Nathaniel's focus was razor-sharp, despite the chaos unfolding before him. The creature—this thing that was once Yumiko—lunged at him with a primal scream, dragging her massive sword across the ice with a force that made the ground tremble. It was like she wasn't even human anymore.
"Yumiko…" Nathaniel muttered under his breath, his voice hard but tinged with confusion. "Or whatever the hell this is…"
Her movements were erratic, like a force of nature unleashed. He barely had time to react as the sword slashed down with devastating speed, narrowly missing his side. Ice shattered beneath the impact, sending shards flying in all directions.
Nathaniel twisted his body, dodging the next strike with a roll to the side. His mind raced. "What happened to her? Turned rogue?" The look in her eyes—those unblinking, glowing red eyes—told him she wasn't in control. Whatever this thing was, it wasn't her.
The creature hissed, her long, wild hair whipping around as she spun the blade in a wide arc. Nathaniel's breath quickened as he watched her, trying to anticipate her next move. "I need an a answer. She's stronger, faster. And she's not holding back. Out of control."
The monster roared, charging again. Nathaniel barely managed to sidestep as the sword swung past him, so close that the cold steel grazed his arm. He felt the sting, but there was no time to wince. The beast was relentless, her strength unfathomable.
Nathaniel's boots slid across the ice as he ducked under another swing, narrowly escaping the sharp edge of her blade. He was forced into a backflip to avoid her next slash, landing on his feet but too close for comfort. Damn it, I need to think faster!
He leveled his pistol and fired a quick shot—right at the center of her chest. The bullet flew through the fog and mist, but it hit something unseen. The crimson energy that surrounded her absorbed the projectile like it was nothing. The sound of the shot ringing in the air was quickly drowned out by the deafening screech of the creature.
"Damn." Nathaniel swore, his heart pounding as he quickly holstered his weapon. Nothing's working. What the hell am I even supposed to do here?"
The creature snarled, her voice a twisted version of Yumiko's, as if her humanity was still trapped beneath the monstrous form. It was a chilling sound—unnatural. The creature turned sharply, sending the heavy blade swinging in a diagonal arc toward Nathaniel's neck. He jumped back, feeling the rush of cold air from the sword's passage, but the attack was relentless. She wasn't giving him any room to breathe.
"I don't even know who you are anymore," Nathaniel muttered, sidestepping again, barely avoiding the next crushing blow. His legs burned from the constant movement, but he couldn't afford to stop. Not for a second. Not against this creature.
Nathaniel dodged another swing, the ice beneath him cracking with every missed strike. He wasn't sure how much longer he could keep this up. The monster's attacks were becoming more unpredictable, and his movements were growing sluggish. He was starting to feel the weight of each dodge, each roll, each evasive maneuver. The battle was draining him.
She closed the gap again, too fast for him to react. Nathaniel's stomach twisted as he saw her preparing to strike, the sword raised high above her head, ready to crush him with its sheer force. His body instinctively moved, sliding to the side at the last second, but the blade scraped his side, cutting deep into his ribs.
Nathaniel grunted, pain lancing through his body as he staggered back. His vision blurred slightly, but he shook it off. He couldn't afford to let up. Not now.
The creature seemed unfazed. She was relentless, as if driven by some primal force, her glowing eyes locked onto him with an unholy fury. Nathaniel wiped blood from his lip, his breath ragged. The fight was taking everything out of him. He couldn't tell if she was even aware of what she was doing anymore. There was no hint of recognition, no sign that she was still the woman he knew beneath that monstrous exterior.
"Yumiko," Nathaniel said again, his voice hoarse, a mix of disbelief and frustration. "I'll break your senses out to life. Need time and focus."
With a roar, the creature swung the blade again. Nathaniel barely had time to dive to the side, his body protesting from the strain, but he made it, just out of reach. The ice cracked where the blade hit, sending up a spray of mist and snow. He had no choice but to keep moving, to keep dodging.
He couldn't think. He couldn't wait for an opening. He just had to find a way out to bring her consciousness.
And then, for the briefest of moments, he saw it. The monster's foot slipped on the icy ground, a momentary loss of balance. It was enough to give Nathaniel a split-second opening. He darted forward, aiming for the creature's exposed side, but before he could strike, the monster spun around, her sword flashing in a deadly arc. He barely managed to duck in time, his shoulder grazing the edge of her sword.
"Annoying," Nathaniel cursed, narrowly avoiding being sliced in half. "You're not making this easy, are you?"
The creature snarled again, the sound deafening, as she pushed forward with renewed vigor. Her strength, her speed—they were unlike anything Nathaniel had expected from her. But even so, he wasn't backing down. He couldn't. Not when so much was on the line.
"Come on, Yumiko… If you're still in there…" Nathaniel muttered, his voice quiet and tense. "If there's anything left of you, just give me a damn break."
But the creature only roared louder, her crimson energy flaring around her as she brought the blade down in a brutal, final strike.
Nathaniel barely managed to sidestep again, but the weight of her attacks was wearing him down. He was growing slower, his body betraying him. He couldn't keep dodging forever.
For a moment, they both paused—breathing heavily, both of them locked in the silent struggle. Neither willing to stop. Neither willing to give up.
And then, just as the silence hung between them, the monster roared and charged again.
Exhausted from the relentless battle, Nathaniel attempted to steady his breathing, but the chilling atmosphere of the hazardous area only worsened his condition. The cold seeped into his bones, causing his movements to grow sluggish and more predictable.
"She never tires... Does she even have a weakness?" he muttered to himself, frustration seeping into his voice.
To be continued...