Jeruca's Stand
While Maingan battled the towering Nephilim, Jeruca had his own war to fight.
The creatures that had emerged with the giants were smaller but no less deadly. Twisted, monstrous beings, their bodies were a patchwork of animal and human features—some had elongated limbs, others crawled on all fours like beasts, and a few had elongated jaws filled with rows of needle-like teeth.
They were fast.
Too fast.
Jeruca barely dodged as one lunged, its razor-sharp claws slashing where his head had been moments before. He rolled, coming up on one knee and drawing an arrow in a single smooth motion.
Loose.
The arrow found its mark, sinking deep into the creature's skull. It gurgled before collapsing into the dirt.
Another came from behind—he spun, ducking under a sweeping strike before slamming his dagger into its side. Blood, dark and thick, sprayed onto the ground as the creature howled. Jeruca twisted the blade before yanking it free.
"Jason!" he shouted.
His other friend was across the battlefield, swinging a greatsword in wide arcs to keep the beasts at bay. "Little busy here, Jeruca!" Jason grunted, parrying a clawed strike before slamming his blade down onto an attacker.
Jeruca cursed. There were too many of them. If it was just one or two, he wouldn't worry. But there were dozens, and they were swarming.
Then, a deep growl rumbled behind him.
Jeruca turned—just in time to see a much larger creature stepping forward.
It was different from the others.
While the smaller ones were feral, driven purely by instinct, this one had intelligence in its eyes. Its pale skin was stretched tight over a powerful frame, and it had two curved horns jutting from its skull.
And then it spoke.
"You are weak," it rasped, voice inhuman. "You do not belong on this battlefield."
Jeruca flicked blood from his blade and smirked. "Then come prove it."
The creature grinned, revealing rows of blackened teeth.
Then it charged.
A Duel in the Midst of Chaos
Jeruca barely had time to react.
The creature's speed was unnatural. One moment it was several feet away, the next it was upon him, claws slashing toward his throat. Jeruca threw himself backward, feeling the air ripple as the attack narrowly missed.
He landed hard, rolling onto one knee and loosing an arrow straight at its chest.
Thud.
The arrow hit—but the creature didn't even flinch. It reached up, snapped the shaft in half, and laughed.
Jeruca's smirk faltered. "That's just not fair."
The creature lunged again, its claws a blur of motion. Jeruca dodged left, but it anticipated his movement, spinning mid-attack and slamming a fist into his ribs.
The force sent him flying.
Jeruca hit the ground hard, rolling several times before slamming into a pile of rubble. His vision blurred. Pain flared in his side—probably a cracked rib.
The creature approached, tilting its head. "Pathetic."
Jeruca struggled to his feet, wiping blood from his mouth. "You talk too much."
He reached for another arrow—but the creature was already moving.
Too fast—
A clawed hand wrapped around his throat, lifting him off the ground.
Jeruca's vision darkened at the edges as he struggled. The creature's grip was like iron, tightening with every second.
"You will die here," it hissed.
Jeruca gritted his teeth. He wasn't about to die like this.
He grabbed an arrow from his quiver—one with a black tip.
Then, with all his strength, he jammed it straight into the creature's arm.
A sudden boom echoed as the arrow exploded.
The force sent both of them flying, the creature shrieking in pain as its arm was blown apart. Jeruca hit the ground hard again, gasping for breath.
When he looked up, the creature was kneeling, clutching its bleeding stump.
Its face twisted in rage. "You insignificant—"
Jeruca didn't let it finish.
He raised his bow and fired one last shot—right between its eyes.
The creature stiffened. Then, slowly, it collapsed.
Jeruca slumped against the rubble, breathing heavily. "Damn… that was too close."
He glanced toward Maingan, still locked in combat with the Nephilim. Jason was keeping the other creatures at bay, but even he wouldn't last forever.
Jeruca pushed himself up, wincing at the pain in his ribs.
They weren't done yet.
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