“Dammit all…” Seth muttered, disbelief lacing his voice as he surveyed the remnants of a once-vibrant football field. The chaos around him had transformed it into a desolate war zone, the air thick with the acrid stench of smoke that seared his lungs. Small craters pocked the ground like the scars of a battle hard-fought. Broken barricades littered the area—twisted metal, splintered wood, and tattered banners fluttering mournfully in the breeze. They had once cheered for victories; now, they whispered of lost battles.
Distant screams echoed, haunting and disembodied, weaving through the smoke like a tragic melody. This place, once filled with laughter and cheers, had become a graveyard, each shadow a reminder of innocence snuffed out in an instant.
He stared at the monster ahead. Towering and monstrous, its jagged, obsidian skin glinted ominously in the dim light, twin orbs of seething rage—its glowing red eyes—piercing through the haze to challenge him. Seth’s fists clenched, knuckles whitening as the weight of failure pressed down on him like an iron chain. “How did it come to this?” he whispered, disbelief etched on his face as the nightmare unfolded before him.
---
[Five Minutes Earlier]
The creature's roar thundered across the battlefield, a primal bellow that shook the very ground beneath their feet. Dust and debris scattered like chaff in the wind as the beast thrashed, trying to dislodge a splintered beam embedded deep in its shoulder. Each violent movement sent wood shards flying like deadly shrapnel, slicing through the air with a sharp crack.
“Hold the line!” Masato shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos like a beacon. He stood resolute at the front, gripping his spear with a fierce determination. “Stall it! Min-Ji’s almost ready with the ballista!”
High above, on a rooftop half-obscured by smoke, Min-Ji moved with frantic precision. Her hands were a blur as she reloaded the ballista, sweat trickling down her temple, mixing with the tension coursing through her muscles. Every second felt like an eternity, the world pulsing with danger around her.
Masato’s chest heaved with each breath, the cold wind stinging his face while the bitter scent of burning wood assaulted his senses. His heart raced, each beat syncing with the thunderous footsteps of their doom. Time slipped through their fingers like sand, serving as a harsh reminder of their dwindling chances.
Without warning, the monster lunged forward, a massive blur of jagged muscle and fury. Its weight tore across the field, ripping grass and dirt in its wake, the ground trembling beneath its charge, an echo of primal fear.
“Lawrence!” Masato shouted, but the monster’s feral snarl almost drowned out his voice.
Yet Lawrence was already in motion. He sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the monster’s massive claw as it sliced through the air where he had stood moments before. “Too slow, you overgrown boulder!” he taunted, a cocky grin playing on his lips, reckless in the face of danger.
Seizing the moment, Masato thrust his spear forward with all his might, the tip striking true as it sank deep into the creature’s exposed flank. A jolt surged through his arm from the impact, causing him to almost lose his balance. He didn’t linger to admire the hit; he pulled back just in time to avoid the monster’s retaliatory swipe. The beast staggered, dazed, pain momentarily dulling its fury.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
Seth saw his chance.
With a primal roar, he charged, every muscle coiled with raw power. He slammed into the creature like a battering ram, the impact sending shockwaves through the ground. The monster skidded back, its claws carving deep grooves in the dirt as it struggled to regain its footing.
“I’m not letting you touch any of them,” Seth growled, his voice low and seething with fury. His gray eyes blazed with determination as energy surged through him, a glowing, rhino-like aura enveloping his body. It was dense, immovable, pulsing with primal strength.
---
[Seth’s Grace: "Rhino"]
Seth became a living fortress, each footfall causing the ground to quake beneath him. The monster’s claws, sharp enough to rend steel, scraped against his skin like mere scratches. He felt indestructible, each step a powerful declaration of his resolve. The earth seemed to yield to his mass, trembling in recognition of his might.
With a bellow of fury, he charged again, colliding head-on with the creature. The ground splintered beneath them, cracks spreading from the impact as shockwaves rippled across the battlefield. Seth stood firm, an immovable mountain between the monster and his friends.
