The man's body began to contort grotesquely, bones cracking, and muscles bulging beneath his skin. His once-fit physique grotesquely expanded, swelling into something monstrous. His skin turned a deep, unnatural red, almost as if it was being burned from the inside out. Blood vessels pulsed across his form, and his veins became visible like dark, snaking tendrils just beneath the surface.

A pair of massive horns erupted from his skull with a sickening crunch, their surfaces slick and polished, gleaming with a faintly metallic sheen. His eyes darkened to a pure, obsidian black, void of humanity. As his transformation accelerated, his body swelled until he towered over them, a hulking monstrosity standing over four meters tall. His limbs grew thick with muscle, rippling with unnatural strength, and his breath came in harsh, bestial snorts. The man was gone—only the monster remained.

The transformation was brutal and violent, each crack of bone and shift of muscle more grotesque than the last. The creature that now stood before them was barely recognizable as human. It let out a roar, a deep, bone-rattling sound that reverberated through the space around them, filled with primal rage and hunger.

Without warning, the monster launched itself toward Lily, its massive arms outstretched. The speed with which it moved was shocking for something so large. But Vas was faster, darting forward and intercepting the beast before it could reach her. His twin blades flashed, deflecting the creature's charge just enough to divert its path, sending it crashing into the floor with a deafening impact.

Vas's mind raced. Summoning Thundershard was his only option, but the spirit required specific conditions. Thundershard could only be summoned in environments where some form of natural or artificial conductivity was present—power lines, metal structures, or mineral deposits. He quickly scanned the area. There had to be something, anything, that would work.

There's metal in the floor here. It'll have to be enough, Vas thought, his hand moving to the piercings on his ear. He channeled his anima through them, green energy sparking to life as the air around him crackled with anticipation.

Lily and Zola stood frozen, their eyes wide as the air around Vas began to hum with energy. Green arcs of electricity danced across his form as the summoning began. The atmosphere grew thick with tension as the crystalline figure of Thundershard began to materialize, jagged and ethereal.

Green sparks erupted in every direction as the spirit took shape, a slender yet imposing figure made entirely of translucent, quartz-like minerals. Its crystalline body shimmered with an eerie light, faint arcs of electricity tracing its form. Long, razor-sharp crystalline blades extended from its forearms, and its entire body radiated with raw, electrifying power.

The air crackled with energy as Thundershard fully manifested, and without hesitation, it leapt into action.

The beast roared again, this time charging directly at Vas. But Thundershard was already on the move, its crystalline form moving with terrifying speed. It slashed at the beast, its blades cutting deep into its thick hide with a crackling burst of energy. Electrical surges shot through the creature's body, causing it to stumble and howl in pain.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

But the monster wasn't easily deterred. It swung a massive fist at Thundershard, but the spirit dodged, its form flickering like lightning. Vas, meanwhile, moved with precision, his own twin blades slicing into the creature's flesh. His movements were fast, fluid, almost like a dance as he weaved around the monster, his blades finding their mark with each pass.

Vas used his anima pulses to propel himself, each pulse sending him flying across the space with inhuman speed. His wire shot out, wrapping around the creature's limbs, attempting to bind its movements. The beast howled in frustration, its massive muscles straining as it tried to break free. Each time it moved, the wire tightened, cutting deeper into its flesh.

Thundershard struck again, its blades gleaming as they sliced through the monster's thick hide, sending arcs of lightning surging through its body. The smell of burning flesh filled the air as the electrical energy seared the creature's skin.

The fight raged on, both Vas and Thundershard working in perfect synchronization. Vas's blades were a blur of motion, striking from every angle, while Thundershard unleashed precise, electrified strikes, its crystalline blades cutting deep into the creature's body.

But the beast wasn't finished. With a roar of fury, it tore free from the wire and charged at Vas with terrifying speed. Vas barely managed to dodge, but the creature's massive arm clipped him, sending him sprawling across the floor.

Thundershard responded instantly, launching itself at the beast and plunging its crystalline blades into its chest. The creature let out a deafening roar of pain as electrical energy surged through its body, but even that wasn't enough to bring it down.

Zola and Lily watched in awe, unsure of how to help. The fight was unlike anything they had ever seen—pure, raw energy and brutal force clashing in a whirlwind of violence. But even as they watched, they could see the toll the battle was taking. Thundershard's energy was waning, its movements slowing slightly, and Vas was breathing heavily, his body strained from the constant use of his anima.

The creature, however, seemed almost unstoppable. Each attack only seemed to fuel its rage further.

"We need to do something," Zola whispered, her voice trembling with urgency.

Lily nodded, her eyes never leaving the battle. She quickly assessed the environment, searching for anything that could turn the tide. Finally, her eyes landed on a large metal beam lying among the debris—a perfect conductor for Thundershard's energy.

"I have an idea," she said, grabbing Zola's arm. "But we're going to need to time it perfectly."

As the battle raged on, the two women moved swiftly, dragging the metal beam into position. They placed it in the path of the creature, and just as it charged at Vas again, Lily shouted, "Now!"

Vas saw the beam and instantly understood. With a surge of anima, he sent a pulse of energy toward Thundershard, amplifying its power. The spirit channeled the energy into the metal beam, and in an instant, a massive bolt of lightning shot through the creature, electrocuting it from the inside out.

The beast let out one final, agonized roar before it collapsed, its massive body convulsing violently before falling still.

Vas, breathing hard, wiped the sweat from his brow as Thundershard flickered, its energy nearly depleted. The fight was over, but the cost had been high. The air was thick with the smell of burnt flesh and ozone, and the once-pristine club was now a scene of chaos.

Zola and Lily approached cautiously, their eyes wide with shock.