“Who are you?” Eros stared at the stranger with curiosity and a certain excitement as if he already knew who this person was. 

“Me? I am the protagonist of this tale. The hero who has risen from being a zero. I am the alpha. The omega. The pope of the holy waifu congregation of Remsama. I am the one, the only. Say it with me, liches and gentle wolves. HARUTO!!!!” A magnificent and pompous shogun aura exploded off of Haruto, rendering many of the exhausted men unconscious.

Clarence felt a burst of strength return to him as he roared, “Kill him. He is the monster that destroyed Rye.”

Eros feeling the aura yelled in pure ecstasy. “Warrior’s soul. Oh, Warrior’s soul. I have never felt one like yours, but I know it when I see it. Come let us battle until that even Kratos himself hears our blows.” 

Haruto, with arrogance, looked down upon Eros, “Ok, mister pasty. I’ll battle you." Then seeing Alarik and Thomas were more or less ok Haruto stated as if there was no room for negotiation, "As for you two. Leave…” My weeb senses are working in overdrive. This can only mean a boss who is too powerful for me to defeat. I really need to figure out how to return to the other world and grind. 

Alarik sprinted away from the battlefield. Eros didn’t try to stop him. Thomas remained floating in the sky, not moving a muscle as a certain emotion boiled in him. Is it regret? Will I regret leaving this child here to die? He felt an obligation to stay here by Haruto's side, for now, that's all that mattered. 

Haruto leaned into his fighting stance then exploded off the ground towards Eros, throwing a one-inch punch.

Eros felt his blood boil, seeing such a magnificent and powerful blow heading towards him. He thrust his spear head-on against the punch. 

Sparks popped about as the two attacks met. 

Eros’s legs dug deep into the ground. The shockwave from the attack caused the few remaining men to collapse on the ground. Even Clarence struggled to prop himself up.

As if the attack was just a friendly greeting between the two, both men reappeared 10 feet apart from each other.

Haruto popped his swollen knuckles barely swallowing a scream of pain he muttered a pre-recorded retort, “Seems I’m still a bit winded after the last fight. But this will be enough.” Tch. My basic comprehension is broken again. Damn that old man.

Eros swung his spear as if stretching it out, steam continuously rose from the tip. Eros could feel an intense heat rising from it. “You are strong enough to face me using some of my power. Boy, I thank you for such a rare opportunity.” An absurd thing happened as an aura similar, but at the same time very different than Haruto’s exploded from within the body of Eros.

Goosebumps arose on Haruto’s arms. Even without the level indicator, he could tell this guy was leagues above him in strength.  Luckily my weeb senses have filled in the gap. On a scale of 1 to 10 on how fucked I am. I'd say 10 inches at the least.

With a grin, Eros disappeared from in front of Haruto.

So cool. Just like in the... Ah Fuck. Haruto turned, throwing out a quick one-inch punch as a spear appeared to his left thrusting to skewer him. This time when Haruto's fist met the spear a sharp pain was transmitted up his arm forcing him to hop back. 

Eros vanished again, not seconds after making the attack.

He’s faster than the old man. Haruto looked around the battlefield for Eros only to feel death from above. Looking up a circular shield was crashing towards him. Haruto kicked back off the ground narrowly avoiding the shield.

Only for a spear to thrust out of nowhere catching him in the shoulder and drawing blood.

I need distance. As the spear was pulled back for another thrust Haruto threw a heavy punch using its force to catapult off the ground effectively sending him backwards. Though no attack came even though he moved out of the way. Looking up Haruto found Eros standing in place.

This time Eros did not disappear; he merely twirled his spear around and watched Haruto with interest. As if saying 'show me what you got little warrior'

Looking down upon me? Haruto The Magnificent. With distance introduced Haruto threw a ranged one-inch punch at max power, the punch created an indent in the air as it sped towards Eros. I can’t throw many more one-inch punches, fuck a duck why couldn’t they have come after I rested up. 

Eros didn’t move from his spot. Simply laughing in the face of an even stronger attack. He raised his shield meeting the air fist. Ripples spread through the air, as shockwaves traveled deep into the ground. But Eros himself did not move an inch from where he stood. 

Haruto was breathing heavily after throwing the punch but still spat some banter, “You took my punch. My normal punch. If you keep this up I might have to get serious.” 

A smile crept up Eros’s face. He wagged his finger as if reprimanding a bad dog, “Tsk. Tsk. Bravado is for the weak. Do not disgrace this honorable battle with lies.” Finishing this statement Eros surged towards Haruto thrusting his spear at an unbelievable speed. Each strike dug into Haruto’s armor leaving holes riddled throughout his body.

Haruto tried to suck in a breath, but Eros didn’t give him the chance. A strong roundhouse kick sent Haruto skipping across the ground like a rock.

Haruto struggled to his feet after this and checking behind himself he noticed that Alarick and the other wolves had finally left the forest. Good now, all I have to do is... Looking up Haruto saw sir Useless floating in the sky like this was a show or something. “I think you should be on your way now, you useless bootlicker.”

Thomas asked back in a semi-worried tone, “And what will you do?”

Am I so weak that even Thomas must care for me? Grind. For the love of Remsama let me grind. To grind I must live. Nay, I will live. I still have one more trick up my sleeve. Haruto snickered as he clenched his fists, “A dumb question for someone as useless as you to ask. That’s exactly what every weak side character would ask the mc. So, listen well. I put on my plot armor and wipe the floor with this pasty son of a bitch. My victory is already assured. So it would be best that you get out of the way, so my cock doesn’t hit you when I turn to leave.”

