The Minotaur roared, a sound that shook the very air of the night!
The bellow, like thunder splitting the darkling sky, rattled every soul that heard it. The air vibrated, and the leaves upon the nearby trees rustled in a tremor of fear.
Its massive, heavy footfalls thundered forward, and then it swung its dreadful axe, crashing it down with brutal force upon the dusty earth.
The impact of the axe reverberated down to the very marrow of their bones, and dust billowed upwards like a grey mist, shrouding this dreadful battlefield.
Jade and his companions scattered swiftly, evading the wind of the axe's mighty swing, which continued its destructive path, smashing through the wooden walls of the barracks and the rows of wine fermentation barrels.
They moved like dry leaves caught in an autumn storm, their instincts for survival taking hold, seeking any sliver of opportunity to escape the death that stalked them.
Jade lunged to the left with the speed of lightning, his body moving like an arrow loosed from the bow of a master archer.
Luna plunged to the right, accompanied by Robert and Gala, their steps hurried and desperate in their flight from the Reaper's embrace.
Their eyes widened in stark terror, yet behind that fear lay a steely resolve to endure.
The sturdy walls of the temple crumbled asunder, the stones scattering under the force of the Minotaur's mighty axe.
The rumbling sound of the collapsing structure was like the wrathful roar of angered gods, and chalky dust billowed into the air, choking their very breath.
Gala and Robert fell to the ground, for indeed the Father could not stand aright, his body frail and wracked with pain, perhaps several ribs broken from the earlier assault.
Gala's face was ashen, his lips trembled as he saw his father lying helpless and broken. Robert winced in agony, and Gala tried to support his father's fragile form.
With a look of fierce determination upon his face, Jade's eyes burned like embers in the encroaching darkness, and he cried out, "Gala! Take your Father hence, towards the sanctuary of the temple! I shall hold this creature at bay!"
Jade shot forth with muscle force towards the raging Minotaur. Every sinew in his body tensed, ready to bear the weight of this grim struggle.
"I shall return, Jade, once I have delivered my father to a place of safety!" Gala cried out, his voice catching in his throat with worry yet filled with a son's unwavering resolve.
Gala turned back. The large man swiftly lifted his injured Father onto his broad shoulders and ran with all his might towards the temple.
Sweat soaked his back, and his breath came in ragged gasps, yet he did not slacken his pace, his determination burning brighter than any pain.
"Luna! Divert its attention! Do not let it pursue Gala!" Jade shouted in his haste, his voice cutting through the chilling silence of the night.
The tone of his voice was filled with urgent command, yet within it lay a deep concern for the safety of his companions.
Seeing Jade approach with a burning fury in his eyes, the Minotaur swung its axe horizontally once more, the wind of the devastating blow aimed again at Jade, who then leaped high into the air, evading death by a hair's breadth.
Jade's heart hammered against his ribs as he felt the deadly gust of wind pass just beneath his feet.
Luna's arrows flew with relentless speed, like a rain of shafts seeking their mark, striking the Minotaur's back yet glancing off its tough hide again and again without inflicting any wound.
Luna's face was drawn tight, her lips pressed firmly together in utter concentration, each breath she took synchronized with the aim of her arrow.
Fion and Gale whirled about the Minotaur with nimble grace, their movements swift and distracting.
The creature was utterly bewildered, not knowing where to strike, its targets constantly shifting around it.
A low growl rumbled from the throats of the two wolves, their sharp eyes watching every movement of the monstrous beast.
Jade, who had leaped high moments before, landed squarely before the Minotaur, his feet planting firmly on the ground. He stared into the Minotaur's glowing red eyes, his courage unwavering despite the mortal danger that loomed before him.
He swung his fist towards the creature's abdomen, focusing all the power of his All Rage skill in that single moment. The surge of his fist exploded with devastating force.
The veins in his neck and arms stood out taut as he exerted his full energy.
Kaboom! The sound of a violent explosion echoed through the air! The shockwave from the blast slammed into both Jade and the Minotaur with equal force.
"Aaarrghh!" Jade cried out in agony. His fingers were crushed, the bones shattered within his right fist from the devastating impact.
His face contorted in a grimace of pain, enduring the overwhelming agony, cold sweat beading on his temples, and his eyes squeezed shut against the searing pain.
