Apocalypse with my SSS Harem Beauties-Chapter 142: Rising Heat

Myles arrived in front of the monster in the blink of an eye. No pause or hesitation.

He stepped into its reach and swung both blades in a relentless sequence.

Fangblade cut horizontally and Noctyrix dagger followed in a rising diagonal arc. He chained the attacks without gap. His slashes carry full force and precise killing intent.

The monster answered immediately. Its blazing hands slammed downward.

Myles twisted aside. A flaming fist swept across his chest level.

He ducked and countered with a slash toward its ribs.

Clang!

Sparks erupted between the clashes of black steel and condensed fire.

They moved almost at the same speed.

Myles’ blades carved arcs of dark light. The monster’s burning arms left streaks of orange in the air. Each exchange sent shockwaves across the fractured ground and air.

Their eyes met. Twin blazing orbs against steady, focused dark pupils.

For a brief second, it felt like two predators testing each other.

Several meters away, Michael watched with shock filled his chest.

Myles was keeping up. No, he was actually pressing the monster back. He saw the speed, precision, and the sheer force behind every swing.

Michael finally understood something clearly. Myles was stronger than him. Stronger than he had assumed.

A sharp whistle cut through the clash.

Ether bullets from Ethan streaked in first, striking the monster’s shoulder and temple when Myles forced it to raise an arm. Almost simultaneously, Samantha’s Ether arrows followed from another angle.

They timed their shots perfectly.

Not a single projectile grazed Myles.

They targeted only when gaps opened.

One bullet struck near the monster’s eye. An arrow embedded near its brow ridge. Ether flared on impact, distorting the flames around its vision.

The guardian recoiled slightly. Its sight flickered.

Myles saw it instantly. So he stepped in.

Both blades crossed and slashed toward its neck again, aiming directly at the destabilized frost wound.

The guardian snarled and stumbled half a step as its vision blurred from the suppressive shots.

Rage exploded within it. Instead of retreating, it drew in more power. Flames surged inward toward its core.

The temperature spiked.

Its entire body brightened from orange to near-white at certain points. The air warped violently around it.

Myles halted instinctively because the heat slammed into him like a solid wall.

His skin prickled even before contact. The ground beneath the guardian began to glow.

It was overcharging.

"Back!" someone shouted from behind.

Victor, George, and Kade finally arrived at Myles’ side.

Victor lifted his cleaver with jaw clenched. George planted his hammer firmly. Kade lowered his stance, tightening his fists.

They stood beside Myles without a word.

The air burned hotter.

—

From the shadow of a collapsed structure at the edge of the zone, another pair of eyes observed the battlefield.

Red stood with his arms crossed loosely over his chest. This was the same man who had calmly slashed a naked prisoner inside a dark room not long ago and now watched the battle with sharp interest. The orange glow reflected in his pupils.

His lips curved slowly.

"They’re actually pushing it," he muttered.

The guardian staggered again under the coordinated assault. Myles and the others held formation even as the heat intensified.

Red let out a short snort.

"Hmph."

A crooked smile formed on his face.

"That guy... what’s his name? Michael?" His gaze shifted briefly toward Michael’s figure among the fighters. "So he really wants that altar that badly."

"Still planning to kill me?"His tone carried faint amusement.

Instead of tension, Red felt something else entirely. It was opportunity.

If Michael had gathered strength like this where he had managed to get those strong allies capable of pressing even a mutated guardian monster empowered by higher forces... then why should Red interfere now?

He would let them fight, bleed, and let them exhaust themselves, breaking the guardian’s defenses.

The altar stood at the center of this battlefield, behind layers of flame and destruction.

Red’s eyes narrowed slightly.

He did not need to struggle for it now and reveal himself.

If they managed to kill the guardian and secure the altar, he would simply take it from them afterward. He already had plan for that.

A quiet chuckle escaped his throat.

"No need to worry."

He adjusted his stance and continued watching, patient as a vulture.

—

The flames swelled. White-orange light burst outward from the monster guardian’s core as the fire expanded in a violent surge.

Heat rolled across the battlefield in visible waves. The air shimmered and distorted. Cracked glass beneath their feet began to soften and glow faint red.

The temperature climbed fast and breathing became heavier. Their sweat evaporated almost instantly from exposed skin.

Myles narrowed his eyes and endured the pressure. The heat pressed against him like a physical force, but it did not break his stance.

He glanced to his side.

Michael had dropped to one knee.

No, he was on both hands now.

His shoulders trembled. His face twisted in pain as the scorching air burned his lungs and skin. He tried to rise but faltered again.

The difference was obvious.

Myles inhaled slowly and circulated Ether through his meridians in a natural way. The flow moved clean and controlled beneath his skin, forming a thin but stable layer of reinforcement. The heat still hurt, but it remained within tolerable limits.

Victor, George, and Kade were grimacing from the heat. But they did not step back. They could endure because they were able to circulate the Ether naturally inside their body already.

Michael and the others in his group could not.

Myles made the decision instantly.

"Kade. Take Michael back," he said without looking away from the guardian.

Kade blinked. "Me?" His jaw tightened. He clearly wanted to stay in the frontline.

"Yes. Someone has to move him. Bring him to the backline and return here."

There was no room for argument in Myles’ tone.

Kade exhaled sharply through his nose.

"Fine."

He did not waste another second.

Kade broke formation and dashed toward Michael. The heat lashed against his back as he moved, but he pushed through it.

Michael tried to protest when Kade reached him, but the words came out strained and broken.

"Don’t— I can—"

"You’ll die if you stay," Kade cut him off bluntly.

He grabbed Michael under the arm and hauled him up with force.

Michael’s feet scraped across the heated ground as Kade dragged him away from the expanding blaze.

Behind them, the monster roared.

The overcharged flames spiraled tighter around its body but now they were compressing. The air vibrated with unstable power.

—