Level-Up Apocalypse: Surviving With The Assimilation System

Cannonfire, spells, and a storm of bullets came from those who preferred to battle from a range, bringing the beastman to begin moving with rapid lunges, flipping around the colosseum. All the while it dodged, it swiped its blade, casting arcs of the blood vapor wildly through the arena.

Finn flipped around, sliding between the array of crimson slashes just as the beast crashed back down.

It was immediately confronted by a rush from both the crusher and monk; a palm struck its abdomen while a fist slammed against its snout.

["Tranquil Push"]

Isaak's well-centered thrust of his palm knocked the wind out of even the mighty beast.

["Skull Rattle"]

With glee behind the blow, Seung pushed his armored knuckles against the beastman's bloodied nose, knocking it back with a concussive strike that knocked its brain around its skull. As the colossal, furred berserker was sent stumbling back with a crooked stance, an assault of cannonfire and flaming magic befell it–BOOM.

Between the buildup of fire, the smoke and embers were cast away as blood-born slashes shrieked out in every direction. The beast thrashed, covered in burns and boils as it almost seemed to perform a chaotic dance.

"Behind me!" Jasper shouted, holding his shield up.

["Stance: Bulwark"]

Only Charlotte and Ember were able to get behind the knight's protective shield, leaving the others to endure the storm of scarlet evisceration.

The monk flexed his body, holding his arms out as he planted himself firmly down, not even attempting to protect his own flesh as he allowed the swarm of slashes to come.

"Haaah!--" Isaak shouted, bracing himself with his steel-like muscles.

Finn moved forward while jumping from side-to-side, using evasive maneuvers while using the rampage to draw closer. He wasn't alone in such a reckless strategy, as Seung moved forward with his gauntlets held up as a makeshift barrier.

The yell of Magnus could be heard from behind, "Get back, you idiots! Do you have a death wish?!"

Despite the warning, Finn ducked beneath a passing arc of scarlet, fixing his gaze right on the beast's head. He knew well enough his strikes wouldn't be sufficient in harming its incredibly tough body, aiming for a more susceptible spot:

["Blink Slash"] [2:59]

He brought himself right onto the beastman's head, plunging his dagger into its left eye without an ounce of mercy. It brought a halt to the flurry of blood-infused slashes as the beast let out an agonized howl.

Finn plucked his dagger out of the skewered eyeball, jumping off right as the crusher pushed forward with a radiant blow.

["Heavenly Strike"]

"Nice one!" Seung shouted his passing compliment while pushing his gauntlet right against the gut of the beast.

The pure strength behind Seung's impact threw the beast against the back of the colosseum. It tried immediately lunging forward in retaliation, losing all human grace as it ran on all fours like a mindless animal.

As the beast's gaze focused only on the crusher in the moment, it failed to notice the young woman who had invaded its space.

Charlotte swung her sword, empowering it with the swiftness and ferocity of lightning as the beast passed right by. One of the beast's hands was cleanly removed by the swipe, sending it recoiling before it jumped back.

For the first time, it showed fear as it placed space between itself and the survivors, only that the sparse amount of safety it believed itself to have was quickly met with a volley of cannonfire.

Magnus stepped closer, dripping with a mixture of sweat and blood, "Ember, right?! Release everything you have now! If we don't finish it here, we might not get another chance–!"

["Draco Beam"]

The condensed laser of magical energy shot out from the cannon, chasing at the limping, half-dead beast.

The nervous mage gulped down, speaking quiet gibberish for a moment before accepting her role, "Alright, Magnus…!"

A swirl of bright-blue flames encircled the young woman, bringing her bangs away from her resolved, amber eyes,

["Flight of The Everburning"]

From the wave of the mage's stave, the cobalt fire took the form of soaring birds, crashing into the beastman's position. Each of the elemental avians exploded into a display of red-hot fireworks, releasing a roar of flames that intertwined with the pained howls of the black-furred sword-wielder.

The rampant volley was aided by the maestro, who slammed his hammer to give artificial life to stationary railguns.

["Hellfire Atomizer"]

"Fire away!" Ramon shouted.

