Fwoop!—

A violent rumble shook the ground as the lava golem’s massive fist crashed down into the rocky floor.

The impact sent cracks spidering out in all directions, the heat from the golem scorching the air.

Aestrea’s violet aura flared, and his body moved instinctively.

Fwoosh!

He darted to the side, narrowly avoiding the molten strike, the heat biting at his skin.

‘Damn it… I just joined the fight and this bastard is already focusing on me?!’

Clang!

Aestrea’s sword met the golem’s rocky skin, but the blow barely made a dent. The golem’s body rippled with molten energy, and its next swing was already coming.

Zeva’s voice broke through the tension.

“Move to the left!”

Without hesitation, Aestrea rolled to the side, feeling the intense heat as he passed. His feet hit the ground, skidding slightly, but he quickly regained his footing.

The golem roared, a sound like stone grinding against stone, as it swung both fists toward Zeva, who was already moving in for an attack.

Swoosh!

Zeva’s sword slashed through the air, striking the golem’s arm, but it barely slowed it down.

The golem’s molten skin healed almost instantly.

Aestrea’s eyes locked onto Zeva, and without a word, they moved together.

Aestrea rushed in, sidestepping the golem’s massive fist and dashing toward its side.

FWOOSH!

He aimed his sword at the golem’s exposed side.

His strike cut deep into the lava creature’s rocky surface, but it only caused a small spark of molten lava to drip onto the ground.

His sword buzzed from the sheer power of the attack, but the golem barely reacted.

BAM!

A massive rock fist swung down at Aestrea, but Zeva was there. Her sword met the strike, her body a blur of heat and motion.

CRASH!

The golem’s arm was knocked back, but the heat was unbearable. The burn on Zeva’s shoulder was deep—blood mixed with ash, but she barely flinched.

“We need to wear it down!” Zeva gritted through clenched teeth, her eyes wild with focus.

“I know!”

Aestrea nodded, gripping his sword tightly.

BOOM!

The ground shook as the golem roared, bringing both fists down in a double strike.

Aestrea’s body twisted, his violet aura flaring, and he jumped forward, a blur of motion, barely missing the attack as he went to strike the golem’s head.

CLANG!

His sword collided with its molten face, but again, it wasn’t enough. The golem’s skin melted away and hardened in the same instant, repairing itself.

Zeva saw the opening, and without a word, she lunged.

SIZZLE!

Her blade slashed through the air, aiming for the creature’s chest.

A gout of flame followed, erupting from her sword as she tried to force the lava golem back.

But the golem was relentless.

Its body moved, undeterred, as molten fists rained down.

SLAM!

Aestrea’s body slammed against the wall as he tried to avoid a crushing blow.

His ribs groaned with the impact, and blood spurted from a fresh gash along his side.

Zeva spun to avoid another swing, but this time, a rock splintered off the golem’s body, crashing into her leg.

CRACK!

Zeva grunted as she stumbled back. Blood oozed from her leg, but she gritted her teeth and took a step forward.

She was wounded, but so was the golem.

Aestrea dashed forward, his aura glowing brighter as he ignored the exhaustion.

“Damn it… Should we do double-attack once again?”

Zeva shot him a quick glance, nodding.

The two of them moved together like a well-oiled machine, their movements fluid, striking in tandem.

CRASH!

Aestrea’s sword cut into the golem’s arm again, while Zeva followed through, her sharp blade slashing upward, forcing the golem to step back.

The heat was unbearable, but Aestrea pushed forward.

BANG!

The golem swung its fist down, and Aestrea barely dodged, the heat from the blow making the air shimmer.

His sword slashed again, this time catching the golem’s side and causing the lava to ripple, but the creature’s skin was already starting to repair itself.

Zeva wasn’t giving up either.

She closed the distance, her body moving faster than the golem could react.

SIZZLE!

Her sword tore through the molten skin, but the creature was relentless.

BOOM!

A molten boulder shot out from its chest, knocking Zeva backward.

Her body was slammed against the ground, her breath escaping her lungs in a sharp grunt. A jagged rock shard, like a giant spike, had pierced her side.

Blood poured from the wound, dark and slick, staining her clothes and mixing with the ash of the cave.

“Fuck…!”

He dashed to her side, his breath shallow, but before he could reach her—

Fwip!

The golem’s molten fists rose again, ready to strike.

Aestrea’s eyes widened before he flared up his violet aura to protect himself.

CRASH!

Aestrea collided with the golem’s outstretched arm, his sword cutting deep into its rocky skin.

But instead of slicing through, the blade stuck momentarily, as the golem’s molten skin flowed like liquid, repairing itself in an instant.

