Axel staggered back, blood gushing from the stump of his severed arm, but adrenaline surged through him like a wildfire. Pain was a distant memory; all that mattered was the beast before them, its claws glistening in the dim light,
ready to strike.
" You are injured,stay back." Shila said, his silver-framed glasses glinting as he conjured twin daggers with a flick of his wrist, kicking off the ground, he lunched himself at the beast, a blur of silver, as his daggers aimed for its throat.The beast stepped back, twisting it's body, the steel whispering past its neck. It countered with a swipe of its claws, a strike meant to rend flesh from bone.
Shila barely twisted away, but not fast enough. The claw grazed his ribs, slicing through his uniform. Blood splattered onto the stone.
But he didn't flinch. Exhaling slightly through his mouth, he lunged low, dragging a dagger across the beasts thigh. it staggered, but its claws lashed out in a blur, catching Shila's jaw. He spun from the impact, blood flying into the air.
Axel's heart raced. He couldn't let Shila face the creature alone.
The Beast snarled, a low, rumbling growl that echoed off the cracked marble walls. With a sudden lunge, it launched itself at shila, claws poised to tear him apart.
Appearing in front of the beast instantly, Axel roared, "Flash Punch!" as he drove his remaining arm into the beast's face.
Boom!
The beast was sent flying.
"Are you okay?"he asked glancing at Shila who was slowly getting back up "what are you doing here! I told you to step back.". "What,no thanks for saving my life, Axel?" he teased. " Shila scoffed "I had it under control" "sure you did" Axel said rolling eyes "a second later and you would have been monster food."
Growl!
They both turned to see the monster getting back up. Shila turned to look at Axel "That's the third time you've used Flash punch right " Axel nodded gravely. Shila turned back to stare at the beast. " Alright then you draw it's attention I would attack from the side" they both nodded. The beast was already running at them on all fours a crazed look in it's crimson eyes. Crouching low Axel widened his stance, mouth exuding steam, the sole of his feet catching ablaze,
Boom!
In that split second he reached the beast,and with a burst of speed, he swung his leg upward, catching the Beast off guard, Boom! The impact sent it stumbling back, but Axel's victory was short-lived.
The impact while thunderous just managed to send the creature stumbling. The creatures endurance was evident, it's monstrous form absorbing the strike with unsettling resilience.
With a fierce resolve, Axel focused his remaining strength into a powerful kick, following it up with a swift knee strike as the Beast recovered. It howled in fury, its sharp claws raking through the air as it charged again.
"Come on, bastard!" Axel taunted, channeling his pain into determination. He spun, delivering a series of rapid kicks, each strike aimed at the creature's vulnerable points. The flames that usually engulfed his feet flickered faintly, but the fire in his spirit burned brightly
The Beast retaliated with a swipe of its claws, but Axel ducked just in time, rolling to the side and using the momentum to leap back to his feet. He had to adapt; he couldn't afford to hesitate.
The Beast lunged toward him, but Axel was already moving.
"Bastard!" he yelled, sprinting to close the distance. He delivered a powerful kick to the Beast's side, using his full body weight to drive the creature off balance. It staggered, giving Shila the opening he needed.
With a swift motion, he conjured a chain, ensnaring the beasts limbs. The creature snarled,attempting to break free, but Shila's chains glowed with Aetheric energy, holding it in place.
"Keep it there!" Axel shouted, adrenaline propelling him forward. He charged at the Beast, the remnants of his lost arm weighing heavily on him, but he refused to let that stop him. He aimed a swift kick to the Beast's head, feeling the satisfaction of connecting with the target.
But the Beast was relentless. With a furious roar, it bucked against the chains, the sound echoing like thunder in the decaying room. Axel knew he had to act fast.
"Shila, we need to end this!" he yelled, determination burning in his eyes.
"On it!" he nodded, focusing his energy. Axel could see it gathering, the power, the air around him shimmering with potential
As the chains began to weaken under the Beast's strength, Axel sprang into action again. He launched a powerful series of kicks, aiming for the creature's legs and sides, trying to wear it down. Each strike reverberated through him, but he pressed on, using every ounce of strength he had left.
With a final, desperate surge, the Beast broke free from the chains, its eyes wild with rage. It lunged at Axel, claws bared, but Axel was ready.
"Not today!" he shouted, positioning himself low to the ground. With a swift kick, he swept the Beast's legs out from under it, sending the creature crashing to the floor.
"Now, Shila!" Axel yelled, feeling the weight of their situation pressing down on him.
In response, Shila conjured a massive sword of shimmering with Aetheric energy, its blade gleaming with intensity. Axel could feel the surge of power radiating from him, and he knew this was their chance.
The Beast roared, rising to its feet, but it was too late. Axel charged forward, channeling the last of his strength into a mighty kick aimed at the creature's head. Shila followed close behind, his conjured sword glinting in the faint light.
