"What... the fuck is Adam doing out there?"

Even from afar, the shrieks and roars of the alien army pierced through the ears of Harvey and the others. It almost caused Harvey’s flexible limbs to vibrate along with their strange... warchant.

And even with their army looking like ants from a distance, Harvey could still feel their hurried and panicking steps.

"Surely, these aliens aren’t stupid enough not to know they’re completely unmatched, right?" Harvey squinted. "I know you said their brains might not be as sophisticated as ours, but... shouldn’t running away be basic instinct?"

"Can you leave the fucking thinking to the nerd and focus on hitting this fucking thing?!"

Harvey immediately turned, swinging his arm like a whip as he struck the transparent Crystal in front of him. His eyes also snapped up, looking at the number floating above it.

[HP: 49%]

"Fuck! We’ve been fucking this thing up for a while now, and we’ve only just halved it?!"

"Maybe if you fucking stop talking and actually start fucking shit up! If you’re not going to put in the effort, then just stay to the side and let me blitz this fucker!"

"No," Beatrice, who’d been quiet for some time now, quickly glanced at Carmen. "We’ve already established that us attacking it consecutively is faster than you diving from the side and hitting it."

The HP of the Crystal doesn’t make sense at all. Carmen had already thrown her strongest attack at it, which she even had a name for—Red Carnage. And yet, its damage was just the same if she punched the Crystal with all her might.

It had a maximum amount of damage it could take in a single attack.

But it wasn’t just that. Harvey, having the fastest hands among the three, also released a barrage of attacks against the Crystal. Coincidentally, he also had a name for it—Rain of Fists.

It was then that they found out that the Crystal also had a cap on the amount of damage it could take per second.

But with Beatrice’s observation, this cap was actually per person.

So now, although slightly looking ridiculous, the three were attacking one after another.

"And Harvey, please. Focus."

"R... right." Harvey chuckled forcefully, sneaking in one final glance at the army before turning his complete focus on the Crystal.

"I’m just curious about what Adam is doing."

***

[1 Status Point granted!]

Surprisingly, all the dust and debris sticking to Adam had all been washed away. Washed away by alien blood, that is.

He was once again holding one of the enemy’s sabers, but it was already completely snapped in half. But still, it was all the same. The aliens were sending another wave of their veteran Creeps again.

Why? Because they don’t know any better? Or is it because they’re a race of warriors, where dying in battle is the most honorable thing they could do with their lives? If that was the case, then aren’t you giving them what they want?

If that was the case, then that means you’re not doing anything bad, Adam. Yes, keep believing that. Whatever story you can make to justify killing hundreds of people. No. You’re doing this to protect your people in the first place. What other justification do you need other than that?

Killing is bad? Hurting people is bad? Does it really matter? Other worlds exist, Adam. That means hundreds of billions of people.

Does killing a hundred really matter? Even killing a million won’t. No. Even killing one life matters.

He continued to swing it around, washing the blood covering him with the blood of another. There were heads. Heads flying in every direction.

There were bodies. Bodies he had to step on in every direction.

The small battlefield he made by carving into a toppled building was slowly being filled with the corpses of his enemies.

Perhaps if he struggled. Perhaps if he were always within an inch of consciousness. Perhaps if he were losing limbs, perhaps all of this could make what he was doing just feel a little better. But no.

Throughout this entire battle, he was the stronger combatant by leaps and bounds. And he hated it. He hated it from the very core of his being.

Disgusting. Monster. Dr. Tomoe was right. This world. This universe, it turns everyone into monsters. Perhaps... it was a good thing you’re gone before you could’ve proven to yourself that you were right, mother.

Adam continued to swing, and swing, and swing... until—

"Kgh..."

He spat out blood. He quickly looked down, and there was a huge blade sticking out of his stomach. The blade was pulled out, causing him to take several steps back before he glanced back at the wielder.

It was another Hero, but this one looked different—this was the first time he’d seen them actually wearing a helmet. The giant alien was completely covered from head to toe, and the only thing you could see from them was their black eyes looking back at you.

The alien Hero stared down at Adam, sheathing their blade as they took several steps back. They loosened their grip on their shield, their shoulders relaxing as they saw Adam’s blood pouring endlessly and his guts hanging out. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

The other aliens around them raised their weapons in the air, shrieking loud enough to cause the pool of blood and corpses beneath their feet to ripple and shake. Their celebration, however, was cut short.

How could it not be... when they’ve seen the warrior that has been cutting down through their ranks still move even with a large gaping hole through his body?

It wasn’t only that. Adam wasn’t just moving—no. Adam was pushing his intestines back into his stomach, and they watched as the gaping hole closed right in front of all of them.

"You..." Adam looked up at the giant alien Hero. "... You’re stronger than the other Heroes. You should’ve come first, or at least helped them. Why... Why would you only fight now when those weaker than you have died? I... don’t think I can ever understand—"

The alien Hero moved first—steel flashing free of its sheath and already cutting for Adam’s throat before he could finish his words, but Adam managed to raise his arm to block it.

But of course, his arm was completely cut in half, and the blade managed to slice his neck—but not completely through. Adam was able to catch the back of the blade with his other hand before he could be decapitated, pinning it between his thumb and fingers.

He once again glared at the alien Hero, staring at them while he slowly pulled the blade out of his neck. The steel resisted, quivering under the strain of both their grips, but the difference in strength was obvious—painfully so. Adam was completely overpowering the alien.

The sound his flesh made as he continued to pull the blade out of his neck was loud enough for the other aliens to hear—no. It wasn’t that the squelch was loud, no.

For the first time since the battle started, none of the aliens were making any noise at all. Around him, there was nothing but the silence of shock.

And now, with the blade completely free, Adam grabbed it with both of his hands and violently yanked it out of the alien Hero’s grip. The giant alien stumbled forward, while Adam turned with the blade—his leg whipping up in the same motion and crashing into the Hero’s knee. The alien’s bone gave with a sharp snap, folding backward in a way it was never meant to.

Adam continued to turn, letting the saber slip from his grasp... and catching it again by the hilt while still spinning. And with a grit of his teeth, he swung the blade up, letting it meet its owner’s neck while it was on its way down.

He didn’t even look at the head as it rolled away. He turned his focus back to the remaining army, watching them. Watching if they would retreat.

But they still didn’t. None of them even ran back to the portal.

And so, Adam reciprocated.

Once again, he cut them down. And down. And down.

But then, more came out of the Leak.

"Grah!" Adam screamed in frustration as he lunged at the coming army.

"What the—?!"

Adam forced himself to stop, causing a whip of blood and air to blast from his blade—blood which all showered toward Carmen and Harvey.

"What..." Carmen’s eyes were wide, extremely so. To her defense, the blade was only inches away from taking off her head.

"You’re..." Adam whispered, dropping along with the blade as he let out a loud, almost wheezing sigh. "You’re finally back. Finally. Thank you... thank you."

"Did you just try to fucking kill... me...?" Carmen’s voice also turned quiet as her eyes slowly landed on the scenery around them. The fallen buildings, the utter destruction. And most importantly, the corpses.

There was not a single inch not covered in corpses.

"Fuck..."