Long ago, before history was written, the Minotaurs roamed the land. Towering and horned, their strength rivaled dragons, yet they wielded no flashy spells—only their strange, powerful barrier magic. With a stomp or a growl, they could summon shields of air, unbreakable as stone.
They lived two hundred years, but at seventy-five, something awakened within them—a hidden power unique to each. Some could craft shimmering walls of light; others made the earth tremble with a roar. No one knew why or how—only that it came, as sure as the turning seasons.
Now, they are gone. No one remembers the last Minotaur. But their secrets remain—waiting, perhaps, for someone to uncover them.
Kariro's lips curled into a savage grin as he cracked his knuckles. "Are you telling me this is a legendary Minotaur?" His voice dripped with reckless hunger. "Well, how about I chop off its head? Opportunities like this are rare."
Hosoki stood frozen, sweat glistening on his pale face. His fingers trembled against his relic-covered chest as his pulse hammered in his ears. "Do you really think you can do it?" The words came out strangled. "This Minotaur is on another level." His eyes darted to the creature's spiraling horns, calculating. "You'd be lucky to even scratch him. Just by looking at his horns... I can tell he's not fully grown yet." A shudder ran through him. "His horns tell me he's at least SSS rank."
The Minotaur's massive chest rose with a slow, deliberate breath. Shadows clung to his towering form as he spoke, his voice rumbling like distant thunder. "My name is Kenji Taurus." The air itself seemed to vibrate with each syllable. "I'm surprised by your knowledge of Minotaurs..." His golden eyes gleamed with something ancient and knowing. "...but that won't be enough to obtain the legendary hourglass."
Silence hung thick for a heartbeat before he continued, the weight of centuries in his words. "You must duel me and win." Dust motes swirled around his hooves as he took a ground-shaking step forward. "Only one of you can face me at a time. You can switch..." The warning in his voice turned sharp as obsidian. "...but never engage me simultaneously."
Somewhere in the cavern's depths, stone groaned as if in warning. "Breaking this rule will cause this hall to collapse and kill you." His massive hand flexed, the threat clear. "I'll be safe within my barrier." A ghost of a smile touched his lips. "Only a diamond barrier can withstand the impact of this hall, and as you may know..." The unspoken truth lingered in the air between them. "We are the only ones capable of using a high-level diamond barrier."
(Kenji stood at around 10 feet in height, every corded muscle tensed like coiled steel beneath his dark hide.)
Kariro's arm shimmered, flesh reshaping into a gleaming, pointed sword. His entire body darkened, taking on the sheen of forged iron - a weapon honed for slaughter.
Without ceremony, Kenji's fist crashed into the stone floor. "Diamond Barrier." The words rang like a death knell. The earth trembled as an invisible force erupted upward, distorting the air like heat waves over desert sands protecting the hourglass.
(The Diamond Barrier was the most potent in the world. The invisible variant was legendary-ranked, with barrier strength determined by its color. The weakest barriers were white, while the strongest were invisible - and the most powerful one hummed with power that made the very light bend around it.)
Kenji's massive hands stretched upward as a monstrous axe materialized from the shadows above. The weapon slammed into his palms with a thunderous clang, its crimson-edged blade humming with ancient power. Hosoki's magical lens flickered as it identified the weapon - SS-rank, its surface etched with glowing runes.
The axe was an SS-rank weapon Hosoki had identified using his magical lens. It gleamed red along its edge, adorned with ancient runes. (Rune, an ancient language, was used to draw magic circles and craft enchanted items. Properly ordered runes could amplify, multiply, seal, or even produce elements. However, it was a forgotten language, and only legendary smiths and master
Kariro transformed his body into iron, his hand shifting into a razor-sharp sword capable of slicing through even the toughest metal. He steeled himself for battle, his unreadable expression masking the weight of the coming fight.
Kenji swung his axe vertically with brutal force, unleashing a gale so fierce that wind, dust, and fog swirled into a blinding tempest. The sheer pressure sent tremors through the ground. Kariro and Hosoki shielded their eyes, straining to see through the storm. Amid the chaos, a glint of crimson cut through the haze—M's dazzling red eye glared at them from the shadows before vanishing.
Their senses heightened, scanning the battlefield. Then, a red glow flickered above them. Kenji, his axe gleaming with murderous intent, descended from the air like a falling star. The duo barely evaded as the axe struck the ground, the impact shattering the stone floor beneath them, sending debris flying.