SNAP!

Aestrea grunted as his sword was wrenched from his hands by the sheer force of the golem’s struggle.

He barely managed to dodge the next punch, his body twisting and his feet skidding on the ground.

His violet aura flared, sending out a shockwave of cold air that stung the back of his neck.

But the golem’s molten fist slammed into him, and Aestrea was sent flying back, the impact hitting his ribs with a sickening crack.

“Kaughh!”

Blood sprayed from his mouth, dark red against his pale face as he struggled to rise. His body was battered, his limbs aching with every movement.

CRUNCH!

Aestrea’s body collided with the sharp rocks of the cave wall.

Blood oozed from a gash on his forehead, drenching his hair, and his breathing came out in ragged gasps.

The sensation of blood trickling down the side of his face felt like fire, hot and burning.

But he didn’t stop.

“…F-fucking… GET UP!”

He roared to himself, forcing his battered body to stand.

Zeva, still gasping from the earlier impact, managed to stagger to her feet, her leg buckling under her for a moment as blood poured from the gash in her thigh.

Her breath was labored, but her eyes were full of defiance.

“Fucking hell!” she snapped, shaking her head as she adjusted her stance.

But even her voice wavered, and her steps were slower now, the blood staining her clothes as it continued to flow.

SIZZLE!

The golem roared again, launching a torrent of molten rocks in their direction.

The ground beneath them cracked as the rocks hit, sending shards of lava shooting into the air like fireworks.

Aestrea and Zeva didn’t have time to think—they just moved.

SWISH!

Zeva swung her sword, creating a barrier of wind that held back the rocks momentarily, but it wasn’t enough.

Some of the molten fragments still flew through, the heat unbearable.

One of them grazed Aestrea’s arm, and the searing pain made him hiss through clenched teeth.

The wound was deep, blood trickling down his arm in a steady stream.

His body trembled from the pain, but there was no time to stop.

Crash!

Aestrea jumped forward, rolling to the side just as another punch from the golem came crashing down.

His body was bleeding, his energy slipping away with every second, but the violet aura surrounding him was all that kept him going.

It crackled with power, freezing the air in a wide radius as he tried to steady his breath.

WHOOSH!

Zeva’s sword burst through the air once more, cutting the golem’s arm as it swung, but the molten rock immediately healed, shifting like liquid to fill the hole.

Zeva staggered back, her face pale with exhaustion, her blood streaked down her skin, soaking into her clothes.

Her wounds were severe, blood pooling at her feet as the burns and cuts ravaged her body.

The fire around her flickered with less intensity, and her movements were sluggish, but she didn’t stop.

She couldn’t.

CRACK!

The golem swung its other fist toward Zeva’s head, and just as it was about to land, Aestrea moved in front of her.

SLASH!

With a grunt, Aestrea threw his body forward, his sword cutting into the golem’s outstretched arm.

The blade slid in deep, blood—molten lava—dripped down the weapon, sizzling as it hit the floor.

But the blow wasn’t enough to stop it.

Aestrea’s side burned where the golem’s fist had slammed into him earlier, but he wasn’t about to give up.

His hand, slick with blood, gripped his ice sword once more, and he lunged forward again, slashing at the golem’s chest.

SIZZLE!

A blast of molten rock erupted from the golem’s body, hitting Aestrea square in the chest.

His armor cracked under the pressure, and his body was thrown backward, crashing into the rocks with a sickening thud.

GROWL!

The golem’s molten eyes flickered with fury, and it charged, fists raised, ready to finish them both off.

But Zeva wasn’t finished yet.

WHOOSH!

Zeva’s sword flared with intense heat, and she dashed forward, ignoring the blood that drenched her body.

Her eyes burned with determination, the wind around her pulsing like the heartbeat of a dying star.

She leaped at the golem, aiming for its exposed chest.

The heat was unbearable, but her movements were direct.

CRACK!

Her sword sank into the creature’s chest, and for a moment, the golem paused. Lava oozed from the wound, but it was too late.

Aestrea was already behind it.

SHING!

With a single, swift motion, Aestrea plunged his ice sword into the golem’s back, and the impact caused a violent explosion of molten rock to erupt.

BANG!

The golem roared in agony, its body shuddering as the violet aura surrounding Aestrea and Zeva tore through it, freezing it from the inside.

Sizzle!

The golem suddenly started trembling.

“Fuck!”

Both Aestrea’s and Zeva’s eyes widened.

The golem was about to explode!

And unfortunately, they didn’t have enough time to dodge the attack.

BOOM!

The explosion of molten rock threw Aestrea like a ragdoll.

His body crashed against the jagged walls of the cave, the impact vibrating through his bones.

