The creature's sudden leap caught Vas off guard, its monstrous form barreling toward him with frightening speed. Time seemed to slow as his instincts kicked in, and Vas twisted his body at the last moment, narrowly dodging the creature's sharp claws. The sickening sound of air being sliced apart filled his ears as he summoned his chakrams, two glowing circular blades appearing in his hands, thrumming with lethal energy. His heartbeat quickened as the fight truly began.

Vas surged forward, anima pulses coursing through his veins. Each step he took became faster, more precise, as he shifted his weight fluidly to avoid the creature's wild, erratic swipes. His focus sharpened, blocking out everything except the savage creature before him. His chakrams spun in his hands like extensions of his arms, slicing through the air with deadly precision as he deflected strike after strike. But the creature was relentless, its growls vibrating through the floor, and it didn't give him even a second of reprieve.Every blow it threw was powerful enough to shatter bone, and Vas felt the shockwave from each missed strike ripple through his body. He had to rely on his speed—his only advantage—using quick, agile movements enhanced by the anima pulses to stay one step ahead. With each dodge, he narrowly avoided what would have been a devastating hit, the creature's claws grazing his armor more than once. It was like fighting a whirlwind of fury, and Vas knew that if he slowed down even for a second, he would be torn apart.

He couldn't rely on brute strength. The creature's unnatural power dwarfed his own physical abilities, even with the anima pulses. Each time it struck, the floor cracked under the weight of its blows, and the sheer force behind its attacks reminded Vas that one misstep would mean the end. He darted to the side, narrowly avoiding a deadly swipe aimed for his neck, and countered with a quick slash from one of his chakrams. The blade sliced into the creature's arm, drawing a gush of blackened blood, but it barely seemed to feel the pain.

Vas gritted his teeth, frustration building. His attacks weren't slowing it down. The creature's fury only seemed to grow with each second, its eyes burning with primal rage as it lashed out again, faster this time, more calculated. Vas blocked a strike with one chakram, the impact sending vibrations up his arm, while using the other to deflect another blow coming from the side. The creature moved like a feral beast, all limbs and violence, its grotesque form twisting unnaturally to strike from unpredictable angles.He could feel the strain building in his muscles as the fight wore on. The anima pulses that gave him his incredible speed were taxing, and he couldn't maintain them forever. Sweat dripped down his brow as he circled the creature, chakrams spinning in his hands like twin whirlwinds of energy, each deflection and counterstrike costing him precious stamina. He couldn't keep this up much longer.

His eyes flicked toward the device still working on the floor. If he could just buy a few more moments—The creature lunged again, and this time Vas wasn't quick enough. A clawed hand smashed into his side, sending him crashing into the far wall with a bone-rattling force. His vision blurred as pain shot through his ribs, but he forced himself to stand. There was no time to assess the damage—he had to move. The creature was already closing the distance, its eyes locked on him with murderous intent.

Vas rolled to the side just as the creature's claws embedded themselves into the wall where he had been standing moments before. Chunks of stone flew through the air, and Vas could hear the walls groaning under the assault. He grit his teeth, adrenaline surging as he willed the anima pulses to carry him forward. His chakrams flared with energy, and with a swift motion, he sent one spinning toward the creature's head. It ducked, but not fast enough—the blade sliced across its cheek, sending more of that blackened blood spraying into the air.

The creature roared in fury, a guttural, blood-curdling sound that reverberated through the room. It retaliated with blinding speed, slamming into Vas with a force that knocked the breath from his lungs. The impact sent him flying through the shattered window, glass cascading around him as he plummeted toward the street below.

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Vas's heart skipped a beat as he fell, wind whipping past his face. His mind raced. Falling from this height was certain death. But there was no time for panic. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the creature leaping after him, claws outstretched, determined to finish the job in midair.

Vas knew he had to act fast. There was no way he could survive this fall without some kind of desperate maneuver. He hadn't fully mastered using anima to create a platform in midair, but now wasn't the time for hesitation. With a surge of anima, he commanded his chakrams to position themselves beneath his feet. As they hummed with energy, Vas used them as makeshift footholds, pushing down with all his might. The force propelled him sideways, out of the creature's direct path, just as it slashed through the space where he had been.

The sky became their battlefield now, the two of them locked in a deadly aerial dance. Vas gasped for breath as he used his chakrams to maintain momentum, each pulse of anima taxing his already exhausted body. He barely had time to register his surroundings as the creature came after him again, its claws flashing in the moonlight.Vas twisted midair, using his chakrams both as platforms and weapons, slashing at the creature as it approached. He barely avoided a swipe that would have taken his head clean off, countering with a spinning kick that connected with the creature's jaw. The force of the blow, amplified by his anima, sent the creature spiraling through the air, but it recovered quickly, snarling as it came at him again.

His muscles screamed in protest as he struggled to maintain control of the fight. The constant use of anima to both propel himself and attack was taking its toll. His movements became sharper, more desperate, as he darted around the creature, slashing at it from every angle, trying to keep it on the defensive. But every time he struck, the creature seemed to shrug it off, its rage fueling its relentless pursuit.

Then, in a blur of motion, the creature managed to land a hit. Its claws raked across Vas's shoulder, tearing through his gear and sending a searing pain through his body. He let out a sharp gasp, blood staining the fabric of his suit as he barely managed to stay aloft using his chakrams.

Vas knew he couldn't keep this up for long, panic clawing at the edges of his mind. He needed to end this, and fast.

Summoning the last reserves of his strength, Vas launched himself upward, his chakrams spinning wildly as he gained altitude. He hovered there for a brief moment, looking down at the creature as it snarled up at him. And then, with a flick of his wrist, he sent both chakrams hurtling toward it. The blades spun through the air with deadly precision, glowing brighter as they homed in on their target.

The creature howled in rage, leaping up to meet him, claws outstretched. But Vas was ready. Using the last of his anima, he propelled himself downward, driving both chakrams toward the creature with all his remaining force. The impact was like a thunderclap, the blades slicing through the creature's body, leaving a trail of blackened ichor in their wake.

For a moment, everything was still. Then the creature let out one final, ear-splitting screech before its body was torn apart by the force of the attack. Its form disintegrated in midair, the remnants falling toward the ground far below.

Vas landed moments later, collapsing to one knee as the exhaustion hit him like a tidal wave. He struggled to catch his breath, his chest heaving with effort. The battle was over, but his mind raced, knowing that this was just the beginning of something far more dangerous.

He stood slowly, staring down at the blackened ichor left behind. Something about this fight wasn't right. The creature wasn't just mindless fury—it had been hunting him specifically. Why?

The device.

Vas's gaze shifted upward, locking onto the shattered window at the top of the Sigdra building. The thought of returning to that chaotic scene made his body ache, but he had no choice. That device could hold crucial answers, and every second counted. Gritting his teeth, he summoned his chakrams once more, their energy humming to life as he propelled himself upward.

The wind howled around him as he ascended the side of the building, using the chakrams like extensions of his body, pushing off walls and broken ledges with swift, fluid motions. His muscles screamed in protest, every movement a reminder of the grueling fight he had just survived. He wasn't sure how much longer he could maintain the anima pulses, but he didn't let himself slow down. The device was his priority. It was the key to understanding what had attacked him—and possibly, who had sent it.