It stood there, watching us, looking as if it had contempt in its sinister glowing blood-red eyes. It was a great beast that had a body similar to a wolf standing on all fours but with massive muscular forelegs. Its body was huge, reaching over 15 meters in length, and it stood proudly at a height of over 3 meters.

Covered in silver scales and ash colored fur, it had the uncanny resemblance to a certain large wolf monster covered in dragon scales I hunted in a 4-player video game I used to play with friends on a handheld.

The pointed ears on its head looks like sharp horns, and its face was a cross between wolfish and reptilian.

That’s not all, the pressure it was emitting appears to command respect from all creatures before it – the aura of a king.

Everyone was stunned in fear except for me who was stunned for a different reason. It looked friggin cool!

“I don’t believe this… never would I have ever imagined that this creature actually exists…”

“What is it Ellen? As far as I know, Monster Lords can only be born from and command monsters within their species, yet this is something we’ve never seen before but is able to command all the monsters here.”

“You’re right. That would normally be the case… but this thing is different… it’s a creature that’s said to possess the blood of dragons that rules all lesser beasts and is in the form of a great wolf… the legendary Wyrmwolf King!”

Wyrmwolf King? Sounds kinda weird in my opinion, but wait… did she just say it has dragon blood?

“But I can’t be too sure… in the tales passed from the savage lands of the west, it’s supposed to possess green scales and golden fur, but this one has silver scales and ash fur… it’s either a subspecies or a mutant, but no matter what we can’t let our guards down!”

“What’s a beast out of legend doing here and acting as a Monster Lord? Aren’t you probably mistaking it for something else, Ellen?”

“… In all honesty, I seriously hope I am Angie, but after seeing how it’s controlling all the monster species here and how the old Orc I heard it from described it, I can’t imagine this thing as anything else.”

“Um… guys… shouldn’t we um… think of a way to escape?”

“… it comes.”

Just as Alma pointed out, the beast started moving towards us. The monsters around became afraid and the huge sea of beasts got out of its way, creating a path just like how Moses parted the sea. As if it knew there was no way for us to run, it walked in a majestic manner as if a ruler that took its time to look down on everything before it.

I have to admit, the way this thing is looking at us is really annoying me. I wonder how much longer my patience will last? Thanks to my dragon heredity, my control over my temper isn’t what it used to be.

As it got close enough to be dealt with a preemptive strike, Angela was the first to get impatient.

“Come on Ellen! One good shot is all I need! I’m already a Reaver Adept, so you should know full well how powerful my magic is!”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea, Angie. We still don’t how powerful this thing is, and I don’t think the other monsters will sit idly once we go attack first.”

“Does it even matter in this situation? We’re surrounded! If that thing gets here, then we’ll be pressured by it along with the wave of monsters! But if we take it out first, then the monsters will naturally scatter! This isn’t the first Monster Lord we’ve dealt with before!”

Ellen was still unsure. While what Angela said was correct, she somehow felt that the thing before them was nothing compared to what they’ve faced in the past. It was a baseless feeling, but after many years of being an Adventurer, her instincts are somehow telling her that they could not win against the thing before them… But it doesn’t mean she’ll just stand there and let it have its way with them…

“Ellen!”

“… All right then. Everyone to positions! Dust, Greg! Go at it from the sides and keep it off balance! Alma, aim for its eyes and keep it distracted as much as you can! Ren, assist Alma and when you find an opportunity, go for it! But be careful! Sil, we need speed and offense, so prioritize those buffs! Angie, let us know when you’ve finished charging your spell! Camus, Glenn, protect Silvi and Angela!”

True to her status as party leader, Ellen fired off orders despite the pressure our friend over there is giving off. And when that thing was only over 10 meters away…

“Now!”

Just as Silvi finished her chant, the vanguard charged at it on Ellen’s command with her at the center. Dustin and Gregor went around to strike it from the sides aiming for its hind legs. Alma fired off many arrows mostly aiming for its head, while Lawrence kept flinging rocks at it with a sling. The monsters surrounding us were suspiciously not moving, but Glenn and I kept our guard up.

As the team and the Lord clashed, the most surprising thing happened that you wouldn't expect from a party that was easily slaughtering the wave of monsters earlier. To describe it… it was basically a one-sided beatdown.

As Dustin and Gregor aimed for its hind legs, its wide scaled fan-like tail swatted them away in the blink of an eye like they were flies. Alma’s arrows were doing nothing to it and simply broke upon hitting its face, let alone Lawrence’s rocks. As Ellen swung down her hammer, it simply blocked it with the back its foreclaw, and a loud clanging sound echoed around like a powerful blunt force struck metal.

She was shocked of course, but she soon jumped back to take distance as she heard Angela’s cry.

“Everyone, get back! … Incinerate all with the flame of heaven, [Vermillion Bolt]!”

Suddenly, a dark cloud that swirled into a spiral appeared in the sky. It then opened at the center as a bright orange-red bolt of lightning as thick as a drum can struck down from the sky onto the beast.

*BOOM*

With an ear-splitting explosion, the bolt crashed into the ground directly where the Monster Lord stood creating a storm of heat and dust. It looks really flashy and powerful, so I wonder if I could take on something like that?

