Grimclaw’s wings beat slower with each passing second, his once-mighty strokes faltering. The great beast wheezed as his strength waned. Finally, with a groan, he descended in a lumbering spiral. The ground came up fast, and with a heavy thud, Grimclaw landed, his claws scraping against stone as he deposited Vieran and Jeff.

Vieran barely had time to steady himself before Jeff’s limp body slumped against him. No time to rest. He hoisted Jeff onto his back, his legs already pumping as the distant growls of wolves pierced the heavy fog. The sound of snarling jaws and scrabbling paws grew louder, closer. Shadows darted just beyond the faint glow of the light barrier.

He tore through the village’s narrow streets. Broken lanterns hung from crooked posts, their shattered glass crunching underfoot.

Behind him, the wolves’ claws skittered on cobblestones. Their growls sent chills down his spine. He risked a glance back, their glowing eyes pierced the mist, unrelenting, ravenous.

Vieran’s heart sank as he rounded a corner, only to find himself trapped. A towering stone wall loomed ahead. The valley of buildings enclosed him, offering no escape. He spun around, bracing himself as the wolves closed in.

But just as hope seemed to waver, a rush of wind swept past him. Grimclaw surged forward. His talons wrapped around Vieran in a swift motion, yanking him skyward. The world blurred for a moment as they ascended, the wolves snapping at air beneath them. With a sudden thud, they landed on the roof of a crumbling structure.

Panting, Vieran dashed across the rooftop. His boots sent loose tiles cascading down, their clatter lost in the wolves’ frenzied howls below. Beneath his weight, the ancient wood groaned, but held firm. He felt a flicker of relief. Despite centuries of decay, these buildings still stood strong.

He scanned the maze of rooftops and streets, searching for a sanctuary. His mind raced. If he could just find a structure sturdy enough to shield them from the wolves—something with thick walls and a secure entrance—maybe they could survive the night. The wolves would not wait.

Vieran’s mind raced, piecing together a plan. The faint howls of wolves echoed in the distance, but none dared breach the light barrier. His focus lingered on the ruins below, eyes scanning for a place to fortify. He barely noticed the subtle shift in the air until a heavy thud shattered his thoughts.

Terek staggered into the light, his hulking form dripping with blood. Deep gashes marred his once-imposing frame, and his breaths came in ragged bursts. Despite his injuries, his eyes blazed with fury.

"You," Terek snarled, his voice rough as gravel. "Do you have any idea what you've done?"

Vieran tensed, adjusting Jeff's weight on his back.

"Because you shot out my lantern," Terek continued, his voice rising with each word, "my men are dead! Torn apart! The only reason I’m standing here is because of the lantern I stole from you!"

Vieran's gaze flicked past Terek, searching for any sign of movement beyond the barrier. Nothing. The wolves were still there, but they hesitated, circling just out of sight. Realization struck him. Terek’s presence kept them at bay. They feared him.

Terek took a limping step forward, his fists clenched. "Am I talking to myself?" he growled, his voice cutting through the heavy silence. "Pay attention when I'm speaking, you little worm!"

Vieran snapped out of his thoughts and turned to Grimclaw, whose talons flexed, the beast's sharp eyes locked on Terek. Without hesitation, Vieran spoke, his voice low and steady. "We have to work together to take him down."

Grimclaw let out a guttural croak of agreement, his wings twitching in readiness.

Terek barked a harsh laugh. "You think that bird's lucky shot will work again?" He spread his arms wide, blood dripping from his fingertips. "I’ve mastered the Orujin Combat Blueprint. I’m one step away from breaking into 1-A tier." His grin widened, cruel and confident. "Come at me if you dare. When I’m done with you, I’ll roast that oversized chicken for dinner."

Vieran exchanged a glance with Grimclaw, his jaw tightening. They had no choice but to fight.

Grimclaw launched himself forward, the air rippling around him as he closed in on Terek. But Terek was faster. With a twisted smirk, he activated [Shadow Feint], his form flickering and splitting into ghostly afterimages. Grimclaw's talons sliced through empty air, scattering dust as Terek reappeared beside him.

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"Too slow," Terek sneered, his hand lashing out in a clawed swipe aimed at Grimclaw’s flank.

A sharp hiss cut through the chaos as Vieran fired. The beam from his teapot-shaped weapon lanced through the air, striking Terek's hand just before it could connect. The impact forced Terek back, his hand recoiling, but Vieran’s triumph was short-lived. The spot where the beam hit was barely singed—a faint red mark on Terek's thick skin.

"You’ve got to be kidding," Vieran muttered, his pulse quickening.

Terek's eyes flared with rage. "You think that toy will stop me?" he bellowed, his voice shaking the rooftop. Without hesitation, he charged, his fists blazing with energy. Each step was a thunderous stomp, shaking loose tiles as he closed the distance.

Vieran fired again. Terek barely flinched, his fists glowing brighter as he crossed his arms to block the attacks. Then, Terek roared as he lunged, his fists aiming for Vieran's head.

