The clash between Arvo and the monster continued to rage ahead, their movements blurring into streaks of light and shadow under the moon's cold glow. Roseiral stood back, her knuckles white as she gripped the splintered branch she had picked up. She turned to Ryker, desperation written across her face.
"What do you want me to do?" she demanded, her voice trembling but forceful. "What can I do? I don't even have powers like you guys. I'm just… stronger than the average human because of that potion Vero gave me. What am I supposed to do against a monster even Arvo is struggling to fight?"
Ryker regarded her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, with a slight shrug, he said, "You'll be fine."
The nonchalant response hit Roseiral like a slap, leaving her momentarily speechless. Her frustration bubbled to the surface, but before she could lash out, Ryker spoke again, his voice calm but firm.
"Let me give you a quick battle lesson," he said, his tone that of a teacher. "What matters most in a fight isn't just raw power. It's the strategy both sides use and the tricks of cards they have up their sleeves to kill the opponent in the best way possible without getting injured themselves."
He began to pace, his hands clasped loosely behind his back. Despite the chaos of the battlefield, his demeanor was almost relaxed, as though the monster and Arvo were nothing more than background noise.
"Look, aside from the monsters you fight, you must've already figured out that we also battle other Fragmenters," Ryker continued. "And here's the thing—even with all their power, most of them don't charge in blindly."
Roseiral glanced toward Arvo, who was dodging a powerful swing from the monster before countering with a crescent-shaped wave of lunar energy. His movements were swift and precise, but they carried an undeniable air of aggression.
Ryker followed her gaze. "Even Arvo," he said, "who fights head-on like a lunatic, is always thinking strategically. He probably already knows I'm here talking to you. In fact, I'd bet he's buying time because he trusts me to keep you from doing something reckless."
Roseiral's grip on the branch loosened slightly as Ryker's words sank in. "So… what are you saying? That strategy is all that matters?"
Ryker's lips curled into a faint smirk. "It matters more than you think. In a rare case—with the right PCC items and a prepared tactic—even a first-stage Fragmenter can kill a second-stage."
Roseiral furrowed her brow. "But this isn't a Fragmenter. It's a monster."
Ryker nodded slowly, as if conceding her point. "True. Monsters are different—they're driven by instinct, not reason. But that just means their strategies are simpler. Once you understand their patterns, you can outthink them. That's where you come in."
"Me?" Roseiral's voice cracked. "How am I supposed to outthink something like that?"
"You're smarter than you give yourself credit for," Ryker said, his tone sharpening. "Use what you've observed. What did you notice when you hit it earlier?"
Roseiral hesitated, her mind flashing back to the moment she had struck the monster's leg. It had recoiled, not in pain, but in… annoyance? Its reaction had been delayed, almost like it was processing what had happened.
"It's slower to react to unexpected attacks," she said slowly. "And it seems to focus on whoever it sees as the biggest threat."
Ryker nodded approvingly. "Exactly. That's your advantage. Arvo is keeping its attention, which means you have the opportunity to exploit its weaknesses. Find a way to disrupt it. Even a small opening could turn the tide."
Roseiral looked down at the broken branch in her hands, its jagged end still sharp enough to pierce. Her pulse quickened as Ryker's words ignited a flicker of determination within her.
Before she could respond, Ryker added, "One more thing—don't overthink it. Sometimes the simplest moves are the most effective. Trust your instincts, Roseiral."
She looked up at him, her jaw set. "Alright," she said, her voice steadier now. "I'll try."
Ryker's smirk returned, faint but genuine. "Good. Now, get to it. And don't die—I'd hate to have to explain that to Vero."
Ryker caught Roseiral's arm just as she took her first step forward. His grip was firm as he reached into the inner pocket of his coat.
"Wait," he said. "You'll need this."
He pulled out a small, cylindrical device that gleamed faintly under the moonlight. Its surface was etched with runes that pulsed with a faint, ominous red glow. At its core was a swirling orb of dark liquid, shifting like ink suspended in water.
"This," Ryker began, holding it out to her, "is PCC 452. We call it the 'Venom Sigil.' Its danger level is classified as Z4—volatile, but useful if you're smart about it."
Roseiral eyed the object warily, hesitating to take it. "What does it do?"
"It's designed for paralysis and disruption," Ryker explained. "When activated, it releases a burst of venomous energy that can paralyze anything within its radius for about five seconds. It's not permanent and won't kill a monster of this size, but it'll create an opening. Use it wisely."
Her fingers closed around the device reluctantly, the runes' warmth tingling against her skin. "What's the catch?" she asked, her voice tinged with suspicion.
"The catch," Ryker said with a wry smile, "is that the venom doesn't discriminate. If you're caught too close when it activates, it'll paralyze you too. It also drains your stamina, so don't overdo it."
Roseiral's breath hitched as she weighed her options. The danger was real, but so was the opportunity. She nodded, steeling herself. "Alright. I'll use it."
Ryker stepped back, giving her a curt nod. "Good. Remember what I said—strategy. Timing is everything."
As he retreated into the shadows, Roseiral turned her attention back to the battlefield. Arvo and the monster were locked in a vicious exchange, their movements a blur of light and fury. The monster, now fully transformed, had become grotesque—a towering amalgamation of bone and sinew, its anglerfish-like appendage swaying menacingly as it roared.
