Apocalypse: Starting With Three Unique Blessings-Chapter 44: Minotaurus.

Meanwhile high above, where the powerful individuals gathered to observe Magnus’s trial, Monkey’s booming laughter echoed through the sky.

"Finally! I’ve finally found someone with a far better physique than you, Grognak!" Monkey roared, addressing another colossal figure nearby.

Like Monkey, this giant, Grognak, stood nearly nine feet tall, but possessed a far more imposing frame. His muscle mass was nearly double that of Monkey’s, giving him the appearance of a walking mountain of pure muscle. Grognak’s dark skin shimmered with a faint golden sheen, his bald head gleaming under the sunlight, the golden undertones amplifying its brilliance. His bare chest and arms showcased a meticulously sculpted physique, a stark contrast to Monkey’s protruding belly.

"Finally, someone who can finally put your prideful ass in its place!" Monkey chortled.

Grognak scoffed and casually thrust a fist toward Monkey. An ethereal fist materialized in mid-air, hurtling toward Monkey, who nonchalantly waved his hand, dispersing the energy construct upon arrival. Grognak’s attack hadn’t been delivered with any real force. The two seemed close, their exchange akin to a playful jab between friends. Yet, even this casual gesture contained enough power to level a mountain.

While the two giants bantered, the others focused on Magnus’s territory, complex expressions etched on their faces. Magnus’s strength had far surpassed that of a typical unranked individual, human or otherwise. He had eclipsed even those races naturally gifted with superior physical attributes, approaching the level of an awakened individual through sheer physical might.

Of course, this didn’t mean Magnus could stand against even the weakest F-ranked awakened being. The true power of awakened individuals lay not in enhanced strength, but in their ability to manipulate mana, weaving it into potent attacks.

"This one is indeed interesting," Reynold murmured, a playful glint in his eyes. He wasn’t alone; the other assembled figures shared the same thought, their gazes fixed on Magnus.

Meanwhile, oblivious to the attention he was receiving, Magnus stood before his men. The countdown to the next wave was ticking down to its final seconds. His gaze was sharp, focused on the distant horizon. Just then, the countdown ended, and a massive cloud of dust erupted on the horizon. The third wave was approaching.

The men behind Magnus exchanged grim looks. The sheer volume of dust heralded a wave far more intense than the previous two combined. The ground trembled as the horde drew closer, a testament to its power. Despite the impending threat, Magnus and his men stood firm, their eyes devoid of fear. They were prepared to face whatever the beast horde threw at them.

But their confidence wavered as the horde advanced. Magnus, Kael, Robert, Kelvin, and the rest of the men behind them felt a chilling presence at the forefront of the onslaught. Their expressions shifted, replaced by a dawning realization.

Finally, Kelvin broke the silence, his eyes wide with alarm. "Feral rank beasts," he whispered, his voice catching in his throat.

"Not just one," Robert added, his brow furrowed, "but two, leading the horde."

At that moment, William contacted Magnus through their mental link. He, too, faced an even graver threat – three feral rank beasts among his approaching horde. Reports began flooding in from all sections of the wall. It seemed every position was under heavy assault, even the southern wall, which had remained relatively peaceful during the first two waves.

’Damn it,’ Magnus cursed inwardly as he processed the influx of information from his summons stationed across the wall. The situation was dire. Without hesitation, he contacted Godiva, ordering her to reinforce William’s position with the reserve troops immediately. He issued rapid-fire instructions to his other summons, coordinating their defenses.

As this unfolded, the beast horde continued its relentless advance. As it drew near, Magnus finally saw the two feral rank beasts heading his way. They were minotaurs, hulking figures rippling with muscle. Their hides seemed forged from iron, each wielding an axe crafted from a dark, obsidian-like material. The very air crackled with their menacing presence.

William’s report mirrored Magnus’s own grim situation, only worse. Three minotaurs led a massive wave of beasts toward William’s section of the wall. Two wielded axes of the same obsidian-like material, while the third carried a massive, spiked mace. The situation looked bleak.

Magnus’s heart sank upon hearing this. Earlier, when Kael had scouted the gathering horde, he had identified these five minotaurs among the ranks, seemingly leading the charge. Magnus had assumed these feral rank minotaurs, along with a number of other powerful but normal-ranked beasts, would constitute the fifth wave. Their presence in the third wave was deeply unsettling. What did it mean?

Five feral rank beasts in the third wave? What horrors would the fourth and fifth waves bring? The thought sent a shiver down his spine, but he couldn’t afford to dwell on it. He needed to focus on the immediate threat.

Just then, Vorax communicated through their link, urging Magnus to concentrate on the other minotaur. He claimed he could handle one alone.

Magnus frowned. Despite Vorax’s impressive size and terrifying strength, he was still a newborn Celestial beast, hatched only days ago and yet to undergo his first evolution. The minotaurs, on the other hand, were already at the feral rank.

After a moment of hesitation, Magnus decided to trust Vorax. He hadn’t yet witnessed the full extent of Vorax’s power. The celestial beast hadn’t even activated his Berserk ability. Magnus reminded himself that Vorax was a creature of immense potential, a being that defied conventional understanding of beasts. He held a position at the apex of the animal kingdom. Magnus had faith that Vorax could pull it off.

With Vorax engaging one minotaur, that left four for Magnus to worry about – one approaching his position and three bearing down on William. He quickly made a decision. He would send Kael to reinforce William.

He believed that he and Kelvin, working together, could handle the single minotaur at their location. Meanwhile, Godiva, William, Kael, and his summons would confront the other three. Time was of the essence. The horde was closing fast. Magnus dispatched Kael immediately, while he and Kelvin braced themselves to face the approaching minotaur, its roars shaking the very foundations of the wall.

"Advance!" Magnus roared, charging forward. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

This time, he didn’t wait to engage the main horde before unleashing Vorax. He hurled the celestial beast towards one of the leading minotaurs. With a ferocious roar, Vorax expanded mid-air, descending upon the minotaur like a meteor.

Sensing the imminent danger, the minotaur knew it couldn’t allow Vorax to make contact. It dodged desperately at the last moment, narrowly avoiding the devastating impact.

The second minotaur was also taken aback, sensing the powerful aura emanating from Vorax – the unmistakable aura of a Celestial beast. This momentary hesitation gave Kelvin the opening he needed.

He lashed out with a fiery punch, a burst of flame shaped like a fist slamming into the minotaur’s chest. The impact sent the beast reeling backward, crashing into the oncoming horde. At the same time, Vorax collided with the first minotaur in a thunderous clash.

The first minotaur roared in fury, seeing its companion injured, but it was trapped. Vorax held it fast, its massive jaws agape. No sound emerged, but the gear-like teeth within spun with incredible speed, creating a vortex that pulled the minotaur relentlessly closer.

The minotaur roared again, digging its axe into the ground, momentarily anchoring itself against the pull of the vortex. But Vorax had anticipated this. With astonishing speed, the massive creature spun, its spiked tail whipping around and smashing into the minotaur’s side, sending it flying into the horde with a pained bellow.

Magnus was surprised by Vorax’s tactical awareness. Even though Celestial beasts possessed higher intelligence than other creatures, Vorax had only hatched a few days ago. Magnus hadn’t expected such cunning so soon.

’Could he have developed it while hunting in the Silent Forest these past few days?’ The question flitted through Magnus’s mind, but he had no time to ponder. The second minotaur, enraged by Kelvin’s attack, had recovered and was charging towards them.