Lunar Legacy: Rise Of The Beastlord-Chapter 247: Warhammer

The impact of the blow detonated like compressed thunder. A violent shockwave blasted outward, exploding dust and debris in a spiraling radius beneath them. The arena floor spiderwebbed, cracks racing out like lightning veins.

Though his crimson rune-barrier shimmered and absorbed most of the damage, Hercules’ forearms still throbbed viciously. The force rattled through his bone structure, vibrating into his shoulders.

He gritted his teeth in frustration, his mind racing. "Shit! He’s faster and stronger now. How’s that even possible?"

Out of instinct, he tried to leapt back and counterattack, but Jayden vanished again. He was like a blur. A ripple. A whisper of killing intent.

Then...

CRACK!

He reappeared and slammed a punch straight into Hercules’ gut. There was no visible wind-up... just impact.

Hercules’ eyes shot open wide, air exploding from his lungs. The blow hit like a piledriver, lifting his massive frame off the ground and hurling him backward like a ragdoll. His boots tore long grooves into the arena floor as he skidded, bouncing once, then twice before grinding to a stop.

His insides roared with dull pain despite his barrier. He clenched his teeth. "That one... hurt through the shield? How the hell is he this strong?" He barely finished the thought before everything flickered again.

Jayden was already in front of him, fist blazing towards his neck like a guillotine.

"...shit!" Hercules jerked his head back quickly, barely dodging by a hair’s breadth.

SWOOSH.

Jayden’s fist sliced the air with a sonic crack, grazing Hercules’ chin. But he didn’t pause, his body pivoted mid-motion with inhuman fluidity, rebounding off the ground with a tight push, launching upward in a spiraling spin.

FWSSSHH-CRACK!

Jayden’s spinning kick slammed across Hercules’ cheek, whipping his head violently to the side. Spit and blood burst from his mouth as his vision momentarily blurred.

The impact echoed, not just sound, but kinetic pressure. The barrier struggled to disperse the blow, flaring crackles of crimson rune-light, but Hercules still staggered.

Jayden landed lightly like a predator touching down from a hunt, already driving forward before Hercules could regain his footing.

He blitzed forward again, a blur ripping through the air with a trailing echo of pressure. Hercules raised his guard too slow... far too slow.

BAM!!

Jayden’s fist slammed into his ribs like a meteor, the sound bone-deep and sickening. Hercules’ body jolted violently to the side.

CRACK!

A second punch came instantly... no pause, no mercy, connecting with his sternum. Hercules’ breath hitched, eyes wide, heart rattling against bone.

BAAM!!

A third blow to the jaw snapped his head up, blood misting the air in a fine spray. He couldn’t even scream. It was too fast. Too brutal.

And Jayden was just getting started. He was prepared to attack in a non-stop, aggressive frenzy.

Hercules stumbled backward, throwing his arms up in a desperate guard, mind racing in panic. Jayden closed the gap like a reaper following a heartbeat.

CRACK!

A straight punch slammed into Hercules ribs.

THUD!

Another drilled into his stomach before he could even register the first.

SMACK!

A hook tore across his cheek, jerking his head sideways, blood spraying mid-spin. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Hercules staggered back, trying to tighten his guard, but Jayden was already there again, eyes cold, stance precise.

BAAAM!

A heavy knee buried itself into his diaphragm, folding him forward like a broken hinge.

Hercules gagged, nearly retching air that wasn’t even there. His mind reeled. "He’s too fast—! He’s reading me—!! I can’t..."

But Jayden didn’t give him room to think.

BAM!!!

A thunderous elbow strike crashed down on Hercules’ upper back, dropping him to one knee.

WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!

Blow after blow landed, fists carving into Hercules’ form with terrifying rhythm. Each impact sent shockwaves through his torso, cracking the arena floor under their feet. Hercules blocked some, others slipped through. But even the blocks hurt. Even the dodges were too slow.

The streaming pavilion was quiet. Players watched in horrified silence. Chat feeds flickered with disbelief.

-"Hercules is getting humiliated. He’s not even fighting back anymore..."

-"This is depressing. Isn’t Hercules supposed to be top ten?"

-"Damn... I kinda feel bad. Orion’s not letting him breathe."

-"Who cares! I think Hercules got what he deserved. That’ll teach him to never bully us low-ranked players again."

Back in the arena, Hercules’ barrier flared, runes flickering desperately under Jayden’s relentless assault. It was failing. His vision blurred. Pain turned into humiliation.

His status, his pride, his legacy in the game was slipping with every punch that made him flinch, with every blow that sent him staggering like a ragdoll.

He was Hercules... Rank 10 in the whole world. A symbol of raw might.

But right now?

He was being beaten like a trainee in a beginner-tier match.

Blood dripped from his split lip. His breathing came ragged. The rune-barrier flickered under endless impact, struggling to keep up.

His mind raced in desperation. "No. I can’t... lose. Not like this. Not to him. Not in front of everyone."

He took a step back, then another. Jayden advanced, face calm, eyes cold.

Hercules’ panic spiked. "But he’s faster. He’s faster than me. Stronger than me. If I don’t do something, my reputation... I’ll be ruined."

Then, his eyes caught a glint in the distance.

His hammer. Lying still where he’d dropped it.

Hope detonated in his chest. He still had a chance to win.

Jayden dashed in again, fist chambered for another devastating blow, his fist already flying toward Hercules’ face.

And at that moment, Hercules stopped retreating. His eyes locked onto the hammer, and his lips parted slightly with a sudden command.

"Come." he whispered, and shot his hand toward the hammer, fingers splayed.

The hammer answered instantly.

WHOOOOM!!!

The colossal weapon tore out of the ground like a missile, ripping through the air toward Hercules as if pulled by gravity itself.

Jayden’s eyes flickered. But it was too late.

Hercules snatched the handle of the hammer mid-flight, and spun his arm in a brutal, full-bodied, desperation-fueled, centrifugal arc.

Jayden’s eyes widened, just a flicker, as the hammer’s head came crashing toward him.

BAAAAAAAAAAM!!!

The hammer connected with Jayden’s jaw in a devastating, full-force swing. The impact produced a thunderclap that fractured the arena floor, blowing debris outward like a shockbomb. Jayden’s head snapped back violently, his body arching as he was launched across the battlefield like a broken projectile.

He slammed into the far end of the arena, ground shattering beneath him as he crashed, bouncing once before grinding to a brutal halt several meters away.

The arena fell silent.