CHAPTER 75: CRAZY PUNTO

After hours of relentless combat, the Nighthral finally collapsed beneath the massive figure of Vulkris. Its once-menacing form was now riddled with wounds, thorns embedded deep in its flesh. Its eyes fluttered weakly, struggling to stay open.

"This..."

"Finally!"

"We did it!"

"Yeheeey!"

The elves, both atop the Grand Velzar and within the safety of Aetherthorn, erupted in celebration. They watched the monstrous predator squirm helplessly on the ground, its body twitching like a broken animal struck by an unseen force.

The impact of its fall shook the earth with a deafening thud, sending loose dirt and leaves into the air. For the first time in hours, the forest exhaled. The elves did too, their lungs burning with relief.

Yes, they could breathe again-but only for a moment.

Because almost immediately, Vulkris’ molten eyes shifted and locked onto the towering figure of the Grand Velzar.

Its body dripped with magma-like blood. The flames on its mane and wings flickered weakly, smaller and dimmer than before, yet its presence remained suffocating. It was wounded, drained, and dangerously unstable, but its primal ferocity hadn’t dimmed.

GRRRR...

’This is bad,’ Elarya thought, her massive Velzar form stiffening as she stared back at the beast. ’It’s looking right at us.’

Regret struck her like an arrow. Maybe I should have waited for the Nighthral to wear it down before stepping in. Now I’ve only drawn its attention...

The air thickened. Silence blanketed the battlefield.

One nightmare was down, but the greater danger remained.

Every elf felt it- the heat, the tension, the inevitability of Vulkris’ wrath. Those perched in the branches prepared to leap to the ground, ready to scatter if the beast charged.

But then, Vulkris’ gaze shifted. Its focus left the elves and turned back to the barely conscious Nighthral. A dark blue pool spread beneath the fallen creature as its wounds began to knit themselves back together.

Its regenerative ability was terrifying, the very mark of a King-level beast. Even half-dead, the Nighthral was already recovering.

Vulkris understood instantly. If it failed to finish its rival now, the tables would turn- and its opponent’s shadow element would eventually overwhelm Vulkris’ weakened flames.

The fire beast made its choice. It would end the fight here.

Relief swept over Elarya and her warriors. For now, at least, Vulkris’ wrath was not aimed at them. Without hesitation, the elves began leaping from the Grand Velzar’s branches, seizing their only chance to flee.

"That was a good fight," Vulkris growled at the fallen Nighthral, molten saliva dripping from its fangs. "But now, die, runt."

Its massive jaws opened, gathering swirling flames into a dense sphere of destruction aimed straight at the Nighthral’s skull. This was not an attack meant to injure—it was meant to erase.

Time seemed to stretch. From a distance, the elves watched, hearts pounding, breaths caught in their throats.

Then, just as Vulkris prepared to release its final strike, a voice rang out.

"I wouldn’t do that if I were you, dog."

The words were calm, almost playful, yet sharp enough to make Vulkris’ head snap toward the source.

In the dim shadows to its right hovered something impossibly small: a round, emerald-green creature no larger than a melon. It floated as if weightless, its puffed body crowned by three tiny thorn-like protrusions.

Vulkris blinked, eyes narrowing as recognition flickered.

"You..."

A memory sparked. Inferna Hollow. I saw it there—small, insignificant, hovering near that frameless human...

Vulkris’ molten gaze hardened. "Was that you speaking, little squeak?" Its voice rumbled low, almost amused but not yet threatening.

The green creature’s tiny mouth curled into something that almost resembled a smirk. "So what if it was me? Got a problem with that, dog?"

Despite its harmless size, its tone carried no trace of fear—only steady, unshaken confidence.

"Look!" one of the elves whispered from the branches. "Isn’t that... the Queen Mother’s pet?"

"What? That thing is still alive?! How?! How did a punto survive this calamity?"

Shock rippled through the elves like a wave. They recognized the creature—Punto. Or at least, what they had always assumed was just an ordinary one.

Elarya, Kardel, and Rhiki exchanged uneasy glances. Relief flickered across their faces, but so did something else—wariness. They knew what the others didn’t: this was no ordinary companion.

They knew better. This wasn’t an ordinary familiar. This "tiny beast" was a Primordial being. But its motives were unpredictable, changing as easily as the wind. Ally or threat- it was impossible to tell.

Vulkris let out a dismissive huff. "Hmph." It turned its head away, choosing to ignore the strange puffball. It’s just a talking Punto. A single swipe and it’s gone.

But the small creature wasn’t finished.

"Did you just ignore me, dog?" Its voice rose slightly, still cute yet carrying a sharp edge.

The insult sank in. Vulkris’ eye twitched. The mighty King Beast, wounded and exhausted, was still too proud to let such mockery slide.

"That’s it," Vulkris growled, muscles tensing. "You want to die so badly before I finish this cat? Fine. So be it!"

It raised a massive paw, claws glowing with fire as it prepared to crush the tiny creature into paste.

But before the blow could land, the emerald Punto’s body blurred- its round shape became a streak of green light and-

WHAM!

The tiny figure rammed straight into Vulkris’ chest.

The world seemed to freeze for a heartbeat. Then-

KAPOWW!

The impact was monstrous. Despite its small size, the creature’s strike carried unimaginable force. Vulkris’ gigantic body was lifted off the ground like a ragdoll, flung backward through the air.

THUD!

It crashed into the earth more than a kilometer away, the impact shaking the ground beneath the elves’ feet. Trees toppled. Rocks split. Even from the top of distant branches, Robert and the others stared wide-eyed.

"W-what’s happening...?" Robert whispered, stunned.

The elves were just as speechless, their faces pale as they watched the impossible unfold.

’How did something so small send that enormous beast flying with a single charge?’

Unless...