In the dimly lit hallway, Ari found herself face to face with a nightmarish tentacle monster. The air was heavy with tension as the creature's writhing appendages filled the narrow space, threatening to ensnare her in their deadly grip. Undeterred by the daunting sight, she steeled herself for the battle that lay before her.
The monster had finally revealed it's true form. With a dark shadowy figure it's eyes were white and vacant, it's mouth a gaping maw shaped as a sinister grin and it's back had several long swarming tentacle like arms growing out of it.
Taking one last look at the classroom she maintained her determination to keep Jessica safe from her predator. As she held her sword in front of her, the monster swung a punch out at her using it's long tentacle arm.
With quick reflexes and a heart filled with determination, she dodged and countered. She struck at the tentacle with precision and strength. The sound of steel meeting flesh echoed through the corridor, but the monster's resilience seemed unyielding. The monster let out a sickening cry as it's hand hit the ground with Ari cutting it off.
Launching a second onslaught of tentacles the monster swung it's arms out at Ari on her right. Unable to duck it in time she used her sword as a shield and held her ground with her newly upgraded strength. Managing to tank the attack she retaliated with a swing of her sword, narrowly missing the tentacles as the monster retracted.
Having miscalculated the attack she stumbled forward and in a moment of distraction, a tentacle snaked its way around Ari's leg, tightening its grip with a cruel strength. Panic surged through her veins, but she refused to succumb. With a surge of adrenaline, she fought against the suffocating hold, desperately seeking a way to break free.
Swinging her sword at her leg frantically she struck the ground as the monster knocked the sword out of her hand with a sly strike to her wrist. Her heart sank as she watched her sword clank across the ground as it landed in the corner. Malice filled the monster's blank eyes as it lifted Ari by the leg.
Desperation filled her veins as she grabbed the window frame buying herself half a second as Bleb threw her shoe at the monster. Using the momentary distraction Ari weighed up her options and placed her hand into her hoodie sleeve and used her covered fist to punch a hole in the window.
Pulling off a shard of glass she swung for the arm around her ankle. Armed with a weapon forged from her courage and resilience, the woman struck back with a ferocity that surprised even herself. Her blade sliced through the air, cutting through the thick, gelatinous flesh of the tentacles.
Landing on her feet she ran over to Bleh who stood with a terrified look on her face. "Hey! Snap out of it this isn't your first mission" Ari shouted as she grabbed Bleh by the collar. Snapping back to reality Bleh looked at her and blurted out: "I'm always the weapon I can't fight!" with her eyes still wide.
"Fuck! Aight katana again I got a plan this time" Ari said visibly motioning for Bleh to shake her hand. As soon as they touched the monster slammed a fist into Bleb's shoulder. Leaping back Ari found herself backed into a corner.
Looking down at the shattered glass in front of her on the ground she ran forward and stomped onto the glass. Waiting to see how the monster would lash out she anticipated a swing but was met with a straight punch aimed at her head.
Ducking under the punch she grabbed a hand full of glass and threw it at the monster's face directly into it's eyes. With a rush of adrenaline she darted forward, stabbing the monster in the neck with the shard, her own blood dripping into it's wound she held onto the shard as she pushed the monster back into the window to the classroom housing Jessica and Clarissa.
Slamming it's head into the window as it shattered around them the monster's head snapped to the side as it saw Jessica. Ferociously throwing Ari off of it the monster turned, climbing it's way into the classroom as Clarissa held a squirming Jessica in place as she watched it look at them with a sick smirk.
At the last second Bleb grabbed it by the legs through the window holding it in place long enough for Ari to run forward and repeatedly stab it in the back with glass shards. Wrapping her arms around it's waist she pulled it out of the window, throwing it to the ground.
Without saying a word she grabbed Bleb's hand who immediately transformed into a katana and squared of with the rising monster. Keeping an eye on the monster she had the confidence to anticipate it's strikes. Ducking and countering every strike the monster threw at her Ari held her sword in one hand as she punched a tentacle out of the way as she closed the distance between them.
With each successful strike, she felt a surge of triumph fueling her resolve to overcome this formidable foe. Striking it in the chest she smirked when the monster let out a weakened shriek. Strike after strike allowed her to back the monster into a corner as she looked it in the eye and prepared to chop it's head off.
Finally, with one final, mighty strike, Ari delivered a decisive blow to the tentacle monster, watching it's head roll across the ground. Its twisted form convulsed and writhed in its death throes before collapsing to the ground, defeated. The hallway fell silent once more, save for the sound of the Ari's heavy breathing.
As she stood amidst the wreckage, Ari's gaze shifted from the fallen monster to the window as she looked at Clarissa who had a visibly groggy Jessica on her shoulder, rubbing her eyes as she yawned with Clarissa smiling as she pointed at Ari while talking to Jessica.