Hero of Darkness

The once tumultuous battlefield fell into an eerie silence, disrupted only by the distant echoes of fierce clashes. In this moment of despair, a glimmer of hope emerged as an imposing presence made its way through the chaos, coming to Juno's aid and offering salvation to the dwindling group who valiantly stood against the mythical creature.

Before Juno and the survivors, a figure materialized, captivating all with his striking appearance.

His shoulder-length golden locks were meticulously combed backwards, framing a face adorned with bright blue eyes that shimmered with determination. A wide, infectious smile graced his lips, radiating a charismatic aura that had the power to inspire even the most weary souls with a single glance.

As he stepped forward, his strong and muscular physique came into view, emanating an aura of unwavering resolve and indomitable might.

His well-defined muscles rippled beneath his attire, conveying a sense of power that seemed to permeate the air around him. The sheer force of his presence exerted a domineering and overbearing pressure, leaving no doubt of his capability to confront any challenge that stood in his way.

The man was adorned in a legendary rank black and yellow armor, its impressive design fitting him perfectly as if it were molded to his form. Even the gauntlets he wore could barely mask the bulging veins and sinewy muscles that rippled beneath his skin, a testament to his immense strength and prowess.

In his left hand, he carried a golden shield standing at an imposing height of one and a half meters. Its surface glinted under the sun, giving off a lustrous sheen that added to the man's already impressive appearance.

In his right hand, he wielded a legendary rank greatsword of the same height as the shield. The blade emanated a shimmering and heavy aura, as if it could cleave a mountain in half with a single, effortless swing. The mere sight of it instilled a sense of awe and dread in the hearts of those who beheld it.

And looming before this imposing figure, a catastrophic calamity hovered in the distance, a mere three kilometers away. It hung suspended in the air, a menacing presence just a few hundred meters above the turbulent sea, as if defying the laws of nature itself.

"What is this one called?" inquired the hero, his voice resonating with rustic authority and unwavering firmness. The depth of his voice alone was enough to convey his inherent masculinity and strength.

"It's called Cherufe." Juno responded, her voice steady as she regained her composure.

"It is an Earth elemental mythical monster typically found within volcanic ranges. Cherufe sustains itself by consuming minerals and ores, dwelling within vast lakes of molten magma." answered Juno and stood up, regaining her composure.

"Who provoked it? The sea is the last place it would want to be, correct?" the hero queried, his readiness to strike evident in his poised stance.

"We don't have that information. Sightings of Cherufes have been nonexistent for several centuries, and there are no volcanic regions in these lands." Juno disclosed, her tone laced with a mix of concern and uncertainty.

"I happened to be present on an imperial mission when it launched its attack. Had I not been here, there would have been no one left to defend the nearby cities and protect the citizens." Juno's revelation shed light on the events that led to the dire situation they now faced.

The Hero of Nature redirected his gaze towards the monstrous creature that had mercilessly claimed the lives of few hundred thousand soldiers and decimated three warships while leaving no trace of damage or even a scratch upon its own body.

Standing at an awe-inspiring height of one kilometer, the mythical monster exuded a magnificence that surpassed imagination.

Its entire form was composed of glistening crystals, creating a mesmerizing spectacle. Although lacking visible legs, four colossal crystal pillars floated around its lower region, adding to its imposing presence. The head was adorned with a brilliantly shining white helmet, crafted from the highest grade of diamonds, while the massive arms extended up to an astonishing length of 700 meters each. Beneath its pink-red exterior, blistering magma coursed through its body like the lifeblood flowing through veins.

Despite its immense weight, the creature possessed the ability to soar through the skies, defying gravity and reaching a certain altitude above the tumultuous sea.

"Very well." the Hero of Nature declared with authority.

"I shall take charge from this point onward. You and everyone else, retreat a dozen kilometers away and ensure your safety as soon as I engage in battle."

Juno could only offer a solemn nod in response, acknowledging the vast difference in rank and power between herself and the Hero. His strength far surpassed hers, leaving her no choice but to comply and trust in his abilities to confront the impending threat.

The moment everyone else left and the monster had finally recovered from the previous attack, now enraged to its core… the imminent battle started.

Without delay, multiple greenish tattoos began to manifest on the Hero's face and arms, glowing with an intense radiance as he bellowed out a powerful incantation.

"Sage Arts 1st Form: Thousand Hands Battlefield!" he shouted.

Rumble!

Rumble!

In a flash, the Hero's incantation caused an overwhelming surge of power, as thousands of hands burst forth from the earth and sea, while some even ripped open the sky like wormholes and descended like divine judgement, rising up to encircle the land, sea, and sky without exception.

Each one of these thousand hands stood at a towering height of 500 meters, imbued with a condensed amount of world energy.

Among them were those composed of light, lightning, wood, fire, water, wind, darkness and even metal, containing all eight physical manifestations of natural elements.

Despite their varying properties, every single hand possessed the devastating power to annihilate a couple of kilometers through their respective elemental attacks.

The battlefield expanded rapidly, stretching out to a massive radius of 15 kilometers, all connected through invisible barriers of world energy.

With the creation of this separate battlefield, the Hero and the Cherufe were free to unleash their full powers, without endangering the lives of innocent bystanders.

Juno and the remaining soldiers stood frozen in awe, their eyes transfixed on the battlefield that emanated terrifying auras and exuded boundless destructive power. The sight before them surpassed their wildest imaginations.

"It's my first time witnessing such a spectacle. The rumors must have greatly underestimated its true power." Juno murmured in disbelief, her gaze filled with incredulity as she tried to comprehend the magnitude of what lay before her.

The sheer intensity of the battlefield left no room for doubt—this was a force to be reckoned with.

"That…" Juno continued, her voice hushed with reverence.

"Is the Hero of Nature's Terra Domain."