Beneath the heavy armor, every breath Ren took grew ragged, his lungs crushed under the weight of sheer pressure.
He drew in a deep breath, forcing his erratic heartbeat to steady, then tightened his grip around the commander's shoulder.
The man's body was limp, heavy as a block of cold iron. Sweat trickled from Ren's forehead, dripping onto the commander's armor.
But this was not the time to dwell on such things.
'Just get out of here.'
'Just get him to safety.'
The soldiers around them sensed the imminent danger closing in.
No one spoke, but determination burned in their eyes. Swords were raised, spears spun in steady hands, forming a temporary shield to protect Ren as he began to move.
Step one.
His back nearly snapped the moment he tried to lift the commander, but Ren clenched his teeth, ignoring the searing pain coursing through his muscles.
Step two.
The Alpha's roar exploded behind him, the sheer force of it rattling his eardrums.
A violent gust swept through, carrying the predator's rancid breath and an overwhelming sense of dread.
Ren wanted to turn around. Wanted to see what was happening.
But he couldn't.
He mustn't.
Ahead, Argo motioned for him to keep going. She stood atop a broken slab of stone, her eyes blazing in the darkness, her hand gesturing urgently, every second mattered. A safe corridor had opened. But it wouldn't last long. He had mere moments to escape!
Ren gritted his teeth... and ran.
Step three.
His arms went numb, his legs trembled, but he dragged the commander forward.
Step four.
A shout rang out behind him.
"Don't look back! Just run!"
He knew.
He knew!
But at that moment...
BOOM!
The ground roared like a beast awakened from an eternal slumber. Cracks snaked across the mud-soaked earth, while shattered stones and debris exploded in all directions like hundreds of tiny bullets.
A massive form slammed into the ground, sending up a column of dust that instantly swallowed all visibility.
Ren froze, breath caught in his throat. He could feel every thunderous heartbeat pounding against his ribs, drumming inside his skull.
'It got knocked back?!'
The thought flickered in his mind for less than a second.
Impossible.
Within the lingering dust cloud, a shadow began to stir. A deep, guttural growl resonated—not loud, yet it carried enough weight to make the very air tremble.
The soft soil beneath Ren's feet quivered, loose pebbles skittering with each tremor.
And then...
GRAAHHH!!!
A bone-shaking roar tore through the battlefield.
A shockwave burst outward from the heart of the dust storm!
The violent force ripped through the field like a hurricane, scattering debris, slamming into Ren with enough power to force him to one knee just to stay upright.
The soldiers around him were pushed back, their shields rattling violently under the immense pressure.
And then, as the storm of dust began to settle… it stood.
The Alpha's colossal body rose in a single, fluid motion, as if the devastating impact just now had meant nothing.
Its dark gray fur bristled like thousands of steel needles, its crimson eyes burning like smoldering embers in the abyss, reflecting the raw, unfiltered wrath of a cornered predator.
On its broad shoulder, a deep gash still oozed flickering red pixel shards, scattering like shattered glass suspended in midair.
Yet, despite how severe it looked, the wound was just a scratch on the beast's massive form.
Ren inhaled sharply, his eyes flicking to the system interface hovering over the monster.
Its HP bar…
Only two and a half out of seven segments had been depleted.
Just two.
The commander's full strength had only chipped away two and a half bars.
Even Mito—with all her power—had merely forced it back for a fleeting moment.
But the Alpha still had four and a half full HP bars left.
And now, it was angrier than ever.
Ren clenched his fists, an icy dread crawling up his spine, as if someone had just poured a bucket of freezing water down his back.
The Alpha bared its fangs, its razor-sharp teeth still stained with glistening red pixel fragments, the remains of its previous victims.
The fur around its wound bristled with each twitch of the dense muscles beneath its coarse hide.
The sheer pressure radiating from its enormous frame became undeniable, suffocating the air around it.
Mito still stood before it.
She did not retreat. But Ren could see her chest rising and falling sharply. Her hands gripped the handle of her massive scythe, her knuckles turning white from the strain.
She had unleashed her strongest strike, but it wasn't enough.
If this dragged on any longer…
If this battle stretched even a second further…
Mito would collapse first.
That couldn't happen.
Ren spun around, his decision made in an instant. He couldn't stay here!
"What are you waiting for?! Go!"
Mito's sharp voice cut through the battlefield, clear and unwavering, severing the last remnants of hesitation in Ren's mind.
He gritted his teeth, hunched forward, and clung tightly to the commander.
And ran.
Straight toward the safe corridor, where the remaining soldiers still fought to shield him with everything they had.
