Chapter 7 - Killed

Erik stepped out of the small storage closet, his heart is filled with fear and anxiety of the situation. The ruined school campus lay before him, it now transformed into a scene of chaos and devastation. When he moved through the debris-strewn grounds he can see the sight that was so haunting.

The campus was littered with the remnants of what had once been a place of learning. Broken glass, twisted metal, and shattered concrete told the story of a violent onslaught. The bodies of the fallen were scattered around, their limbs and heads the only remnants left after the giant wolves' rampage. The carnage was a grim reminder of the scale of the disaster that had befallen them and Erik knew this is not the end.

Erik moved cautiously to avoid drawing the attention of any giant wolf. The strange power within him might give him an edge but he wasn't about to test its limits unnecessarily.

He keep navigated the ruins, the sounds of his surroundings were punctuated by the eerie silence of destruction. The screams of earlier had faded and leaving only the occasional creak of a building or the distant rustling of debris. It was then, amidst the oppressive silence, that Erik heard it—a scream cutting through the stillness.

Without hesitation he followed the sound and pushing through the debris, his heart filled with urgency. His breath came in short bursts and the only thing in his mind is concern for Liam. The scream had been human and it was similar to Liam's scream.

The path led him to a section of the campus that was even more ravaged than the rest. Buildings were partially collapsed and the ground was scorched and torn. Erik's eyes scanned the area searching for the source of the scream.

In the midst of the devastation, he spotted a figure struggling against the shadowy outlines of a giant wolf. The wolf was larger than any Erik had seen, its massive form dominating the scene. The figure attacked was hunched over, trying to fend off the beast with... His bare hand.

Erik assessed the situation. The wolf was focused on its prey, giving Erik a chance to act. He crept closer, trying to stay out of sight while planning his next move. The figure was clearly in dire straits his face covered in blood, Erik needed to act quickly.

Something about their posture struck Erik as familiar. Through the haze of chaos and the looming danger he noticed the figure's stance.

He scanned the area for anything that could be used to turn the tide. His eyes fell upon several metal beams scattered among the debris.

Erik made his way to the beams then grabbed three of them. With the beams in hand he approached the giant wolf cautiously, avoiding its vicious swings and growls.

As he crept closer, he could see the wolf's attention still focused on the struggling figure. Erik waited for the right moment, his breath coming in measured but quiet gasps. He positioned himself behind the beast.

Erik gathered his resolve. The mysterious power within him surged, lending him an almost supernatural agility. He tensed his muscles and sprang into action, jumping with an unnatural height that took him clear over the wolf's back.

In mid-air Erik wielded one of the metal beams above his head. He brought it down hard, driving it into the wolf's back with a resounding thud. The impact elicited a fierce yelp from the creature, causing it to stagger and shift its focus.

Seizing the opportunity, Erik quickly threw the remaining metal beams toward the bloodied figure. The beams clattered down near him, startling the figure into looking up.

The figure's eyes widened in shock. "Erik?" he gasped.

"Liam!" he called back, relieved to hear the familiar voice.

The recognition was mutual. Liam, though bloodied and exhausted, looked up with a mixture of surprise and relief. He staggered to his feet, his gaze locked on Erik with a look of disbelief.

Erik's focus shifted back to the wolf. The beast was turning to face them.

Erik stood beside Liam. The beast, its back impaled by the metal beam Erik had driven into it, now seethed with rage. The metal beam remained lodged in its flesh and the wolf's eyes burned with a menacing fury.

"Are you okay?" Erik asked, his voice steady despite the intensity of the situation.

Liam with his bloodied and weary body managed a strained, sarcastic grin. "Never been better," he replied, his tone laced with dry humor.

Erik nodded. "We have to face it together if we want to live."

Liam nodding in agreement. "I'm ready now that there are two of us. Before you showed up, I felt like I was about to die."

The wolf let out a guttural growl, its massive body started coiling. It seemed to sense the combined strength of its prey and was more determined than ever to take them down.

The two stood shoulder to shoulder, the metal beams in their hands ready for the next strike. They exchanged a brief glance. There was no room for hesitation.

Even though this is their first time facing such monster there is no fear etched in their faces.

As the giant wolf lunged forward with a ferocious roar, Erik and Liam sprang into action. They moved in tandem, with coordinated movement. The wolf's massive jaws snapped dangerously close but Erik and Liam were quick to dodge.

Erik drove one of the metal beams into the wolf's side, while Liam aimed for its head, trying to disorient the beast. The wolf thrashed and roared, its movements wild and unpredictable. The two of them keep pressing their advantage.

Erik swung his metal beam w, striking at the wolf's exposed flanks. The beam seemed to slice through the air with greater force, the energy coursing through it making each hit more impactful. The wolf howled in pain, its massive form twisting and turning in an attempt to shake off its attackers.

Liam's body also equally driven by the mysterious power. He darted around the wolf with remarkable agility. He used his beam to strike at the wolf's legs aiming to incapacitate it and prevent it from gaining ground.

The wolf, maddened by the relentless assault, tried to counterattack. Its jaws snapped and claws swiped, but Erik and Liam were too quick.

They danced around the beast, their enhanced reflexes enabling them to avoid the most dangerous strikes. With each powerful blow they delivered, the wolf's resistance weakened.

Erik and Liam felt a connection to the energy that flowed through them, fueling their attacks and driving them forward.

Erik spotted an opening and signaled Liam. Together, they coordinated their strikes, hitting the wolf from multiple angles. Liam delivered a crushing blow to the wolf's head while Erik targeted its neck.

The wolf's howls grew more desperate as it staggered under the relentless assault. It tried to fight back, but the wounds inflicted by Erik and Liam were too severe.

With one final and coordinated effort Erik and Liam delivered a decisive blow. Erik swung his metal beam with all his remaining strength, while Liam thrust his beam into the wolf's heart. The beast let out an agonized roar before collapsing to the ground, its massive body going still.

Breathing heavily, Erik and Liam stood over the fallen creature, their bodies trembling with exhaustion.

Erik and Liam exchanged a weary but triumphant glance.

"Holy shit," Liam gasped. "We just killed a giant wolf!"

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