Teras stood tall, his eyes gleaming with a malevolent intensity as he tormented the twelve fox-like mana beasts that he had bound with his chain magic. The creatures, their bodies twisted and contorted in agony, struggled futilely against the unyielding chains that held them captive.
Teras's laughter echoed through the air, a cold, mirthless sound that sent shivers down the spines of the mana beasts. He reveled in their suffering, his dark magic feeding off their pain and fear.
But Teras's sadistic revelry was short-lived, as the ground beneath his feet began to shake and tremble. The earth convulsed, as if something massive was stirring beneath the surface. And then, in an instant, a gigantic mole-like mana beast erupted from the ground, its massive body bursting forth from the earth like a living, breathing volcano.
The mole-like mana beast was enormous, its razor-sharp teeth bared in a snarling snout as it lunged forward, its jaws wide open in a bid to devour Teras whole. Teras, caught off guard, stumbled backward, his eyes wide with terror as he desperately sought to avoid the beast's deadly maw.
The fox-like mana beasts, still bound by Teras's chain magic, watched in horror as their tormentor teetered on the brink of being consumed by the gigantic mole-like mana beast. Their fear was palpable, their minds racing with the thought that they might be next on the beast's menu.
Teras's eyes widened in terror as he lost his balance and fell to the ground, his body crashing against the earth with a dull thud. The fox-like mana beasts, sensing their chance for freedom, strained against the chains that bound them. The chains, no longer reinforced by Teras's magic, snapped apart, releasing the beasts from their captivity.
With a chorus of vengeful yips and snarls, the fox-like mana beasts charged towards Teras, their eyes blazing with a fierce hunger for revenge. But before they could reach him, the gigantic mole-like mana beast struck, its massive jaws opening wide to consume the fox-like creatures in one swift, merciless motion.
The mole's maw closed around the beasts, and for a moment, there was only silence. Then, with a sickening crunch, the mole spat out the skeletal remains of the fox-like mana beasts, their bones gleaming white in the sunlight.
Teras, seizing the opportunity presented by the mole's distraction, scrambled to his feet and raised his hands, attempting to use his chain affinity to bind the mole. But the creature's body was too slippery, its smooth, hairless skin allowing it to slide effortlessly through Teras's magical chains.
The chains, instead of binding the mole, merely slid off its body, clattering harmlessly to the ground. Teras's eyes widened in frustration and fear as he realized that his magic was no match for the mole's strange, slimy physiology. The mole, sensing Teras's weakness, began to move closer, its jaws opening wide in anticipation of its next meal.
Teras turned tail and ran, his feet pounding the earth as he desperately sought to escape the mole's deadly attacks. But even as he fled, his mind worked overtime, predicting the mole's next move, anticipating the spot where it would emerge from the ground.
With a burst of speed, Teras changed direction, racing towards a spot where he knew the mole would soon appear. As the earth began to tremble, signaling the mole's approach, Teras summoned his chains, the metal links flashing in the sunlight as he threw them into the mole's open maw.
The mole, its jaws wide open in preparation for the kill, caught the chains with its teeth, the metal links biting deep into its gums. Teras seized the opportunity, using the chains to gain the upper hand. With a series of swift, precise tugs, he tossed the mole around, slamming it into the ground with incredible force.
The mole's body crashed against the earth, leaving a trail of blood wherever it landed. The ground grew slick with the creature's lifeblood, the air filling with the stench of death and decay. Teras continued to manipulate the chains, using them to flail the mole about like a rag doll, the creature's body battered and broken.
Finally, with one last, mighty heave, Teras slammed the mole into the ground, the creature's body crashing against the earth with a sickening crunch. The mole lay still, its life extinguished, as Teras stood panting, his chest heaving with exertion.
The surrounding landscape was a bloodbath, the mole's lifeblood staining the earth a deep, crimson red. Teras's chains, still wrapped around the mole's lifeless body, seemed to gleam with a malevolent intensity, as if they too had played a part in the creature's demise.
The civilians, who had gathered to watch the battle, were left aghast and disgusted by the sheer brutality of Teras's fighting style. They had never seen anything like it before, and many of them couldn't help but look away in horror as Teras slammed the mole's lifeless body into the ground.
As the dust settled, the civilians began to murmur among themselves, their voices filled with a mix of awe and revulsion. "How can someone fight like that?" one of them whispered. "It's inhuman."
Six days had already passed since the commencement of the 2nd selection.
...
The vast landscape was scarred and battered. The once-pristine skies were now filled with dark, foreboding clouds, and the air was thick with the smell of smoke and ash.
As Teras walked away from the battlefield, he entered into a portal there he noticed a change in the landscape. The buildings around him were destroyed, their walls cracked and crumbling. The ground beneath his feet was dry and cracked, and the sky above was a deep, foreboding red.
Teras knew that he was approaching the designated meeting point, a region marked by red clouds and purple soil. As he walked, he saw two figures in the distance, their silhouettes stark against the crimson sky.
It was Rex and Delsia, their faces set with determination as they waited for Teras's arrival. The three of them were about to unite, their paths converging in this desolate, war-torn landscape. Together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead, their bond forged in the fire of battle.