As the dust settled, the figure atop the massive stone cross became clearer. He was an imposing man, his presence radiating a palpable aura of power.

  His head was decorated with short slick back, purple hair, and his piercing eyes seemed to bore into Isaac and Artist with cold intensity. His chiseled features were accentuated by a short, well-kept beard and runic tattoos covering the exposed skin along his arms, glowing with an eerie, pulsating light that matched the runes on the talismans wrapped around the cross.

  The man laid across the arms of the cross with a relaxed confidence, one leg casually draped over the other, his hands interlaced behind his head acting as a makeshift pillow. The air around him seemed to hum with energy, as if the very atmosphere acknowledged his presence.

  Isaac and Artist exchanged a quick glance, both realizing that this newcomer was not someone to be taken lightly.

  Artist's smirk grew wider, his excitement evident. "Well, well, looks like running isn’t an option anymore," he said, his voice tinged with mockery. "This just keeps getting better."

  Isaac, his feathers still shimmering with latent power, kept his gaze fixed on the man. "Can you be serious for one second," he murmured to Artist. "He clearly isn’t just some random hunter, and I’m not exactly at my best."

  The man atop the cross finally spoke, his voice deep and commanding. "You two have caused quite the commotion," he said, his tone carrying a hint of amusement. "But your little adventure ends here."

  Isaac, feeling the weight of the man's presence, readied himself for whatever was to come next. "Who are you?" he demanded, his voice steady despite the tension.

  The man smiled, a cold, calculating expression that sent a chill down Isaac's spine. "The weak are always so ignorant,” replied the man. “My name is Saint Verside, and I am the 12th division captain of the Kraken Guild. More recently, the end of your story."

  Isaac's eyes widened slightly at the revelation. His mind raced as he recalled his time with the Kraken Guild. He knew that there were fifteen Division Commanders in the Kraken Guild, each commanding significant respect and authority within the hierarchy. Outside the Kraken royalty, these captains held the highest position of power, making Saint Verside’s appearance even more daunting.

  Artist, however, remained as undeterred as ever, and laughed softly, the sound almost lost in the tension-filled air.

  "What’s with all this talking," Artist said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "I thought death was silent?"

  Verside's eyes narrowed, and the runic tattoos on his skin glowed brighter with power. "Arrogance will be your downfall," he replied, his voice cold and unwavering. "I’ll be sure to bless your tombstones."

  Artist’s eyes lit up with excitement, a manic grin spreading across his face. "That's more like it!" he yelled, the thrill of the challenge clear in his voice. Without a moment’s hesitation, he rushed toward Verside, his movements a blur of energy and intensity.

  Isaac, still reeling from the gravity of their situation, watched in horror as Artist charged forward.

  "Artist, come back!" he shouted, panic lacing his voice. He knew the danger Verside posed and that rushing in recklessly could be a fatal mistake.

  Verside’s eyes glinted with amusement as he watched Artist’s approach. "Fool," he muttered under his breath, readying himself for the clash. The runic tattoos on his body began to glow brighter.

  As Artist closed in, Verside flipped off the cross, landing on the ground with a heavy thud. His feet planted firmly, and with a swift, practiced motion, he gripped his weapon. His muscles bulged as he lifted it effortlessly and swung it overhead, slamming it into the ground.

  The earth shattered beneath the point of impact, creating a massive shockwave that threw Artist back, skidding on his feet, and sent Isaac sprawling.

  Artist, undeterred, recovered quickly from the shockwave, his eyes burning with excitement. He wiped a trickle of blood from his mouth and grinned even wider. "Is that all you’ve got?" he taunted, his voice dripping with excitement.

  Isaac, scrambling to his feet, saw Spunk clinging desperately to his hair, clearly terrified.

  "Artist, we can't do this, we can’t beat him!" Isaac shouted, trying to get through to the man.

  Verside, observing the chaos with a cold, calculating expression, took a step forward. "Your bravado is impressive," he said, his voice carrying a menacing calm. "But it will be your undoing."

  Isaac's mind raced as he assessed their options. They were outmatched, but they couldn’t afford to give up now. He needed a plan, and he needed it fast.

  “Damn!” Isaac cursed knowing his words would only reach deaf ears.

  With no other choice, Isaac reignited the phoenix flames within him and rushed forward. His body surged with mana as the fiery aura enveloped him, casting an ethereal glow around his form. The intense heat radiated off him, making the air shimmer.

  Artist, still burning with excitement, glanced back at Isaac and saw the flames erupting around him.

