Epic of Caterpillar
chapter-168

"That human…! I will burn him into ashes!"

Enveloping its entire body in scorching flames, Truhan started to swell up to its muscles at a ridiculous rate, as his muscles grew in size, his Inferno Domain became thicker and even hotter, everything he put his foot on would instantly turn into lava. He was right now, his body had such a high temperature that anything below a certain level of strength would instantly burn to death.

His eyes turned red as his ruby-like horns grew in size, his brown hair became long like a lion's mane and his facial structure became wilder and uglier, like an angry demon god. As his size increased, so did his [Legendary Relic], the axe now resembled a massive pillar, of over seven meters tall, its two blades would be able to easily chop a mountain in half.

As Gustav felt the intense pressure that Truhan released, everyone in the battlefield noticed his presence, even the Hero of Raging Winds and the Champion of Psychic Eyes.

Even Gustav began to sweat in the instinctual fear over such a deadly presence, that held an immense killing intent.

"T-That monster… He has been holding back all this time?! So… Even as I have awakened, there is someone who can fight me back…"

However, at this challenge, Gustav smiled.

"Alright… Come at me… I am destined to kill you, Red Demon! You are no more than a stepping stone to my goal!"

As Gustav released his own domain to intercept Truhan's, he used his two Giant Rock Arms to propel himself towards the air, while enhancing his own arms beyond his limits, which made them grow to abnormal sizes, surpassing his body proportions.

As Gustav rushed towards Truhan, the Fiery Oni stayed still into a defensive stance, which was taught to him by Palami and Kizuato. Using his Giant Axe has a shield, he successfully received Gustav's intense attack, which created such massive shockwaves that easily blew everything around them away.

CLASH!!!

Suddenly, Gustav twisted his body and found a blind spot on Truhan's, punching him once again in the face.

BOOOM!

However, to the Hero surprise, Truhan wasn't affected as much like before, and although he received heavy damage, his skin and flesh were too thick and sturdy, surpassing even adamantine.

As Truhan looked over the surprised Gustav, he quickly grabbed his leg with his free arm and threw him towards the ground like a bullet.

BOOOM!

Afterward, the Fiery Oni raised his axe as he began to consecutively slash and smash the Hero in an unleashed onslaught. As Truhan kept crushing Gustav with a myriad of Axe Techniques, several phantom images of thousands of giant axes were created, resembling the Art used by Evan on his fight against Reynold.

BOOM! CRASH! CLASH! SLASH!

Gustav was suddenly overwhelmed by an incredible might; each attack came with immense strength and fierce might. Standing firmly like a mountain, Truhan didn't move from his position at all, as if he was indulged on his own rampage, he kept crushing the Hero mindlessly like a completely mad demon god that came to judge those who oppose him.

"GUUUUUOOOOOOHHH!!!"

"Gggh! T-This damned demon!"

Although Gustav was now a Hero, he had yet to get used to his new powers and strength and has barely scratched the surface of his new skills, but because he had no time to experiment and train them, he was getting quickly overwhelmed without him being able to do much to protect himself.

Suddenly, the confident veteran, who believed that his destiny was his reason to be alive, was put into a passive position, where he couldn't do more than defend himself using his [Phantasmal Relic] and his Giant Rock Arms.

"I won't forgive those who harm my wife!!! GUOOOOHHH!!!"

"Guuaaaagghh! Ggaahh! W-Why are you so strong?!"

As Truhan continued his onslaught, his power increased as he continued smacking the Hero, his muscles bulged even more and his aura transformed into a thick scarlet red color, with a hellish heat.

Gustav was beginning to quickly realize that his Giant Rock Arms were beginning to crack, and his own body was constantly being burned and healed at the same time, in a constant struggle for survival.

With the little time he had before his imminent death, Gustav quickly browsed through his list of Skills and found himself drowned with new names and skills that he obtained after his awakening, but because he had very little time, for the first time in years, he started to use his brain to quickly examine the different skills and if he was able to find something that could get him outside of such a dangerous situation.

And then, he found it.

"Gha! E-Earth Might Arts; Mighty Fortress Golem!"

FLASH!

