Zeb's heart pounded in his chest. Every instinct screamed at him to flee, but his legs felt rooted to the spot. "Great," he muttered. "Just when I thought things couldn't get worse."
"Stay focused," Zax urged. "We need a plan."
The alpha crouched low, muscles coiling like a loaded spring. Without warning, it lunged forward with astonishing speed. Zeb barely had time to react, diving to the side as the creature's massive claws slashed through the space he'd occupied moments before. The force of its swipe cleaved through a nearby tree trunk, the timber groaning before toppling over with a crash.
"Move, Zeb!" Zax shouted in his mind.
Scrambling to his feet, Zeb sprinted deeper into the park, adrenaline surging through his veins. The shadows of the trees blurred past him, but the alpha was relentless, crashing through the underbrush with terrifying momentum.
"You're not going to outrun it!" Zax warned.
"Then what do you suggest?" Zeb snapped, vaulting over a fallen log.
"Use your abilities! Tap into our power!"
Zeb could feel the energy pulsing from where Zax was bonded to his neck. Gritting his teeth, he concentrated, willing the power to flow through him. His muscles responded, strength and speed amplifying. He zigzagged between trees, attempting to throw off the alpha's pursuit.
The creature anticipated his moves, matching his enhanced speed with ease. It leaped ahead, cutting off his path and swiping at him with one colossal arm. Zeb ducked just in time, feeling the rush of air as the claws missed his head by inches.
"This isn't working!" Zeb thought desperately.
"We need to fight," Zax declared. "It's the only option."
"Fight that thing? Are you insane?"
"Trust me!"
The alpha charged again. This time, Zeb stood his ground, he braced himself. As the creature's arm came down, Zeb sidestepped and delivered a powerful punch to its ribcage. The impact sent a shockwave up his arm, and the alpha staggered back a step, snarling in surprise.
"Yes!" Zeb exclaimed, a flicker of hope igniting.
"Don't get overconfident," Zax cautioned. "It's resilient."
The alpha's eyes flashed with fury. It swung both arms in a vicious arc. Zeb dodged the first swipe but caught the second across his chest, the claws tearing through his shirt and slicing into flesh. Pain seared through him as he was thrown backward, crashing into a tree trunk.
"Zeb!" Zax's voice echoed with concern.
Gasping for breath, Zeb struggled to his feet, one hand pressed against the bleeding gashes on his chest. The alpha advanced slowly, savoring the hunt. Its growls rumbled like thunder, each step deliberate.
"You're injured," Zax noted. "We need to end this now."
"Working on it," Zeb hissed through clenched teeth.
Scanning his surroundings, his eyes fell upon a broken streetlamp lying amidst the brush, its metal pole twisted but intact. Summoning his remaining strength, he darted toward it, grabbing the pole and swinging it just as the alpha lunged. The makeshift weapon connected with the creature's jaw, a resounding clang echoing as metal met bone. The alpha recoiled, more out of surprise than pain.
"That got its attention," Zeb muttered.
The creature shook its head, then fixated on Zeb with renewed aggression. It roared, the sound rattling his very bones.
"Any more bright ideas?" Zeb asked.
"Your only chance is to target its weak points—eyes, throat," Zax advised.
The alpha charged once more. Zeb waited until the last possible second, then dove forward into a slide between the creature's legs. As he passed beneath, he swung the metal pole upward, striking the alpha's knee. A satisfying crunch indicated he'd hit a vulnerable spot.
The alpha stumbled, momentarily dropping to one knee. Seizing the opportunity, Zeb sprang up behind it and leaped onto its back, wrapping his arm around its thick neck. He tried to tighten his grip, aiming to choke it out.
The creature thrashed violently, slamming its back against trees in an attempt to dislodge him. Bark shattered, and branches snapped as Zeb held on for dear life. His injured chest screamed in protest, blood soaking his torn shirt.
"Hold on!" Zax encouraged. "Just a little longer!"
With a guttural snarl, the alpha threw itself backward in a final, desperate attempt to shake him off. Zeb was slammed between the creature and a large boulder, the impact forcing the air from his lungs. Stars exploded in his vision as he crumpled to the ground, the metal pole clattering away into the darkness.
"Zeb!" Zax's voice was laced with urgency. "Get up!"
His body refused to respond. Every muscle ached, his breaths shallow and ragged. The alpha loomed over him, its shadow swallowing the faint light that filtered through the canopy. It raised a massive claw, eyes gleaming with the thrill of the kill.
"Is this it?" Zeb thought numbly.
A sudden, blinding flash streaked through the air, slicing between Zeb and the alpha. The monstrous creature recoiled as a gleaming projectile embedded itself deep within its shoulder, eliciting a spray of dark, viscous blood. The alpha let out a guttural screech that shook the very leaves on the trees, its malevolent eyes darting toward the source of the attack.
Zeb, still sprawled on the ground and gasping for breath, followed the alpha's gaze. Emerging from the shadows was a woman unlike any he had ever seen. Her long, emerald-green hair flowed like a river of jade, contrasting sharply with her porcelain skin. She moved with an ethereal grace, her form clad in a sleek, black bodysuit that hugged her figure and concealed the lower half of her face. Only her piercing eyes remained visible—eyes that held both serenity and an untamed fierceness.
A loud crack echoed as she propelled herself into the air, her movements so fluid it was as if she were flying. With astounding agility, she closed the distance to the alpha in the blink of an eye. Mid-air, she twisted her body into a spinning kick that connected squarely with the alpha's head. The force of the impact sent the colossal beast staggering backward, its claws tearing into the earth to regain balance.
But she was relentless. Landing lightly on the ground, she launched herself again before the alpha could recover. As she soared toward the creature, vines and thorns materialized in her hands, weaving themselves into an ornate sword that seemed to pulse with life. The weapon glowed with a soft, verdant light, illuminating the darkened surroundings.
She descended upon the alpha with a series of elegant strikes, each swing of her sword a flawless arc of deadly precision. It was like watching a masterful dance—a lethal ballet where every movement was both art and annihilation. The air hummed with energy as hundreds of slashes appeared almost simultaneously across the alpha's massive frame. Blood flowed from the myriad wounds, darkening its mottled skin and pooling at its feet.
The alpha roared in pain and fury, swiping wildly at its nimble adversary. Yet, she evaded each clumsy attack with effortless grace, her feet barely seeming to touch the ground. In a final, breathtaking maneuver, she vaulted high above the creature, flipping mid-air to position herself directly over its head. Time seemed to slow as she raised her thorned sword, the blade gleaming ominously.
With a swift, decisive stroke, she brought the sword down. The blade sliced clean through the alpha's thick neck as if it were mere parchment. Landing softly atop the now-decapitated beast, she remained poised as the colossal body wavered, teetering before crashing to the ground with a thunderous boom that echoed through the park.
Zeb watched in awe and disbelief, his mind struggling to process the spectacle he had just witnessed. His breathing was ragged, and the pain from his injuries dulled in the face of sheer astonishment.
"Who... is she?" he wondered aloud.
Without acknowledging him, the woman gracefully dismounted from the fallen alpha, her focus entirely on the creature. She approached its massive torso and began to carve into its chest with her sword, her movements methodical and unhurried. Vines extended from the hilt of her weapon, intertwining with the flesh and prying it open as she delved deeper.
After a few intense moments, she extracted a glowing white orb from the alpha's body. The object pulsated with a radiant light, casting ethereal shadows across her face.
"That's a Flux Core!" Zax exclaimed within Zeb's mind, his tone a mix of surprise and urgency. "Zeb, be cautious around this woman. I've detected that she's a Void Mite."