Juliet leapt and sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the knight's relentless onslaught. Each swing of its blade sent shockwaves through the air, the force cracking the pristine walls of the lab. The knight moved with terrifying power, its movements a blend of precision and brute strength. Suddenly, it leapt into the air, raising its sword high above its head.
With a deafening crash, the blade slammed into the ground. An earthquake rippled through the lab, splitting the floor and walls apart. Akemi, still crouched behind her water barrier, flinched as a thunderous crack echoed around her. When the dust began to settle, she stared in disbelief. The once-pristine white walls were shredded, revealing a jagged rift that ran the length of the lab. Sunlight spilled through the destruction, illuminating the chaos.
Juliet emerged from the haze, her movements swift and graceful. She darted toward the knight, her rapier flashing in the light as she pierced it three times in rapid succession. With a final leap, she landed behind it, her weapon shimmering with frost.
"I know encasing you in ice won't work—you'll just break free. But if I freeze the blood in your veins..." Her voice was calm, almost cold. She thrust her rapier forward, and the frost spread across the knight's body. Within moments, it was completely immobilized, its body locked in a ice.
The knight toppled over with a heavy thud, lifeless. Juliet took a deep breath, steadying herself. "That should keep you down," she muttered, more to herself than anyone else.
Meanwhile, Satoya and Sendo paused, startled by the faint tremor beneath their feet. The echo of the earthquake had traveled far, even reaching their part of the labyrinth-like lab.
"Was that... a fight?" Satoya asked, glancing at Sendo.
"I can sense Juliet and Akemi nearby, but this place is a maze. I can't pinpoint their exact location," Sendo replied, his brow furrowed in concentration. They wandered deeper into the corridor until they reached a jagged fissure in the wall. The ceiling had collapsed, revealing a patch of sky above. Sunlight streamed through the gap, bathing the ruined corridor in a golden glow.
Satoya stepped into the light, squinting as his eyes adjusted to the brightness. The warmth of the sun was a strange comfort after the oppressive cold of the lab.
"This crack runs deep," Sendo said, stepping up beside him. "If we follow it, it might lead us to Juliet and Akemi, or even the source of the tremor."
Satoya nodded, his determination returning. "Then let's move. We don't have time to waste." Together, they began to sprint along the fractured pathway, squeezing through narrow gaps and leaping over debris.
Back into the location of Juliet, Akemi and the group, Roland held a switch, his lips curling into a twisted smile. With a flick of a switch, he unleashed a wave of abominations—grotesque figures that had once been human but were now unrecognizable. Edward dodged a charging humanoid, its bloated, skinless head gleaming under the harsh lights.
"Isaac!" Edward shouted, blocking a relentless barrage of savage scratches. "You're as strong as Satoya, go deal with Roland or something!"
Isaac hesitated, dodging another creature's swipe, before charging toward Roland. The man didn't flinch, spreading his arms wide as if welcoming the attack. Isaac didn't hesitate, his fist slamming into Roland's jaw with enough force to send him sprawling.
The sound of Roland hitting the ground was almost anticlimactic. Isaac blinked, confused. "Huh? That was... easier than I expected." He glanced at Edward, who was still dodging the abominations. "Why is he so weak? I thought Cataclysms were supposed to be incredibly powerful."
The question lingered in Isaac's mind, gnawing at him. Before he could dwell on it further, a sharp, unsettling laugh echoed from Roland.
Roland staggered to his feet, his jaw clicking back into place unnaturally. "Such strength," Roland spoke, his voice dripping with glee. "Intriguing! A fine specimen indeed!"