While Ren was busy destroying Lett, in the main city of Gular, Rose, Fel, and Cid were doing their best to hold off Rue, who had begun his assault on the citizens. Amidst the chaos, Cid looked over at Fel, who was panting heavily after using up most of his energy.
"Next time… we decide to defend a city from a special-class beast…" Cid gasped, "Let's… pick one… that's not trying to kill us."
Fel, despite the chaos around them, managed a breathless laugh. "Noted… for next time."
Rose, standing tall amidst the destruction, shook her head with a small smirk. "You two can joke all you want, but if we don't get our act together, there won't be a next time."
Cid groaned. "Why is it that the worst battles always come with the worst jokes?"
And as the three of them braced themselves for Rue's next attack, they couldn't help but feel the weight of what was coming. The battle had only just begun, and the future of Gular — and perhaps the world — was at stake.
As chaos erupted in the heart of Gular, the city's cries for help echoed through the air. Cid felt the weight of his responsibility pressing down on him, and he murmured, "The playtime is over. There's no way in hell to destroy a special-class beast like Rue with basic sword arts. I need to use my technique."
Cid was a rare gem among pacifiers, a master of Wind Battle Arts. While most pacifiers could only wield standard and general arts, Cid had pushed his abilities further, developing five unique techniques of his own: Sky Warp, Gale Strike, Vortex, Zephyr Scythe, and Tempest.
As Rue charged toward him, his massive form cutting through the debris like a knife, Cid took a deep breath, steadying his nerves.
"Here goes nothing!" he shouted as he activated his first technique.
BATTLE TECHNIQUE: SKY WARP
In an instant, it felt like Rue passed through to Cid. Confusion flickered in his eyes.
"Did I just miss?" Rue growled, with a cracking voice, bewildered.
Cid smirked, panting slightly. "You're going to have to try harder than that!"
He lunged again, a flurry of sharp claws aimed directly at him. But once more, he missed. Cid watched him, exhilarated by the challenge.
"I know it'll take a while to defeat you, and there's a chance I might end up in a near-death situation," he shouted, his voice barely piercing the howling winds. "But the least I can do is delay your advance until Ken arrives. You're probably wondering why you can't hit me. It's because Sky Warp allows me to bend the air and space around me. So, no chance in hell you'll land a hit!"
Rue let out a frustrated roar, a sound that vibrated through the very ground beneath him. "YOU THINK YOU CAN DODGE ME FOREVER?" The deep, resonating growl rattled the nearby buildings.
"What the hell… I just noticed that it is talking. Do Beasts talk? Oh yeah, now I remember. Some excelled abnormal class and special class beasts can talk just like humans." Cid muttered, shaking his head at the creature's wrathful response.
Luring Rue further into the ruins of Gular, Cid made a split-second decision to switch to offense. He had to protect the citizens, and every second counted.
BATTLE TECHNIQUE: GALE STRIKE
Summoning a fan-shaped weapon, he swung with all his might. A powerful gust swept across the area, creating a storm-like current that sent Rue staggering back. Although it didn't inflict significant damage, it bought him precious time.
"Hey, Rue! Ever been caught in a storm?" Cid taunted, his heart racing.
He watched Rue shake his head, visibly confused and irritated, struggling to regain his footing.
BATTLE TECHNIQUE: ZEPHYR SCYTHE
A stunning, cyan-colored scythe appeared in his hands, glowing with raw energy. As he charged, wind currents swirled around him, lifting him as he dashed toward Rue.
"Let's see how you like this!" he yelled, cutting through the air with a swift motion. The scythe met Rue, and for the first time since the battle began, he felt the sting of real damage.
Rue's voice was filled with both surprise and exhilaration, a sense of joy in the battle that had long eluded him. The thrill of combat, an intensity that mirrored the chaos around them, sparked a twisted satisfaction within him.
Cid, exhilarated by the exchange, felt a rush of adrenaline course through his veins. "Now we're getting somewhere!"
But the tide of battle quickly turned. Rue, no longer caught off-guard, began unleashing a barrage of energy beams and body-shredding shockwaves. Cid danced through the air, using every ounce of his agility to dodge each attack.
"You know," he grunted, evading a particularly powerful blast that sent rubble flying, "for a beast, you sure know how to throw a tantrum!"
"I'LL TEAR YOU APART!" Rue bellowed, fury fueling him every movement.
In the main city, Rose and Fel were struggling against a horde of abnormal-class monsters. Fel swung his weapon with precision, his breath coming in rapid bursts.
"Rose, do you think we should start a monster-slaying business after this?" he joked, a nervous laugh escaping him as he dispatched yet another beast.
"Only if you're okay with being the one who cleans up afterward!" Rose shot back, her voice laced with sarcasm as she delivered a swift kick to an advancing monster.
"Great! Just what I wanted to do after fighting for my life," Fel said, feigning enthusiasm.
"Focus! We can't let them get to the citizens!" Rose replied, grinning despite the situation.
Meanwhile, back in the ruins, Cid was beginning to tire. The constant dodging was taking its toll. He had to find a way to end this before Rue's attacks overwhelmed him.
"Just hold on, Ken! Where are you?" he muttered, his heart racing as Rue's energy beams drew closer.
The battle shifted into a relentless game of tag, with Rue hot on Cid's heels. Every time Rue lunged, Cid barely managed to evade his grasp, his heart pounding in his chest. He could sense his growing frustration with each missed attack.
As Rue charged once more, Cid summoned his last reserve of energy. "You'll have to catch me first, beast!" he shouted, activating Sky Warp one more time. He soared away, using the momentary distance to catch his breath.
"Just a little longer…" he whispered to himself, hoping against hope that Ken would arrive before it was too late.
And finally, as Rue let out a frustrated roar, Ken burst onto the scene, determination etched on his face. As he saw Rue, loads of bloodlust oozed out. Rue and Cid, feeling the pressure, realized that, the tide of battle was about to change.