Emerging into the dim light, drenched in sweat and gripping a metal pipe, was Chayil.
What is he doing here? Naisha thought, confusion and hope mixing in her chest.
Gorvex's fury exploded as he turned to face the newcomer. "Who the hell are you?" he snarled. Then, as if dismissing the question entirely, he growled, "No, it doesn't matter. Die!"
With a swift motion, Gorvex pointed his arm directly at Chayil.
"Idiot! Run!" Naisha screamed.
Chayil froze, his gaze snapping to Naisha as he took in the sight of her, glowing faintly in the dim light.
"Wow," was all he managed to say in spite of his situation.
"This pervert!" Naisha muttered under her breath, irritation flaring as she quickly grabbed a nearby blanket at the bed and wrapped it around herself.
But Chayil couldn't pull his eyes away from Naisha, even as she shouted and pointed toward Gorvex.
"Watch out!" Naisha's voice seemed to stretch and slow, her words fading into the background as Chayil remained frozen, captivated by her.
Just as he finally tore his gaze away, as Naisha signaled him to, He turned toward Gorvex—
Bam!
A chain whip, thick as a fist, lashed out, striking Chayil with brutal force. The impact sent him hurtling through the air, crashing into the furniture with a thud.
"Hahaha! Now you're dead! Your bones are now shattered and broken!" Gorvex laughed.
Naisha's heart pounded in her chest. 'That idiot.' He thought, so reckless and clueless about the danger he was in.
Her eyes darted around the tent, searching for anything—anything—that could give her a chance to escape. The ropes that bound her burned against her wrists as she twisted.
"Well, well, we can continue our fun now," Gorvex sneered as his desire to taste Naisha grew with each moment, He took slow, deliberate steps toward her.
Meanwhile, Naisha backed up, her breath coming in shallow gasps, until she was cornered. The canvas of the tent pressed against her back, offering no escape.
As her eyes searched for a way out, she noticed that the pile of debris where Chayil had fallen suddenly shifted.
'That can't be!' she thought, her heart racing. The chain's impact should have destroyed him.
But then, from the wreckage, Chayil slowly rose to his feet, his body surprisingly intact.
"Impossible! None has escaped that attack as far as I can remember!" Gorvex uttered, surprised by Chayil's endurance.
"Sorry, sorry. I got distracted earlier," he said, brushing off his clothes with a nonchalant shrug as if he hadn't just been sent flying across the room.
He picked up the metal pipe from the floor, twirling it casually in his hand. His smirk widened as he did. Then, without warning, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly, as if grounding himself.
When his eyes opened again, there was a fire in them—determination, raw and unyielding.
"Hahaha! What chance does a Verdant I.D. have against a Crimson?" Gorvex taunted, raising his palm with a sinister grin spreading across his face.
[Chain Spear!]
With a violent whip of his arm, a chain shot out from Gorvex's palm, the blade at its tip gleaming in the dim light as it slithered through the air like a serpent. It rocketed straight for Chayil's head, aiming to impale him.
But Chayil was faster.
With a burst of speed, he lunged forward. The chain spear sliced through the air just inches from his face, grazing past him and tearing through the tent behind him.
Gorvex's grin spread wider. With a savage flick, he swung it side to side, whipping it through the air like a writhing snake.
Chayil's eyes locked onto the attack. He planted his feet firmly and raised the metal pipe in front of him, bracing for the impact.
The moment the chain collided with the pipe.
"Clang!"
The force nearly knocked him off his feet. The impact jolted through his arms, pushing him sideways as his feet scrambled, scraping against the ground to keep from being flung back.
"What's wrong? Where's that arrogance now?" Gorvex taunted.
He yanked the chain back, spinning it around. With both hands gripping the deadly weapon, he unleashed a flurry of strikes, each one faster and more brutal than the last. The chain cracked through the air like a whip.
Chayil met every strike with his pipe. The clash of metal rang through the place. But Gorvex was relentless, his attacks coming faster and faster, leaving Chayil with little room to advance.
'How is he even keeping up with Gorvex with nothing but raw strength?' Naisha thought, her eyes fixed on the fierce battle unfolding before her.
But Chayil wasn't finished yet.
In one fluid motion, he trapped the chain's tip beneath the metal pipe and slammed it into the ground. Without hesitation, he stomped his foot on the chain, pinning it in place.
Grinning at Gorvex, he swung the pipe low on the ground, sending dirt and debris flying toward him.
The cloud of dust swirled up, momentarily blinding Gorvex. He instinctively raised his arm to shield his face, trying to clear the haze.
That was the opening Chayil needed.
In a burst of speed, he closed the distance between them, his legs moving faster than they ever had before. With a roar, he slammed the pipe into Gorvex's torso.
WHAM!
The impact of the blow lifted Gorvex off the ground, his massive form crashing onto his back with force.
Naisha's heart skipped a beat as she stared at the hulking figure sprawled on the ground.
Could he actually be… finished? She thought, a flicker of hope igniting inside her chest.
For a moment, she believed Chayil had done it.
But then, Gorvex's laughter erupted—a deep, guttural sound that reverberated through the tent.
He slowly pushed himself up and his grin only grew wider and more savage.
"I'm just getting started," Gorvex growled.
Chayil raised an eyebrow, his smirk not faltering. "You're strong, I'll give you that. I thought all that bulk was just for show."
Gorvex's eyes flared with rage. "Don't get too confident. You're just a Verdant! You will never win!" he bellowed.
With a sudden motion, Gorvex stretched both his arms to the side. The chains, as if alive, began to coil around them, wrapping tightly around his skin.
They hissed and clattered, their metal surfaces gleaming in the dim light as they constricted, forming layers upon layers of armor-like protection.
In an instant, his fists were encased in thick, iron-clad chains, turning his hands into brutal, weapons.
"I'll crush you," Gorvex said.