CHAPTER 137: CHAPTER 137: YOU ARE A MADMAN HUMAN

The world hung still for a single heartbeat.

Shaurya — wrapped in swirling sapphire flames — launched upward like a blazing comet.

Lorgann — the Primeval Lava Dragon — surged down with its claw engulfed in crimson hellfire.

The air between them twisted.

The surrounding flames warped like spiraling galaxies.

Stone fragments levitated from sheer spiritual pressure.

Time stretched.

Heat bent the air.

The cavern became a burning canvas of two titanic forces about to collide.

Then—

The universe snapped back into motion.

THE IMPACT

BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!

The collision detonated like two suns smashing together.

Shaurya’s right fist — covered in roaring sapphire flames — met Lorgann’s colossal right claw — blazing with dark crimson magma-fire.

A ring-shaped shockwave erupted outward in a perfect sphere, expanding so fast the ground rippled under it.

The cavern floor trembled violently.

Floating rocks split and spun like shattered meteors.

Lava-water splashed into the air, raining in glowing droplets.

For a moment, the two forces locked in pure brute strength.

Human vs Primordial Beast.

Sapphire flame vs Molten fire.

Willpower vs Millennia-old might.

Then—

The explosion swallowed everything.

Light filled the chamber.

Flames twisted into a spiraling vortex.

Both figures were engulfed in the blast wave.

Shaurya’s body blew backward like he’d been fired from a divine cannon.

His boots tore long lines across the stone floor—

SKRRRSSSHHHHH—

sparks trailing behind as he slid.

His teeth clenched.

His shoulders shook.

But he finally dug his heels down—

THUD!!

He skidded to a stop, breath steaming.

But he only got a second—

Before the world blurred.

FWOOOOOM!!!

A massive shadow materialized to Shaurya’s left.

Lorgann.

The dragon’s molten eyes sharpened, glowing with fierce predatory intent.

It twisted its enormous torso—

WHOOSH—!!

—and its colossal tail whipped through the air like a black-red scythe.

Shaurya’s pupils shrank.

"Huh—!"

He threw up both hands—

"GOLDEN BARRIER!"

A radiant sphere burst around him.

The tail collided.

THE BARRIER SHATTERS IMMEDIATELY

KRRRRSHHHHHHH!!!!

Shaurya’s eyes widened in pure disbelief—

"What— already!?"

The tail smashed straight through the golden barrier like breaking glass.

The shards of spiritual light scattered into the flames.

Before Shaurya could react—

THWAAAAACK!!!!

The tail slammed into him full force.

The impact was monstrous.

His arms crossed in defense absorbed a fraction, but the raw power still launched him like a ragdoll.

His body tore through the air—

spinning—

flipping—

bleeding—

CRAAAAAAAASH!!!!!!

He slammed into a massive rock pillar.

It exploded instantly.

The shockwave crushed the stone to dust around him.

Shaurya’s body skid across the rubble, blood trailing behind.

His breath hitched.

His ribs screamed.

He tasted iron.

But he didn’t get even the slightest moment—

Shaurya’s body was still flying backward, spinning through the molten air like a broken meteor—

When the temperature around him suddenly spiked.

His vision blurred.

His lungs burned.

His ears rang from the impact.

Then—

a shadow swallowed the light.

Shaurya’s golden pupils trembled as he forced his head upward mid-air.

Lorgann was already above him.

Not gliding.

Not hovering.

Falling.

A massive silhouette blotting out the cavern ceiling, wings tucked tightly against its sides as it descended like a crimson star falling from heaven.

Its molten eyes narrowed to razor slits.

The ancient dragon inverted its massive body mid-air in one smooth, terrifying motion—

FWOOOOOP—!!

Flipping upside-down.

Its colossal tail—

thick as a fortress tower, covered in volcanic plates, glowing with molten energy—

curved upward behind its body like a scorpion preparing to kill.

Shaurya’s heart clenched once.

"—What!?"

He barely had time to draw breath.

Lorgann swung its tail vertically downward—

A strike filled with the weight of a mountain,

the fury of a volcano,

and the speed of a falling star.

The air cracked.

The flames warped around the descending tail.

A sonic pulse rippled across the cavern.

WHOOOOOOOOOOM—!!!!

Shaurya’s eyes widened to their limit.

No time for Aerial Steps.

No time for defense.

No time for thought.

Only instinct.

