The atmosphere in the canyon crackled with unbearable tension.

The humanoid beast in dark crimson armor moved like death incarnate. Every thrust of its spear was precise, lethal, and dripping with a dark energy that sought to corrode everything it touched.

Dustin drove his footwork to the breaking point. His sword light moved like liquid steel, weaving and parrying through the storm of spear shadows as he desperately searched for an opening.

"This can't go on," he thought, his mind racing.

The beast's third form was not only faster and stronger than before, but its combat skills were nearly flawless. Worse, its energy seemed boundless. A purely defensive fight was a losing one. He needed to find a single, decisive moment to strike.

Dustin deliberately left an opening, allowing his body to hesitate for a fraction of a second as he evaded a tricky lateral stab.

The humanoid beast's crimson eyes flared violently. There was no way it would let such an opening slip by. Its black spea