"Huh?"

The Ox Demon King's face flattened as he blinked several times, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

"He's… gone?"

The once blinding battlefield fell silent.

Axton was nowhere to be seen.

He had vanished… just like that, after landing his devastating Supreme Iron Fist, not even waiting to see the aftermath.

The dust still lingered, the echo of his punch still rippling through the air, and yet, the human who dared strike the Ox Demon King had already fled.

The Demon King's fists clenched tightly, the veins in his arms bulging like molten steel. His teeth ground together, producing a sound that resembled metal scraping against stone.

After several seconds, the surrounding demons slowly began to stir, shaking off the shock that had frozen them in place. They stumbled to their feet, bruised, battered, and confused. Their eyes darted toward the massive figure of their king — the most feared being in the Ox Demon Empire — now standing motionless with a deep, gaping wound in his chest.

When they finally noticed the hole, their faces twisted in disbelief. The wound wasn't small — it was massive, carved deep into the flesh of their king. That a human could deliver such a blow was something none of them could accept.

"Th-That… that human…" one demon stammered.

"He actually injured His Majesty?!"

"Impossible… even the strongest among us couldn't…!"

But as they watched, their disbelief turned to horror and awe.

The wound began to close.

Slowly, the torn flesh pulled together, the burnt edges knitting with dark, glowing veins. In less than a minute, what had been a mortal injury became nothing more than a faint scar, pulsing faintly beneath his skin.

"Should we pursue?" one of the elite guards asked carefully.

The Ox Demon King's glowing crimson eyes shifted slightly, but his body didn't move.

After a pause, his deep, guttural voice echoed like thunder across the plain.

"No."

The demons flinched.

"We can't move too far from the castle," he said, turning his gaze toward the distance. "Even if humans are our enemy, they aren't the only ones. The other demon species… they are watching. Waiting for us to make a mistake."

A low rumble followed his words. His aura, which moments ago burned with the intensity of a sun, now began to fade. The ground stopped trembling. The air cooled.

He exhaled heavily and straightened his back, the shadow of rage leaving his features, replaced by cold calculation.

'You have your chance now to right your wrong, Quiala,' the Demon King thought, his expression unreadable.

Without another word, he turned and began walking back toward the massive, horned fortress — Horn Castle — the epicenter of his domain.

******

Meanwhile…

Far away from the castle, deep in the dark forests of Tartarux, Axton finally stopped running. His body trembled slightly. Not from exhaustion, but from the residual pressure of the Demon King's aura that still clung to his nerves.

He took a deep breath, looking around to make sure no demons were tailing him. When he was certain he was alone, he allowed himself a brief sigh of relief.

"That was close… way too close," he muttered, leaning against a tree.

After a moment, his expression shifted to one of impatience. He quickly took out the golden bracelet, the relic he had risked everything to steal, and slipped it onto his wrist.

Immediately, the item flared with divine radiance, a bright light that seemed out of place in the dark demonic land. Then, just like the previous bracelet he had acquired, it melted seamlessly into his skin and vanished.

"Come on, come on…" he muttered, tapping his foot anxiously. His heart pounded faster as he waited for what he knew was coming next.

A chime echoed in his head.

*Ding*

[Congratulations!]

[Your critical hit privilege has been upgraded!]

[100 → 10,000]

[Do you wish to overwrite current privilege settings?]

[Yes / No]

Axton's eyes widened, his exhaustion momentarily replaced by pure joy. "Finally!"

He immediately selected [Yes], his fingers trembling slightly with excitement.

The system's mechanical voice continued.

[Privilege updated successfully.]

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He didn't have the luxury to celebrate right now, but inside, his heart raced. Ten thousand times critical hit… that's insane!

Without wasting time, he summoned the Grade 5 Gift Box from his inventory. Then, he focused his new privilege on it.

[Applying Critical Hit Privilege ×10,000…]

[Quality upgraded!]

[Grade 5 Gift Box → Mythical Gift Box]

Axton's breath hitched. The gift box changed before his eyes, glowing brighter and transforming into a majestic black-and-gold cube adorned with mysterious runes.

He opened it instantly.

Inside lay a weapon — a hammer.

The hammer was massive, majestic, and deadly. The head was made of dark obsidian stone, etched with glowing crimson veins that pulsed like a heartbeat. Ancient patterns coiled across its surface, and despite its size, it radiated perfect balance.

"A hammer…" Axton whispered. "Not bad."

The moment his fingers touched it, information flooded into his mind.

[Hammer of Chaos]

[Grade: Mythical]

[Level: 15]

[Effect: +200 Attack]

[Skill: Chaotic Hammering]

He read further.

[Skill: Chaotic Hammering]

[Grade: 4]

[Description: Allows the user to attack with an additional 100% of their Attack stat, creating a shockwave that covers 150 meters.]

