"Ugh!" Klein grunted, dropping to his knees in a skidding motion as he barely ducked under the creature's wide, sweeping arm. The force of the swing sent a gust of wind ripping through the air, lifting him off his feet and sending him tumbling backward. He scrambled to regain his footing, his sword clutched tightly in his hand. His muscles burned, and his breath came in ragged gasps. Every movement felt heavier now, as if the creature's oppressive presence was weighing him down.
DING!
The metallic clang of his blade reverberated as it glanced off one of the creature's twisted, armored legs. Klein cursed under his breath, frustration bubbling up as he glanced to his left. Roland and Astrid were locked in their own struggles, but neither was faring any better. The creature's lower half was nearly impervious to their attacks, and its upper body moved with a speed that defied its massive size. Its six razor-sharp legs clicked against the ground with an unsettling rhythm, each step deliberate, as if it were toying with them.
"This thing's too fast!" Klein muttered, his eyes darting between Astrid and Roland. Astrid was holding her own, her movements a blur of precision and agility, but she wasn't gaining any ground. Every strike she landed was deflected or absorbed by the creature's thick hide. Roland, on the other hand, was barely keeping up, his movements growing sluggish as exhaustion set in.
"Ah!" Roland yelled as the creature's massive arm slammed into him, sending him flying backward. He landed hard near Klein, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "We're not making any progress," Roland said, tightening his grip on his sword. His voice was steady, but Klein could hear the strain beneath it. Sweat dripped down Roland's face, and his hands trembled slightly as he adjusted his stance.
"No kidding," Klein replied, his eyes narrowing as he watched Astrid dart in and out of the creature's reach. "If Astrid hadn't gotten the drop on it earlier and cut off its right arm, we'd already be dead."
Roland nodded grimly. "No doubt. How can something that big move so fast with only one arm?"
Klein's mind raced as he tried to formulate a plan. The creature's movements were erratic, but there was a pattern—a slight hesitation whenever it shifted its weight to its right side, its balance thrown off by the missing arm. He feinted left, barely twisting away as the beast's remaining arm lashed out—fast, too fast. But there it was, the momentary stumble as it rebalanced. His gut clenched. It overcommitted. He could use that.
"We need to stay on its right side," Klein said, his voice low but urgent. "Its left arm is fast, but it overcommits when it swings. If we can bait it, we might create an opening."
"Easier said than done," Roland muttered, pushing himself to his feet. His blade gleamed in the dim light as he readied himself for another charge. "But if we can get close enough, I might be able to land a hit on its abdomen. That pulsing light—it's got to be a weak point."
Klein glanced over his shoulder. "Lina, we're going to need some support!"
Behind him, Lina raised her arms, her expression focused. The air around her shimmered as nearly a dozen ice spears materialized, each nearly two feet long and razor-sharp. "Ready when you are," she said, her voice calm.
Klein and Roland exchanged a nod before pushing off the ground, charging toward the creature's right flank. Their movements were mirrored, a testament to their growing synergy in battle. Ahead of them, Astrid's form blurred as she darted in and out, searching for an opening. Her breathing was labored, and her strikes, though precise, lacked their usual power.
"The bottom half is useless! We have to aim high!" Roland shouted as Lina's ice spears soared overhead, striking the creature with a series of sharp cracks. The creature stumbled back slightly, raising its remaining arm to shield itself from the onslaught. Its violet-red eyes flickered, each one blinking out of sync as it studied its attackers. A low, guttural growl rumbled from its chest, a sound that sent a chill down Klein's spine.
"Ah!" Astrid yelled, finally seeing her chance. She lunged forward, her blade striking the creature's shoulder with precision. But the creature barely reacted, its thick hide absorbing the blow. "Ugh! My strikes aren't deep enough!" she growled, darting back just as the creature recovered. Its massive arm came down in another sweeping motion, this time aimed directly at Astrid. She twisted her body in a desperate attempt to evade, but it was too late. The creature's hand slammed into her with a deafening thud, sending her hurtling through the air. She crashed into a thick tree with a sickening crunch, her body crumpling to the ground.
"Astrid!" Selene's voice rang out, filled with panic.
"Garrett! Selene! Tend to Astrid!" Roland barked, his voice cutting through the chaos. He dropped to his knees, sliding under the creature's return strike, with Klein following closely behind. Klein leaped over the creature's arm, his new body feeling more reactive and agile than he was used to. But even now, fatigue was creeping in, his movements growing slower, his reactions duller.
The two closed the gap as another volley of ice spears soared overhead, crashing into the creature's face and torso. Klein weaved through the falling shards of ice, his movements fluid but strained. He launched himself into the air, his sword raised high, his grip so tight his knuckles turned white. The creature's eyes snapped to him as he descended. With a roar, Klein brought his blade down with all the force he could muster. The sword blurred as it arced through the air—then shattered against the creature's armored arm. Shards of metal scattered in every direction, but the attack had served its purpose. He'd created an opening.
"Ah!" Roland roared, channeling essence into his legs as he launched himself upward, his blade aimed directly at the creature's pulsing abdomen. For a moment, it seemed like he might succeed—his sword flashed, slicing toward the glowing weak point. But just as the tip of his blade neared the creature's flesh, the atmosphere shifted. The creature's abdomen flared brighter, and a thick, dark mist exploded outward, slamming into Roland and repelling him before he could make contact.
The mist expanded with a forceful wave, knocking both Klein and Roland back. Klein managed to keep his footing, but his chest tightened as the mist enveloped him. He dropped to his knees, clutching his chest as a sharp pain shot through him. His vision blurred, and for a moment, he wasn't on the battlefield. He was back in his house, Elizabeth's screams echoing in his ears, her arms falling to the ground with a wet thud. The smell of blood filled his nostrils, and the distant cries of Emily and Anna rang out, pleading for help. His heart pounded in his chest, and he could feel the weight of his failure crushing him.
"Selene!" Klein called out, his voice strained. "I thought you said it couldn't phase—"
"It can't!" Selene shouted, her voice hoarse. She took a step back, her eyes wide with fear. "I-it's miasma! If we don't do something, they'll die!"
But it was already too late. Before anyone could react, the creature was on top of Klein and Roland. One of its many legs came down with blinding speed, its pointed tip glistening in the dim light as it streaked toward Roland, wrapped in a dark purple haze.
Time seemed to slow as Klein watched helplessly. "No, not again," he thought, his mind flashing back to Elizabeth, to the screams of Emily and Anna. He could still hear Emily's voice, distant and desperate, echoing in his mind: "Someone, help us!" The memory of Anna's tear-streaked face was seared into his soul. And Elizabeth—Elizabeth's scream as her arms fell to the ground with a wet thud, her eyes wide with terror.
He had been too weak then, too slow to save them. And now, history was repeating itself.
He closed his eyes, bracing himself for Roland's scream. But it never came. Instead, the sound of metal against chitin faded. The weight of his sword was gone. The burning in his chest—vanished. His heart still pounded in his ears, but there was no battlefield, no screams. Just… the soft clinking of silverware on a plate.
"Klein," a voice said softly, almost tenderly. "Klein, sweetie."
His body was being shaken, gently but insistently. Confused, Klein opened his eyes—and found himself staring at his own dinner table. The creature, the battle, the miasma—it was all gone.
"Are you falling asleep?" the voice asked again.
He turned to his left, his heart pounding. There, sitting beside him, was Elizabeth. Her face was calm, her eyes filled with concern.
"E-Elizabeth?" he stammered, his voice hoarse.
"What's wrong?" she asked, tilting her head. "You look like you've seen a ghost."