“AGGHH!”

Pain shot through his skull as his head cracked against the stone.

For a moment, everything went black—his world reduced to a haze of white noise.

His body slumped to the floor, a pool of blood forming beneath him, mingling with the dirt and ash that now coated his face.

His breathing was ragged, shallow, as he struggled to lift his head, the world spinning around him.

Blood oozed from a deep gash on his forehead, dripping down his face and into his mouth, tasting metallic.

CRUNCH!

Zeva was right beside him, stumbling as she barely managed to stay upright.

Her clothes were torn, her body covered in bruises and gashes.

Blood ran freely from several cuts along her arms, and the burns on her legs were still sizzling.

Her breathing was ragged, her chest rising and falling with a rhythm that spoke of exhaustion and pain.

“H-hey… A-Aestrea…” she mumbled, her voice strained as she turned to him, trying to keep herself together.

“W-what…?” Aestrea muttered, his vision blurred and his voice thick with exhaustion.

Zeva’s lips were stained with blood, a dark red line smeared across her mouth.

Despite the horror of the situation, she gave him a wicked grin, eyes flashing with a strange gleam.

“W-what do you say… when we kill this fucking golem, we go up to a motel and hook up?” she purred, licking her bloodied lips and eyeing him with an intensity that bordered on madness.

Aestrea blinked, trying to focus, his head throbbing like it was being crushed in a vice.

He half-laughed, half-coughed through the pain.

“H-ah… you crazy bitch, you’re thinking about that when we’re almost meeting the king of hell?”

His voice was hoarse, the blood on his tongue making his words thick and slow.

“…Is that a yes?” she pressed, her eyebrow quirking up as if this was the most natural thing to ask at that moment.

Aestrea let out a dry laugh, wincing from the pain in his ribs.

“Sure,” he rasped, though his words were barely audible.

Zeva’s grin widened, and she gave a satisfied nod.

“That’s all I needed to hear.”

She gripped the hilt of her second sword, pulling it from her waist with a fluid motion.

The blade gleamed, reflecting the dim light from the fiery surroundings.

“That’s all I needed to hear,” she took out her second sword from her waist.

“F-fuck you…”

Aestrea muttered under his breath, realizing she was only now pulling out her second sword.

His hand trembled as he tried to sit up, his body shaking from the force of the blows he’d taken.

Every movement sent pain shooting through him, but he gritted his teeth and forced himself to stay conscious.

“What? I just wanted to feel the thrill of a battle!” Zeva replied, her eyes wild with excitement.

Blood spattered her face, mixing with the ash, but there was a glint of madness in her eyes—a hunger that couldn’t be ignored.

Aestrea, still fighting to regain his balance, looked up at her and scoffed through clenched teeth.

“Y-you really are a crazy bitch…!”

Zeva just laughed, her voice echoing in the cavernous space as she took her stance.

Her body was already covered in blood, but her eyes blazed with energy, and she was clearly ready for more.

She swung her second sword with one fluid motion, testing the weight of the blade, her feet shifting in anticipation of the next move.

Aestrea pushed himself up to his knees, blood dripping from his nose, and wiped it away with his hand.

His whole body was bruised, his arms sore from the constant strain of the fight.

But as he looked at Zeva, that fire in her eyes… it gave him a moment of clarity.

The golem was still out there, just beyond them, a giant monster of molten rock and rage.

Its giant limbs swung like wrecking balls, crushing everything in its path.

The heat from the creature’s body burned the air, making it harder to breathe with each passing second.

CRASH!

A massive rock hit the ground near them, sending debris scattering in every direction.

Zeva was already moving, stepping lightly despite the blood coating her body, her eyes focused on the golem.

“Let’s kill this thing, then we’ll talk.”

Aestrea nodded.

His body screamed at him to stop, to rest, but there was no time for that now.

Fwoop!

Her two swords twirled in her hands as she leaped forward with a battle cry, her feet hitting the ground ferociously as she attacked.

The first sword sliced through the air, leaving a trail of fire behind it, while the second followed, a flash of silver.

The double strike was aimed directly at the golem’s chest.

SHHHRRIIIING!

Her first sword connected, digging deep into the golem’s stone-like skin.

A fiery explosion erupted as the sword made contact, but the golem’s molten body healed almost instantly.

It roared in rage, its molten fists swinging downward at Zeva.

WHOOSH!

Zeva ducked, her body twisting gracefully as she avoided the massive punch.

The heat from the golem’s attack seared the air, but Zeva was quicker.

She darted to the side, her second sword flashing out to cut through the golem’s arm, leaving a trail of molten rock in its wake.