Each of the magic-born weapons of mechanical construction fired off pules of fiery energy, adding to the explosions.

The continuous barrage settled, leaving the others to rush the smoke-enveloped beast as it was left teetering by but a thread of life.

"Let's finish it–now!" Finn shouted while running in.

"Don't boss me around!" Seung yelled back.

As they all closed in, the billowing smoke was cast away as the bloodied, torn beast was revealed; its flesh was burnt and peeled, yet the ruthlessness embedded in its eyes did not fade.

A sinking feeling made itself known as Finn came to a stop, with Jasper and Charlotte doing the same with trust in his intuition. The same couldn't be said for Seung, though the reckless man was grabbed by the wrist.

Isaak gripped the crusher's hand, "Hold on! Something isn't right!"

The golden-haired, selfish fighter yanked his hand away, "The hell're you talking about?! It's just about de–"

At that moment, all words were squelched by what was felt in the air; a palpable bloodlust made itself known, as if they were already within the jaws of such a merciless beast.

Like erratic strands of electricity, the visceral blood lashed out at any that tried to draw closer, whipping through the sand.

All of the blood that leaked from the beast turned to a vibrant vapor, extending the reach of its accursed weapon into a twisted, uncanny form. It brought its stubbed arm to its weapon, letting the abundance of blood fuel the malice of the sword.

The primal creature that previously reverted to its beasthood now stood straight despite its many wounds, raising its sword in front of its body with a pose like that of a revered knight.

A single stride forward, the beast of grace spun itself around, carrying with its movement a wave of scarlet force. It rotated into an unruly tempest of blood; a storm of evisceration that expanded and stretched out.

What met the ears of those that remained in the colosseum was an ominous sound; a whistle in the wind that crescendoed, rising from a whisper to that of a raging cry.

"Get back!"

"Move!"

Finn moved back with the others, though as he watched the expanse of sharpened scarlet, it became clear that it would soon fill the entirety of the arena; a pit of death.

Against the wall, they each pressed their backs as all avenues of escape were sealed off within the accursed dome.

"What do we do?!" Ember asked.

The scarlet torrent inched closer and closer, leaving less than a third of the arena surface left.

"Shit…Any ideas?!" Ramon yelled.

"None!" Magnus shouted back.

Panic set in as they each watched the encroaching force of utter destruction grow closer by the second, causing a spray of sand to shoot outward constantly.

Finn stood there with bated breath, feeling the back against his wall as he glanced at the young woman at his side. As their eyes met, he couldn't find anything to say, finding his mind racing for any solution.

'Is this really how it ends? After all of this? That can't be right, can it?' He thought.

The dreadful stance taken by them all was disrupted as something changed; somebody stepped forward, approaching the beast's storm.

Finn watched the man in the fur coat stand just a few steps ahead, not knowing if he merely accepted death or sought to challenge the force that could not be fought.

"Isaak?" Magnus called out.

"The hell are you doing, idiot! You're gonna get turned into mincemeat!" Seung shouted.

Silence followed as the scar-layered man did not respond, only grasping the ivory cross that hung from his neck.

"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us sinners," Isaak calmly prayed, unflinching as the veil of death inched closer. "In the face of the end, I am unafraid. It is your guiding warmth that grants me strength. Oh, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, watch over me."

The prayer was finished as the stoic man crossed himself for one last blessing. It was an act that baffled those who watched.

"That guy, is he…" Finn mumbled, taking notice of what the man was doing.

"What is it? Finn?" Charlotte asked desperately, clinging to the wall.

As the beast's tempest approached, cutting through the entirety of the arena, bringing those helpless few to brace for it, the devout man remained firmly facing it.

Isaak spread his arms as if welcoming it, closing his eyes as he drew in a breath before parting his eyelids once more, cementing the unbreakable resolve he held.

The scarlet torrent arrived, reaching the farthest wall as Finn found his vision entirely consumed by the innumerable slashes.

Yet, he did not experience pain; not a single wound appeared on his body, even as he could feel the presence of the countless eviscerations. As he looked to his side, he found the same for the others, who were equally perplexed.

There was only one person who experienced the beast's wrath; the only one who did not look away.

["Solitude of The Martyr"]