[Healing Activated!]
[Health restored: 100%]
With that, all cuts on Leo's body were healed in a few minutes while they kept going deeper into the jungle
A few minutes later
"Now…now this view is kinda…"
Caleb said, his voice breaking as he pointed ahead.
The creature was enormous, its body a mass of thick, rippling muscle covered in jagged black fur streaked with pulsing veins of blue energy that glowed faintly in rhythm, like the beating of a massive heart. Sparks crackled along its broad shoulders, arcing from one point to another in sharp bursts of static.
Its face was a twisted hybrid of bear and wolf, with an elongated snout filled with gleaming fangs. Jagged tusks curved upward from its lower jaw, adding a cruel menace to its already terrifying appearance.
But the most dangerous feature was the glowing orb embedded in its broad chest—a swirling core of concentrated electrical energy, humming ominously with raw power.
Thunder Mauler.
"guys..umm"
Jerry's voice wavered as he took a step back. "Ain't he kind of… scary?"
"Thunder Maulers!" Leo answered grimly, eyes locked on the beasts. "Highly aggressive, territorial, and packing enough voltage to fry an entire army."
Caleb let out a low whistle. "Cool…cool...should we just run?"
Leo shook his head. "Not likely. He already noticed us. If we try to retreat, he'll see it as a weakness and charge right in. And trust me, we *do not* want to be on the receiving end of one of their full-speed attacks."
Jerry paled. "Awesome! We are fucked."
Leo took a slow breath, keeping his voice calm despite the tension building in his gut. "Here's the catch, Thunder Maulers aren't just about brute strength. Those orbs in their chests?"
He pointed toward the swirling spheres of energy.
"That's where they store their energy for attacks. They can release it in a burst that covers a wide area, stunning or outright killing anything in range."
Mia frowned. "How do we stop that?"
"You don't" Leo's tone was flat.
"Not unless you want to risk getting zapped."
"That thing is too weak for me to waste time, I'll just go home now," Jerry said while taking a few steps back
"Smart choice," Leo said dryly. "But there's a pattern. They'll charge up the orbs before releasing the thunderstrike. If you watch closely, you'll see the glow intensify right before they attack. That's your only time to *move*—fast."
Caleb raised an eyebrow. "by fast, you mean?"
"I mean faster than you've ever moved in your life."
The Mauler, still watching them finally, began to prowl forward, his massive paws making the ground tremble with each step.
"We'll have to split up," Leo continued, "Spread out, make it harder for him to target all of us at once. Mia, you're fast—try to keep him occupied and away from the rest of us. Caleb, focus on distractions. Use the terrain. Jerry—"
"Let me guess," Jerry interrupted nervously. "Don't die?"
Leo smirked faintly. "Something like that."
"What about you?" Mia asked, her eyes narrowing.
"I'll take the lead"
"Remember," Leo added, "watch for the orb—"
Suddenly, a sharp, high-pitched hum filled the air. The hairs on Leo's arms stood on end as the Mauler's chest orb flared to life, glowing brighter and brighter until it was almost blinding.
Leo twisted his body to dodge. But this time, he wasn't fast enough.
The Mauler released its thunderstrike with a deafening roar. A blinding arc of blue energy shot forward, slamming into Leo's chest before he could fully evade.
Pain exploded through his body, every nerve alight with searing agony. The force of the blast hurled him backward, his feet leaving the ground as he crashed into a nearby tree with a sickening thud.
"Leo!"
Mia's voice rang out.
Struggling to breathe, Leo forced himself to lift his head. His vision swam, but he could see the Mauler advancing, its eyes gleaming with predatory satisfaction.
Leo pushed himself up onto one knee. His body screamed in protest, muscles twitching uncontrollably from the lingering electrical current coursing through him.
"Dam...m it!"
His chest burned from the blast, his vision still swimming as sparks flickered faintly across his skin. Whatever voltage he'd taken wasn't just normal
It was like being struck by a bolt of pure chaos, hundreds of volts surging through every nerve.
Before Leo could regain his footing, Jerry bolted past him with reckless determination.
"I got this!" Jerry bellowed, his right arm glowing faintly with the energy from his recent enhancement. The veins along his forearm pulsed with a metallic sheen, infused with reinforced strength that made his punches lethal against even the toughest enemies.
The Thunder Mauler roared, its glowing orb crackling ominously as it prepared for another devastating attack. Sparks rippled around its tusks, arcing toward the ground in jagged bursts.
"Not today, Sparky!" Jerry yelled, launching himself into the air.
He twisted mid-flight, his enhanced fist cocked back. With a ferocious yell, he drove his fist straight into the Mauler's broad chest. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the beast's thick frame, causing it to stagger backward with a surprised snarl. Sparks erupted where Jerry's fist connected, scattering like shattered stars across the forest floor.
But the Mauler wasn't down yet. Snarling, it lashed out with one massive paw, claws glowing with residual energy. Jerry barely managed to duck, the electrified claws grazing the air just above his head.
"Little help here!" Jerry shouted, scrambling back as the beast prepared to strike again.
"On it!" Caleb called from behind.
Standing a few paces away, Caleb raised his wand high, the intricate runes along its length glowing with an eerie, shifting light. His brow furrowed in concentration, sweat beading on his forehead as he summoned a swirling vortex of magical energy.
The air around him vibrated with raw power, leaves rustling as if caught in an unseen storm. Caleb's voice rang out, firm and commanding:
"Chain Bind!"
A series of glowing tendrils burst from the ground, shimmering like ropes of pure light. They wrapped around the Mauler's thick limbs, tightening with supernatural force. The beast roared in frustration, its movements slowed as it struggled against the magical bindings. Sparks flew wildly from its chest orb, but it couldn't break free.
"Nice one!" Jerry grinned, charging back toward the beast.
But the Mauler wasn't finished. With a surge of raw power, it shattered the bindings with a thunderous blast, sending Caleb stumbling backward.
Mia stepped forward, her expression steely, twin arrows already nocked and glowing faintly in her bow. The enhancements she'd gained glimmered along the fletching of her arrows, infused with energy that hummed through the air.
"Distract him, make the orb vulnerable"
Mia commanded, inhaling deeply, drawing the string of her bow back until it trembled under the tension. The glowing arrows pulsed with energy, their tips sharp and deadly.
"Steady..." she whispered to herself, eyes narrowing as she tracked the chaotic movements of the Mauler.
The beast roared, its orb flaring wildly as it prepared another thunderstrike. Sparks danced across its fur, building toward a blinding crescendo.
"NOW!" Mia shouted.
Jerry and Caleb reacted instantly. Jerry dove low, drawing the Mauler's attention with a feint, while Caleb unleashed another spell—a blinding burst of light that disoriented the beast for a split second.
It was all Mia needed.
She released the first arrow with a snap of the string, the projectile slicing through the air like a comet. It struck the orb dead center, causing a ripple of energy to pulse outward. The Mauler roared in agony, staggering under the force of the hit.
But Mia wasn't finished.
Channeling the last of her enhanced energy, she nocked a second arrow
This one glowing brighter than the first, crackling with arcs of energy that mirrored the Mauler's own thunderstrike. Her fingers trembled slightly from the strain, but her aim was unwavering.
"Eat this!"
With a sharp exhale, she released the arrow. It streaked through the air, leaving a trail of glowing light in its wake. The Mauler roared, its orb flickering wildly as the arrow found its mark once again, embedding itself deep into the swirling energy core.