KRRSSHHH!

Blood—if it could even be called that—sizzled from the wound, but the golem’s healing factor kicked in almost immediately.

Zeva cursed under her breath, but she didn’t stop.

She knew she wouldn’t defeat it with sheer power alone.

She had to wear it down.

Aestrea watched her movements, the way she flowed from one strike to the next, the way her two swords danced in perfect harmony.

Despite his own injuries, he couldn’t help but feel a rush of adrenaline.

This was the Zeva he was familiar with.

A fucking crazy bitch.

But the golem wasn’t done yet.

SLAM!

It threw both fists down in unison, the ground shattering with the impact. Zeva leapt back just in time, but Aestrea wasn’t so lucky.

One of the golem’s fists collided with him, sending him sprawling backwards.

CRACK!

Aestrea’s body hit the ground with a sickening sound.

His ribs felt like they’d been shattered under the force.

He gasped for air, his breath ragged as blood spilled from his mouth, splattering the rocky ground beneath him.

“F-fuck… cough, cough!”

He struggled to sit up, his body screaming in protest.

Zeva’s eyes narrowed in fury.

“You son of a—” she hissed, but before she could finish, she was already charging forward again.

Her swords whistled through the air as she moved faster, more precise, her body almost a blur.

Aestrea gritted his teeth and forced himself up, his bloodied hands gripping the ice sword.

The chill that radiated from it made his skin tingle, but the pain was a constant reminder of how much he had left to endure.

He couldn’t let Zeva handle this alone.

Not now.

SWOOSH!

He threw himself into the battle again, using his aura to enhance his speed.

He closed the gap between him and the golem in an instant, slashing at its legs.

The ice sword hit hard, but the golem’s body healed quickly, the wound closing up as though it had never been there.

“Come on!” Zeva suddenly yelled.

“What are you waiting for, Aestrea?! Don’t tell me you’re backing down now!”

Aestrea shot her a quick grin, though blood dripped from his lips.

“You wish.”

He steadied his stance and moved alongside her, pushing forward with all the strength he could muster.

The golem was relentless, its molten fists swinging wildly, the heat so intense that it felt like the very air around them was burning.

Yet, Zeva and Aestrea danced around it, moving in a coordinated fashion, each blow and counter-blow coming faster than the last.

And slowly, the damage was starting to show.

Zeva’s clothes were tattered, her skin scorched and bleeding.

One of her arms was barely usable, hanging limp at her side.

But still, she fought with the same fire, her eyes burning with rage and determination.

“You’re not getting away, you piece of shit!” she shouted, spinning in midair to strike at the golem’s chest.

CRASH!

A blow from the golem’s fist caught her in the stomach, sending her flying backward, blood spraying from her mouth as she hit the ground.

But even as her body lay there, broken and battered, she didn’t stop.

“Zeva!” Aestrea shouted, rushing to her side.

“I’m fine,” she spat, her voice weak but defiant.

‘No, you’re not.’

Aestrea thought inwardly.

Even though he was much more injured than Zeva, he could hold on because of the constant mana his physique was absorbing.

He was using that absorbed mana to gradually heal his body.

But Zeva couldn’t do that.

So, he quickly looked around, and then noticed his group.

They too… were fighting.

Against the miniature golems that had appeared.

They have been holding them off so they didn’t ruin Aestrea’s and Zeva’s battle against the giant golem.

‘Think, Aestrea! THINK!’

He gritted his teeth.

‘The [Bleed] attack doesn’t work in the golem since it only works in blood. Although, I do have a fair amount of mana right now, it’s still not enough to use one of my strong moves.’

‘What exactly can… I do?!’

He was starting to panic.

The golem was simply too damned powerful.

But, as soon as he was about to enter the depths of despair.

A voice resounded in his ears.

‘Do you wanna switch for a moment?’

‘Although you did learn how to use my magic and body. You still didn’t use it to its full potential.’

‘So, why don’t we switch?’

‘I’ll defeat that golem for you.’

That voice…

‘…Aestrea?!’

‘Hey…’

‘I guess it’s the first time we’re talking to each other.’

‘My soul didn’t entirely fuse with yours. But, don’t worry, after this fight, we’ll be completely fused.’

‘You will be able to release the full potential of my body.’

‘So? What will you do? Switch with me to win the battle, or simply let yourself die? I think the answer is obvious… isn’t it, Aestrea?’

The original Aestrea spoke solemnly.

‘…Let’s do it.’

‘Good.’

‘Now watch and learn…’

Aestrea’s glowing red eyes completely turned light blue, and the silhouette of a crescent moon appeared on them, shining brightly.

“How a real genius fights.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep