Hector sprang from the wall like a panther, bounding across the back alley air with the grace of a predator closing in on its prey. With a final, desperate leap, he crashed through the window where Timmy and Constance were, shattering it into a thousand glittering fragments that rained down around him like deadly hailstones. Through the chaos of broken glass and splintered wood, Hector's eyes focused on the grotesque form of the creature, its pale skin and bony limbs contorted into a twisted mockery of human shape. The thing hunched over, cradling the lifeless body of Timmy in its grasp, its dark eyes gleaming with malevolent intent.

"Timmy!" he roared, his voice echoing through the night as he charged forward, his sword glowing with a pale, Saiyan-light. His feet pounded against the wooden floor as he moved with incredible speed, his eyes locked onto the humanoid invader who had dared to harm his friend. With a single, swift motion, the edge of his sword sliced through the air and struck the invader's flank.

His eyes widened with shock as he inspected the blade, only to find a mere nick on the creature's skin. His hand trembled as if he had struck a solid block of steel. His brief moment of fear and surprise was interrupted by a sudden impact, a forceful blow that struck him in the gut. His feet lifted off the ground and he was hurled backward, his body slamming through the wall, leaving a gaping hole in its wake. He grunted in agony, surrounded by a shower of shattered debris and dust.

Hector stumbled to his feet, using his sword as a makeshift crutch to support his weight. His eyes darted around the room, searching for any sign of the creature that had attacked them. But as he peered through the gaping hole in the wall, he realized that the humanoid invader had vanished without a trace. His heart sank as he caught sight of Timmy lying motionless on the floor where the creature had once stood.

Hector's senses were on high alert as the hair on the back of his neck stood up. He spun around, sword at the ready, but all he could see was an eerie pale white. Before he could react, a powerful blow struck him from the side of his head, sending him reeling. The world spun around him, and when he finally came to a stop, he found himself in a completely different room. The disorientation left him reeling as he struggled to get his bearings, but the pain he felt was worse.

Hector's heart raced as he strained to make out the figure approaching him through his blurred vision. A faint snicker echoed through the chamber, and he could feel his muscles tensing with the realization that his death was approaching. Desperately, his hand groped for the sword at his side, but it was nowhere to be found. Panic began to set in as he realized that he was unarmed and vulnerable. Just as he thought all was lost, a thunderous battle cry erupted from the hallway beyond. The sound was like a clarion call to action, and Hector knew his friend had arrived. But hope did not reside in his heart.

“Torrential Pierce!” Aldo roared.

He sprang forward, his rapier a blur in the dim light of the hallway. The tip of his blade danced in the air, a deadly dance that aimed to strike the lanky figure before him. The sound of metal rang through the air as dozens of sword stabs flew at the enemy. Each strike was precise, and each thrust aimed for a fatal blow. And yet, despite the onslaught, the figure stood firm, almost as if mocking his efforts.

“Run Aldo!” Hector shouted.

Despite his weakened state, he pushed himself to stand up, his legs quivering beneath him. He gritted his teeth, refusing to give in to the pain and weakness that threatened to overcome him. With a fierce determination, he lunged forward and grabbed hold of a coat stand that lay on the floor, using it as a makeshift weapon. With a burst of energy, he channeled his Saiyan-light, surrounding the coat stand and shaping it vaguely into the form of a sword. He leaped into the air, swinging the makeshift weapon with all his might, determined to strike down his enemy before it was too late.

The sound of metal clanging against the humanoid invader echoed through the hallway as Hector rained blows upon it, each strike hitting with the force of a battering ram. Aldo was at the other side, attacking in tandem with him, their swords moving in a deadly duet. But despite their efforts, the invader stood still, not even flinching at the onslaught. It was as if the invader was relishing in their futile attempts, mocking them for their feeble efforts. The tension in the room was palpable as they realized the gravity of the situation. Their weapons were useless against this creature, and they were completely outmatched. They knew the gravity of the situation but they could not stop, not while they had given them a chance.

“My attack isn’t working!” Aldo shouted.

“Just keep at it!” Hector replied.

The lanky creature's laughter echoed through the hallway a sound that sent shivers down Hector and Aldo's spines. Its blackish-yellow teeth were bared for all to see, a terrifying sight that made them freeze in their tracks. Despite their strength, they found themselves unable to move, paralyzed by the creature's mocking laughter that seemed to be growing stronger with each passing moment. It was as if their bodies had betrayed them, leaving them vulnerable to the creature's taunts and jabs.

The sound of its laughter abruptly ceased, leaving a thick silence that hung heavily in the air. Its lips, now pressed tightly together, concealed its teeth behind a veil of pallid skin. Slowly, deliberately, it lifted its arms to the sides, and at that moment, an explosion of roots and vines burst forth from its body, writhing and twisting like a thousand serpents unleashed.