Jade retreated instantly, executing four swift and agile backflips as the Minotaur attempted to cleave him in twain with its massive axe.
His movements were as swift as the wind, yet the pain in his hand felt like burning embers searing his very flesh.
Fion lunged at the Minotaur's face with a low growl, and Gale followed in quick succession, their combined assault preventing the creature from bringing its axe down upon Jade.
Jade stumbled, feeling the excruciating pain in his hand. Fresh blood flowed freely from his crushed fist and his arm, which had been broken by the Minotaur's brutal blow.
His face was ashen, his lips trembled, barely suppressing a groan of agony.
Fion and Gale growled menacingly, the two white wolves showing no fear whatsoever, even though their sharp fangs were unable to pierce the Minotaur's thick hide.
Their eyes blazed with a fierce courage, even as they faced a foe of far greater strength.
"Jade!" Luna called out, her voice filled with worry, her countenance etched with deep fear. Her hands trembled as she gripped her bow.
"Do not come hither, Luna! Call for aid and follow Gala! We possess no means to truly harm this creature with our ordinary weapons!" Her tone was laced with a chilling anxiety.
"But Jade!" Luna's worry for Jade's gravely wounded state was palpable. She shook her head in despair, refusing to abandon her friend to such peril.
"Go quickly!" Jade shot towards the Minotaur, and in that moment, Gale was struck by a glancing blow from the axe and sent hurtling to the side with a heavy thud!
Jade saw with horror as the wolf's body slammed into the ground with brutal force.
Jade rushed to the wolf's side, catching him swiftly before he could strike the barracks wall.
The wolf whimpered in pain within Jade's embrace, his body shaking violently. Jade held Gale's injured form close, feeling the wolf's weakening pulse.
Meanwhile, Luna, who had not yet fled, continued to loose arrow after arrow at the Minotaur while running as fast as her legs could carry her towards Jade and Gale.
Her arrows streaked through the darkness like flashes of light, yet they failed to penetrate the Minotaur's tough hide.
While Fion circled the Minotaur with incredible speed and lunged at it between Luna's arrows, which whistled past and glanced off the creature's hide.
The wolf moved like a phantom, attempting to distract the monstrous beast from its companions.
The Minotaur seemed to have grown weary of Fion's constant harassment, its rage intensifying as it turned its attention towards Luna, who was attempting to reach Jade's side.
Its glowing red eyes fixed upon Luna with pure hatred, and its roar grew even more thunderous, shaking the very ground beneath their feet.
It swung its axe with its full might, but Luna, nimble and quick, evaded the blow, stumbling backwards and narrowly escaping death's embrace.
Cold sweat beaded on her temples, and her heart pounded furiously against her ribs as she felt the deadly gust of wind pass within a hair's breadth of her.
The mighty swing shattered the barracks wall with a deafening crash! Dust and debris flew through the air, creating a grey cloud that enveloped the battlefield.
Fion attacked the Minotaur by leaping onto its back and attempting to bite the creature once more. With its teeth and claws, it sought any weakness in the enemy's thick hide.
However, Fion was easily caught by the Minotaur's powerful grip and thrown several meters, slamming against the rubble of the barracks with a sickening thud.
The wolf did not emerge from the cloud of dust and debris after whimpering in pain, most likely gravely wounded or worse.
"Luna!" Jade stood with great effort, releasing Gale, who stumbled away to hide amongst the ruins.
His face showed deep pain and utter despair. Jade attempted to divert the Minotaur's furious attention, shouting with a hoarse voice.
"Hey! Hey! You foul beast, come hither!" The Minotaur paid no heed to Jade's defiant cries, its eyes still fixated on Luna.
Its burning rage focused solely on one goal: to capture the girl who dared to defy it.
It then seized one of the spears from within the ruined barracks, the wood splintered and broken by the Minotaur's devastating axe blows.
With the last of his strength, Jade hurled the spear with all his might, and it flew swiftly, embedding itself point-first in the dusty ground before the Minotaur's massive feet, a desperate attempt to halt its relentless advance.
The spear only pierced the surface of the earth, offering little resistance.
"Waarrgghh!" The Minotaur roared in fury, unleashing its mighty axe with all its strength! Jade was caught off guard, the distance so short that evasion was impossible, time seeming to slow as the axe hurtled towards him.
