[Duck!]

Julian dropped low just as the Daemon’s massive claw swiped through the air where his head had been moments before. The force of the blow sent a gust of wind whipping past his ears, and a thrill shot through him, electrifying his senses. He could feel the beast’s weight towering above him, its grotesque presence looming like a dark cloud, but instead of fear, something else stirred inside him—excitement.

“This…” A grin spread across his face.

Without hesitating, Julian rolled to the side and sprang to his feet, gripping his rapier firmly in one hand. The world around him blurred into the background—the fleeing screams, the distant sirens—none of it mattered. His pulse quickened in anticipation, his blood thrumming with energy. He could hear the heavy, labored breathing of the Daemon as it closed in.

“MEGAN,” Julian muttered, barely able to contain the adrenaline pulsing through his veins, “How close?”

[4 seconds. It's moving fast!]

The Daemon’s grotesque, tentacle-like appendages lashed out blindly. Julian could feel the air shift with their movement. With a quick pivot, he sidestepped the attack, laughing under his breath. In one swift motion, he lunged forward—but the tip of his rapier barely scratched the surface of the Daemon’s exoskeleton, the sharp clang reverberating in the air.

"Shit." Julian's grin widened. MEGAN could feel his entire personality shift, the calm and somewhat meek demeanor slipping away as his body craved the thrill of the fight.

[Julian! Dodge left—now!] MEGAN’s voice snapped him out of his trance, but the grin stayed plastered on his face as he moved, adrenaline surging.

As Julian steadied himself, his fingers tightened around the hilt of his rapier. MEGAN's voice echoed in his ear, guiding him with precision. He could feel the Daemon's looming presence in front of him, its massive frame casting a suffocating shadow that sent chills down his spine. But instead of fear, an unfamiliar excitement bubbled inside him—a thrill he hadn’t felt since crafting his first blade.

“Heh…”

With a quick step forward, he lunged, aiming the rapier straight for the Daemon’s chest. The blade met its target with a satisfying thud, and to his surprise, the Daemon staggered back ever so slightly. The force of Julian’s newfound supernatural strength had pushed it off balance, if only for a moment. But instead of the smooth penetration he expected, his sword screeched against something unnervingly solid.

“What…?” Julian muttered, pushing harder, but the blade barely scratched the surface of the creature’s exoskeleton. It was like trying to pierce through metal—no, something harder, tougher. His heart raced, not with fear, but with pure, electrifying excitement.

[Julian! It’s not working!] MEGAN's voice was sharp with urgency, [That exoskeleton is stronger than steel. You’re going to need more than brute force!]

“...It’s like hitting a wall,” Julian breathed, but a grin tugged at the corners of his lips. His pulse quickened, his senses flaring, “Ha… Hahahaha!”

And while Julian laughed, the Daemon let out a guttural roar, swiping at him with monstrous speed, but he dodged, his reflexes almost instinctual.

“Perfect,” he whispered, gripping the rapier tighter. "This is going to be fun."

Julian circled the Daemon, feeling the thrill of the battle surge through him with each step. His heart raced, not from fear, but from excitement. He could feel the tension building, the shift in his demeanor as the primal urge to fight took over. The rapier in his hand felt like it was made for him—light, deadly, and ready—and perhaps his father truly gave him the weapon just for this moment.

The Daemon let out another guttural roar, swinging its massive claw toward him with the force of a wrecking ball. Julian ducked swiftly, the air above his head vibrating with the sheer power of the strike.

"Close…" he whispered to himself, a grin forming on his lips. This was exhilarating.

[Julian, listen to me! You need to strike the joints! The exoskeleton is too hard!] MEGAN’s voice rang sharply in his head, cutting through the chaos. [Tilt your wrist slightly upward, about 45 degrees—yes, right there. Now push forward with your left foot and thrust!]

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Julian adjusted his stance without hesitation, his body responding to MEGAN’s guidance as though it was second nature. She had been with him his entire life, leading him through the darkness. He didn’t need to see; he only needed to listen.

With MEGAN's words echoing in his mind, he shifted his weight and pushed forward, tilting his wrist exactly as she instructed. The rapier slipped into the Daemon’s leg, finding the soft flesh beneath the hard exoskeleton.

The Daemon let out a shriek, stumbling back slightly as Julian’s supernatural strength forced it to retreat. The thrill of the strike pulsed through him, his heart racing with satisfaction.

[That’s it! You got it, Julian! Be ready for the next move!] MEGAN urged, her voice steady despite the tension.

Julian grinned. He could feel the pulse of the battle, every motion, every breath. MEGAN’s guidance was like a second set of senses, allowing him to fight as if he had sight.