Kenji wasted no time, pressing the attack. His relentless swings forced Kariro and Hosoki to stay on the defensive, dodging in a desperate attempt to survive. Each strike carved through the battlefield, turning stone to dust.
Kariro gritted his teeth. "He's incredibly strong. Can we even defeat him?"
Hosoki wiped blood from his lips, his breath ragged. "I'm going all-out."
He glanced at Kariro, his tone sharp. "Don't end up as mincemeat."
Kariro nodded. "It'll only last for a minute."
He took a deep breath. "Activate all items!"
Hosoki's chains rattled as his rings pulsed with power, his body trembling under the strain. His fingers glowed as the enchantments surged to life, amplifying his strength—but at a cost. Pain clawed through his veins, but he endured it. He had only one minute.
his power soaring to SSS Rank Level 1. Golden light engulfed him, burning away his shirt and revealing intricate tattoos covering his body. The largest—an ethereal snow tiger—awoke, its blue aura roaring to life, overshadowing the golden glow. The ground cracked beneath him as raw energy surged outward.
Kenji tightened his grip on his axe. "Tch. Fine, then. Show me what you've got."
Kariro launched himself forward, each step detonating the floor beneath him. He leapt high, his fist crackling with energy as he aimed a meteoric punch at Kenji's face. Kenji raised his axe, bracing it with both hands. The impact rattled his bones, forcing him back as the stone beneath his feet disintegrated.
With a growl, Kenji roared, unleashing the full power of his weapon. The axe flared red-hot, burning through the air, and both warriors' hands bled from the sheer intensity of the clash.
But Kariro wasn't done.
His form flickered and vanished.
Kenji's instincts screamed at him—too late. Kariro reappeared behind him, his iron-forged arm already thrusting forward. Kenji summoned a diamond barrier in a desperate defense, but the blade arm pierced through from another angle, slicing through his defenses and stabbing deep. Blood splattered onto the ground as Kenji let out a choked gasp.
Kenji's body trembled, his vision swimming in and out of focus. The blade had pierced deep, but sheer willpower kept him standing. His trembling fingers tightened around the axe once more.
With a strained growl, he swung. The attack was sluggish, the strength behind it failing. Hosoki barely dodged, the blade grazing past him, missing its mark due to Kenji's blurred vision.
The axe slipped from Kenji's weakening grip, clattering to the ground. Without hesitation, he lunged at Hosoki, fists raised. Hosoki met him head-on.
Fist clashed against fist, the raw force of their blows sending shockwaves through the crumbling battlefield. Each punch shattered the stone beneath them. Blood spurted from Kenji's chest wound, dribbling from his lips. Hosoki's hands were breaking under the strain, his fingers mangled, his own blood spilling freely.
Kenji swung again. Hosoki barely dodged, but the near miss left him breathless. Even one direct hit would end him.
Kenji's movements grew sluggish. His punches slowed.
Hosoki saw his chance. Gritting his teeth, he ducked under a weak swing and drove his fist into Kenji's face, staggering him. Then, gathering every ounce of strength left, he struck Kenji's open wound with a devastating blow.
Kenji's body jolted as blood erupted from his lips. The impact sent him flying ten feet back, crashing hard against the rubble. His vision blackened.
His body lay still.
Kariro didn't waste time. He sprinted toward the hourglass, the artifact gleaming like a beacon amidst the chaos. As he seized it, Kenji's body faltered, his breath shallow, his wounds severe.
The hall trembled, the structure beginning to collapse from the overwhelming power unleashed within its walls. Both Kenji and Hosoki teetered on the edge of consciousness, their bodies ravaged by the battle.
Kariro found Hosoki, barely able to move, his body burned and battered. Without hesitation, Kariro pulled out a piece of paper etched with a magic circle. Pressing it against the ground, he smeared his own blood onto it. Instantly, the glyphs ignited, forming a glowing circle beneath them. The spell activated, teleporting them away just as the last stones of the crumbling hall began to fall.
Kenji lay sprawled on the shattered ground, his once-powerful aura flickering weakly. His diamond barrier cracked and then faded away completely. Blood pooled around him, his breaths shallow. He gazed up at the collapsing ceiling, his vision swimming.
He whispered to himself, "I'm sorry, Dad. I couldn't keep my promise. I'm a failure, and it seems I'm going to die. I'll see you in another world."
But then—
A voice cut through the darkness, deep and unfamiliar.
"Hey, Kenji, you're not dying today. Not on my watch."
Kenji's fading vision caught a glimpse of a blurry figure kneeling beside him, his presence heavy with power. Before he could process it, the world faded to black.