Gorg lunged at N with incredible speed.
N blocked Gorg's attack with his claws, sparks flying as their claws clashed. Gorg then retreated to a nearby tree and began moving with such speed that he was barely visible. He employed the same tactic as before, but with a twist. This time, he used the surrounding trees and rocks, leaping over them and N, before unleashing a powerful surge of leg strength around N and striking him in a fatal spot.
Despite Grog's high-speed movements around N, creating powerful waves on the ground, trees, rocks, and water with each use of his powerful legs, N managed to deflect several of Grog's attacks. The sensation N felt while blocking these blows confirmed his theory: Grog had two forms, each with its own specific use:
The first form (the dog form, standing on four legs): He could move at very high speeds due to his fast legs and small size. His attacks in this form weren't very powerful, but they were dangerous because his claws were extremely sharp.
The second form (the form where he walked on two legs): In this form, he increased in size and length, and his attacks were very powerful, with strong immunity to his opponent's attacks.
However, the weaknesses N discovered were:
First: In the first form, he was less immune to attacks than in the second.
Second: His speed in his second form is reduced by half or more.
Third: He needs some time to transform from one form to another.
"Speed, attack, defense, and he has a powerful sense of smell..." N thought to himself as he parried Grog's cutting blows.
Grog landed a blow that cut N's face, causing him to lose his left eye. Grog continued his assault, laughing, "Hahaha, come on...come on, give me more fun, you vampire! I haven't fought like this in ages, hahaha!"
N said, "And on top of all that, his energy isn't depleted. He's enjoying this. As for me, my body has reached its limit. I can't regenerate or even fly...I have to find something, anything...focus...focus..." An idea flashed in his mind, and he continued, "Okay...I'll die one way or another, but at least I'll inflict some damage."
Grog managed to wound N on the back, causing N to stagger slightly. Grog continued his attack, aiming for N's heart, but N held firm, shielding it against Grog's blow. This forced Grog to redirect his attack to N's intestines, severing them. Laughing, he said, "What's up? Hahaha, you've given up? You should have accepted my offer when you had the chance, hahaha. Now I'll finish you off..."
N interrupted him, saying, "You coward."
Those words were enough to make Grog freeze. He glared at N, demanding, "What did you say?"
N stood, staggering from exhaustion and blood pouring from his body. "Yes... you heard me. Coward and scared too. You pretend to be strong, but you're just a cat terrified of your master. I mean, why did you even want to make the deal with me in the first place if you didn't think your master would punish you for not bringing the key?"
"You don't know what you're talking about," said Grog.
"No," said N. "I know exactly what I'm talking about. You know why? Because we're almost the same. I mean, look at me. I'm a failure just like you, but at least I'm not a coward."
"How dare you..." said Grog.
"Dare? Yes... yes, I dare to say all this about you. You're using your incredible speed against your wounded enemy. If you were at least as strong as you claim, you would fight me fairly and justly, you cowardly loser, terrified of your master."
"Coward, huh?" said Grog. "If that's what you want, then I'll grant your last request." Grog began to transform into his second form and continued, "But let me tell you, I won't give you a mercy death. I will..."
Before Grug could finish speaking, N attacked him with all the energy he had left, transforming into him and slashing his claw at him, which opened a large gash in his stomach. This was N's plan. From the sound of Grug's laughter, he realized that he no longer took the fight seriously. So, he decided to let Grug's blows fly, then play the weakling, pretending to be on the verge of death. He would then provoke Grug by wounding his pride, before delivering his final blow. N didn't expect this plan to work, but it seemed luck was still on his side.
N collapsed to his knees, too weak to even stand. He gasped, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Uzi. This is the best I can do."
Grug screamed at the top of his lungs, "Damn you! Damn you! You hurt me!" It seemed the injury was severe, but not enough to kill him.
Grog completed his transformation into his second form, clutching the wound on his stomach. "You... you bastard... liar... you think that pathetic trick will kill me? I underestimated you, I admit it, but I won't make the same mistake again. This time, I'll make hell for you before you go to it..."
N interrupted him, saying, "All talk and no action. Is that all you can do? You're a failure, just like me. Hahahaha."
Grog lunged at N, punching him repeatedly. "Me?" he yelled. "You call me a coward?" He punched N in the face. Grog grabbed N's leg, lifted him high, and slammed him to the ground with all his might. He repeated this action several times before hurling N against a large rock. He then charged forward and delivered a powerful kick that pierced N's body through the rock.
Grog wasn't satisfied with that. He lifted N's body high again with both hands and then slammed his knees shut with all his might, fracturing his spine.
Grog grabbed N by both hands and said, "You still think I'm a coward?" He pulled them with such force that N cried out in agony. He could feel the flesh in his arms tearing away, and after a minute, both arms were severed from his body, and he collapsed to the ground.
Grog wasn't finished. This was just the beginning. He planned to torture N's body until sunrise. Grog held N's mangled and broken body. His arms were severed, his clothes were ripped, and his chest was crushed, revealing some of his right ribcage. His left eye was injured, and blood was streaming from his entire body. Grog said mockingly, "So who's the coward now?"
N gathered his last breath and said, "You are," then lashed Grog out of the eye with his tail. Grog slammed N's body to the ground and cried out in pain. In addition to the wound to his stomach, his opponent had also managed to injure his eyes. "Again!" Grog thought to himself. "He did it again. If my master finds out I've been so lax in the fight again, he'll punish me even worse than last time and demote me." Trying to calm himself, Grog said, "Damn it, I can't see... but my sense of smell isn't damaged, so no problem for now. I'll kill that pest, then I'll go find the girl... yes, then I'll find the key and give it to my master, and that way he won't be angry with me again."
While Grug was trying to regain his composure, N lay on the ground, muttering to himself, "Why... why did I come here? ... It's true, I came to help Uzi, but why did I even want to help her? ... Is it because she's my friend? But is she really my friend? ... Did she use me and then abandon me? It seems J was right when she called me a fool and useless... Speaking of J and V, will they even remember me? If I die here now, will they notice my absence and look for me? ... I don't think so... It seems no one cares whether I live or die. I'm just scum in this world." As he thought, N felt someone lifting him from the ground. He was surprised; it wasn't Grog's hand, as it was much smaller. He barely opened his right eye to see who was lifting him.
Grog managed to regain his composure after losing his sight, but he sensed something strange. His opponent's scent had vanished, as if his opponent had stood up and fled. "This is impossible," Grog thought to himself. "I destroyed his body, I tore him to pieces... It's impossible for him to have moved all that distance alone." Grog ran forward but collided with a large rock in front of him. He touched the rock and said, "How long has this rock been here? Wait a minute." Grog focused on his sense of smell and was able to track N's location, but he noticed that someone else was with him. Focusing on that person's scent, he said, "The girl is back."
N was surprised that Uzi had returned to help him. He said softly, "Uzi, what... what are you doing here? Why did you come back?"
Uzi answered, supporting N on her shoulder and walking him away from Grog, "Shut up, you fool. I came here to help you." N asked, "Why? You're just putting yourself in danger."
Uzi replied, "Because... I mean, isn't it obvious that you're my friend... or whatever, ugh, Bite Me. Let's focus now on getting away from that monster so you can regain your strength and kick that idiot's ass, or whatever his name is."