“!!!”

But then, all of a sudden, one of the cars parked near him suddenly horned its alarm, causing Julian’s concentration to disappear for a moment.

[Julian! Dodge to your left!] Unfortunately for Julian, a moment was the only thing the Daemon needed.

“Kh!?” Julian barely registered the Daemon’s next move. A crushing force slammed into his side, sending him flying backward through the air. His body hit the ground hard, skidding several feet before coming to a stop against a nearby wall. Pain surged through his ribs, and for the first time since the battle began…

…he felt the overwhelming strength of the creature. His breath came in ragged gasps, the impact knocking the wind out of him. The rapier fell from his hand, clattering uselessly beside him.

“Shit,” Julian muttered, coughing as he struggled to get up. His muscles screamed in protest, and for a brief moment, a flicker of doubt crossed his mind.

[Julian, stay focused!] MEGAN’s voice cut through the haze in his mind, sharp with concern. [You can’t let it hit you again like that! This isn’t a game! The rapier is 21 centimeters left from your right foot!]

“I know,” Julian grunted, pushing himself to his feet. But even as his body screamed in pain, his thirst for battle only grew. He patted the ground and picked up the rapier, his fingers tightening around the hilt.

“This… this is still fun, right?” As Julian stood, the Daemon's oppressive presence loomed closer, its grotesque silhouette distorted by the shadows.

[Julian, listen. You can’t overpower it head-on. Use your environment! The debris around you, the walls—leverage them.] MEGAN’s voice steadied him, her words a lifeline amid the chaos.

“No. Too complicated,” Julian growled, the hunger in his voice growing more insistent. “Just tell me where to strike.”

[Julian, you can’t—]

“Just. Tell. Me. Please.”

There was a pause before MEGAN’s voice returned, cold, robotic and extremely fast.

[Understood. Right leg joint. Distance: 1.2 meters. Wrist angle: 40 degrees upward. Left foot forward by 0.7 meters. Strike now.]

Without hesitation, Julian’s body moved like a machine, driving the rapier into the Daemon’s leg joint at the exact angle MEGAN dictated. The blade slipped into the flesh beneath the exoskeleton. The Daemon screeched, stumbling back slightly, but Julian wasn’t done.

[Left arm joint. Angle: 25 degrees outward. Distance: 1.8 meters. Brace for counterattack.]

Julian grinned and lunged, stabbing the Daemon’s left arm. His strikes came faster, more brutal, guided by MEGAN’s precise instructions.

[Right leg. 15 degrees...]

Julian followed, his attacks relentless. Each stab was cold and calculated, yet filled with a savage intensity.

“Kreekh!?” The Daemon’s limbs began to buckle under the onslaught, its once terrifying form slowly unraveling. Dark ichor spilled from its joints as its limbs started to tear apart.

[Daemon's structural integrity compromised,] MEGAN’s voice buzzed in his ear. [Final blow required.]

The Daemon’s body was collapsing, its grotesque frame folding in on itself. But Julian’s bloodlust was far from sated. He stepped closer, towering over the Daemon's twitching, broken body.

[Aim for the eyes. Distance: 1.5 meters. Arm extension: 90 degrees. Wrist rotation: 30 degrees clockwise. Strike now.]

“Ha…” Julian grinned wickedly, lifting the rapier and plunging it into the Daemon’s glowing eye. Blood sprayed across his hands, but he barely noticed.

“Hahahaha!” With a gleeful laugh, he twisted the blade, scraping its inside with a horrifying screech. He pulled the rapier out only to drive it back in again, this time deeper, twisting and gouging the Daemon’s eye socket with violent fervor.

[Julian, stop!] MEGAN’s voice was sharp with panic as she returned to her usual tone. [It’s dead! You’ve won! Stop!]

But Julian kept stabbing, laughing maniacally as he scraped the Daemon’s brains with reckless abandon.

[Julian! Please!] MEGAN’s voice cracked. [It’s already dead!]

Finally, Julian froze as he realized what he was doing, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He could finally feel all the blood and brain fluid flowing from his trembling hands.

[Julian...] MEGAN’s voice was even softer now, filled with something close to fear. [You need to stop. This… this isn’t you. We… we almost died, Julian. We… we should have just run away.]

Julian said nothing, his breaths just escaping his lips. He was about to say something, but a quiet noise came from afar.

[Julian, people are coming!] MEGAN’s voice sounded hurried. [They might be Exterminators coming to hunt the Daemon! If they see you’ve killed it, they’ll start asking questions! You need to hide…

…Now!]