Chapter 37: Beast Attack?
[Ding!]
[Warning: Avalion Class entity detected.]
[Objective: Protect the Fortress.]
[Survival probability: 49%]
Lucas glanced at the window as they rushed out.
"An Avallion. Here?" Mark said, disbelief in his voice. "Nahh that can’t be possible."
"Well, believe it or not, they’re here." Eleanor burst through the doors and by the time she went outside, she stopped.
When Lucas and Mark caught up they were met with a surprising sight...
An Avallion. Two of them soaring through the air like hungry vultures.
Lucas stared at the notification again.
[Objective: Protect the Fortress.]
[Survival probability: 49%]
He stared at the survival probability for a short moment and his eyebrows knitted.
To be honest, he had expected it to be slightly higher than 49% considering how many of these beats he had faced.
’Something’s not right here...’
Either his system was glitching again, or they we’re genuinely cooked.
Eleanor took a stance and summoned a blade made of pure flame...
The creatures descended without warning....
A piercing shriek tore across the field as the two beast burst through the air, their massive silhouettes swallowing the afternoon sun and casting an ominous shadow.
It was when the creatures were close enough did Lucas notice something that shocked him..
These beasts were different from the Avallion Class Entities they had faced.
Their wings stretched nearly wider, way wider than any Avallion had, covered in dark scales , each flap blowing heavy gusts of wind...
Chaos erupted instantly.
"Shit!"
"Move!"
[Skill: Igniting has been activated.]
[Ignition] flared to life as Lucas braced himself for the impact, slamming his fist into the leg of the creature that turned for him. The force blowing him back.
The second beast swept past low enough to tear the roof from a dorm before circling back towards the survivors.
They screamed and scattered. The Avallion picking off the people too slow to escape.
One fellow was unlucky enough to be caught by the creature’s talons— impaling him through the back.
The beast flung the barely lifeless body before catching him with its mouth in between it’s teeth.
**CRUNCH**
Just like that, the young man was dead.
The second climbed into the sky before folding its wings and plunging like a spear toward a cluster of fleeing survivors.
Lucas clicked his tongue.
"Fucking hell."
Heat rippled outward as fire wrapped around his fists as he dashed forward.
Without slowing down, he slammed one blazing fist into the ground.
**WHAM**
"... The fuck?"
He was sure he hit with enough power. But the beast didn’t even flinch.
"How—?"
"Kyaaa!!!"
The beast shrieked furiously and twisted, flinging Lucas away.
He tumbled for a few meters before skidding to a stop.
"What’s happening?"
[Ding!]
[Due to absence from the effects of The Edge, all Players’ abilities have faced a debuff penalty.]
His eyes widened at the notification and fear crept into his heart...
As long as they were away from The Edge, facing beasts would be considerably harder.
"Shit!" Grim understanding hit him.
"So that’s why the survival probability was so low."
Eleanor dropped beside him not long after, her flaming sword looking a lot dimmer than he remembered.
"Did you see?" he asked.
She gritted her teeth. "Yeah. We’re in trouble."
Without wasting a second, she rushed back at the other beast as she brandished her weapon.
The beast in front Lucas shrieked.
"Over here!" Lucas shouted.
The monster’s crimson eyes snapped toward him.
"Yeah," Lucas muttered with a grin. "That’s better."
It folded its wings and shot toward him.
It was fast...
Too fast...
Far faster than it had any right to be.
Lucas barely crossed his arms before the creature crashed into him, the impact launched him across the field.
He rolled across the ground before digging his burning fingers into the floor, stopping himself just before smashing into a wall.
"...Okay." Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. "That hurt."
"KRAHHH!!!"
Lucas looked up. It was already circling back toward the civilians.
"Damn it!"
He forced himself up and dashed towards the beast.
***
Eleanor stood alone, her sword burning with bright flames as she faced the monstrosity in front of her.
She watched the second beast circle overhead and narrowed her eyes.
Unlike Lucas’ opponent, this one wasn’t rushing.
It was observing.
It was waiting....
It was smart....
Too smart.
The monster tilted its head then dove directly towards her.
Eleanor’s instincts screamed as she spun.
**TRGGH**
Her sword crashed against sharp talons. The impact blasted sparks of fire in every direction.
The force pushed her backward several meters, boots carving trenches through the ground.
The beast twisted mid air and swung it’s arms at her
She side stepped..
The hand slammed into the floor, raising dirt and chunks of stone.
Eleanor inhaled slowly. "You’re too fast for your own good."
The creature lunged again and this time she stepped forward instead of back.
Her flaming blade traced a bright arc through the air, slicing across the monster’s shoulder.
Blood splattered everywhere and the beast shrieked.
Instead of retreating, it attacked again.
Eleanor narrowed her eys and dashed forward.
The sword blurred.
One strike...Two. Three.
Each slash left burning trails across the monster’s body.
It blocked with claws and dodged with impossible agility.
Soon, Eleanor was loosing ground.
"Ugh!" An arm swiped at her side sending her flying. She felt the pain way more than she thought she would.
The beast landed in front of her and shrieked.
"Fuck."
***
Lucas sprinted across the field. But the beast kept refusing to engage.
Every time he got close, it climbed higher.
Every time civilians gathered, it dove.
"Fucking coward!"
As if offended by the insult, the beast snapped it’s head towards him, then folded its wings.
Lucas recognized the motion instantly.
His eyes widened. "It’s diving again."
A boy stood frozen right below the creature. He was too terrified to move.
A woman who had scrambled away turned.
"Run!" she screamed.
The boy couldn’t move.
Fear had rooted him in place. Moments later the beast descended, inching close to the boy...
Closer....
Closer...
Lucas wasn’t going to make it.
"No!"
Or so he thought.
[Ding!]
[Your skill Ignition has evolved.]
Fire erupted beneath his feet and before he understood what was happening, he was soaring through the air.
The explosion launched him through the air like a cannonball wrapped in fire.
"Whoa!"
The beast reached the boy first and Lucas reached the beast.
His flaming fist collided with its jaw, the force strong enough to make the beast veer off course.
The creature’s head snapped sideways.
Its entire body spun before crashing and tumbling across the street.
Lucas landed between the boy and stumbled before steadying himself.
"You okay?"
The boy stared with wide eyes. "...Y-Yeah."
Lucas smiled. "Good."
He turned back to the beast and without looking back, he said:
"Get as far away from this place as possible."
The boy nodded repeatedly and ran.
The beast emerged completely unharmed and soared upwards.
"...Seriously?"
Lucas sighed. "This is so unfair..."
His feet ignited in a stream of fire and he looked at them with mixed feelings.
"I’m fucked..."
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