---
[Meanwhile, on the Rooftop]
Min-Ji’s breath came in ragged gasps as she adjusted the ballista, her arms trembling from the effort. Every muscle in her body screamed for rest, but she had none to give. “Almost… there…” she whispered, gritting her teeth as she secured the bolt.
“Min-Ji, what’s the status?” Lucas’s voice crackled over her earpiece, tension evident in his tone.
“Loaded!” she replied, adrenaline surging. “Ready to fire! Give the signal!”
A flare shot into the sky, slicing through the haze of smoke with a burst of light. Min-Ji steadied her grip on the ballista’s trigger, her heart hammering in her chest. “Steady…” she murmured, taking aim. “This is for you, you bastard.”
With a sharp whistle, the bolt tore through the air, embedding itself deep into the monster’s forearm. The creature let out a bone-rattling scream, its massive frame convulsing in agony.
“Direct hit!” she yelled from the rooftop, a flicker of triumph lighting her eyes. But that relief was fleeting. Something felt off.
"Wait... something's wrong..." Her voice trailed off as she squinted through the smoke at the creature’s coiling muscles. “Oh no…”
“Get down!” Lucas screamed, but the words came too late. The beast crashed to the ground, shaking the building and almost making her lose her balance.
Dust and debris clouded the air, choking the life from her lungs. She gripped the railing for support, coughing through the haze as she peered down at the battlefield below. Chaos reigned all around. “Min-Ji, reload that ballista now!” Lucas shouted, urgency filling his voice.
“I’m on it!” she snapped, though panic crept into her tone. Her hands moved, but not with the steady precision they had before.
Lucas glanced around, dread etched on his face. “What do we—?”
Before he could finish, the monster ripped a chunk of debris from the ground, locking onto them with murderous intent through its glowing red eyes.
“Get down!” he shouted as the debris came crashing down. "Min-Ji! Are you all right?" he yelled, scanning the smoke until he spotted her, breathless but conscious.
"Rei! Min-Ji received a severe blow to the head," Lucas reported, glancing at the broken ballista. "Our win condition is gone. I can't think of anything we can do to beat that thing now." Dread washed over his features as he surveyed the chaos below.
Rei clenched his fists, guilt gnawing at him. He had left his friends to face the monster while he was stuck here, away from the action. “Lucas, take care of Min-Ji. I’ll handle the rest.” Before Lucas could protest, he turned and rushed down the stairs, a whirlwind of conflicting emotions surging within him. Why wasn’t he out there fighting alongside them? This was his chance to prove himself, to show that he belonged with the others.
Bursting onto the first floor, Rei's eyes caught sight of a sword encased in glass. “Hope the principal doesn't mind,” he muttered, shattering the case and grabbing the sword, its weight both comforting and alien in his hands.
He rushed through the hallway, urgency pulsing in his veins. As he approached the students’ barrier, half-destroyed and crumbling, he called out, “Guys, open up! It’s me, Rei!” His voice edged with desperation, hoping to find a way to help.
“Rei, come inside!” a battered senior called, his voice strained and shaky. Stepping inside, the carnage before him was a grim sight. Blood painted the floor, fallen students’ bodies lay scattered—remnants of bravery amidst horror. Each face was a haunting reminder of what they were fighting against. A cold fire ignited within him.
He made his way outside and found Seth struggling to stand, bruises marring his skin. “Rei?” Seth turned, panting as his vision swam. “Yeah, it’s me. Go back to the building and rest.” Rei placed a hand on his shoulder, determination hardening his voice. “I’ll take care of this.”
Seth gave a reluctant nod, the weight of exhaustion heavy in his eyes. “Just don’t do anything reckless, alright?”
“Now then…” Rei glanced back at the monster, its crimson eyes staring back at him with insatiable hunger. “Guess it's time for a rematch, shall we?”
[End of Chapter]