The creature, shaken by the fireball, had released Raven. Sparks flickered on its head, dissipating into the night sky as Raven staggered to his feet and rushed toward Miles.
"This creature... it’s unlike anything we’ve ever seen. Its speed, strength, and range are beyond anything I know. We need to get out of here immediately," Raven said, his voice urgent.
Miles nodded but wore a helpless expression. "No chance, man. If my mana were fully restored, I could trap it with Everfrost magic and we’d escape. But right now, I couldn’t hold it for even half an hour."
As their brief conversation ended, the creature turned toward them, stepping forward once more, muttering the same eerie words it had been repeating since the beginning—but this time, there was a slight change:
"Es-escape... none..."
Raven jumped in place a few times, rolling his wrists and cracking his knuckles. "I don’t know why, but when I get pumped, all my energy seems to return. Let’s end this slimy bastard, once and for all."
Miles, though inspired by Raven’s determination, knew the limits of the monster they faced. Even if Raven was in peak condition, they didn’t stand a chance. He muttered, "I guess we’ve got no choice but to try..."
Gripping his staff tightly, Miles aimed it at the creature. Raven, meanwhile, bounced on his toes a final time before launching himself toward the monster in a blur of speed. The creature halted its steps, seemingly understanding their intent to fight.
Raven, with his Mastered ultra instincts, prepared his fists. Without a weapon, he decided his body would have to be his weapon. As he closed the distance, building momentum, the creature’s arm suddenly expanded, forming a massive shield.
"Shit," Raven hissed as the creature swatted him aside with its shield, using his own momentum against him.
"Even if you shoved that shield up your slimy ass, you couldn’t take me down, you damned creature!" Raven roared, rebounding off a nearby tree and launching himself back at the monster. This time, the creature raised shields with both arms, blocking his assault.
"You’ve got to be more creative than that, you muscular pile of slime!" Raven taunted, bouncing between the trees, trying to chip away at the creature’s defenses.
Miles, seeing the monster’s back turned, took the opportunity to focus all his mana into a single attack. "Slime-based structures like this absorb electricity too easily..." he muttered.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
"Then use a different spell, you idiot! Hurry up!" Raven shouted, annoyed by Miles’s commentary.
A massive orb of electricity formed in Miles’s hands, growing larger by the second. Its brilliance lit up the forest as if it were daytime, dwarfing even the creature. "But..." Miles’s voice strained, "NOT FOR THIS MUCH CURRENT!"
As the colossal electric orb surged forward, Raven made one final leap away from the creature, retreating to safety. The creature turned toward the attack, but it was too late. The orb collided with the monster, its energy crackling violently.
As the creature contended with the massive energy discharge, Raven, knowing his mana was depleted, ran to Miles’s side. He found Miles already collapsed from exhaustion and hoisted him onto his shoulder. Together, they watched as the electric orb dissipated into the creature’s body.
The creature began to laugh—a deep, guttural sound that sent chills down Raven’s spine. "This... this is where we die," Raven muttered, eyes wide with dread. "Thanks for using an attack you knew wouldn’t work, genius."
Miles, lying limp, let out a weak laugh. "Ahahaha... just watch..."
The creature resumed its slow march toward them, its laughter echoing through the forest. Raven started to lift Miles again, muttering, "I’ll fight alone. You need to rest and escape when you can."
Miles, barely conscious, raised his hand, palm open. "Boom," he whispered, clenching his fist.
The sparks within the creature reignited, erupting in a deafening explosion. Raven shielded his eyes from the flash. When the light faded, the creature’s slimy black remains were splattered across the forest, coating trees in sticky residue.
Miles chuckled weakly. "Looks like you’re carrying me again, buddy."
Raven couldn’t help but laugh as well. After a moment, he slung Miles over his shoulder and began walking down the same path.
"Miles, I’ve got a bad feeling about this," Raven said, his instincts screaming at him. His heart pounded, and adrenaline coursed through his veins. But Miles had already passed out. Raven broke into a sprint, carrying his friend to safety. Once he felt they were far enough, he gently set Miles down beside a tree.
"I’d bet my life that thing isn’t dead and is already hunting us. I’ll prove it soon enough." Raven turned back and retraced his steps to the clearing.
When he arrived, he took a closer look. At the spot where the creature had exploded, there was a body—a human corpse. As he suspected, the scattered slime was beginning to coalesce, crawling back toward the body.
He didn’t know how to kill it for good, but he knew he had to fight. Taking his stance, he watched as the black slime reformed, encasing the body once more. To his horror, the man’s head and arm briefly emerged from the slime, his face etched with pure terror.
"RUN!" the man screamed before being swallowed again.
The creature’s mouth moved this time, its voice deeper and more deliberate.
"Escape... none."
Raven’s mind raced. He didn’t need Miles to explain what was happening. This was a symbiote—a being that overtook its host when they failed to fulfill their pact. The raw power and immortality of the creature stunned him, especially since this wasn’t even a half-original symbiote.
Taking his stance again, Raven prepared for one final dance. The creature laughed, morphing its hands into massive blades. Even if he had no chance of winning, he could at least buy Miles enough time to escape.