."

"Hah," Zircon chuckled, knocking an arrow. "This just got interesting."

Sibiya's voice was calm but chilling. "You shouldn't have come here." Her shadow magic twisted in the air around her.

Phi remained silent, gripping his shield as the ground beneath him trembled.

And Zen simply stared down at Ryuta, his dragon's cold breath misting in the air.

Orion exhaled. "Here we go again."

Aelius grinned, flames flickering in his fists. "Now THIS is more like it."

Leonis cracked his knuckles. "Guess we're not done yet."

Ryuta tightened his grip on his sword.