The moment Leon uttered the word, ’Fusion’, a blinding light exploded, swallowing both him and Frenrir. A violent shockwave burst outward, sending a powerful gust of wind sweeping across the sixty-fifth floor.

The five Disaster-Class monsters, which had been closing in on him, abruptly halted.

Inside the brilliant light, Leon and Fenrir’s bodies began to merge. Thick, skin-colored fur with streaks of black rapidly spread across Leon’s body. His face elongated into a wolf-like muzzle, resembling Fenrir’s, while two sharp fangs protruded from the corners of his mouth. His black eyes gradually turned deep brown.

His muscles swelled slightly, causing parts of his clothes to tear apart. His hands remained human, retaining five fingers, but his legs lengthened and transformed into powerful wolf-like limbs.

Slowly, the blinding light began to fade. Leon stood silently in his new form. Power surged through his body like a volcano erupting.

His vision became incomparably sharper. Even the tiniest details hundreds of meters away were crystal clear without him having to focus on them. His hearing had also evolved dramatically. He could hear the wind flowing between ruined buildings, the faint movement of insects in the distance, and even the subtle vibrations beneath the ground.

He slowly clenched his fist, his arms still lowered. The muscles along his triceps tightened, every strand becoming clearly defined, separated by distinct lines as if carved from stone.

The five monsters exchanged glances.

Then...

They moved. They didn’t walk this time.

They disappeared, leaving only afterimages behind.

Because they had sensed it. The being standing before them was no ordinary opponent.

The lion-headed monster attacked first. Its massive spear shot toward Leon, its tip cutting through the air.

Leon leaped backward, narrowly avoiding the strike by less than an inch.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

A deafening explosion shook the battlefield as the spear smashed into the earth. The ground burst apart as enormous cracks shot across it, spreading for well over two hundred meters. Every building caught within the expanding fissures collapsed one after another.

That single attack had devastated the entire area. Such was the terrifying power of a Disaster-Class monster. And judging by its composed look even after missing its target...

It hadn’t even used its full strength.

Leon barely escaped the destruction zone. But before he could regain his balance...

BAAAAAAM!

A massive, whip-like tail slammed into his back. It was the twin-bodied serpent-like fish monster.

His body shot forward like a cannonball. He tore through building after building, reducing each one to rubble as he flew.

Just as he was about to crash into the hundredth building...

The ram-headed monster suddenly appeared out of nowhere. It raised its double-bladed axe and swung it downward. The razor-sharp edge whistled through the air with terrifying force.

Thwack!

One blade buried itself deep into Leon’s shoulder, slicing through flesh and shattering bone.

Blood sprayed into the air, splattering across the cold steel of the axe.

Whoooosh!

Leon was hurled downward like a meteor.

BOOOOOOOM!

He slammed into the ground with overwhelming force, sending a violent tremor across the battlefield. A massive crater instantly formed beneath him.

But the monsters weren’t finished.

The crab-like monster hovered high above the battlefield. It slowly reared its head at the back before thrusting it toward the crater.

WOOOOOO!

A visible sound wave erupted from its mouth and crashed into the ground below.

BOOM!

The crater sank even deeper.

Before the dust could settle, a second sound wave struck.

BOOM!

The crater expanded further, the earth collapsing inward under the relentless barrage.

A deadly silence descended over the battlefield. Dust and smoke drifted through the air. Other than the wind whistling through the ruins, not a single sound could be heard.

The five monsters stood at different positions, calmly waiting for their prey to emerge, almost as if they were generously giving him time to catch his breath.

They were convinced Leon was no longer a threat. The terrifying aura he had released moments ago had sent chills down their spines. But after watching him endure one devastating attack after another without retaliating, their confidence had returned.

But then...

The motionless ground began to tremble.

At first, the vibrations were faint. Then they grew stronger. Heavier.

More violent.

And then...

BOOM!

WHOOOSH!

A figure burst out of the crater like a cannonball.

The crab-like monster was still hovering high above the battlefield... It only noticed the air ripple for a split second. The next moment, Leon in his beast form appeared right in front of it with his fist already cocked back.

The monster tried to react.

It tried to dodge.

But Leon was faster. Only by a fraction... Yet that tiny difference was all it took.

BOOOOOOM!

Leon’s fist slammed into the crab-like monster’s face. Its shell caved inward before the entire creature was launched skyward like a comet, piercing through the clouds and scattering them in every direction.

Leon’s body began descending from the sky.

The wound on his shoulder was still there, blood pouring from the deep gash. Yet it was healing at an astonishing speed. Flesh knit together before the naked eye, and shattered bone rapidly reconstructed itself.

Leon flipped once in midair before landing lightly on the ground.

His gaze swept across the battlefield, moving from one monster to the next.

"It’s my turn now."

His voice was calm. His eyes were equally composed. Yet beneath that tranquil exterior, a flood of exhilaration surged like a raging river breaking through a dam.

’This power...’ Leon couldn’t help but marvel inwardly. ’It’s incredible. Those attacks... they hurt like hell.’

A grin slowly spread across his face.

’But...

I want more of it.’

The shark-headed monster shot toward Leon, seemingly enraged by his words. The space around it distorted slightly under its terrifying speed.

Leon sensed it instantly. He felt the subtle change in air pressure behind him.

Slowly, he turned around. Though to the monsters, his speed was lightning fast.

The shark-headed monster’s fist was already hurtling toward his face. Leon calmly raised one hand.

Thud!

A dull impact echoed across the battlefield as the monster’s punch slammed into Leon’s open palm.

The ground beneath Leon’s feet caved in from the force of the collision. The monster’s lips curved into a grin, thinking it had delivered an effective blow.

But the next moment...

Without the slightest change in expression, Leon’s fingers slowly closed around the monster’s fist.

Crack!

"ARRRGGHHHHHH!"

The monster let out a deafening howl as the bones in its hand began to splinter beneath Leon’s crushing grip.

Leon wasn’t done. He gave a sharp yank, dragging the monster toward him.

Then...

BAM!

His knee slammed into the monster’s chest with devastating force. The air exploded from its lungs as its ribs caved inward. A powerful shockwave erupted from the impact.

The shark-headed monster was blasted backward like a cannonball, disappearing into the distance.