  "Looks like you’re finally catching a rhythm," he shouted, his voice tinged with approval.

  Verside, unfazed by the display of power, tightened his grip on his weapon, his runic tattoos glowing even brighter.

  “They hell are you supposed to be,” he questioned with disinterest. “Honestly, you kids are too much.”

  Unfazed, Verside met Isaac’s charge head-on, swinging his weapon with precision. Isaac dodged, his flames flaring as he narrowly avoided the deadly blow from scattering his skull across the ground. He then countered with a burst of fire missles, aiming to piece through Verside.

  Verside raised his hands and caught each one of the flaming projectiles, showing a disappointed glare toward Isaac as he threw the smoldering remains of his attack to the ground.

  "Pathetic," Verside muttered before then palming the stone cross in one hand and thrusting it forward with such force that the air around it screamed.

  Isaac barely had time to react before the massive weapon smashed directly into his chest.

  He felt his ribs buckle and crack under the immense pressure, the pain was excruciating as he was launched through the air.

  Isaac hit the ground hard, the impact knocking out whatever wind he had left in him as he skidded to a halt.

  Struggling to breathe as he fought through the pain, Isaac forced himself to stand. His flames flickered weakly, but his determination remained unbroken.

  "Not... over yet," he wheezed, his voice barely audible but filled with defiance.

  Raising his head from the ground, Isaac saw Artist challenging Verside, but before he could move to join the fight, the three Kraken hunters who had been all but forgotten leaped toward him.

  Isaac's eyes widened as he realized the immediate danger. Summoning what little strength he had left, he readied himself for their attack, his phoenix flames sparking to life again. The hunters descended upon him, weapons gleaming and eyes filled with malice.

  Isaac parried the first strike with a weak burst of flame, the impact sending a jolt of pain through his battered body. He stumbled back, narrowly avoiding a second blow aimed at his head. The third hunter lunged at him, but Isaac managed to roll out of the way, his movements sluggish but determined.

  "You think... this will stop me?" Isaac panted, his voice strained but defiant. He gathered his remaining energy, his flames growing brighter despite the pain wracking his body.

  The hunters circled him, sensing his weakness but also wary of his resolve. They moved in unison, coordinating their attacks to overwhelm him. Isaac fought back with everything he had, dodging and countering their strikes, his flames a flurry of defensive and offensive bursts.

  However, Isaac knew he couldn't hold out much longer. He needed to find a way to turn the tide, to reunite with Artist.

  As the hunters pressed their assault, Isaac's mind raced, searching for a strategy to kill them quickly.

  Then, an idea struck him. He still had unallocated stat points that he had been holding onto, and now seemed like the perfect time to use them. Quickly, Isaac opened his character sheet, hoping to allocate his newly earned stat points before the hunters could strike again.

  With the edge of their blades bearing down on him, Isaac frantically tried to place his points to boost his stats.

  If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  **********

  [Stats]

  [Str]: 13 (+7) {Confirm}

  [Dex]: 7 (+7) {Confirm}

  [Con]: 5 (+10) {Confirm}

  [Int]: 0 (+8)

  [Wis]: 0 (+5)

  [Cha]: 0 (+6)

  **********

  Time seemed to slow as he distributed the points, focusing on strength, agility, and endurance. The instant he confirmed the allocation, a surge of power coursed through his body.

  Isaac's muscles bulged as power surged through him. His vision sharpened, and his senses heightened.

  The hunters, sensing the sudden change in Isaac's aura, hesitated for a brief moment, giving him the opening he needed.

  With newfound power coursing through his veins, Isaac launched himself at the nearest hunter. His movements were sharp, far faster and more powerful than before. He delivered a devastating punch to the hunter's chest, sending him crashing into the ground with bone-crushing force.

  The second hunter lunged at Isaac, but he dodged effortlessly, his reflexes now razor-sharp. He countered with a flaming kick, his enhanced strength amplifying the impact. The hunter was thrown backward, his weapon clattering to the ground as he struggled to recover from the blow.

  The third hunter, seeing his comrades fall, tried to retreat, but Isaac was already upon him. With a swift, brutal strike, Isaac incapacitated the hunter, his enhanced physical strength leaving no room for resistance.

  As the last of the hunters fell, Isaac took a moment to catch his breath, his body still humming with the residual energy from his stat boost. He glanced over at Artist, who was still locked in combat with Saint Verside.

  Isaac knew he had to act fast.

  “Hang on, Artist,” Isaac muttered under his breath, his eyes fixed on the ongoing battle. “I'm coming.”