[Each skill level adds +50 meters. Max Level: 50]

Axton's eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

"This is certainly not bad," he muttered. "Perfect for what's coming."

He tightened his grip on the hammer and took a deep breath. He couldn't rest long, not here.

Axton pushed himself off the tree and prepared to move.

*Swoosh*

He shot forward, his body blurring through the forest.

The wind howled past him as his cloak fluttered violently behind. His mind was set on one thing — reuniting with his clone.

But then…

*Shing*

A blade glinted in the distance.

His instincts screamed.

Axton twisted his body instantly.

*Whoosh*

A razor-sharp arc of energy sliced past him, tearing through the ground, cutting trees, and leaving a burning scar across the earth.

Axton landed in a crouch, eyes narrowing as dust exploded in front of him.

From within that dust, a figure emerged — tall, menacing, and burning with hatred.

"So it was indeed you!" the voice thundered.

The dust cleared, revealing Quiala.

The demon's eyes blazed with fury. His armor was blackened and cracked from their last encounter, but his aura had only grown heavier and darker.

"You sure have a lot of balls showing your face here, Kahn!" Quiala roared, referring to Axton by the name the demons had known him by.

Behind him, a squad of demons appeared, each carrying demonic weapons that glowed faintly red.

Quiala sneered, his bloodlust thick enough to taste in the air.

Axton straightened, his expression calm.

He looked at Quiala as if staring at a child throwing a tantrum.

'Seriously? That's what he's focused on right now?' he thought. 'Revenge?'

He exhaled deeply. "I really don't have time for this."

But Quiala's fury drowned out any reason.

"Today, I will have my vengeance!"

"Kill him!" he bellowed.

At once, the demons charged forward with guttural roars, their weapons blazing with hellfire.

The ground trembled as they rushed.

Axton merely raised his hand.

In an instant, his summoned soldiers appeared, spectral warriors clad in silver armor, each carrying gleaming weapons. Their eyes glowed with blue light, their presence imposing.

Each one was Level 25, and unlike ordinary summons, they radiated the composure of seasoned veterans.

They didn't hesitate.

"Engage," Axton commanded.

The two forces collided.

*Boom*

Shockwaves erupted, splitting the earth and shaking the trees.

Axton's soldiers fought like machines — precise, merciless, efficient. Within seconds, they tore through Quiala's army, cutting them down brutally.

The few demons that managed to slip through were quickly dealt with by Axton himself.

*Shing*

He materialized the Hammer of Chaos, parrying an incoming strike from Quiala's glaive.

*Clank*

Sparks flew as the two weapons met, releasing a violent burst of energy.

Quiala pushed forward, veins bulging in his neck as he tried to overpower Axton.

But Axton's expression remained neutral — almost bored.

Quiala roared, swinging wildly, his fury fueling his strength. But Axton matched every attack effortlessly. His movements were calm, fluid, and precise like he'd wielded the hammer his entire life.

"Stop running, you coward!" Quiala shouted as his weapon clashed again. "Fight me!"

"You sure?" Axton asked softly.

Quiala frowned, confused and then his expression froze.

Axton's stance shifted.

The air around him changed.

The ground beneath them cracked as energy gathered around the Hammer of Chaos.

*Boom*

The hammer struck.

Quiala barely saw it coming. The impact slammed into his chest with bone-shattering force, sending him flying backward like a ragdoll. Blood spurt through the air as he crashed into the ground, creating a deep crater.

He coughed violently, clutching his chest as his armor shattered like glass. His ribs cracked audibly.

"What… what are you…?"

Axton's eyes turned cold. "Done playing."

He dashed forward.

*Boom*

The hammer descended again, slamming into Quiala's chest.

*Boom*

Another strike, this time on his shoulder.

Bones cracked.

Blood splattered.

*Boom*

A third hit… and his jaw shattered.

The ground quaked with every blow.

Quiala's screams were drowned out by the echoing thunder of Axton's strikes. Each swing carried a terrifying weight, amplified by Chaotic Hammering, spreading destruction in every direction.

"Stop…! Sto—" Quiala choked on blood.

But Axton didn't stop.

*Boom*

The final hit created a massive explosion of dark energy. The ground beneath Quiala caved in, forming a massive pit surrounded by dust and debris.

When the smoke cleared, all that remained of Quiala was a lifeless body — his chest torn wide open, his eyes still frozen in disbelief.

Axton stood over him, breathing lightly. He looked down at the corpse without emotion.

"You should've stayed in your lane," he muttered quietly.

The hammer's glow dimmed as he swung it back onto his shoulder. His soldiers stood behind him, silent, their armor stained with demon blood.

Axton took one last glance at the direction of Horn Castle.

"I'll be back for you," he whispered, referring to the Ox Demon King. "When I'm ready."

With that, he turned away and disappeared into the mist of Tartarux.

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