Chapter 168 | Hail Mary

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Matthew's gaze locked onto the Beast, who stood unmoving yet radiated an unsettling stillness. His piercing eyes absorbed every detail of his enemy, dissecting him with deadly precision. This was no ordinary foe. Though Matthew hadn't encountered him before, the oppressive aura of raw, unbridled power that radiated from the Beast was unmistakable—this was an opponent to take seriously. Someone worth the fight.

Only a few hundred meters separated them now—the thin line between hunter and hunted. Matthew's grip tightened around the hilt of his sword, every fiber of his being coiled and ready to close the distance. The storm within him surged, urging him forward. But before he could take a step, the ground beneath them trembled violently. A deep rumble rolled through the barren lunar terrain, splintering cracks across its surface.

Phase two of the plan had begun.

With a swift motion, Matthew waved his palm forward, and a ripple of magic pulsed outward. The monsters encircling him and his warriors froze mid-lunge, their grotesque forms bound to the fractured soil as if caught in invisible chains. Claws scraped helplessly against the ground, their snarls reduced to muted growls of frustration. A faint smirk tugged at Matthew's lips as his gaze returned to the Beast, who remained motionless, his expression unreadable.

The Beast's confusion was evident as his piercing eyes darted across the battlefield. His mighty armies, which once dominated the land, now stood immobilized, crippled by magic that severed their connection to the planet's life force. The fading energy of the time paradox left the land unstable, roaring around them with violent tremors as the magic unraveled.

Matthew exhaled slowly, his senses attuned to the warriors under his command. Their exit was nearly complete—he had bought them the time they needed. It was his turn now.

The Beast's attention shifted once more, surveying his crippled forces. Many had been savagely killed, while others clawed and thrashed in futile attempts to escape their magical binds. Their powers nullified, their savage growls filled the air, echoing their frustration.

The Beast turned his focus back to Matthew, the warrior who lingered, standing resolute amidst the chaos. His crimson gaze narrowed, studying the human who dared challenge him.

"So, he knows his stuff," the Beast scoffed, his voice tinged with faint amusement.

Matthew remained silent, his blue steel-gray eyes unwavering as they locked onto his foe. His desire to engage burned fiercely within him, yet his thoughts tempered his instincts.

Regripping the hilt of his sword, Matthew steadied his breathing. Sweat trickled down his brow, his body taut with anticipation. He could wipe this creature from existence if he struck now—he knew he was powerful enough. But logic held him back. He had set a plan into motion, a plan that would not only decimate the Beast but obliterate his armies as well.

Trusting his head over his heart, Matthew took a deliberate step backward, his palm pressing downward. A surge of magic rippled outward, binding the creatures to the crumbling planet once more. His eyes, sharp and unyielding, remained locked on the Beast as a sadistic smile crept across his face.

The Beast's gaze darkened as the realization dawned.

They would all burn together.

**** *****

Eko shifted from one foot to the other, the grassy land beneath her feeling unsteady despite its solidity. The intense glare of the morning sun rippled across the gathered warriors, but her focus was elsewhere—on the horizon, on the moon above them, and on the space he should have occupied by now.

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