I pulled the trigger again, hundreds of bullets flying at my opponent. Blood sprayed out as the bullets pierced the thick hide of the creature I fought. There was no roar of anger, no words of admonishment, the only thing I felt was the gathering of a truly massive amount of aether.

The surrounding plants and life that had not been killed already, withered, their bodies turning into gray corpses as the energy gathered was sent to the creature.

A huge pillar of light appeared just as quickly as the energy was gathered, consuming the creature. I did not know what it did but I was in the midst of its range, with quick steps I tried to leap out of the pillar of light though I was not quick enough as the pillar of light reached its peak.

..

I was blinded for a second, panic overtook me as all of my senses, not just my sight were robbed from me, I truly was blind for that one second.

However soon after I regained my calm as my vision returned. I looked upon the creature and what I saw brought a smirk to my face. The creature that was once the size of continents now only measured up to the size of 30 feet, a much easier target.

Before the creature could even begin to start to attack me I charged, the grenades at my sides being thrown at him.

BANG

BANG

BANG

Explosions rang out as cuts appeared on the creature, it seemed that his mass had been condensed into that form as the grenades that could once reach blood were only able to provide scratches.

A small frown appeared on my face as I brought out the gauss cannon, with a pull of the trigger I aimed for the head of the creature.

BOOOOM

The sound of the sound barrier being broken rang through my ear as a heavily charged piece of metal drilled its way to the creature, however it didn't hit true. The projectile was dodged, the creature quickly advancing with surprising dexterity.

I quickly backtracked, my feet carrying me further and further as I face towards the creature sending hundreds of bullets his way as I retreat.

A red glow appears around the creature, blocking the bullets and allowing it to advance with greater speed.

I narrowed my eyes, making sure to keep an eye on him and the surroundings at all times, I would not be able to retreat fast enough to keep up the barrage of bullets. Knowing that I advanced instead of retreating, surprising the creature as his barreling wasn't able to be stopped so easily.

I jumped and flipped over the creature's body, making sure to drop one of the antimatter bombs that I had made onto his body.

Landing behind him I detonated the bomb. Instantly a whole arm was taken, the bomb threatening to take more before the creature could even react, however he decisively took action, preemptively cutting the whole arm off and retreating away from the blast zone.

However while the creature was doing this I was not idle, firing more and more shots out of my gauss cannon.

BOOOM

BOOOM

Holes appeared on the creature's body as more and more shots found their target.

ROOOAAARRR

The creature seemed to have had enough, ethereal wings growing behind it to block my following shots.

historical

"Guh" A rock was thrown landing directly to the right of me, throwing shrapnel into my body. I had not noticed the rock had even been thrown, the ethereal wings not just blocking my shots but also my senses. So engrossed in firing more and more shots was I that I had not noticed the false data that the wings were feeding me, luckily I was able to dodge in time, the rock not having the same protections against my senses as the creature did.

"Shit" I exclaimed, not caring if the creature had heard me or not, the rock was not ordinary, just as all the life on this planet was, I could feel it. The rock was filled with as much aether as the average tier 5 creature.

That in itself exploding on me would have done damage to me but enhanced by the aether of the creature I was fighting, turned it almost deadly to me.

Looking at the stock of weapons in me, I only had 3 more antimatter grenades. I would need to make them count.

With one in hand I charged fourth, ballets riddling the wings that shielded the creature.

Boulders were thrown at me and subsequently dodged as I drew closer and closer to the creature.

Eventually I reached the ethereal wings of the creature and leaped, vaulting over the wings and instead of jumping behind him like I had done before, I landed on his head.

A swift application of duct tape and the bomb was taped down to the creature's forehead.

Jumping up off of his head I detonate the bomb.

..

Again I saw darkness, but his time I could tell I could move.

Tap Tap

My feet echoed through some sort of metal chamber as I walked down the path.

bang

My head was slammed into a wall and before I could even think to react I saw light.

My eyes that had accustomed to that void of darkness were bombarded with senses.

Next to me I saw Rhea, who had disappeared before I had started my fight with that creature.

Honestly he was a bit underwhelming, I thought when I went to fight him I thought him to be a formidable opponent but with the antimatter bombs even his thick hide was not able to fight the destructive force of the bomb that I had strapped to his head.

It was a bit disappointing but I could feel the strength that I had gained from defeating him, it seemed like that was the final trial because said strength was enough to crush him with just a finger.