Everyone was anxious; after all, that was their attack with the greatest firepower, and no one likes to see it not working on something that is about to kill you. Sadly though… if the party still had their wits about them, they’d have noticed that none of the monsters surrounding us had left.

“… ! It can’t be!!”

As the dust cleared, it stood there without so much as a scratch on it as it snorted as if in mockery at the idea it could be harmed. As if that was the signal, the monsters regained their spirits and resumed their attacks.

“… It really does have dragon blood… everyone, breakthrough and head for the exit! I’ll try to buy some time!”

I’m not sure why having dragon blood means it wasn’t hurt, but as Ellen said that, I think it’s time I took things into my own hands.

As I was thinking that, Ellen already charged ahead and activated her unique skill, {Juggernaut}. Her muscles rippled with power as steam rose from her body. Her eyes became completely white and she had a savage look on her face as she roared.

“Graaaaaaah!”

Spinning her hammer with both hands around her, she mowed down all the monsters in her way like a lawnmower. She then leapt into the air with a pose as if she was about to bring down the whole weight of the world onto her enemy.

But the beast anticipated this, and with a speed that belied its size, it spun using one of its foreclaws like an axle and smacked Ellen down from the air with its tail. Holy crap! This thing can breakdance like the monster from the game as well! But these thoughts died down quickly...

“Gaaah!”

“Ellen!”

She flew backwards like a rocket and with the speed she was going at; she’d soon splatter on the Labyrinth wall like a bug on a windshield… as if I’d let that happen.

“Oof! …huh? Camus?”

Looks like that blow earlier knocked her out of her {Juggernaut} state. Using my minimal skills in air magic, I made multiple compressed sections of air along her trajectory to slow down her momentum and caught her from behind.

“…! C-Camus? I-Is that you?”

Her confusion is understandable. After all, I currently have my wings out since I had to catch her in the air. I was also at my maximum size, so I was only an inch shorter than her but my well-built male body was wider allowing me to catch her in a hug.

One would normally think I’m trying to take advantage of her in this situation… but right now… only all-encompassing rage filled my mind.

“Glenn. No more need to hold back… It’s training time.”

As I said the kill switch, Glenn suddenly jerked in reaction. He then slumped down but when he got back up, murder and insanity replaced the gentle innocence of his previous face. He then took out two grisly looking short swords as he replied in an eerie singsong voice.

“Hi…hihihi…hihiHAHAHAHA! Master Camus, I’m reaaady~♪”

To be honest, I feel like I went overboard when I trained the poor kid as he developed some sort of twisted and violent split personality. It’s probably a defense mechanism spawned by his mind to deal with the stress from training, but thankfully it only comes out when “I” say the “trigger words.” I guess “training time” truly became a trauma for him if it made him lose all reason.

“The contents of this training sessions are… to eliminate the smallfries that try to attack the party as they make for the exit. Do not let anyone get harmed.”

“Rooger thaat~♪”

Like a phantom, he seemingly vanished, but suddenly the monsters surrounding the party got torn apart as if a sharp wind blew through them. Blood and monster entrails flew into the air as the living disaster blew through them like a spring breeze.

“HiHiHi… HaHaHa… Master, this training session is reeeaally fuun~♪”

The party members now look afraid for a different reason… Ugh… I seriously went overboard… I’m sorry kid…

“Ellen, lead the party out of here…”

“But what about - !! y-you…”

I’m sorry for surprising her, but I could no longer contain my anger as the bloodlust started pouring out of me while my vision was fixed towards the Wyrmwolf King.

I gently let go of her onto the ground as I flew towards the beast and stood before it.

Seeing Camus' back with determination, Ellen ran back towards the other members.

“… Everyone! Fall back as fast as you can! Glenn will cover for us as we make our escape!”

“What about Camus?”

“Gregor will not leave friend.”

“… I don’t know why, but I feel as if the Wyrmwolf is the one in danger. In any case, I trust him and he gave us this chance. We’ll come back once we bring back reinforcements!”

At first they were skeptical, but the dire situation along with Ellen’s insistence eventually convinced them as they made for the exit. Glenn made sure to cover them by denying the monsters' assault in a frenzy of blood and mad glee.

Now that they’re gone, I can now go all out. It’s not like I’m keeping my abilities from them, but I still don’t know how to efficiently control my strength, so I might end up hurting them as I tear this place apart.

The beast was now staring at me, only instead of contempt it showed caution. The other monsters couldn’t even stay within the vicinity without fainting from the bloodlust I was pouring out.

I retracted my wings and brought out a different weapon from World Breaker. What I brought out were two huge black gauntlets with the brutal image of roaring lions with horns and red eyes.

Roaring Calamity, as it was called, is a fist-type weapon designed to break apart all that would be struck by it into a bloody mess. It’s innate ability is that the higher one’s defense is, the more damage it would deal.

That’s right… no mercy will be given to this thing that hurt the woman I wanted to make mine. I don’t know when it happened, but somehow I felt more for her than I thought since the idea that she was almost killed somehow broke whatever reason I had left. My thoughts were screaming bloody murder and I kept thinking of ways on how to make this thing experience a hell of pain like no other.

Now… this thing better be prepared… because even if it’s the last thing I’ll do… I’ll make sure to let it feel my crushing fist and claws twisting in its spleen!