He crossed his forearms tightly in front of his chest—

Teeth clenched.

Impact.

KAAAAA-THOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!

The tail slammed into Shaurya’s crossed arms with an impact so violent it felt like a divine hammer descending from the heavens.

A concussive shockwave erupted in every direction.

His bones shuddered.

His muscles screamed.

His ears popped violently.

Blood burst from his mouth in a diagonal spray.

His vision flashed white.

Stars danced in his sight.

His expression hardened—

not from determination—

but sheer survival.

The force hit him like a falling planet—

And then it sent him hurtling downward.

SHAURYA FALLS LIKE A COMET

He blew downward like a stone shot from a god-slaying trebuchet.

The air ripped past him in spiraling streams.

His coat snapped violently around him.

His hair whipped against the wind.

The entire cavern floor rushed toward him at terrifying speed—

BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!

Shaurya struck the ground with the impact of a crashing meteor.

The stone caved inward, collapsing into a massive crater.

Rings of cracked earth expanded outward from the point of impact.

Dust, gravel, and molten fragments erupted upward in a tornado of debris.

A wave of dirt surged over his body, burying him halfway as the crater continued to widen.

Even the floating platforms trembled from the shock.

A cloud of dust engulfed the battlefield, forming a thick veil that hid Shaurya’s buried silhouette.

High above, Lorgann twisted in mid-air again, straightening its body.

The dragon hovered effortlessly, wings unfolding with a thunderous gust—

FWOOM—!!

Its molten eyes glowed with predatory intensity.

It stared down at the crater where Shaurya had fallen,

its gaze sharp enough to cut through dust and flame.

Then—

It inhaled slowly.

Deeply.

Each breath pulled molten air toward its maw.

Lava veins along its neck pulsed.

Embers spiraled into its throat.

A low rumble built in its chest—

Growing—

Deepening—

Intensifying—

Until it became a monstrous, ancient vibration echoing through the cavern.

Then—

Lorgann roared.

THE DRAGON’S ANNIHILATING ROAR

ROAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRR!!!!

The roar was a physical force.

A furnace hurricane.

A shockwave so powerful it blasted dust away from the crater, exposing Shaurya’s battered form beneath.

The cavern walls trembled like they might collapse.

Cracks spiderwebbed across the ceiling.

Molten droplets shook loose, falling like blazing rain.

Even buried in dirt,

even injured,

even breathless—

Shaurya felt that roar vibrate through his bones.

Lorgann’s molten eyes sharpened further, filled with ruthless confidence.

The dragon’s aura exploded outward in a crimson shockwave—

Flames rising—

Heat spiraling—

Stone melting—

Then, Silence.

Dust still swirled around the crater, rising in thin streams like smoke from a dying battlefield. The earth was shattered. Stone glowed faintly from Lorgann’s overwhelming heat. Embers drifted through the air like red snow.

In the center of the crater—

Shaurya moved.

Slowly.

Painfully.

His fingers twitched first.

Then his elbows bent.

Then his trembling arms pressed against the broken ground.

A groan escaped him—

half-breath, half-strain.

His body shook violently as he tried to stand.

Blood dripped from his forearms.

His knees wobbled.

His back arched involuntarily in pain.

Head down.

Hair falling over his eyes.

Breath harsh.

Chest rising and falling like a battered drum.

Every part of him screamed in pain.

And yet—

He pushed.

He pushed harder.

He rose inch by inch—

bones grinding, muscles tearing, blood coursing down his wrists.

Until finally—

He stood.

Barely.

A hunched silhouette inside the crater, body trembling like a flickering candle in a hurricane.

Shaurya lifted his head slightly—

When suddenly—

DING—!

A brilliant golden window snapped into existence in front of his face.

The familiar system interface glowed cold and unforgiving.

UNRANKED MISSION:

"JUST DEFEAT THE PRIMORDIAL LAVA DRAGON LORGANN."

REWARD:

– Major Level Up

– 1x Divine Spin

FAILURE PENALTY:

– LEVEL DROP TO GOLDEN VEIN STAGE LEVEL 1

Shaurya froze.

His pupils shrank.

"...What?"

He stared blankly at the floating screen, then at his bleeding arms, then back at the screen again.

His inner voice shouted in disbelief:

"WHAT!? Are you kidding me!?"

He gritted his teeth so hard his jaw cracked.

