Ethan had considered leaving the Bulldozer behind.

Letting the oversized rhino-brained idiot deal with the beetle beast alone, maybe even watching him get crushed under its weight or torn apart by whatever other tricks it had hidden. It would’ve been entertaining and left him with one less liability in a place where liabilities got people killed.

But in the end, he decided against that.

Not out of kindness or some sudden moral awakening, but because...

’He might actually be useful.’

Ethan exhaled slowly, eyes locked on the battlefield in front of him as the beetle-like creature thundered forward again, its massive body curling into a near-perfect sphere before launching itself like a living cannonball.

The ground cracked under the force, and the air screamed as the Bulldozer met it head-on.

"GRAAAAH!"

The grey-skinned man slammed forward, his hardened skull colliding with the beast in a deafening crash.

Boom!

The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the floating island, dust and debris lifting into the air as both combatants were forced back, though neither fell.

Ethan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

’He’s tougher than he looks, but does he only have that one attack? He really is like a rhino.’

Was he worth trusting?

’Definitely not, even after that bullshit excuse about his ability affecting his mental state when under strain.’

But was he useful?

’Yes, he’s the perfect human shield you could ask for, one that never backs down and keeps attacking with his big head.’

Ethan continued shamelessly observing their battle from a safe distance without lending a hand.

The beetle screeched - a high-pitched, grating sound that sent a shiver down Ethan’s spine - as it uncurled slightly, revealing glimpses of its armoured underbelly before snapping shut again.

Then, it released that smell again.

A thick, nauseating stench burst into the air like a toxic cloud, spreading rapidly across the battlefield. Ethan immediately grimaced and backed away, thanking God again that he wasn’t assimilated with Wolfy.

Meanwhile, the Bulldozer staggered.

"Ghh-!"

His movements slowed, his footing becoming unstable as the smell clearly affected him more directly.

The beetle didn’t hesitate and blitzed forward again.

It launched forward again.

Boom!

This time, the impact sent the Bulldozer tumbling across the ground, his massive frame bouncing once before crashing into a jagged rock formation.

"Fuck-!"

He coughed, trying to push himself up, but the Ironclad Beetle was already turning and had locked onto its next target.

Ethan.

It curled again, compressed, and launched explosively.

The hawk-eyed man who had been perched atop a rock gracefully didn’t hesitate.

Swoosh!

He leapt just as the beetle smashed into the ground where he had been standing.

Crash!

Fragments of stone shot into the air like shrapnel. Ethan landed lightly a few metres away, sliding slightly before regaining his footing, his eyes remaining locked onto the beast.

’It’s fast... but predictable.’

The charge had power, a lot of it, but the creature had no choice but to commit fully to its attacks. That meant it couldn’t suddenly change direction, leaving it with openings to exploit.

He exhaled slowly.

’It really all is just like a video game.’

There were a limited number of possible attacks the mob could use, and he had to adjust to them accordingly while trying to counter. But he watched for a little longer, wanting to test the limits of the grey-skinned C Rank.

"Don’t just lie there!" Ethan snapped.

The Bulldozer growled, shaking his head violently as he forced himself upright.

"I’m not done yet!"

The beetle turned again, clearly irritated now, its movements growing more aggressive, more erratic.

It charged once more, returning its attention to the Bulldozer.

The two clashed again, the man bracing himself and driving his head forward like a battering ram.

Boom!

Another collision.

Another shockwave.

But this time, the Bulldozer slid back, his footing cracked.

"Shit..."

It was clear his strength wasn’t enough, and it was only a matter of time before the beast got the better of him.

Ethan tutted, almost like a disappointed coach.

’Alright... I’ve seen enough.’

He shifted his stance slightly, muscles tensing.

’When it uncurls...’

That’s when it would die.

Ethan bent his knees slightly and braced to burst forward and use Talon’s Beast Impact, which had been so effective against Mace.

But just as he was about to...

Zap!

A flash of white light cut through the battlefield, one that was precise and instant.

Ethan’s eyes widened slightly as a figure drifted into view.

It was that guy who was constantly meditating, and even now he was floating cross-legged without a care in the world.

"This dude?"

The man hovered effortlessly above the ground, eyes still closed, his entire presence calm, unnaturally calm, despite the chaos unfolding around him.

Then his eyes opened.

They were completely white, without an iris or pupil, just blinding light.

And from them came literal laser beams.

Two concentrated streams of pure mana erupted forward, piercing straight through the beetle’s armoured shell as if it were paper.

There was no explosion or dramatic impact, just clean, effortless destruction.

The beams exited through the other side, leaving molten holes in the creature’s body. Then they vanished once the monk closed his eyes again and returned to stillness as if nothing had happened.

"Fucking hell..." Ethan muttered under his breath.

’You’re telling me that’s a C Rank?!’

There was no way.

That power output without any buildup, it was unheard of.

And even more concerning was that Ethan hadn’t sensed him coming at all; there was just that zapping sound, and then he was there in his peripheral vision.

’Was I not focused...’

He shook his head slightly.

’No, that’s not it. He’s just... weird.’

And that made him even more interesting.

But the fight wasn’t over.

The beetle screeched again, staggering slightly but still very much alive, its body twitching as it tried to recover from the sudden damage.

That’s when the Bulldozer moved.

"GRAAAAH!"

He charged forward, rage fully consuming him now as he slammed into the beast, knocking it onto its back with brute force.

The creature struggled, flailing, but it was too late.

It was mounted by the grey-skinned freak of nature, then...

Slam!

The Bulldozer’s head came down like a hammer.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Each strike dented the already-damaged shell, cracks spreading rapidly until...

Crunch!

The armour gave way, and the beetle’s struggling weakened.

Then it stopped entirely, silence descending upon them.

The Bulldozer remained there for a moment, breathing heavily, covered in blood and viscous green fluid, his entire body trembling from exertion.

Then he stood and turned toward Ethan menacingly...