The Collapsed Gate loomed larger as the chaotic energy emanating from it twisted the air and warped the land. The pulsating vortex cast an eerie glow across the battlefield, bathing Kei and Mia in shifting hues of crimson and violet. More creatures began to emerge, each more grotesque and unstable than the last.
Kei stood with his dagger in hand, flames licking along the blade as he activated Ember Surge. His silver-grey hair clung to his face, damp with sweat, but his eyes sparkled with determination. He glanced at Mia, who stood beside him, her scythe ready despite the absence of her Balance Talisman.
“Alright, Mia,” Kei said, a cocky grin spreading across his face. “Let’s make sure this place remembers us.”
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THE NEXT WAVE
From the vortex emerged a hulking monstrosity, its body an amalgamation of warped flesh and crystalline shards. Its many limbs twitched unnaturally, and its glowing eyes locked onto Kei and Mia with a predatory intensity.
[Entity Detected: Fleshbound Abomination – Level 19.]
[Warning: Unstable Essence Detected.]
The creature let out a guttural roar that sent shockwaves rippling across the battlefield. Its jagged limbs tore into the ground as it charged, closing the distance between them in seconds.
Mia darted to the side, her scythe slicing through the air with precision. She struck one of the creature’s legs, but its unstable energy resisted the blow, forcing her to retreat. “Kei, this one’s tougher than the last!”
Kei stepped forward, spinning his dagger. “Yeah? Let’s see how it handles this.”
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A THREAT LIKE NO OTHER
The creature swung one of its massive limbs at Kei, but he activated Resonant Shield, deploying a vibrating barrier that deflected the attack. The shield hummed with energy, its bouncy properties sending the creature staggering backward.
Kei didn’t stop. He dashed forward, slashing at the creature’s torso with his dagger. Each strike sent fiery vibrations rippling through the abomination’s unstable form, but it barely seemed to notice.
“Alright,” Kei muttered, narrowing his eyes. “Time to turn it up.”
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He activated Resonant Strike, channeling intense vibrations into his dagger. The blade emitted a deep hum as it cut into the creature’s flesh, causing the crystalline shards embedded in its body to crack and splinter.
The abomination let out a horrific screech, its unstable energy flaring wildly. It swung at Kei again, and this time, he didn’t dodge. Instead, he deployed another Resonant Shield—not to block, but to redirect.
The shield’s bounciness launched Kei into the air, giving him a clear view of the creature’s pulsating core. He grinned, adjusting his trajectory mid-flight. “Gotcha.”
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VIBRATIONAL DOMINANCE
As Kei landed on the creature’s back, he pressed his hand against its warped flesh. He channeled the full force of his resonance abilities into his palm, the vibrations reaching a near-deafening pitch.
“Hey, ugly,” Kei said, his voice dripping with mockery. “You ever had your flesh vibrated off?”
The creature roared, thrashing wildly as the vibrations tore through its body. The crystalline shards embedded in its form began to shatter, and its flesh rippled unnaturally under the intense frequency.
Mia, watching from below, couldn’t help but shout, “Kei, what are you doing?!”
Kei glanced down at her, his grin never faltering. “Testing a theory!”
The vibrations intensified, and the creature’s movements became more erratic. Chunks of its unstable flesh and crystalline armor began to fall away, dissolving into Essence as they hit the ground.
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A FIERY FINISH
The creature, now weakened and unstable, let out a final, desperate screech. Kei leapt off its back, activating Ember Surge as he landed. Flames erupted along his dagger as he dashed forward, delivering a powerful slash to the creature’s core.
The combination of fire and vibrations overwhelmed the abomination, causing it to collapse in on itself. Its body imploded in a burst of chaotic energy, leaving behind only a faint shimmer of dissipating Essence.
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AFTERMATH
Kei dropped to one knee, panting heavily as the flames along his dagger flickered out. He glanced over at Mia, who had managed to hold off several smaller creatures during the fight. “Not bad, huh?”
Mia walked over, her scythe resting on her shoulder. “Not bad? You just threatened to vibrate a monster’s flesh off.”
Kei shrugged, a cocky grin returning to his face. “What can I say? Gotta get creative.”
Mia rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress a small smile. “Let’s hope the next one doesn’t require... that kind of creativity.”
Kei laughed, standing and sheathing his dagger. “Yeah, me too.”
The System’s voice chimed in their minds:
[Entity Defeated: Fleshbound Abomination.]
[Experience Gained: 25,000.]
[Level Up: Levels 17 → 18.]
The notification was a brief comfort, but the swirling vortex of the Collapsed Gate reminded them that the battle was far from over. They exchanged a glance, their unspoken resolve clear.
The fight for Tuvalu had only just begun.