The axe cleaved through his left shoulder with a horrifying sound. A piercing pain, like a thousand needles piercing his flesh, shot through Jade's body.
Jade's shoulder was severed! The axe continued its deadly trajectory, smashing through the barracks wall and embedding itself deeply in the wall that bordered the temple at the rear with a loud and resounding crash.
Jade slumped to the ground, supported only by his trembling knees!
An overwhelming weakness washed over him, and darkness began to gnaw at the edges of his consciousness.
"Jade!" Luna screamed, her voice filled with terror, tears streaming down her face as she ran, loosing arrow after arrow at the Minotaur in a desperate attempt to save her friend.
Her sobs wracked her body as she witnessed her companion gravely wounded and helpless.
Jade vomited blood from his mouth, his body wracked by coughs as he struggled for breath, his chest tight with agony. He attempted to draw air into his lungs, but each breath felt heavy and shallow.
"Father… Mother…" Jade grew weaker still, his voice barely audible, a faint whisper against the chaos, "Rina… brother…" Jade collapsed to the ground, his body limp and lifeless.
His eyes slowly closed, his breath growing fainter with each passing moment. The Minotaur approached Jade, who lay fallen and vulnerable, ready to end his life.
Its roar was a terrifying sound of victory.
Luna loosed arrow after arrow with reckless abandon, her quiver now empty, yet not a single shaft had managed to divert the Minotaur's furious attention. Despair was etched clearly upon her tear-streaked face.
She knew this was the end of everything.
"Hey! Hey! You foul beast, come hither!" Luna cried out, her voice filled with a desperate resignation, tears streaming down her cheeks.
She looked at the monstrous creature with a gaze filled with both fear and the last vestiges of her courage. This was her final stand.
She seized the loose stones scattered upon the ground and hurled them at the Minotaur with all her remaining strength in a futile attempt to gain its attention. The stones merely bounced harmlessly off its thick hide, yet Luna did not yield.
With the last of her resolve, Luna drew her dagger and charged towards the monstrous creature with what little courage remained within her. Though her body trembled with fear, she advanced with a burning determination to protect her fallen friend.
Luna leaped onto the Minotaur's back and attempted to plunge her dagger into the creature's eye, hoping to blind it in a final, desperate act.
The creature did not remain idle, its rage intensifying. It growled furiously, sensing Luna's presence upon its back and attempting to dislodge her.
It seized Luna's leg in its powerful grip and hurled her away, sending her crashing to the ground, where she skidded and tumbled across the rough earth, scattering dust and pebbles into the air!
Luna cried out in pain as her body slammed against the unforgiving ground. She groaned in agony, her body feeling broken and bruised. Her vision blurred, and her breath came in ragged gasps.
Suddenly, a brilliant flash of deep red light streaked down from the heavens! The dark night was illuminated by the blinding radiance, like a bolt of lightning cleaving through the darkness.
A spear of pure light hurtled down, impaling the Minotaur through its back, piercing its body and embedding itself deeply into the earth with a resounding crash!
The Minotaur's roar of agony echoed through the heavens, followed by the deep rumble of the earth as it trembled beneath the impact.
A Garuda appeared in the sky, a majestic silhouette a hundred meters tall, dominating the night. The moonlight reflected off its feathers, shimmering like pure gold.
Two mysterious figures leaped from atop the Mystical Beast with incredible speed, descending like shooting stars carrying a glimmer of hope.
One of them, moving with blinding speed, shot down like a falling star and crashed into the ground with tremendous force, causing the earth to crack and dust to erupt into the air like a geyser!
The impact of their landing shook the very earth, and a small crater formed at the point of impact.
It was General Lance who landed with unwavering resolve and immediately leaped back into the air with swift and agile movements.
His face was cold and filled with grim determination, his eyes radiating unwavering conviction.
He plunged his spear, still embedded in the Minotaur's back, further into the earth with a powerful kick to its end.
The Minotaur roared louder, attempting to free itself from the spear of light that burned it with unbearable pain.
The Minotaur groaned in agony and tried to wrench free the spear of light that pierced its body. However, its strength began to wane, and its body trembled violently.
Yet, with incredible speed, the second figure who had leaped after General Lance landed gracefully at the precise moment the Minotaur's head was severed from its body!
