The next morning, Ajax faced every monster that Skirk summoned. Hilichurls charged at him with primitive fury, only to be swiftly dealt with by his precise strikes. A Primo Geovishap emerged from the ground, roaring and sending tremors through the earth, but Ajax dodged its powerful tail swipe and countered with a series of quick, decisive blows.
No sooner had he felled the Geovishap than Whopperflowers burst from the ground, their petals sharp as knives and their attacks laced with venom. Ajax danced around them, slicing through their stems and reducing them to mere blossoms on the ground. Automatons clanked and whirred as they advanced, their mechanical precision a stark contrast to the organic chaos of the other monsters. Ajax weaved through their attacks, striking at their joints and circuits until they collapsed in heaps of scrap metal.
Ruin Sentinels, Geovishaps, and even an Eye of the Storm descended upon him in quick succession. The Sentinels' imposing forms and relentless attacks pushed him to his limits, but Ajax's determination never wavered. He exploited every opening, every momentary lapse in their defences, to strike with lethal accuracy. The Geovishaps' elemental attacks seared his skin, but he fought through the pain, channelling his anger into every blow.
The Hypostasis Types, shifting and reforming with each hit, required him to think on his feet, adapting his strategy to exploit their weaknesses. The Perpetual Mechanical Array presented an even greater challenge, its endless barrage of projectiles and constructs testing his endurance and reflexes. Ajax shattered each piece of the array with unrelenting force, his movements a blur of steel and fury.
Regisvines, with their massive forms and elemental assaults, forced him to constantly stay on the move, dodging their powerful strikes while finding moments to retaliate. Every encounter left him more battered and bruised, yet he refused to give in. Even as he took brief moments to catch his breath, an enemy would strike from the shadows, keeping him on edge and never allowing him a moment's respite.
Despite the countless wounds and injuries that marred his body, Ajax pressed on. His vision blurred with fatigue and pain, but his resolve remained unbroken. Each monster that fell before him was a testament to his strength and willpower. He knew that this relentless gauntlet was meant to break him, to push him beyond his limits, and he welcomed the challenge. For in this crucible of combat, Ajax was forging himself into a warrior unlike any other.
However, the relentless assault began to wear him down. His body ached, his wounds bled freely, and his mind teetered on the edge of hopelessness. There were moments when the pain became so overwhelming that he almost wished for an enemy to end it all with a final stab to his already battered body. But each time those dark thoughts crept in, memories of his family filled his mind—his parents' loving smiles, his siblings' laughter, the warmth of home.
These memories reignited his spirit. With renewed determination, Ajax pushed himself back onto his feet, refusing to succumb to despair. He fought not just for survival, but to honor the love and dreams of those who believed in him. In the face of overwhelming odds, Ajax stood his ground, ready to protect himself and the memories that gave him strength.
That night, he sat in front of a fire alone. The flickering flames cast shadows on his weary face, the warmth barely reaching the depths of his exhaustion. Staring deep into the fire, his mind ran wild with thoughts and regrets. He didn't want this. He just wanted to grow up normally, to live a life filled with simple joys and ordinary struggles. But instead, he was thrust into this relentless nightmare, fighting for his life against monstrous creatures.
Silent tears streamed down his cheeks, glistening in the firelight. He didn't make any noise, fearing it would attract more monsters lurking in the darkness. The weight of his burden pressed heavily on his shoulders, and he felt a profound loneliness that seemed to stretch into infinity.
