14.The Depth of Rage,The Rise of Power

Kai was already at his maximum speed, the world blurring around him as he sprinted toward the beast. His eyes caught movement—the black octopus breached the river's surface, its massive form slick and pulsing. Kai narrowed his eyes and slowed slightly, veering toward its right flank, trying to predict its next move.

Meanwhile, deep beneath the surface, Moon's eyes suddenly snapped open.

Blood leaked from a gash on his forehead, painting red streaks across his vision. But instead of pain, something strange coursed through him. A twisted thrill.

He began to laugh. Not the laugh of joy, but a maniacal, wild laughter—raw and unhinged.

"Hahaha... You filthy eight-legged freak! You want pain? Let's drown in it together!"

With sheer will, Moon began resisting the octopus's crushing grip. Inch by inch, muscle straining, he broke free. His laughter only grew louder as he seized one of the tentacles, and using it like a rope, hurled himself toward the surface.

As he neared the top, Moon burst his Electro element in every direction—energy surged through both his own body and the octopus'.

The agony was immense. His nerves screamed. But he grinned wider.

The octopus reeled, stunned from both the electricity and the force of being yanked out of the water. Moon didn't stop. As soon as the creature's head broke the surface, Moon slammed it back into the water. Again. And again.

"How does it feel?!" he roared. "To taste your own medicine?! Bitterness suits you, freak!"

Kai, watching from a distance, was stunned. "What the hell is this guy?!"

Moon's laughter echoed across the river, chilling and mad.

But in his rage, Moon had forgotten one thing—Violet.

She was still tangled, unconscious, in the octopus's grip.

Kai reacted instantly. In a blur, he dove into the water. With surgical precision, he sliced through the tentacle restraining her and caught her limp body in his arms, rushing her back to the bank.

Once he was sure she was safe, he turned back toward the river and charged again.

The octopus began regaining control. Realizing Violet was gone, it thrashed in fury. With a shriek-like screech, it shot a jet of water and slammed Moon deeper into the river.

Kai followed, slicing through the water, but the creature was already preparing to counter.

Tentacles whipped toward him, but Kai was ready. He moved like a phantom—slashing, dodging, and staying just out of reach. He slammed into the beast's body, aiming for its soft points.

Then suddenly—

Blackness.

A thick cloud of dark ink exploded from the octopus, engulfing the entire underwater area. Visibility dropped to zero.

On the surface, the others saw the water turn jet black.

Oliver's face paled. "That… that's not normal."

Lisa muttered, "This thing has to be a Fighter-level essence creature."

Violet, now conscious, began crying. "Because of me... they're both going to die…"

Nate stepped forward to console her, but James remained silent, his fists clenched.

"It's not just your fault," James finally said. "It's mine too. I suggested this damn river route. Thought it was safe. Look where that got us."

Violet stood, trembling. "We have to help them. We can't just wait—"

James snapped. "Help?! You think you'll help? They're already risking their lives for us. If we jump in, we become dead weight. You wanna help? Then don't distract them. Stay back!"

Violet's tears stopped. She clenched her fists and nodded. The others stayed silent.

---

Below, Moon realized his section of the water hadn't turned black yet. He burst toward the surface, gasping for air.

Reaching the bank in seconds, he ran straight to Oliver. "Give me your spear! Now!"

Oliver didn't hesitate. He tossed it. Moon caught it mid-air, his eyes serious now—no laughter, no madness. Just resolve.

He gripped the spear and ran back toward the inky river.

"Sorry, brother," he whispered before diving in.

Electricity rippled around his body as he unleashed another burst of his element.

The black octopus felt it.

It began retreating, trying to swim toward the far shore, but Moon followed like a demon possessed. The pain reawakened something feral in him.

Laughter returned. So did the curses.

His speed spiked past 600 m/s.

Kai, dazed underwater, watched as his brother zipped past like a bolt of lightning.

The octopus was struggling. Many of its tentacles were already severed, thanks to Kai's earlier assault. It couldn't maintain speed.

Moon's black tracksuit, now torn, flapped in the water. The top was gone, revealing his scarred torso. He gripped the spear tightly, channeling his electricity through it. He wasn't perfect at controlling it, but he was learning, adapting.

He jammed the spear into the beast again—another electric surge.

The octopus writhed but didn't die. Instead, it regenerated one of its arms and seized Moon mid-charge.

Still laughing, Moon tried to free himself.

The creature smashed him downward, slamming him into the rocky riverbed. Over and over.

Blood filled the water. Moon's vision blurred. Consciousness faded.

But his will didn't.

He fought to stay awake, grabbed the tentacle crushing him, and with a roar, pulled.

So hard, the octopus was forced to regenerate more limbs just to resist.

---

Kai finally regained full consciousness.

Burn marks covered his arms and chest—Moon's electricity had done a number on him, but he didn't care.

He swam out of the ink cloud, coughed, and looked around.

His eyes narrowed. He could feel it—Moon's presence, the fight still ongoing.

He moved.

No hesitation.

But seeing Kai coming to him again mo ster was feed up with these two brothers,

He closes his eyes, opens it again and his body starts to cover within black scales.

In a flash, he reached the octopus, just as it slammed Moon one final time and threw his limp body aside.

Kai's heart stopped for a second.

No… Not again, seeing how he slammed his tentacles on Moon , his fury overtook him , he felt weak this time, just how he felt when Ruok was torturing him and his brother, he truly felt like shit .

Then something awakened inside him .

As if something ancient within him had stirred, his pupils glowed—a brilliant blue.

A system prompt flashed:

Asphaleios Body Activated

Hydro Element Control Boosted (5% → 100%)

All stats increased for a limited time

Kai raised both arms.

The entire river shifted.

Water around them—nearly 50 kilometers worth—rose into the air.

A massive wall of water floated like a dome above the battlefield.

Kai vanished.

Reappearing above the octopus in a blink, he landed a punch straight into its face.

The beast flew back over 50 meters, crashing through water and rock.

Moon's eyes fluttered open.

A sonic boom echoed as he leapt into the air, but seeing there is no water on the surface and a huge chunk of water floating in the air .

But Moon can't change his speed between air and fall inside water which is hanging on air .

He fell back into the river but bounced off with sheer leg force, landing beside Kai.

Moon looked up—above them, the water still hovered, glowing faintly.

He was shocked by this , seeing this version Kai , Moon also started his maniacal laugh.

"Yo, Kai," he said, smirking. "Let's end this."

Kai extended his fist.

Moon met it, lightning dancing over his knuckles.

Together, they charged.

Both punched at the same time.

The octopus's scaled armor cracked.

They didn't stop.

Punch after punch rained down.

The beast couldn't fight back—its nerves were overwhelmed.

Finally, Moon jammed his spear into its chest and released every volt of electricity he had left.

The octopus gave one final screech before going still.

Its massive body , it's lifeless now .

The suspended water crashed back to earth.

Silence.

---

To be continued...