  Before Isaac rushed toward the two, he remembered something strange Artist had said before and thought to himself as he grabbed the straight sword from the leader of the Kraken hunters he defeated.

  "An appropriate weapon, huh? Well, you'll just have to make do!"

  Gripping the sword tightly, Isaac charged towards Verside and Artist. His newly enhanced abilities made him faster and more agile, allowing him to close the distance quickly.

  As he neared the fray, he saw Artist barely evading a powerful swing from Verside’s weapon, the ground shaking from the impact as it cut through the earth.

  Verside’s eyes flickered with a mixture of curiosity and amusement as he noticed Isaac’s approach. “You think a sword will make a difference?” Verside taunted, his voice dripping with disdain.

  Isaac didn’t respond with words. Instead, he let his actions speak for him. With a burst of speed, he lunged at Verside, the straight sword gleaming in the light. Verside raised his weapon to block, but the strike never came.

  Instead of attacking Verside, Isaac tossed the blade to Artist, who snatched it out of the air before spinning around to Verside's blindside.

  Artist’s movements were fluid and precise, yet still uncomfortable, his excitement palpable as he closed in on the unsuspecting Verside. With the sword in hand, Artist aimed for a vulnerable spot, exploiting the moment of surprise. The blade cut through the air, moments away from biting into Verside.

  Sensing the danger, Verside dropped his weapon and dodged underneath the swing. Sparks flew as the blade cut across the stone cross, creating a dazzling display of light. With the same fluid motion, Verside kicked Artist away, sending him sprawling across the ground.

  But in that same instant, Isaac saw his opportunity. His hands burned with phoenix flames, crackling with power. Channeling all his energy, Isaac launched a powerful strike directly at Verside.

  The attack landed with a searing impact, the intense flames engulfing Verside's body. The force of the blow sent him staggering, his runic tattoos flickering as he struggled to regain his balance.

  Isaac pressed the advantage, not giving Verside a moment to recover. With a fierce determination, he unleashed a barrage of fiery punches and kicks, each strike fueled by his enhanced strength and burning resolve.

  Though caught off guard, Verside fought back with tenacity. He blocked and parried Isaac's blows, his movements swift and calculated. The two combatants clashed in a whirlwind of fire and inked flesh, their battle lighting up the darkened surroundings.

  Seeing the opening, Artist flipped over Verside, leaving Spunk dangling from the strands of hair they clung to as their silent scream went unnoticed, and slashed downward at his head, forcing Verside to duck directly into an uppercut from Isaac.

  The impact of the blow was so powerful that it lifted Verside off his feet, his body momentarily suspended in the air.

  Seizing the moment, Artist followed up with a swift kick that flew over Isaac's head and into Verside’s midsection, sending him flying backward. Verside crashed into the ground, skidding across the dirt as he struggled to regain his footing.

  Isaac and Artist stood side by side, their breathing heavy but their resolve unwavering. Sparing a moment, the both of them shared a grin.

  Verside, battered and bruised, slowly rose to his feet, his eyes burning with a mixture of fury and grudging respect.

  "You've got spirit, and some power hiding behind that thin frame," Verside admitted, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. "But that won’t be enough to give you even the slightest chance against me!"

  With a wiry smile, Verside held out his exposed arms, his runic tattoos glowing brightly before swelling in size.

  The ink pooled before spilling onto the ground, creating a swirling vortex of dark energy. The tattoos began to pulse rhythmically, syncing with the very beat of Verside's heart, each pulse sending ripples of power through the air.

  Isaac tightened his grip, the flames around his fists flaring up in response to the new threat. Artist, still brandishing the straight sword, glanced at Isaac and nodded, a silent agreement passing between them.

  The ground around Verside began to tremble as the dark energy from his tattoos seeped into the earth, causing it to crack and splinter. The air grew thick with tension, the oppressive aura of Verside's power pressing down on them.

  "You think you can stand against the power of the Kraken Guild?" Verside taunted, his voice echoing with the amplified resonance of his power. "You are nothing but insects to be crushed underfoot."

  Isaac's flames roared to life, his resolve unbroken. "We'll see about that," he shot back, his eyes blazing with determination.

  With a feral grin, Verside leaned backwards as he spoke, “Runic Rite Number 1: Shadow Sory!”

  The runic tattoos on Verside's body flared with a sinister light, and with a quick motion, he summoned the stone cross to his side.

  He grabbed hold of it, the power radiating from the runes amplifying his strength. The air around him grew heavy with a dark energy that crackled like black lightning.

