Chapter 20: Spectacle to behold
As Shiva's face emerged from the shadowy folds of his robe, the crowd involuntarily took a step back, startled by the unsettling sight. There, upon the young man's face, was a smile so twisted, so utterly mad, that it sent shivers down the spines of those who beheld it.
His eyes, alight with an eerie gleam, seemed to glint with avarice as he surveyed the middle-aged man before him, as if the man were naught but a rare treasure ripe for the taking.
"You...! You! What are you?"
The middle-aged man's voice wavered, his words barely more than a fearful whisper as he stumbled backward, his gaze fixed upon Shiva with a mixture of caution and dread.
Shiva's smile widened, amusement dancing in the depths of his dark eyes.
"Me? I am but a passing traveler, one who couldn't resist the urge to lend a hand to some hapless children," he replied, his voice dripping with mockery, sending a shiver down the spine of middle aged man.
Fear coursed through the middle-aged man's veins as he realized that the young man before him was far from ordinary. Yet, he took solace in the knowledge that he was not without his own resources.
"You may be thinking that you could defeat me after blocking my fireball, but don't think I would be that easy to defeat," the middle-aged man sneered, though a flicker of dread danced behind his eyes, his voice oozing with arrogance as he gestured to his assembled forces.
Responding to his command, a swarm of armed men, numbering between twenty-five to thirty, closed in on Shiva and his skeletons. They brandished an array of weapons, from swords to spades, their eyes glinting with determination, each one at least at level 5, a formidable force by any measure.
Yet, in the face of this orchestrated aggression, Shiva's response was not one of fear, but rather amusement. A chuckle escaped his lips, a sound that seemed to reverberate through the stillness of the forest like a sinister melody.
"Oh, how amusing," he remarked, his tone dripping with sarcasm as he surveyed the encircling throng. "But do you truly believe that these are enough to stop me?"
With a knowing smile, Shiva uttered a name that sent a chill coursing through the hearts of all who heard it.
"Aghora."
At the mere mention of that dread name, the very ground beneath them trembled, as if in acknowledgment of the power it represented. A deep rumbling filled the air, causing the surrounding trees to sway and groan in protest, as if the very earth itself were rebelling against the intrusion of the mortal realm.
The middle-aged man's bravado faltered, his confidence crumbling like sandcastles before the relentless tide.
As the ground continued to quake beneath their feet, the circle of assailants exchanged uneasy glances, their resolve wavering with each passing moment.
Soon, the sound of heavy footfalls echoed through the forest, growing louder and more ominous with each passing second, until finally, they saw it.
Emerging from the shadows like a specter from the depths of nightmare, Aghora appeared—a towering behemoth of white skin, its four arms outstretched in a menacing display of power. Its eyes glowed with an unholy light, devoid of mercy or remorse, as it advanced upon the hapless group with terrifying speed.
Panic gripped the hearts of the assailants as they realized the trouble they were in.
"Run!"
Someone among the men, brave enough to find his voice, screamed, his words lost amidst the cacophony of chaos that ensued.
With a collective gasp, they scattered like leaves before a storm, their cries of terror swallowed by the deafening roar of Aghora's relentless approach. Some attempted to flee into the darkness of the forest, seeking refuge from the impending doom, while others stood frozen in place, their minds unable to comprehend the horror unfolding before them.
But it was all in vain.
With a single sweep of its massive arm, Aghora brushed aside the feeble resistance of those who dared to stand in its path, crushing them beneath its colossal weight as if they were mere insects. Bones snapped like twigs, and flesh tore like paper as the giant moved with terrifying efficiency, leaving naught but devastation in its wake.
And amidst the chaos and carnage, Shiva stood unmoved, his gaze fixed upon the unfolding spectacle with a grim satisfaction. He watched with a twisted sense of admiration as Aghora, the embodiment of corruption and destruction, laid waste to all who dared to oppose them.
"He truly is a spectacle to behold."
***
Karna stood stupefied, his eyes wide with disbelief as he watched the surreal scenes unfolding before him.
First, it was the skeletons, moving in eerie obedience to the commands of the young man. Though they remained inert, their mere presence instilled a sense of dread among those gathered around, their bones rattling with an otherworldly aura that sent shivers down the spines of all who beheld them.
And then, as if the sight of the skeletal minions was not enough, the young man uttered another summons, calling forth something far more ominous than anything Karna could have anticipated.
A towering figure, standing at least 15 to 20 meters tall, emerged from the darkness beyond the camp. Its massive form cast a dark shadow over the surrounding landscape.
The creature's grotesque appearance sent a chill coursing through Karna's veins. Its twisted, asymmetrical limbs and contorted posture spoke of an inhumanity that defied comprehension, while its four arms bulged with raw power, each movement emanating an aura of unbridled menace. Its gaping maw, gnarled and jagged, seemed to hunger for destruction, its very presence evoking a primal fear that gripped Karna's heart with icy fingers.
But perhaps the most unsettling sight of all was the glass coffin strapped to the giant's back, its contents hidden from view. Though Karna's mind screamed with curiosity, the looming threat of the monstrous creature before him pushed all thoughts of the coffin aside.
"What the hell is that thing?!" Karna exclaimed, his voice trembling with fear and disbelief as he turned to Shiva, desperate for answers. But all he found was a satisfied smile dancing upon Shiva's lips, a smile that sent a chill down Karna's spine.
"Who the hell is he...?" Karna muttered, his mind reeling with confusion and dread as he watched the horrifying spectacle unfolding before him.
With a thunderous roar, the towering giant surged forward, its powerful legs propelling it with terrifying speed towards the hapless group. With each thunderous footfall, the earth trembled beneath its weight, the ground itself seeming to quiver in terror at its approach.
As the creature bore down upon them, its twisted form wreathed in shadows and malice, Karna could only watch in horror as the massacre unfolded before his eyes.
---***---
Reference Image of the Corruption giant in the comments, tried my best to express it~~
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received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
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stone