Before the blow could land, Grimclaw swooped in from behind. With a powerful thrust of his body, he rammed into Terek, sending him sprawling forward. The heavy thud of Terek’s body hitting the rooftop reverberated through the air. He growled, pushing himself up, but Vieran acted quickly.

"Let’s see how you like this," Vieran muttered under his breath. He aimed at the roof beneath Terek and fired, the beam striking with precision. The weakened tiles crumbled instantly, and with a sharp crack, the roof gave way. Terek fell through, a cloud of dust and debris following him as he crashed into the room below.

For a moment, silence reigned. Then, from the shadows beyond the barrier, the low growls of wolves grew louder. Their glowing eyes reappeared, inching closer.

"Not good," Vieran muttered.

Grimclaw wasted no time. With a powerful sweep of his wings, he grabbed Vieran and Jeff, lifting them from the roof just as the wolves began to swarm. Vieran clutched Jeff tightly as Grimclaw soared toward the next building.

The sound of cracking wood and shattering tiles erupted beneath them as Terek exploded upward from the building below. His hulking form tore through the roof, debris flying in every direction. Grimclaw veered sharply, but it was too late. Terek lunged, propelled by pure force, his bloodied face twisted in a wicked grin.

"Got you, you little bird," Terek sneered, his hands clamping around Grimclaw's wings.

Grimclaw let out a screech of pain, his body twisting in the air. With a desperate jerk, he released his grip on Vieran and Jeff. The two plummeted toward the rooftop below, Vieran twisting mid-fall to cushion Jeff’s impact. The collision was rough, the breath knocked from Vieran’s lungs as they hit the hard surface. He grunted, shielding Jeff from the worst of the fall.

Groaning, Vieran opened his eyes and looked skyward. His heart clenched as he saw Terek holding Grimclaw aloft, his monstrous laugh echoing. Grimclaw’s wings flapped feebly, his talons clawing at Terek’s arms in vain.

"No!" Vieran yelled, his voice raw with panic. He raised the teapot weapon and fired, the beams slicing through the air in quick succession. Terek’s eyes widened as the glowing bolts of energy closed in. Mid-air, there was no room to evade.

The beams struck true, carving deep burns into Terek’s side. He roared in pain, his grip loosening as his body faltered. But before gravity could claim him, Terek summoned the last reserves of his strength. With a snarl, he hurled Grimclaw through the barrier, sending the bird tumbling out into the dark mist beyond.

Vieran’s heart sank as he watched Grimclaw disappear into the void. The wolves’ howls intensified, a haunting chorus that surrounded them.

Terek's battered body fell, slamming into the rooftop with a sickening crash. The structure groaned under the impact, cracks spidering out from where he landed. For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath.

Terek lay sprawled on the cracked rooftop, his massive chest heaving. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, but his lips curled into a mocking grin.

Vieran stood over him, his hands trembling as he aimed the teapot weapon directly at Terek’s face.

“You can’t kill me,” Terek rasped, his voice hoarse but laced with defiance. “I have a trait that keeps the phantom beasts at bay as long as I’m in the light.” He coughed again, blood splattering the tiles beneath him. “Kill me, and you’ll be torn apart.”

Vieran’s grip tightened on the teapot, his knuckles white. His teeth clenched as he stared down at Terek’s smug, bloodied face. Without a word, he fired. The beam struck Terek’s shoulder, searing through flesh. Terek grunted in pain, but his grin didn’t falter.

Again and again, Vieran shot, each beam carefully aimed to avoid vital areas. Terek’s arms, legs, and sides bore fresh burns and bleeding wounds, yet he remained alive, his passive factor still active. He coughed violently, his laughter turning into a pained wheeze.

Finally, Vieran lowered the weapon, his breathing heavy. “So, we’ll be fine as long as you don’t die,” he said, his voice cold and steady. He leaned closer, his eyes narrowing. “There. I stopped before you die.”

Terek’s laughter faded. “You’ll regret this,” he hissed, his voice barely audible through the blood bubbling at his lips. Vieran didn’t flinch. His eyes remained locked on Terek’s. Beyond the barrier, the wolves' howls rose, their glowing eyes like embers in the darkness. Ll.

The air trembled with a sudden rush of wings. Grimclaw burst through the light barrier. His eyes burned with fury, his talons aimed straight for Terek.

Terek barely had time to turn his head before Grimclaw struck. With a sickening crunch, Grimclaw’s talons pierced Terek’s chest, driving deep into flesh and bone. Terek’s eyes widened in shock, a gurgled gasp escaping his lips as the life drained from him instantly. His body went limp, collapsing onto the cracked rooftop.

Before Vieran could react, the light barrier flickered, and a few wolves slinked through, their growls low and menacing. Their glowing eyes locked onto the trio.

Grimclaw didn’t hesitate. He swept his wings wide and grabbed Vieran and Jeff in his powerful talons. The wolves closed in around them as Grimclaw ascended, carrying them away.