An unseen blade, as swift as lightning, ended the creature's reign of terror. It cleaved through the Minotaur with a bare hand, a devastating blow that ended the monstrous creature's life instantly!
The Minotaur's severed head crashed to the ground with a heavy thud. It was Ave who immediately hurtled towards Jade's fallen and helpless form.
Ave's face was etched with deep worry, her eyes frantically searching for any sign of life within Jade's bloodied body.
Blood splattered and rained down, soaking the dust that swirled in the air, staining the earth a gruesome crimson.
The stench of blood filled the air, mingling with the smell of dust and the lingering scent of destruction.
General Lance wrenched his spear of light from the Minotaur's lifeless body. He immediately sprinted towards the direction of the city with incredible speed and vanished behind the towering walls after a mighty leap.
He departed as swiftly as he had arrived, leaving Ave alone with the fallen forms of Jade and Luna to hasten towards the heart of Alden, which was under attack.
"Jade, Jade, Jade, awaken…" Ave cradled Jade's bloodied form in her arms, tears streaming down her beautiful face.
Her voice was filled with a heart-wrenching sorrow and a fragile glimmer of hope. She shook Jade's body gently yet urgently.
"Jade! Awaken!" Ave looked utterly distraught, her countenance reflecting a profound grief. She pressed her ear against Jade's chest, desperately trying to discern the faintest beat of his heart.
With a sharp edge of her nail, she sliced open her own hand, allowing her precious blood to drip into Jade's pale and lifeless mouth.
"Jade, awaken!" Ave cried out in utter despair, her tears falling upon Jade's ashen face.
Luna ran as fast as her legs could carry her towards Jade, her heart shattering at the sight of her fallen friend's condition.
However, she stopped abruptly, her foot landing upon a severed shoulder alongside Jade's left hand, both severed by the Minotaur's dreadful axe.
She gasped and cried out softly, fresh tears welling in her eyes.
Luna wept uncontrollably, tears streaming down her cheeks like a torrential downpour. She sank to her trembling knees, lifting Jade's severed shoulder with gentle care.
She clutched the fragment of her friend's body tightly, her heart utterly broken.
"Hey, child! Bring that hand hither!" Ave called out, her gaze sharp as she looked at Luna.
Her voice held a mixture of command and deep concern. She saw Luna's devastated state with a pang of frustration.
But Luna merely looked up at Ave through her tears, her sobs wracking her body, her heart too wounded to respond. She continued to clutch Jade's shoulder, her tears soaking the fabric, and her body trembled violently.
"Quickly!" Ave shouted with an urgent tone!
Her face twisted in anguish, her jaw lengthening and her eyes glowing red, reminiscent of the moment she had bitten Jade before.
Fear and anger mingled in her expression, and she appeared to be on the verge of losing control.
Luna recoiled in shock! She stood up abruptly and adopted a fighting stance, her small dagger held firmly in her trembling hand, ready to face any threat.
Fear and confusion were clearly etched upon her face as she beheld the terrifying transformation that seemed to be taking hold of Ave.
"Who are you!" Luna had barely uttered the words, her voice trembling, when Ave kicked her in the stomach with tremendous force and snatched Jade's severed hand.
The force of the blow sent Luna hurtling backwards some twenty meters, and she instantly lost consciousness, her body collapsing limply to the ground.
Dust billowed around her unconscious form, and a chilling silence once more descended upon the battlefield.
As Ave turned to return to Jade, the young man suddenly stood before her! A drastic change had come over Jade, something terrifying and unforeseen.
His skin had turned deathly pale, like that of a corpse, his eyes were pitch black, devoid of any light, and his hair was no longer short and black as before. Instead, it had transformed to match Ave's exactly, a flowing white-gold that shimmered under the pale moonlight.
His new appearance radiated an eerie and frightening power. A cold and menacing aura surrounded him, causing Ave to recoil in stunned disbelief.
The crushed fist on his right hand crackled as it healed rapidly, the bones knitting back together with a sickening grinding sound.
"Hssshh…"Jade hissed softly, his voice low and menacing, a sound that sent shivers down Ave's spine.
A clear note of warning resonated in his hiss, and his pitch-black eyes stared at Ave with chilling coldness.
"Jade!" Ave approached her soulmate cautiously, her countenance showing a mixture of shock and apprehension.
However, with incredible speed, Jade lunged towards her!