As Gustav chanted these words, out of thin air a giant Magic Circle appeared, summoning a massive Golem of over twenty meters tall, that resembled a walking fortress. Because of the position that he summoned the monster, it appeared right above their heads and fell like a giant mountain over the two warriors.

BOOOOOOOOOOOM!

Because of the sheer size of the golem, its weight was just colossal, its fall created a massive earthquake all around the battlefield, that quickly created cracks in the floor where soldiers began to fall to their demise.

As the golem fell over such a massive center of heat like Truhan, its body quickly melted into pure lava and flooded most of the battlefield, burning and melting alive anyone unlucky enough to be close to the scene.

Gustav who was inside was suddenly welcomed by a giant flood of hot lava, that quickly melted his entire body into ashes.

When the golem fully melted into a puddle of pure lava, a giant red figure appeared, it was Truhan, who was unaffected by the intense heat of the melting rocks, due to his natural immunity to Lava and Fire.

However, Gustav was nowhere to be seen. As Truhan went outside of the poodle of Lava, he carried a melting piece of equipment and a [Phantasmal Relic].

Due to his mediocrity, rashness, and delusions, Gustav died by his own skill, which was quickly melted by Truhan's natural intense heat aura. He wasn't even able to use the full potential of his awakening before he died, melted into the scorching heat of the Lava.

As Truhan rested in the edge of the massive Lava Poodle, that would seem more like a lake now, Celica had been already healed back to normal, and due to her abnormal natural regeneration as a Giantess, she was able to quickly rejoin the battle, only to find a disappointed Truhan, laying in the ground like a bored kid.

"T-Truhan? Did you kill him?"

Truhan nodded.

"Hm… I thought, he was strong…"

"But he clearly was!"

"Yes, Celica… But, not strong enough for him to take me in all my strength… I feel, betrayed"

"B-Betrayed? Haha… Sometimes you are very comedic in such strange situations"

Seeing the refreshing laugh of Celica, Truhan smiled too and stood up, hugging her Giantess Wife shoulders.

"Celica, I'm glad, you are fine. Here, a present"

Suddenly, Truhan opened his giant and rough red hands to reveal Gustav's [Phantasmal Equipment] alongside his [Phantasmal Relic], [Heaven's and Earth's Anguish].

"Maybe this can compensate your low defenses, I heard that Legendary equipment can adapt to anyone's body…"

Celica's eyes shined in a bright red, as she smiled.

"Ahh! It is very lovely, and those gauntlets look very strong too, thanks, Truhan!"

To reward her husband for his efforts, Celica kissed Truhan's cheeks, which made the Red Oni blush, making him even redder.

"Haha…"

When the reinforcements came to help the couple, they were too late, as Gustav was already melted into ashes and his body permanently dissipated in the Lava.

As I prepared myself to confront the Champion of Black Flames outrage, a system notification suddenly popped out of thin air.

Ding!

[Conflicting [Epic], [Legendary Epic of Gustav Gifford,] has been annihilated by [Servant/Subordinate] [Giant Inferno Oni Warlord; Truhan]

[Servant/Subordinate] gained a prize reward] [Phantasmal Relic of The Hero of Earth-Shattering Might]

"Hm?! It seems that I underestimated Truhan's true power… The reinforcements weren't even needed at the end…"

BOOOM!

Suddenly, a massive claw made of black flames fell from the skies, devastating everything. Thankfully I managed to evade it with my flexible Slime body, while grabbing my wives.

"Ggrrraaaaaahh!!!"

The Champion of Black Flames have gone completely berserk, it seems that the death of her friend, the Elemental Knight of Shadows, really affected her…

As her power kept increasing, her flames began to absorb any nearby Undead in her range of vision, to save the lives of the higher ranks, I quickly commanded them to retreat.

However, it was too late for most of the Undead Skeleton Soldiers, as they were instantly absorbed by the Champion, increasing the power of her flames, which took a deep dark blue tone.

Her flames quickly transformed into a furious beast resembling a giant wolf, as she pounced at us with incredible speed, leaving a trail of blue flames everywhere she went.