In the blink of an eye, Hector and Aldo were caught off guard, unable to defend themselves from the attack. Their clothes were shredded to pieces, and cuts adorned their bodies, causing blood to drip onto the floor of the hallway. But it was Hector who bore the brunt of the assault. One of the tendrils had pierced his right shoulder, and he gritted his teeth, struggling to endure the pain. However, with each passing moment, the pain intensified, as if the tendril was intentionally amplifying it. Soon, Hector's groans of agony filled the air, echoing off the walls and sending shivers down the spines of Aldo who heard it all.

The white of Hector’s eyes was slowly showing.

But just as it seemed as though all was lost, a glimmer of hope appeared in the form of a bright light that began to seep out of the darkness of the hallway. They came from behind Hector, at the far end of the hallway. The light grew in intensity, taking on the shape of sinuous serpents that writhed and slithered across the walls and floor, illuminating the surrounding area with an otherworldly glow.

The serpents darted towards the monster, their bodies crackling with blue lightning that seemed to dance along their scales. With a deafening explosion, the serpents wrapped around the monster, their energy bursting forth and engulfing the creature in a blinding flash of light. The hallway shook with the force of the blast, but when the light finally faded, Hector was on the ground, the tendril that pierced through his shoulder snapped from the blast. But he was far too weak to get up. Yet he felt a hand grabbing him by the collar of his shirt, dragging him further away from the humanoid invader. Then he heard her voice.

“Run Aldo!” Jess shouted. “Get to the roof!”

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Jess had saved the day. She moved with the grace of a cat, her lithe frame propelling her upward with ease as she leaped to the window she had broken into. With a powerful swing, she propelled herself upward and outward, reaching the roof in mere seconds. As she pulled Hector up onto the rooftop with her, she quickly inspected his wound. The tendril that had snapped was beginning to disintegrate, leaving a gaping hole in Hector's shoulder. Jess gritted her teeth, her mind already racing with plans to save him.

But the roof exploded. Debris and dust swirled around her, filling the air with a choking haze. She instinctively raised her arms to protect her face, her heart hammering in her chest. Through the haze, she caught a glimpse of the figure pulling itself up from the hole in the roof. Its clawed hand gripped the edge, and as it hauled itself up, she could see the inhuman glint in its eyes. The creature's lips peeled back in a grotesque smile, revealing a mouthful of blackish-yellow teeth. It seemed to relish the sight of its new opponent, eager for the coming battle.

“Hang on for a while, Hector,” Jess said. Her grip on the mace was unyielding as she stepped forward toward the looming humanoid invader. The head of her weapon crackled with bluish electric energy, filling the air with an eerie hum. With a burst of speed, she closed the distance and swung her mace with all her strength, the metal head connecting with a sickening thud against the invader's face. The impact sent a shockwave through Jess's arm, but the invader didn’t even flinch. The only thing she managed to do was make its creepy smile even wider.

“Fucki—“

Jess didn’t see it coming. The force of the impact threw her into the air like a ragdoll. She tumbled across the rooftop, her body battered and bruised, before coming to a stop at the edge. A groan escaped her lips, the taste of blood filling her mouth. Her mind reeled, struggling to make sense of what had just happened. She had been blindsided, unable to anticipate the attack.

By the time, she raised her head, the bastard was already in front of her. She swung her mace. But again, Jess was thrown to the other side of the rooftop, feeling the brunt of the unseen attack.

She lifted her gaze and found herself face to face with the bastard yet again. Jess swung her mace in a desperate attempt to fend him off, but her efforts were in vain. A powerful force that was too quick for her to see slammed into her, sending her flying across the rooftop. Pain shot through her body as she crashed into the ground, the breath knocked out of her.

Jess refused to give up, despite the pain that wracked her body. With sheer willpower, she forced herself to stand, screaming in agony as she did so. Her eyes locked onto her enemy, and with a fierce determination, she summoned the power of lightning to surround her body as opposed to her usual method of cladding it around the head of her mace. The energy crackled around her, creating a visible aura that seemed to pulse with raw power. She knew that this attack would come at a cost - her body was too weak to handle this level of power for long. Blood began to trickle from her eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, evidence of the strain that this ability put on her body. But she had no other choice.

With a sudden burst of incredible speed, Jess launched herself towards the humanoid invader, her mace held tightly in her hand. The creature cackled in response, its twisted face contorted with glee as it stepped forward to meet her attack. The two of them clashed in a flurry of blows, their weapons striking against each other with a metallic ring. Despite the creature's unnatural speed and strength, Jess was more than a match for it. Her reaction time was enhanced, allowing her to anticipate the trajectory of the invader's attacks with incredible accuracy. She moved with a dancer's grace, weaving in and out of its reach as she landed powerful strikes with her mace. The creature's clawed hands reached out for her, missing her by mere inches as she deftly dodged each blow. The battle raged on, the two combatants locked in a deadly dance of steel and fury.

