"They must have sensed the strong aura of the world seed fragment now that you have combined two of the seed fragments together." "Liam, we need to leave immediately. You are not strong enough to face them in your current condition. We have to go. Now." "Liam! Are you listening?" "We have to leave now! Before it's too late! Don't underestimate the guardians!" "Liam! Are you even listening?" Her words filled the air, desperate and filled with concern. Though he heard the warnings and pleas echoing beside him, Liam remained rooted to the spot, seemingly unyielding in his resolve. His gaze remained fixated on the three looming figures emerging from the swirling clouds of dust and smoke. A bitter smile tugged at his lips as he muttered under his breath, "And where would we flee to?" On one side, the very fabric of their planet teetered on the edge of ruin, consumed by the relentless encroachment of the nether. On the other side, the guardians, who were meant to safeguard their world, now surfaced to claim the world seed fragment. Why were these beings even bestowed with the title of "guardians"? Weren't they meant to be the vanguard against such formidable adversaries, protecting the inhabitants of this realm? Yet, here they stood, daring to reveal themselves only now. "I am not going anywhere." Liam firmly said. "Even if I wanted to… there is nowhere to run to. This is it. This needs to happen." The draconian princess looked at Liam with a mixture of concern and frustration. She understood the gravity of the situation, but she also knew that their chances of survival were slim if they stayed and fought against these awakened guardians, that too three at a time. Perhaps if Liam was not injured then he might have been able to handle these three easily but now at best it was going to be a neck and neck fight where anything could happen. "Liam, I know what you are thinking, but this is not the time for a futile stand. We need to regroup, find the other seed fragments, and gather the strength necessary to face these guardians," she implored, her voice tinged with urgency. "And how would that be possible when they are already out here looking for me?" Liam shook his head. Maybe there were ways to somehow do that but all those would take time and by then irreplaceable changes might already occur. It was way too risky to wait it out. This had to be a head on fight and this had to be now. As the dust settled in the distance, the colossal clouds dissipating, three monstrous figures loomed into view. A massive serpent slithered, its sinuous form adorned with wings unfurled in a daunting display. To its right, a colossal crocodile bared its serrated jaws, exuding a menacing aura that sent shivers down the spines of all who beheld it. And on the left, a cunning frog, its slit-like eyes gleaming with an ominous cunning, emitted a foreboding croak. The most interesting part was that all three animals had dark brown scales, shimmering with an otherworldly glow, adorned with enigmatic runes etched upon their surfaces. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶 Their crimson eyes, accentuated by a sinister black slit, locked onto Liam with unwavering intent, their aura left unmasked, exuding a palpable and unrestrained bloodlust. Witnessing these formidable beings sent a collective shudder rippling through those in the vicinity. As if the onslaught of the nether and the emergence of the undead weren't enough, now three colossal creatures materialized, instilling a sense of impending doom. It was akin to witnessing a live spectacle reminiscent of a colossal battle from a Godzilla movie, except the roles had reversed, and they were the ones poised to be devoured. "Liam, are you sure about your decision?" The draconian princess persisted, her voice tinged with concern. "Even if you are fighting against guardians, you still have a chance because your world has only just now started to evolve but these three beasts are unique." "Look at their body. These three beasts seem to have received a similar blessing. They probably have synergy between their attacks that might make them extremely dangerous." "Your chances of coming out of this unscathed is very very low. You cannot face three guardians at the same time." Liam's eyes narrowed as he studied the approaching guardians. He could sense their immense power, their life essence that seemed to vibrate with an otherworldly energy. It was clear that his current abilities were insufficient to challenge them head-on. However, that was when this world only had mana… Thanks to the divine temple high priestess he was a lot stronger now, at least for now. And the beasts in front of them were not that out of his reach… Level 250 Nagastra Level 300 Verdantix Level 300 Dreadmaw Even though Liam had toiled day and night, endured countless ordeals, and used both the tutorial and his knowledge about the future to become stronger, when it came to these beasts, his progress was laughable. They were easily two hundred levels above him. How could they evolve to such an extent in just a few months after the apocalypse? Then what would become their strength in a year or more? Was this the power of guardians? Liam did not understand these beasts. He did not know why they were so powerful or what gave them this authority. But right now, these were his enemies. Powerful or not he needed to face them right here and right now. And he did not plan on losing. "You three are going to be my stepping stones." Liam's fists clenched tightly, his grin tinged with a maddening intensity that glimmered in his eyes. He dashed forward like a bullet, colliding directly with the serpent who was the fastest among the three and also the weakest. BOOOM! A deafening explosion resonated through the air. The force of the impact sent shockwaves rippling outward, shaking the very ground beneath them.