Chapter 14

The air was heavy with the sharp smell of burnt rock and ash. The battlefield was strangely quiet, except for the faint crackle of dying flames. Laelar stood in the middle of the destruction, his chest rising and falling as he searched the scorched ground for any sign of Shaun. His heart pounded loudly, each second feeling like it dragged on forever.

"Shaun!" he called again, his voice rough and full of worry. "Where are you?!"

No reply came. The Grendel stood tall, ready to attack again. But Shaun—Shaun was nowhere to be found. Laelar's stomach twisted as the feeling of failure hit him hard. He had let Shaun down. Aldric would never forgive him for this.

"Damn it," Laelar muttered, kicking a burnt rock in frustration. "You fool. You reckless, stubborn fool."

Shaun rose from a nearby rubble like a storm brought to life. His torn clothes clung to him, shredded and burned by the destruction that had buried him moments ago. Bits of fabric hung loose, revealing bruised and bloodied skin underneath. Blood trickled down his face, drawing jagged lines through the dirt and dust smeared on him. His jaw was set with fierce determination, but it was his eyes that stood out the most—blazing with a fire so fierce it seemed to burn the air around him.

His chest rose and fell with heavy, uneven breaths. Each inhale felt like a battle against the weight of the rubble that had nearly crushed him. Each exhale was proof of the sheer strength that had forced him to claw his way free. His hands, scraped raw and bleeding from digging through the debris, shook as he stood. But the shaking wasn't weakness—it was the raw energy of his unstoppable fury.

The Grendel turned its head toward Shaun, its glowing yellow eyes narrowing as it let out a deep, rumbling growl. The ground shook under its weight as it shifted its attention from Laelar to the new threat in front of it.

Shaun didn't move. He stood tall, his bloody fists tight at his sides, his burning eyes fixed on the beast.

Laelar stared at Shaun, his mouth hanging open in shock. "Shaun…?" he whispered, his voice barely louder than the crackling flames. "You're alive…"

Shaun didn't respond. It was as if the rubble that had nearly buried him had only fueled his rage, turning him into something more than human.

The Grendel roared, its huge claws slicing through the air as it charged straight at Shaun. Laelar's heart pounded in fear. "Shaun, watch out!" he shouted.

But Shaun didn't budge. He stayed where he was, his eyes locked on the creature. At the very last second, he moved to the side so fast it didn't seem possible, and the Grendel's claws missed him by inches. Before the creature could react, Shaun swung his fist, hitting its side with such force that the ground seemed to shake.

The impact was earth-shaking. The Grendel stumbled, its massive body swaying as it let out a roar of pain. Laelar's eyes widened in shock. "What the…?"

Shaun didn't let up. His fists were starting to glow faintly, surrounded by a flickering aura of mana that sparked like lightning. Despite his injuries, his movements seemed to be enhanced. Every punch he landed echoed like thunder through the pass. The Grendel, once unstoppable, now seemed to struggle under Shaun's fierce attacks.

Shaun's next punch came quick and hard, his glowing fist slamming into the Grendel's chest. The air around the creature shimmered as its anti-magic shield activated, trying to block the attack. But this time, the shield failed. Shaun's mana-infused strike tore through the barrier like a hot knife through butter, the translucent shield shattering into fragments of light that dissipated into the air.

The Grendel roared in pain, its glowing scars flickering as the shield's failure left it vulnerable. Shaun didn't give it a chance to recover. He struck again, his fist slamming into the creature's side. The Grendel's tough, iron-like skin split under the force, tearing open with a horrible rip. Dark, thick blood sprayed into the air as the creature staggered back, its massive claws swinging wildly in panic.

Laelar watched in shock, his mouth hanging open. "How…?" he whispered, unable to believe what he was seeing. Shaun wasn't just surviving—he was destroying the Grendel.

Shaun's fists glowed even brighter, the crackling energy around them like a raging storm. The Grendel swung its massive arm, aiming to crush him, but Shaun ducked underneath and struck the creature's unprotected belly.

The anti-magic shield tried to activate again, but it couldn't stop him. Shaun's mana-powered punch smashed through the shield with ease and ripped into the Grendel's flesh, leaving a deep, gaping wound that oozed dark blood.

The creature screamed in pain, its glowing eyes growing dim as it staggered backward. Shaun didn't stop. He grabbed the Grendel's huge arm, his glowing, energy-filled hands gripping its tough skin. With a loud roar, he twisted hard. The sounds of ripping flesh and snapping muscles filled the air. Then, with a horrible tear, Shaun ripped the Grendel's arm off, and dark blood poured from the wound.

The creature fell to its knees, its one remaining arm clawing weakly at the ground to stay upright. Its glowing eyes flickered like a dying flame, and the once-unstoppable monster now looked broken and helpless. Shaun stood over it, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths, his fists still glowing as blood dripped from his hands.

For a moment, the world was still. Then, with a final, low groan, the Grendel collapsed, its massive body hitting the ground with a thunderous crash. The glowing scars across its form faded, leaving behind only the lifeless shell of what had once been a terrifying beast.

The golden light around Shaun flickered, the energy of his mana fading away like the last sparks of a fire. The bright glow in his eyes dimmed, leaving behind a tired, almost hollow expression. His fists, once full of power, now hung weakly at his sides as the last traces of mana vanished into the air.

As the rush of the adrenaline wore off, pain hit him all at once. Shaun stumbled, his legs giving out beneath him. He fell to one knee, gasping for breath. Every part of his body hurt—his ribs ached with every breath, his arms felt like they were burning, and his head pounded with a heavy pain. Blood ran down his face, dripping onto the burnt ground and mixing with the dirt.

Laelar ran to him, forgetting his own wounds as he saw Shaun's state. "Shaun!" he yelled, dropping down beside him. "Hey, don't you dare give up now! You're not dying on me after all that."

Shaun didn't answer right away. His vision blurred, and he felt like he might pass out from the pain and exhaustion. He tried to speak, but his voice came out rough and weak. "I… I'm fine."