"Well, I thought you''d never as—"


    **Swoosshh!**


    Before Osborne could finish his words, Ss closed the gap between them with blinding speed. His scythe, sharp and menacing, sliced through the air toward Osborne in a deadly arc. At the veryst second, Osborne managed to raise his de, blocking the lethal strike.


    **CLANG!**


    The sh rang out like a thunderp, reverberating through the area. Osborne staggered backward, his boots scraping harshly against the ground as he struggled to regain bnce.


    ''What''s with his strength? Just what kind of monster are you, Griswold?!'' Osborne screamed internally, his mind racing toprehend the sheer force behind the attack.


    Gritting his teeth, Osborne steadied himself, determination ring in his eyes. He refused to falter. Without hesitation, he surged forward, his movements swift and calcted.


    Dust billowed underfoot as he charged, his de gripped tightly in his right hand. When he was only a few meters away, he swung the de with all his might, aiming to cleave through Ss.


    Ss met the strike with precision, raising his scythe to block the attack effortlessly. Sparks erupted as the weapons shed, their metallic cry echoing across the battlefield. With seamless fluidity, Ss countered, thrusting his right leg forward in a powerful kick.


    Osborne''s reflexes kicked in, and he leaped backward just in time, Ss''s boot slicing through empty air. Osbornended deftly several meters away, his movements deliberate. He barely had a moment to breathe before Ss closed in once more.


    Like a shadow, Ss was upon him again in the blink of an eye. The scythe shed in his grip as he swung it toward Osborne with lethal precision.


    ''Shit!'' Osborne cursed internally, his eyes widening in rm. He reacted on pure instinct, raising his de just in time to intercept the strike.


    CLANG!


    SHATTER!


    The deafening sh of metal was followed by a horrifying crack. Osborne watched in disbelief as his de fractured into pieces, shards of steel scattering across the ground. He was left holding nothing but the hilt of his once-prized weapon.


    ''I knew that scythe was a high-grade mutant weapon, but to destroy a Grade 5 de so easily?'' Osborne thought, his stomach churning. ''It''s not just the weapon—it''s his brute strength. How is this possible?''


    Shock painted his features as he instinctively leaped backward, creating distance between himself and Ss. His gaze flickered toward the ongoing battle between their clones, and what he saw made his heart sink.


    Ss''s clones moved with almost supernatural agility, their scythes cutting through Osborne''s clones like a hot knife through butter. The ground was littered with the bodies of Osborne''s clones, lifeless and still, while Ss''s clones stood unharmed, their forms unyielding.


    ''His stats are unreal, far surpassing those of a standard Grade 4 mutant. Even his clones share that same overwhelming power.'' Osborne clenched his fists, frustration bubbling within him. Summoning more clones will only deplete my stamina faster. If I want any chance at survival, I need to take him out directly. Kill the creator, and the soldiers fall.''


    Osborne redirected his focus to Ss, who stood motionless a few meters away, his scythe glinting ominously in the dim light.


    "You seem to have lost your weapon," Ss said, his voice calm andposed. His gaze shifted briefly to the shattered de on the ground. "Let me make this fair for you."


    With those words, Ss dismissed his scythe in a sh of light and cracked his knuckles nonchntly.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    ''Is he mocking me?'' Osborne thought, his brow furrowing in anger. "I''ll make you regret underestimating me, Griswold."


    He clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white, adrenaline surging through his veins. With a furious roar, Osborneunched himself forward, his speed a blur.


    As he closed in, his right arm snapped back before hurling forward in a powerful punch. Ss, unshaken, raised his arm to block the strike, the force of the impact rippling through the air.


    Osborne immediately followed up with another punch from his left. Ss ducked, weaving under the attack with practiced ease. Before Osborne could react, Ss countered, delivering a crushing punch to his chest.


    **BAM!**


    The force of the blow stole Osborne''s breath, and he stumbled backward, struggling to remain upright.


    But Ss wasn''t finished. In one fluid motion, he closed the gap again, leaped into the air, and spun his body mid-flight. His leg shot out in a devastating kick aimed squarely at Osborne''s head.


    **BAM!**


    The impact sent Osborne skidding across the ground, pain erupting where the kick had connected. His head throbbed, and he clenched his teeth to suppress a groan.


    ''Damn it... How is he this strong?'' Osborne''s confidence wavered, fear creeping into the corners of his mind.


    As he stood dazed, Ss darted forward once more, his fist flying toward Osborne''s face with deadly precision. Osborne crossed his arms in a desperate attempt to block.


    **BAM!**


    Even with his arms raised, the impact was bone-shattering. The sheer force drove Osborne several steps back, agony searing through his body.


    [Active Skill: Lightning Dash has been activated.]


    Osborne froze in ce, his movements paralyzed as Ss''s speed surged. Taking full advantage of the opening, Ss dashed forward and unleashed a devastating punch aimed at Osborne''s head.


    **BAM!**


    The punch connected with sickening force, lifting Osborne into the air before sending him hurtling backward. His body crashed into a nearby wall with a thunderous boom before crumpling to the ground in a heap.


    [Alert!]


    [The five minutes is up.]


    [Your clones have been dismissed]


    [Would you like to use another card to summon a new set of clones?]


    [Yes / No]


    Ss nced at the glowing notification hovering before him and dismissed it with a flick of his hand. His clones had already annihted Osborne''s forces before their time expired, rendering further summons unnecessary.


    With calm, deliberate steps, Ss approached Osborne, whoy battered and broken on the ground. His shadow loomed over his opponent, a silent testament to his dominance.


    Osborne''s body screamed in protest as he tried to move. His shattered bones and searing pain made it impossible to rise. For the first time, a chilling realization washed over him.


    It was over.