  Fear and urgency ignited within Isaac and Artist. Recognizing the imminent danger, they sprang into action, moving to close the distance and disrupt the ritual. But as they stepped forward, a powerful force pushed them back, preventing them from crossing the boundary of the rite.

  A notification window appeared before their eyes, glowing ominously:

  **********

  [[System Alert: Important Notification]

  [Ritual Barrier Detection]

  [Entry Denied]

  **********

  Isaac and Artist exchanged another quick, though this time very alarmed glance, realizing that they were cut off from Verside.

  Verside then began his second chant, his voice resonating with an eerie power. "Runic Rite Number 2: Abyssal Bind!"

  The ground beneath Isaac and Artist's feet began to shift and warp as dark tendrils of energy snaked out from the cracks, wrapping around their ankles and holding them in place. The more they struggled, the tighter the tendrils became, sapping their strength and slowing their movements.

  “Not this shit again!” Isaac hissed as he gritted his teeth, his flames flaring in defiance.

  “The fuck do you mean again?” Artist questioned.

  “Long story, not important right now!” replied Isaac.

  "Whatever, we need to break this barrier," Artist shouted to Isaac. "Focus on the runes!"

  Isaac, still struggling against the tendrils, shouted. "How– whatever! Got it! Let's tear this thing down."

  With a surge of determination, Isaac channeled his phoenix flames into his fists, the intense heat causing the tendrils to recoil slightly. He began to strike at the barrier, aiming for the glowing runes that powered it. Each punch sent waves of fiery energy rippling across the barrier, but it remained intact.

  Artist, wielding the straight sword, sliced through the tendrils effortlessly. "We need to hit them simultaneously!" he called out.

  Isaac nodded, understanding the plan. He focused his energy on one of the main runes, his fists blazing with intense heat. "On my count!" he yelled.

  Artist readied his blade, targeting another key rune. "Ready!"

  "Three... two... one... now!" Isaac shouted.

  They struck in unison, Isaac's fiery punch and Artist's stolen blade hitting the runes simultaneously. The combined force caused the barrier to flicker and waver before shattering. The tendrils loosened their grip, allowing them to escape the tendril's grasp.

  "Ha!" Isaac and Artist screamed simultaneously.

  Artist, in a fit of excitement, punched Isaac on the shoulder, a grin spreading across his face. "Not too bad for someone who fights like they were trained by a wild beast."

  Isaac smirked, as he responded, "That's because I was. And you're one to talk! You fight like you got trained by a damn ballerina!"

  Artist chuckled, the sound echoing through the now-quiet chamber. "That's because I was."

  They both paused, letting the weight of their admissions hang in the air for a moment before bursting into laughter, the shared relief warming the space around them.

  Just as Isaac and Artist began to celebrate their small victory, Verside once again began to chant. The dark energy around him intensified, and the ground quaked with the power he was summoning.

  "Runic Rite Number 3: Signature Weapon Icon Shift !" Verside's voice boomed, the runes on his body glowing even brighter as he channeled the dark energy around him into his stone cross.

  Artist, recognizing what was happening, cursed, "Oh fuck."

  Isaac questioned him, only for Artist to turn on his heels and scream with an ecstatic look on his face, "Run!"

  Isaac, confused by Artist’s expression, looked back at Verside only to see the stone cross transforming into a massive high-caliber rail gun. The weapon gleamed with a menacing light, and its size and power were utterly terrifying.

  "Run!" Artist repeated in a hushed voice, grabbing Isaac by the arm and pulling him away.

  The ground beneath them shook as Verside took aim, the rail gun humming with lethal energy. Isaac and Artist sprinted, their hearts pounding in their chests. The air around them crackled with electricity as the rail gun powered up, the barrel glowing a fierce blue.

  "There's no escaping this!" Verside roared, his voice echoing with dark glee. He pulled the trigger, and a deafening blast filled the air.

  A massive beam of energy shot from the rail gun, obliterating everything in its path. Isaac, acting quickly, activated his ember wings. He knew he could escape the blast, but Artist wouldn’t be able to evade the attack in time. Without hesitation, Isaac grabbed hold of Artist and, with all his strength, tossed him through the air.

  As Artist flew out of the blast’s path, Isaac faced the beam head-on, his wings flaring with brilliant light. The beam collided with Isaac, the force and heat overwhelming. Isaac's flames surged, creating a shield, but the intensity of the attack pushed him to his limits.

  "You idiot!" Artist screamed as he landed, watching in horror as the energy swallowed Isaac whole.