Reborn As An Evolving Monster

378 One Against The World, I

'Alone... Against dozens and dozens of Giants. Every single one of those Giants much, much bigger than you. If the Giants are extinct now, and this isn't some random Story but History instead then... Mmm.'

Mark stared at the Mural, his right hand covering his mouth.

"They stood in your way. Were you looking for something beyond them? Were they trying to stop you?" He whispered, before walking to the left.

Sidestep-

'Dozens of them... No. The Giants are the end of the block. Since they're getting cut... That's supposed to show that there are more than that. Much more? But he can still hold his own somehow. Problem is, the Giants aren't alone.' Mark thought as he turned towards the next block and started wiping the dust off. 'Behind them, a swarm of... Archers? Those are bows, aren't they? Swarms of them behind the Giants. They look minuscule. Some arrows being shot were even drawn. Yeah, the arrows are aimed at you. Tough luck, huh? Oh... Wait. This is...'

One painting over two blocks.

'All of these... Against you?'

Giants. Archers. Swordsmen. Beasts.

'Those look like Wolves... Everything, huh?'

Mark chuckled.

"The world against you." He whispered.

Two blocks had been utilized to show the sheer quantity and diversity of enemies that stood in "His" way.

'An arrow hit your arm. Bleeding... Then, they approached.'

The next block did a great job showcasing their arrival.

'Amazing... They're still small compared to the Giants but... Approaching from above, spitting fire from their mouths... You weren't alone in the end, huh?'

Indeed, flying above "Him", dozens of gigantic Dragons.

"You and the Dragons against the World." Mark whispered as he passed his hand over the block. "Incredible... Their arrival was that much of a game-changer, huh? The colors and shades used are completely different. The lines aren't as detailed... Everything was shaking, huh? Everything... Except him."

Mark savored the moment for a bit longer.

All parties had now joined the battlefield.

He moved towards the next block, and it did not disappoint.

An epic battle was illustrated with so much detail and vividity that Mark couldn't help but step closer to it, Devouring it with his eye.

Giants, Archers, and Beasts, had been burnt to a crisp.

Dragons and Wyverns had been brought down, shot down by arrows.

'Those Flames... The Fire that covers the Giants' arms is...'

[Your Title "Fire Seeker" stares.]

[Your Title "Potential Wielder of the Primordial Flame" whispers in its slumber.]

[Your Title "Fire Seeker" nods.]

"It is, huh? The Primordial Flame... It clashes against the Dragons' breathes, but eventually wins. And him..." The white-scaled Monster passed its hand over the blueish paint. "The Undying Flames, right?"

[Your Title "Fire Seeker" says that it is something similar.]

"Similar? Like a stronger version of them or something?"

[Your Title "Fire Seeker" argues that it isn't necessarily a question of strength.]

"But those are stronger, right?"

[Your Title "Fire Seeker" says that you are correct.]

"Yeah..."

He turned back towards the block.

'Both sides are taking heavy losses, but...' Mark raised his gaze towards the top of the block. 'Clouds spiraling around. A red sky. It's about to descend, huh?'

He quickly moved towards the next block.

His eyes widened at the sheer intensity of it descending.

'Red Lightning... Piercing through the sky. Gigantic. Violent. Wild. The lines are drawn so roughly. The center of it is white... Ha! Almost as if it's so fast that color doesn't have time to catch up. I like that. A gigantic hit like that fell right on you, huh? Let's how it went...'

Sidestep-

"Barely hanging on..."

Half of his body had been painted black. No doubt, burnt to a crisp.

'The Dragons... Not many of them left by now. But the same is true for the Giants and the rest. Let's see how it-'

Mark's body froze just as he was about to step away.

"That purple...?"

[Your Title "Fire Seeker" stares.]

[Your Title "Potential Wielder of the Primordial Flame" grumbles in its slumber.]

[Your Title "Fire Seeker" says that those are called the "Demonic Flames".]

"Demonic Flames?"

[Your Title "Fire Seeker" explains that the "Demonic Flames" are fearsome Flames that target the Soul.]

[Your Title "Fire Seeker" adds that those Flames use Fear as fuel to burn at the Soul.]

"Huh... How do you know all that?"

[Your Title "Fire Seeker" turns towards a certain Title.]

[Your Title "Potential Wielder of the Primordial Flame" feigns ignorance.]

'Not going to warn me about those, huh? So he was hit by Red Lightning, and Demonic Flames started rising from his arm. Then...'

An explosion.

An explosion of darkness.

It hit indiscriminately. Giants, Archers, Dragons... All were hit and targeted.

By joining his hands together and, therefore, those Flames, something else was born.

The explosion made a dozen more Dragons fall to the ground, and two dozen Giants crumble.

The explosion and shockwave passed, leaving in their wake...

"Dark flames?"

Hellfire.

'The combination of two types of Fire Magic? Dark Magic? Are the Undying Flames even Fire Magic? They're more a combination of Fire Magic and... Dark Magic? Corruption Magic? Demonic Flames attack the Soul... Corrupted Flames? Or Corrupting Flames? Can I mix the two? Corruption and Fire Magic?'

Mark shook his head.

"Using that meant attacking everyone at once. Was it worth it?" He whispered before moving to the next block.

This time, and for the first time, "He" wasn't on the right side of the block.

'Just like he was on the first one, he's at the center. This time, surrounded. Dragons, Giants, Arches... You had the Dragons on your side, but you lost them. Now it's truly... You against the World.'

Mark stared and stared at the painting.

Profoundly, and with slight disgust.

"Why are you smiling?"

For the first time, he was smiling.

Being surrounded by golden leaves wasn't enough.

Fighting those standing in his way wasn't enough.

The Dragons coming to his aid wasn't enough.

The only time he smiled, was when he was alone, against all of them.