With a single, powerful motion, Axel struck as Shila swung the sword in a sweeping arc, aiming for the Beast''s throat. The two attacks collided in a brilliant explosion of light and energy, illuminating the crumbling chamber.
Dust and debris swirled around them as the impact shook the ground, sending tremors through the room. Axel felt a moment of hope as the Beast let out a deafening roar, but as the dust settled, hope changed to despair.
The Beast's form came into view.
Its body was a grotesque mess of wounds. A deep, gaping gash ran diagonally across its chest where Shila's Aetheric sword had carved through muscle and sinew, exposing raw, glistening tissue underneath. Black, ichor-like blood oozed from the wound, dripping in slow, viscous streams onto the cracked stone floor. The flesh around the cut sizzled and smoked, reacting violently to the lingering energy infused in the blade.
Axel's final kick had struck true as well. The Beast''s jaw hung awkwardly, fractured at an unnatural angle, its lower fangs chipped from the force of the blow. A deep dent marred the side of its skull where the impact had landed, the bone beneath bruised and possibly cracked.
its right arm hung limply at its side, the limb trembling as though barely responding to its will. A network of deep claw marks, left by Shila's daggers earlier, stretched across its shoulders and back, and though some had begun to heal, others remained open, the rapid regeneration struggling against the sheer amount of accumulated damage.
Its breathing was ragged, each exhale a mixture of a snarl and a wet, rattling wheeze. Blood leaked from its nostrils, mixing with the saliva dripping from its parted, broken jaw. It took a single step forward—then stumbled, one knee slamming into the ground as its strength faltered.
Yet, even in this battered state, its body twitched with the telltale signs of regeneration. The wounds had already begun knit together, muscles shifting unnaturally as they attempted to realign themselves.
As its eyes locked onto Axel and Shila, still burning with unrelenting fury, it became clear the fight was far from won.
"Axel, can you still fight?" Shila calmly called out, his voice steady despite the chaos around them.
"I can't..." Axel gasped, struggling to remain standing. "What about you?"
Shila shook his head, Axel's eyes narrowed as he assessed their situation. is it our fate to die here? Hah, We can't give up now"
"Listen," Axel said, his tone turning serious. "When I give the signal, I want you to run for the exit as fast as you can. Call for reinforcements!"
Shila turned to regard his friend, confusion and anger flickering across his face. "I am not leaving you to die here, Axel!"
"You're the logical one, Shila," Axel pressed, desperation creeping into his voice. "While I'm the impulsive one. You know I'm right. If I can't hold it off—"
"Shut up, Axel! We fight or we die here together! I'm not abandoning you!" Shila's voice rose, his eyes fierce with resolve.
Axel's breath hitched as he saw the fire in Shila's gaze. "But if you stay, you could die in vain! I can't let that happen!"
Shila's jaw clenched, the weight of their situation settling heavily between them. "You think I want to leave you?"
Axel let out a breath, feeling the pressure of Shila's loyalty weighing against the reality of their dire situation. "You need to trust me. If the Beast charges, I'll distract it. Just go!"
"Damn it, Axel!" Shila shouted, frustration boiling over. "We'll fight together, or I'm not going anywhere!"
Axel saw the determination in Shila's eyes, and despite the fear clawing at him, a flicker of hope ignited within him. "Alright… I won't back down either. Who knew it would all turn out like this, am about to loose everything I own in one night"sigh
Axel summoned every ounce of determination he had left. He wouldn't let this beast take them down without a fight. They could do this—they had to.
Standing Axel gasped for air, his body wrecked refusing to move a single step. While the Beast had already healed most of its wounds, this wouldn't even be a fight—while he appreciates loyalty as much as anyone else Shila cannot die in vain, as he was considering trying to persuade his friend again, he heard it.
Soft. Almost nonexistent.
Yet, the Beast froze mid-motion.
A shiver ran through the room. The air thickened, turning dense like a predator's breath on the back of their necks.
Something was here.
Not just someone. Something bigger.
Axel's heartbeat pounded in his ears. The others felt it too—the strange, primal wrongness in the air.
The Beast's fur stood on end. Its body trembled, muscles locked in place. Instinct screamed at it to flee.
But it didn't move. It couldn't.
Axel turned his head—slowly, painfully—and his breath hitched.
There. Standing right beside the Beast.
A figure that hadn't been there before.
Still. Unbothered. Watching.
At six feet tall, he was muscled and imposing, his presence alone smothering the air. Axel's gaze was drawn to the silver star on the his shoulder, a symbol of authority and power. The glowing green eyes bore into him, while the man's Aura pressed into their skulls like unseen fangs. Shadows stretched unnaturally around him, the edges of the room blurring, warping like a distorted nightmare.
The Beast whimpered.
The Enforcer tilted his head, gaze cold and unreadable. "So you're the creature that has been causing trouble"
The moment he spoke, the Beast flinched.
As Axel and Shila stared at the man
Only one thought rang through their minds
'Enforcer'