Ambrose slams her blade against the fox’s tail, a loud screech filling the shrine as the stone grates against the metals edge. She grunts at the weight, her arms struggling to hold. Its eyes flicker as it raises its second tail high, but as it does so the first tail loses its momentum and falls to the side.

Ambrose steps sideways, and Meize is suddenly in the space, hsi fist slamming against the fallen tail. The fox screeches, reeling back as it withdraws the tail.

“I’m going to need a few more hits.” Meize says.

“Keep doing it.” Ambrose narrows her eyes. “I messed with its mind. It’ll struggle to use multiple tails.” A clash rings out from behind, and Ambrose turns partway to see Bunny swinging her staff against the Arthreeki. His blade scrapes against her staff, before he suddenly retreats and fades back into the darkness.

“I’m fine. Focus on your fight!” Bunny calls out. Ambrose observes her for a moment, before turning back to the fox. Its face is twisted into a nasty scowl as it stares at them. Then it bounds to the left, pouncing directly at Anastasia.

Anastasia shivers at the looming figure, quickly drawing on the torch to bring out more flame. The torch’s flame dims, and then snuffs out, as she draws it into her hand. She forms the fire into a small line and spreads it toward the fox, but the fox dashes to the side, its eyes warily following the flame as its foreleg claws toward her.

Ambrose is there, her blade catching its claw and deflecting it again, sending it careening to the side. As it kilters, its tail whips toward them. Ambrose grabs Anastasia and throws them forward, just barely dodging its attack, as Meize steps forward. His fist slams into it again, pounding into one of its legs.

The fox cries out, turning around to shove into Meize. He attempts to dodge, but his wounds make him too slow. Then suddenly Ambrose is before him, her blade’s blunt edge held in front of them. The fox crashes heavily into them and both are sent flying, pain filling their bodies as they crash into the ground. Ambrose’s blade and torch scatter across the floor as they lay groaning on the ground.

Ambrose rolls over and gets on her knees. She heaves, a trail of blood splattering the floorboards. In her moment of vulnerability the Arthreeki comes out of the darkness, his blade bearing toward her. Before it hits Anastasia is next to them, her weapon slamming into his own.

As her blade pushes his back, Bunny appears by his side and her staff slams into him. Anastasia steps forward and slices her blade across him, creating a long heavy gash across his back. He screams, pain coursing through his frail body as he scrambles away, his weapon swung wildly in retreat. His body quickly disappears back into the darkness.

Stolen story; please report.

“He’s so weak.” Anastasia hisses, her eyes darting between the fox and the darkness. “Get up you two.” She reaches down and takes Ambrose’s torch, dropping her weapon again.

“Meize.” Ambrose grunts, staggering onto her feet. “How many?” Meize is barely on his feet himself, his body almost breaking down.

“Two.” Meize gasps. “I only need one good shot.”

“I’ll try and shut off its eyes.” Bunny says. She raises her staff and it begins to glow brightly. “It’s up to you now Meize.” Ambrose closes her eyes for a moment, her face a cold mask. Many emotions roil through her before settling onto one; determination. The fox has righted itself, its body ready to pounce again.

“Right.” Ambrose says, a grimness to her tone. “This is the last stretch. This is the moment we live or die.” The fox jumps, and suddenly half of its eyes wink out. The loss of vision destroys its visual clarity, causing it to stumble as its eyes adjust.

Ambrose is upon it at the same moment, her sword bearing toward its side. It twitches, slamming toward her at the attack, and she jumps back. Meize is right behind her, his fist slamming into its body as it overextends. The stone cracks, spiderweb fractures cutting across its surface, blood seeping out from its crevices.

The fox calls out a loud, keen cry as it jumps away, a terrible pain in its voice. Anastasia draws the flame from her torch, exhaustion filling her as she brings the entire torch-flame to bare, sending the large swathe of flame toward the fox. Pain fills her at the momentous feat as she overdraws past her limits.

The flame snakes around the retreating fox and forms a crescent ring of flame behind it. The fox bounces back from the flame, a keen pain in its cry as it paces back and forth at its boundary. Anastasia collapses to the ground as her knees give out, staring at her handiwork with half-lidded eyes.

“Wait.” Ambrose says as she sees Meize hesitating beside her. Exhaustion fills his face, his feet rocky as he stares at the fox.

“What are you waiting for? Kill it before it recovers!” Bunny’s voice pipes up from behind, Ambrose half-turning to see her leaning heavily on her staff, clear exhaustion on her face. Ambrose clutches her weapon tight.

“This is the most dangerous part.” She continues slowly to Meize. “It’s a beast. We need to be wary of its death throes.” Something sparks in Meize’s eyes as Ambrose talks, his body’s shaking slowing, and then stilling. “Wait for it to- Meize!” Ambrose roars out as he runs toward the fox. She tries to grab Meize’s arm, but he’s too fast and her hand comes up empty as he’s already racing past her.

“Just one more hit.” Meize shouts. “One more and it’s dead.”

“Meize!” Ambrose screams, anger filling her as she stares between him and the collapsed Anastasia. Time seems to slow for a moment as she looks between the two, a heaviness filling her heart. She wanted desperately for things not to come to this. But in the end…her eyes turn a deep, chilling cold.

“I’m sorry.” Ambrose says, grief filling her voice, as she watches him run toward the fox. “I’m too weak.” She grips her blade tight, twists around and swings it in a wide arc across from her. Straight at Bunny. Shock fills Bunny’s eyes as she raises her staff, barely deflecting the blade and tumbling to the side.

“What are you doing?!” Bunny cries out as Ambrose advances, her weapon bearing down on her above. It’s a swing to kill, and Bunny barely rolls out of the way again as it comes crashing down. “Ambrose?!” Ambrose looks down at Bunny, her eyes cut in a frozen anger.

“Killing a traitor.” She says grimly, her blade swinging down for a third time.