Thomas snorted in disgust. But since he is so confident. Thomas prepared to retreat from the battlefield.

“To think you actually believe that. Are you really hiding such strength?” Eros looked into Haruto’s eyes and did not sense any falseness in his statement. 

Haruto pulled his arms back then clenched his fist forward. “Exactly. Pasty you aren’t dealing with your average otaku. I have transcended the limits of such an existence and have achieved the ultimate form. I have become the legendary super otaku.” Matching Haruto's bravado, the shogun aura worked double time. A brilliance filled the area as a golden light flowed around Haruto.

Eros laughed then bampfed in front of Haruto unleashing a point-blank punch that rattled Haruto’s brain. The hit instantly turned off the shogun aura that had been feeding off Haruto’s brazenness. Eros picked Haruto up and began punching him repeatedly. After each punch, he stopped to examine Haruto. “Where is your hidden power? Hurry, show me or your soul will reach Krato’s hall before you can.”

“Niaindsaa” Haruto spoke gibberish to Eros. 

Eros tilted his head then threw Haruto across the field away from him. 

Haruto landed face-first onto the ground. AHH, when I finish grinding I will turn his balls into a necklace. But for now, everything is going according to my brilliant design. Haruto slowly dragged himself up from the ground, “You fool your throw has facilitated my escape.” Without hesitation, Haruto turned to flee.

The smile on Eros’s face disappeared and turned into a frown. It was strange Haruto did not seem to be lying, but he also wasn't lying about defeating Eros either. “Enough jokes boy, come meet your death with pride.”

“And I thought the son of Sadistsama was stupid, in what world would I sacrifice myself to you? I was just slowing you down so my friends could escape. Now that my henchmen have gotten an acceptable distance away, it is time I bid you and this battle adieu.” Haruto used a weird run that was almost like skipping. Haruto increased the distance between them at an astonishing rate.

Eros’s pale face began to distort and darken, “Coward! I will not be toyed with” His arm shot back and his unusual aura gathered around his spear until he launched it like a heat-seeking missile towards Haruto. The sound of thunder was created by the zooming spear.

The attack hadn’t even hit yet, but Haruto could feel immense pain in his chest as if a precursor for what’s to come. He turned on his heels, “Ah you just don’t quit.” Ok, I can stop this. I just have to go beyond my limits. What would Vegetes do? Get bodied, he would get bodied, until Sun Wukong arrived. Ok, cross that off the list. How about Bruce Lee? He would. He would hit em with the ole razzle-dazzle a little WACHA action. If the one-inch punch fails, then I just have to add more inches ``Allow me to show you my new and improved ultimate attack” Haruto’s fist clenched pulled back two inches as he unleashed his first-ever 2-inch punch. 

Clarence witnessing the two monstrous attacks was only reminded again of his inferiority to these nonhumans. One a demihuman the other a Spartan, yet both enjoy power far beyond that of a human, a human of nobility descent at that. Why were these supposed lower lifeforms so much stronger than him and every human around him? Weren’t humans the master race?

 Right as the spear met his fist, Haruto’s legs dug into the ground inches a second. He gritted his teeth, so hard that his gums began to bleed. It felt as if his back would give out any second. And just like Vegetes, I am defeated. They never let the proud warrior win. I should have acted like Sun Wukong and asked Thomas to distract him for me while I gathered my power.

A loud boom resonated upon impact bursting eardrums and shaking the now desolate forest.

A few seconds of battle passed as the spear broke through Haruto’s skin causing blood to explode from his fist. Haruto’s armor exploded up all the way to his shoulder.

After 10 seconds the spear fell to the ground unharmed except for a steady stream of steam flowing off it.

Haruto’s arm dangled completely shredded. For a moment Haruto seems unaffected by the damage. He even taunts, "Is that it...." His screams of agony came seconds later, “AHHHH” his knees almost buckled. The pain was unbearable. He wanted to go unconscious, but for some reason, his mind only grew more and more clear. Who was the idiot who said go beyond your limits? I'm suing him. I hope no one ever attempts to go beyond their limits against such an overpowering force only death would be the result.

Seeing Haruto's state, Thomas finally went all out, “You Lowly Ape.” I should be saving my life span? In a few seconds, it will be reduced to zero by that Spartan freak. I shall as the boy puts it 'surpass my limits' Speaking a long and confusing spell, Thomas finally yelled “Toll of the dead.” The moment he cast the spell Thomas spat out a long string of black essence and plummeted towards the ground. 

Around the battlefield, all the dead creatures humans and animals alike reanimated and started attacking everyone near them.

Haruto was extremely focused even with the throbbing pains. His eyes flickered about quickly between the falling Thomas, the monster Eros, and the undead. A glint appeared in his eyes and without hesitation, Haruto broke into a sprint. 

Seeing this Eros moved forward, but a reanimated corpse lunged at him, slowing him down only for a second.

But a second for Haruto who in the tutorial learned the ultimate way of survival was more than enough. A second for him was a lifetime. He did not think nor look back. He merely ran forward completely focused on escape. As he ran Thomas who was falling from the sky like a meteor, slammed into his shoulders. Haruto didn’t even stagger; he continued forward, actually gaining speed after catching Thomas, and disappeared.