The wolf mouth suddenly opened its giant jaws as it released a massive blue fireball towards us. Due to her momentum and impressive speed. I expanded my body like a net and received the Blue Fire Ball, quickly digesting it with my body. Thankfully, I already have [Fire Immunity] and high [Dark Resistance], coupled with my naturally high Resistance Stat, I was able to consume her attacks with ease, working like a living shield made of Slime for my wives.

As she pounced over us with incredible speed, I kept receiving her Blue Fire Balls while Nesiphae and Gaby attacked the giant flame beast from the sides. Nesiphae used her Axe to attack with heavy strokes, but to her surprise, her physical attacks went right through the flame beast, being completely immune to them, and instead, Nesiphae was inflicted with [Heavy Burn] and [Heavy Curse]. Thankfully, her evolved body is way tougher than before, and she possesses incredible regeneration capabilities, naturally recovering from the burn and curse while evading the Champion crazed attacks.

In the sides, Gaby used her Ghost Ship to fly through the air while shooting powerful Floods of Water, alongside this, she released her evolved Blade Energy Technique, which summoned twelve giant sharks made of Water Magic and Blade Energy, which ganged over the Flame Beast several times, distracting her until she managed to destroy them, where Nesiphae would attack her again with Poison Mist Spells, after this, Gaby would repeat her Floods of Water and Blade Energy Techniques.

All of this while I received and tanked every Blue Fireball from the Champion. The battle quickly turned towards our favor as the Champion didn't have any more Undead to absorb and grow her flames, slowly decreasing the size of her Flame Beast.

Although I had countless of ways of dealing with her, I don't want to reveal my true powers to not alert my position to the Wind Hero, who is currently desperately looking for me, this is why I can only lay low and do small attacks and spells.

As the Champion slowly weakened, I saw a weak stop and quickly flew through the air like a bullet made of slime, infiltrating inside of the Blue Flames that made up the giant beast, I found its core, which was a massive black pearl, which had the Champion inside, on a sleeping state.

It's a rather interesting technique, to be able to become a giant beast made of flames while becoming a core of it, it was quite unique, I hope I can get her ability whenever I eat her.

As I swam through the sea of blue and black flames, using all my strength, I shattered the black pearl where the champion was, at this, she reacted with surprise and fear.

The Flame Beast quickly began to dissolve into the ground as I found the defenseless Champion right in front of me, although she had a clear beauty, her powers and skills were more alluring to me than her body.

I expanded my Slime Body and began to entangle her, as she struggled to free herself from my "embrace".

"Ggaahh!! G-Get off me! Aaagh! Guuaaah!"

She had her MP pool completely depleted after the fight and her physical abilities were very mediocre, so I was able to easily overpower her with just the strength of my Slime form.

I inserted a paralyzing toxin in her body as her body spasmed for a moment while her eyes were filled with fear, she began to sweat and cry in horror due to her lack of strength and the impotence of being killed in such a ridiculous way.

"Ggah! Nngh…! Ggaagh…!"

Although she had a strong willpower and struggled for some seconds, she ultimately became completely static, which finally gave me the confidence of quickly killing her without wasting any meat. I inserted my Slime needle inside of her brain and killed her instantly.

Ding!

[You gained 32.000.000 EXP]

[LEVEL 031/250 EXP 25.340.055 /125.000.0000 EXP]

[Conflicting [Epic], [Greater Epic of Beatrix Poisonthorn, the Wicked Black Flame Witch] has been annihilated]

[You gained a prize reward] [Legendary Relic of the Wicked Black Flame Witch]

It seems that aside from her [Legendary Relic] on her equipment, I also obtained another one through the [Epic] System, which makes me think that if I let her become a Hero, the relic would have become a tier stronger, like Phantasmal.

Oh well, no point in regretting my decision, perhaps in the future I can raise Heroes like cattle to farm their [Relics]. It is a nice thing to look forward to.

As I stored the corpse of my first Champion killed of today, I looked forward to my next prey, the Champion of Freezing Winter was currently fighting Mady, Adelle, and Charlotte, while the Champion of Emerald Trees was desperately fighting Zehe and Lilith, who was quickly overwhelming him.

Meanwhile, Alice was diligently working on her given task, killing the non-hypnotized Nobles while capturing the Royal Family, there was a big mess going on in there, lots of blood.

Hmm… What should I pick?

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