"THIS is what you give me? Right now? WHEN I’m getting beaten like a toy!?"

He roared at the system screen in his mind.

"Systu—am I your host or your ENEMY!?"

A calm reply popped up instantly:

[System: Of course you are my ene—

I mean... dear host.]

"...I heard that."

Shaurya’s eyebrow twitched.

Before he could scream at it again—

THUD—

The molten air trembled.

A massive shadow fell across the crater.

Lorgann descended.

The Primeval Lava Dragon landed with earth-splitting weight, dust exploding outward in a wide ring around it. Its massive wings folded behind its volcanic armor.

Its molten eyes locked onto Shaurya like burning suns.

The pressure alone pushed more dust off Shaurya’s shoulders.

Shaurya hissed through his teeth, trying to straighten up fully—

But then—

DING—

The system window blinked again.

[System: Host, focus.

Your Divine Form duration is almost over.

Less than three minutes remain.]

Shaurya’s eyes widened.

Three minutes.

Just three.

His heartbeat thumped once—

a deep, heavy beat echoing in his ears.

He clenched his fists.

"...Damn."

His inner thoughts churned:

It’s the first time...

The first time I’m pushed this hard.

The first time the gap feels impossible.

The first time... I feel the weight of defeat so close.

His vision swayed for a moment.

His legs shook.

A burn spread through his chest.

Then—

Shaurya slowly closed his eyes.

Inhale.

The world momentarily fell silent.

Even the flames around the cavern dimmed for a breath.

Lorgann stared at him, confused.

It blinked once.

Then twice.

It thinks in its mind.

What was this human doing...?

Shaurya’s lips moved.

Quietly.

Softly.

A calm whisper that floated through the burning air—

"Om Namo Bhagwate Vasudevaya..."

A faint ripple of peace washed across his face.

"Om Shanti..."

A serene smile tugged at the corner of his lips—

a smile so gentle and fearless that even the molten air around him seemed to tremble.

His aura steadied.

His breath deepened.

The tremble in his hands disappeared.

Shaurya slowly opened his eyes.

Golden irises burned sharper than ever.

Their fierce brilliance locked directly onto Lorgann.

The dragon tilted its colossal head.

With pure confusion.

"...This human."

A deep rumble vibrated from its chest.

"First I doubted...

But now I’m certain."

A beat.

"You’re CRAZY."

Shaurya’s smile widened.

DING—

System golden window popped up again.

[System: I agree with the dragon, host. You are bleeding, injured, and have...

110 broken bones.

And you’re STILL smiling.

You are insane.]

Shaurya chuckled softly.

"Well... what can I say?"

He rolled his shoulders slowly.

Pain spiked—

but he didn’t wince.

His golden aura flickered faintly behind him.

"I am like this..."

He raised his head fully.

Golden eyes blazing.

"...because I am SHAURYA THE GREAT."

His voice echoed across the cavern.

"So what if I’m injured?"

He took a step forward.

Stone cracked under his foot.

"So what if I’m bleeding?"

Another step.

Heat rippled around his aura.

"So what if I have 110 broken bones!?"

His fists clenched tightly, golden sparks bursting from between his fingers.

"This pressure..."

He tilted his head back, laughing sharply.

"This burning heat."

"This unbearable pain."

"This nearing death."

"...THIS EXCITEMENT..."

His smile twisted into a battle-hungry grin.

"I LOVE IT!"

He roared:

"LORGANN!!

YOU REALLY MADE ME EXCITED!!"

The cavern shook from his voice alone.

The dragon’s molten eyes narrowed dangerously.

Shaurya planted his feet.

Power-up stance.

Shoulders back.

Arms bending.

Golden aura slowly rising from the ground beneath him.

Then he inhaled deeply—

"Face My Power.... LORGANN."

Then He shouted with full force:

"NOW FACE—

MY FURYYYYYYYYY!!!"

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM—!!!!

His golden aura ERUPTED.

It blasted upward like a pillar of divine fire—

splitting the dust,

shaking the cavern,

illuminating the lava streams with brilliant radiance.

Lorgann roared back—

A monstrous, volcanic roar that shook the world itself.

Both war cries collided in the air—

two titanic forces announcing the beginning of a true, all-out battle.

The flames around them swirled violently.

The ground cracked in spiderwebs at their feet.

Golden light on one side.

Crimson hellfire on the other.

The battle...

Had only just begun.

TO BE CONTINUED...