The opportunity came sooner than she expected.
Arvo lunged at the monster with his moonlit blade, aiming for its exposed flank. The monster countered with a swipe of its massive claw, forcing him to backpedal. In that brief moment, Roseiral noticed the monster's movements were becoming more erratic, its attention flickering between Arvo and the environment around it.
It's distracted, she realized.
Taking a deep breath, she crept forward, keeping low to the ground. Her eyes darted between the monster and Arvo, waiting for the right moment.
When the monster reared back to unleash another attack, she seized her chance.
"Arvo!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos. "Get clear!"
Without hesitation, Arvo leapt backward, putting distance between himself and the monster. Roseiral activated the Venom Sigil, throwing it toward the monster's feet.
The device erupted in a burst of crimson energy, enveloping the monster in a venomous cloud. Its movements faltered immediately, its massive limbs seizing up as it let out a guttural roar.
Roseiral felt a wave of dizziness wash over her as the energy grazed her as well, sapping her strength. She staggered but forced herself to stay upright, watching as the monster thrashed helplessly.
Arvo didn't need any prompting. He surged forward, his blade glowing with an intense lunar brilliance. With a single, precise strike, he drove the blade into the monster's core. The creature let out a final, deafening roar before collapsing in a heap, its grotesque form dissolving into a black, tar-like substance.
Roseiral sank to her knees, exhaustion finally catching up with her. The Venom Sigil had taken more out of her than she'd expected, but the monster was defeated.
Ryker emerged from the shadows, his expression calm as always. "Not bad," he said, crouching beside her. "You handled that better than I thought you would."
Roseiral shot him a tired glare. "You could've helped, you know."
"And deprive you of a valuable learning experience?" Ryker smirked. "Where's the fun in that?"
Before she could retort, Arvo approached, his glowing eyes dimming as the lunar energy around him dissipated. He looked at Roseiral, then at Ryker, his expression unreadable.
"Good job," Arvo said simply, offering her a hand.
Roseiral hesitated before taking it, allowing him to pull her to her feet. Despite her exhaustion, a small sense of pride flickered within her.
Ryker crouched next to the pool of black, tar-like substance, his sharp gaze studying it with unusual intensity. His hand hovered just above the surface as if expecting something to rise out of it.
"There should've been a fragment," he muttered, his voice laced with frustration. "With that level of power, there's no way it didn't have one."
Roseiral, still leaning on Arvo for support, glanced at Ryker. "A fragment? You mean like your Magnus Fragment?"
"Exactly," Ryker replied, standing up and brushing his hands on his coat. "When a monster evolves like this, it's usually because it's absorbed some kind of Magnus Fragment or an unstable prototype. But this…" He gestured at the tar. "This doesn't make sense. There's no fragment here, yet it got strong enough to challenge Arvo. It's impossible."
Arvo remained silent, his moonlit blade dissipating back into two twin blades. He sheathed them calmly, his glowing eyes dimming further as he stood by, watching the interaction unfold.
Roseiral hesitated before asking, "How are these monsters even formed? Why did it call itself a child?"
Ryker crossed his arms, his expression softening into something almost resembling curiosity. "Since it's dead now, we can talk about it without it screwing with our heads. This particular type of monster—classified as the Hollow Wraith—was originally considered a Level Zero danger."
"Level Zero?" Roseiral echoed, frowning. "That doesn't sound dangerous at all."
"It wasn't," Ryker said, his tone sharp. "At least, not in the physical sense. The Hollow Wraith was known for its ability to mentally break someone by showing them memories, fears, and emotions they couldn't handle. For Fragmenters like us, that's not much of a threat since most of us are reinforced against that kind of attack. But for an average human?" He glanced at her pointedly. "It would've been fatal."
"So how did it get this strong?" Roseiral pressed, her voice low. "It was calling for its mother. What does that even mean?"
Ryker opened his mouth to respond but stopped, his attention snapping back to the tar-like substance. The pool began to ripple unnaturally, small waves forming despite the absence of wind or movement.
"That's not supposed to happen," Ryker muttered, his stance shifting into one of caution. "Well be prepa-"
Ryker froze mid-sentence as the black, tar-like pool rippled violently. Without warning, a tendril of liquid shot out with unnatural speed, striking Roseiral directly in the forehead. Her eyes widened in shock as the substance sank into her skin, leaving no trace behind.
"Roseiral!" Arvo shouted, rushing forward as she staggered backward, clutching her head.
Her legs gave out before she could respond, and she collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Ryker moved swiftly, crouching by her side as Arvo knelt down, his glowing blades still drawn and ready. Ryker placed two fingers against her neck, checking her pulse, his face a mask of calm intensity.
"She's alive," he said, his voice clipped.
Arvo's eyes darted toward the black substance, still bubbling slightly but no longer moving aggressively. His grip on his weapons tightened, the tension in his body palpable.
"What now?" Arvo asked, his voice low but urgent.
Ryker didn't answer immediately. Instead, he lifted Roseiral carefully, cradling her in his arms as he stood. "We take her back," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Arvo casted one last glance at the dissipating tar, his expression unreadable, before following Ryker into the shadows.