Magus Supremacy

"Shit! Vorden, you fool," Grey muttered as the beast rose, its massive form towering and a furious roar echoing as its four crimson-glowing eyes locked onto the humans.

"ROARRRRR!"

"I guess we can't tiptoe around this anymore. We'll have to go all in," Grey said, steeling himself as the creature surged forward with terrifying speed despite its hulking frame.

Just as it was about to collide with the group, the area became enveloped in a dense, almost suffocating mist, making it impossible to see more than a few feet ahead.

"Mist?" Grey mumbled, quickly glancing back to see Vorden with his arms extended, channeling his magic.

"Behind you, you idiot!" Vorden yelled.

Grey spun around just in time to see the beast's massive claws bearing down on him. A shimmering barrier materialized at the last second, absorbing the brunt of the attack—but cracks instantly spiderwebbed across it.

"I can't hold on much longer!" Arthur cried out.

The mist crackled with lightning as Grey zipped to the beast's side, lightning-coated boots and gauntlets forming around his limbs. Scarlet flanked from the other side, her fire blazing bright. Simultaneously, they struck—Grey slamming electrified fists into its ribs while Scarlet unleashed a fiery blast that bored into its side. Blood erupted from the impact points as the creature recoiled with a deafening roar.

"I thought a level 5 beast would give us real trouble, but I guess that's over with, huh?" Scarlet scoffed.

"No, we're not done yet," Grey replied grimly.

Right before her eyes, the wounds they had inflicted began sealing shut, muscle and flesh weaving back together.

"You've got to be kidding me. Regeneration magic?!" Vorden barked, frustrated.

The beast rose again, its six legs slamming the ground as it vanished in a blur, appearing just inches from Grey. He barely managed to retreat, dodging the massive jaws that snapped shut with a thunderous bang.

Grey retaliated instantly, hurling a dozen razor-sharp wind blades. The beast, agile despite its size, evaded the most threatening ones with ease.

Scarlet followed up with three blazing fireballs, striking its body and scorching its hide—only for the wounds to regenerate once again before their eyes.

It ignored Grey now, launching at Scarlet. Vorden conjured mist in its path, blinding it momentarily, while a semi-transparent shield materialized between its claws and Scarlet—just in time to block the blow.

She leapt back as the shield cracked and shattered like fragile glass.

Two crackling bolts of lightning slammed into the beast's side, stunning it just long enough for half a dozen wind blades to rip through its limbs and neck. A resounding shockwave burst out from the impact zones, displaying the sheer power behind the attack.

But again—its body began to mend, faster than before. Blood ceased to flow as flesh stitched itself back together, its four eyes flaring with heightened fury.

"Oh, come on! My mana's running dry!" Arthur groaned.

The beast moved—faster than it ever had. It reappeared in front of Grey, claws slashing past his face, sending him flying across the cave. His back slammed into the cave door with a heavy thud, and blood splattered from his mouth as his body slumped, robes torn, face bloodied.

"Shit! That wasn't even a direct hit!" Scarlet cried out, her eyes wide as the temperature around her spiked dramatically, waves of heat radiating from her body.

Noticing the sudden rise in heat, the beast turned sharply, spotting something rapidly forming around Scarlet. Sensing danger, it charged her, legs pounding the ground like thunder.

"Guys! I need more time!" Scarlet shouted.

"On it!" Vorden replied, unleashing another wave of dense mist.

Though the mist clouded its vision, the beast relied on its heightened senses to track Scarlet. It slashed out just as a transparent shield materialized once again—but this time, it shattered instantly on contact.

"What the f*ck?!" Arthur gasped, horror in his voice as he saw the claws inches from Scarlet's face. There wasn't enough time to cast another barrier.

Suddenly, a bang rang out as a powerful shockwave tore through the mist. Heat blasted outward, revealing Grey—gripping the beast's claws with his lightning-charged gauntlet, electricity surging violently into the creature's arm. Despite being pushed back by its sheer force, Grey stood firm.

His face was half-covered in blood, crimson trailing down his chin, and his robe hung in tatters—but his eyes burned with unwavering defiance.

"If you want to kill someone, then finish the job properly!" he roared.

Dozens of wind blades spiraled into existence behind him. Still holding the beast in place, he released the barrage point-blank, the sheer force sending the beast hurtling backward and skidding across the stone floor.

Its body spasmed, blood pouring from fresh wounds—but within seconds, the injuries began vanishing, healing at an alarming rate.

It stood again, more menacing than before. Its four eyes glowed ferociously as an overwhelming pressure descended upon the cave. Cracks of radiant blue lightning began spidering across its black skin, merging in an eerie glow.

Foam dripped from its snarling jaws. The whites of its eyes vanished, replaced with pitch black voids. Its fangs elongated, and for a second—it almost looked like the beast was grinning.

Everyone's heart raced in unison.

"What's…what's happening?" Arthur stammered, overwhelmed by the suffocating pressure.

For once, Noir didn't answer first.

"The... the beast is going berserk!" Scarlet screamed, her voice trembling as the construct she'd been forming flickered and dispersed.

"Berserk?" Grey asked, eyes narrowing.

"I read about this—when a beast undergoes a sudden transformation, becoming feral and gaining immense power. It's called berserking. Their strength, speed, ferocity… everything doubles. It's like the beast equivalent of our breakthrough," she explained, her voice shaken as goosebumps rose on her skin.

'Is this for real? I've never seen a beast do that before…' Grey thought.

"That's because not all of them can," Noir answered in his head. "Only some level 5 and above beasts possess that ability. Even then, it depends on their core strength."

'That explains…' Grey's thought was interrupted.

In a blink, the berserk beast reappeared before him, its monstrous form exuding primal malice. With devastating force, it slammed its claw into Grey's torso, sending him flying once again—this time with a trail of blood gushing from a wide tear across his stomach.

"GREY!!!" his team screamed.

His body crashed into the stone wall with a sickening crunch, the force shaking the entire cave. Rock fragments rained down as blood splattered across the wall.

For a chilling moment, Grey lay motionless—broken, bleeding, and still.