The seconds seemed to drag on endlessly, each one taking a toll on her already exhausted body. The power she wielded was both a blessing and a curse, giving her an edge in the fight but also draining her with each use. As she swung with all her might, the force of her blows falling like a hammer upon her opponent, she realized with a sinking feeling that it was all for naught. The creature seemed impervious to her attacks, its thick pale hide absorbing each hit without so much as a scratch. Jess felt the panic rise within her, knowing that she was rapidly approaching the end of her endurance. She had to find a way out of this, a way to turn the tide before it was too late.

The sound of a thin blade penetrating through the air reached Jess’ ears. A brief glance and she saw the heavy build of her comrade drawing closer. The rapier in his hand reflected the glint of the moonlight. He stabbed the humanoid invader in the flank, joining in the fight between Jess and the creature.

“It’s too strong!” Jess roared.

"Enough talk! Hit it with everything you've got!" Aldo replied. With a fierce determination, he circled around the invader, his stout frame moving with surprising agility. Again and again, he struck the creature in the same spot, pouring all his strength into each blow. It was a desperate tactic, but it was the only one he could think of at that moment.

Aldo's eyes widened as he witnessed the crack in the pale skin of the humanoid invader, and he quickly relayed the news to Jess. The woman's bloody face contorted into a hopeful smile, the first sign of positivity in what felt like ages. But as they all gazed at the crack, it became apparent that hope was as fleeting as the flicker of a flame in a gust of wind.

The humanoid invader's grin vanished, replaced by a menacing scowl. In an instant, it launched two swift attacks, striking both Jess and Aldo with brutal force. The impact sent them tumbling across the rooftop, their bodies wracked with pain. Jess coughed up blood, her vision blurry as she struggled to catch her breath. As she looked up, the humanoid invader loomed over her, its foot pressing down on her chest with bone-crushing pressure. She gasped in agony as her ribs began to splinter, each crack echoing like thunder in her ears. With a bloodcurdling scream, she writhed beneath the invader's foot, desperate to break free from its grasp.

But right behind the humanoid invader, a familiar face was there. Hector sneaked from behind. His hand crackled with a glowing, ethereal energy. The Saiyan-light that surrounded his hand flickered and vaguely took on the shape of a sword as he aimed for the creature's vulnerable spot where Aldo cracked it. With a swift movement, Hector thrust his hand forward, the glowing knife hand piercing through the invader's skin with ease. The humanoid let out an unearthly shriek, a sound that seemed to come from somewhere beyond this world.

Hector’s eyes met with Jess. It was only for a brief second before Jess succumbed to unconsciousness. He roared calling Aldo who got up to his feet.

“Grab Jess, Aldo! And run!” Hector shouted.

Aldo grabbed on Jess. His eyes met with Hector. “But what about you?” Aldo said.

Hector flashed a smirk. “We can’t kill it,” Hector said. “But we can stop it for a while.” His other hand revealed a sphere that was all too familiar to Aldo. A gadget created by the Counter Portal Invasion Defense.

“But how are you—“Aldo's words were cut off.

“Just go!” Hector roared. “I got this, okay?”

With a nod of his head, Aldo reluctantly picked up Jess and took off running. As he fled, he couldn't help but glance back at Hector, who was still clinging to the humanoid invader. The creature's black eyes turned to follow Aldo and Jess as they ran, and in a fit of desperation, it slammed its hardened fist into Hector's body in an attempt to get him off. But Hector refused to let go, digging his fingers deeper into the wound, causing the invader to let out a bloodcurdling scream.

Despite the pain, the leader knew he had to keep holding on. If he let go now, the invader would surely turn its attention to Aldo and Jess, chasing them down and killing them without mercy. Hector gritted his teeth as the invader pummeled him with its massive, pale fists, his face quickly becoming a bloody mess. But he refused to give up, holding on with all his strength as he fought to buy his teammates time to escape.

The relentless blows kept battering his skull, causing it to fracture under immense pressure. But Hector remained calm, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. He had been waiting for this moment, and his device was now fully charged and ready to be unleashed. With a swift motion, Hector hurled the spherical device toward the invader's abdomen. The sphere shattered on impact, releasing an ominous energy that sent chills down their spines. In the blink of an eye, the temperature plummeted, and a frigid wind blasted through the air. Within moments, a massive iceberg formed around them, trapping them in a frozen prison. They were frozen in place, like statues, while the world around them continued to move.

From afar, Aldo glanced back and saw the huge iceberg. Hector did it. But at what cost. Knowing he could not do a thing, the stout man kept on running.