The ground trembled violently. Fragments of shattered rock flew through the air, dust clouds swirling in the aftermath of the impact.
A towering shadow rose amidst the gray haze.
The Alpha's massive frame shuddered from the collision, yet it did not fall.
Its dark gray fur stood on end, its rage igniting every muscle in its body.
Six burning eyes scorched everything in their line of sight with pure, unrelenting fury.
GRAAAAAOOOHH!!
A roar that shattered the very fabric of the battlefield. Air compressed, the ground beneath it cracked and splintered, obliterating the lingering dust cloud.
Shimmering red pixels still drifted around the wound on its shoulder—the remnants of Mito's scythe.
But it wasn't enough.
Its HP bar… still had more than four full segments remaining.
Far too much.
Mito tightened her grip on her weapon, her breathing heavier than before.
Sweat trailed down her temple, dripping from her chin, mixing with the icy shiver running down her spine.
She knew.
She had never fought a monster this powerful. Not on the first floor.
And she had already thrown everything she had into her attacks…
She couldn't wait any longer.
Whoosh!!
Without hesitation, Mito sprang forward!
A strong gust swept across the battlefield, sending her cloak billowing in the air, caught in the aerodynamics of her rapid movement. Her scythe spun through the air, forming a cold, gleaming arc that reflected the silver moonlight from above.
A decisive strike.
The Alpha responded immediately.
Its eyes contracted.
Unlike before, this time, it was ready.
The moment the scythe came crashing down, the Alpha kicked off the ground, its massive body twisting sharply to the side!
A colossal claw sliced through the air, swinging toward Mito in a swift, lethal arc!
"Tch!"
Mito's eyes widened as a surge of danger exploded in her mind.
She instantly adjusted the angle of her scythe, shifting her attack trajectory to intercept the counterstrike!
CLANG!!
A chilling clash rang out!
Sparks erupted from the point of impact, one side was the beast's razor-sharp claw, the other was gleaming steel.
Mito was pushed back!
The recoil shot through the weapon's hilt, sending a numbing jolt up her arm.
She staggered in midair, her vision blurring as the sudden loss of balance overtook her.
Before she could land properly, gravity yanked her downward, forcing her feet onto the ground with more force than intended.
CRACK!!
The stone beneath her shattered, her heels sinking deep into the fractured ground from the awkward landing.
A sharp pain shot through her palms.
She had gripped her weapon too tightly.
Mito took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, but in that very instant, a chilling sensation rushed over her.
A mistake.
Just a moment of hesitation, and she had lost her battle rhythm.
The Alpha did not let that opening slip by.
Its crimson eyes locked onto her, muscles tensing like a coiled spring.
It wouldn't give her a second chance.
Mito realized it immediately.
BOOM!
The Alpha lunged forward!
Faster than before!
The sheer force of its charge sent tremors rippling through the ground. Fragments of shattered stone scattered beneath its powerful claws.
The distance closed in an instant.
Mito clenched her teeth.
She had to…
Dodge?!
Block?!
Counterattack?!
No time to think.
No time to decide!
Darkness filled her vision, leaving no room for thought or reaction.
She could almost feel the Alpha's scorching breath crashing against her face, thick with the stench of blood and unrestrained killing intent.
Mito couldn't dodge in time!
"MITO!"
A voice tore through the battlefield.
In that moment...
A streak of green light sliced through the air, flashing like a bolt of lightning!
The strike slammed into the Alpha's body, detonating into a brilliant storm of light.
The impact was so powerful that it blasted the dust beneath their feet into the air, sending a shockwave rippling outward.
The Alpha let out an enraged roar, its massive form thrown aside.
Its claws halted just before reaching Mito.
A fraction of a second later, and she would have been torn apart.
Mito's eyes widened, her breath unsteady.
She was alive.
Quickly regaining her composure, she steadied herself on the ground.
A slender figure dashed forward from behind.
Flowing chestnut hair gleamed under the moonlight, neatly braided strands swaying with her swift movements. Bright brown eyes shone with determination, reflecting the glow of the rapier that still pulsed with energy from the previous attack.
Asuna.
A shiver ran down Mito's spine, her grip tightening around the handle of her scythe as if to ground herself.
She couldn't deny it... just now, she had been cornered.
No matter how strong or experienced a fighter was, there were moments when they became small before overwhelming power.
And at that moment, Asuna had arrived just in time.
Mito pressed her lips together, her gaze never leaving the Alpha as it struggled to rise after the impact.
"…Asuna."
She spoke, her voice quiet yet filled with emotion.
There was no time for words.
But just calling her name was enough to say everything.