"Sallie! Enhancement!" Kevin barked.
Immediately, Sallie's hands glowed with a faint green light. A soft, emerald glow spread outward, wrapping Kevin and Black Rabbit in a shimmering aura. He could feel his muscles tighten, his senses sharpen, and a surge of energy pulse through him. Black Rabbit's humanoid form rippled with dark mist, claws lengthening slightly as its eyes glinted red.
Then Kelya appeared. In an instant, the massive Storm Tiger materialized before them, sparks flying off her fur, her three armored tails thrashing with deadly precision. She swiped her right paw in a blinding arc, claws gleaming like sharpened steel. The strike was swift, merciless, designed to cleave both Kevin and Black Rabbit in a single motion.
Instinctively, Black Rabbit lunged forward, raising its clawed arm to block. The impact sent shockwaves through the temple, shaking the stone floor. Black Rabbit's body slammed backward, skidding ten meters across the cracked stone, leaving a trail of black mist in its wake. Kevin, who was behind him, was dragged along the floor, tumbling before scrambling to his feet.
Kevin's eyes widened. So this is a Defiled beast… Even with the enhancements, Kelya's raw strength far surpassed anything he'd faced before.
"Distract her!" Kevin barked.
Black Rabbit's red eyes flicked to him and nodded, vanishing into the shadows for a moment before darting forward in a blur. Kelya roared, charging, her massive body creating gusts that whipped at Kevin's hair.
Sallie raised her hands again, roots bursting from the temple floor. Thick vines wrapped around Kelya's legs and torso, attempting to restrain the beast.
Black Rabbit and Kevin seized the moment, moving for a pincer attack. Kevin sprinted forward, dagger in hand, aiming for a flank exposed by the roots. Black Rabbit leaped from the shadows, claws raised, ready to strike.
But Kelya's tails were relentless. Two tails slammed down, blocking both attackers, while the third lunged at Black Rabbit.
But Black Rabbit used Kelya's tail as leverage.
He spun midair, planted his foot on the armored appendage, and kicked off like a springboard. Black Rabbit then flew thirty meters until his feet slammed against the stone wall and bounced back with increased force, sending the humanoid form flying back toward Kelya. It raised both hands overhead, condensing energy into a bullet-like projectile, hurling it with deadly speed. The impact carved a jagged hole in the temple wall.
Kevin barely had time to react when another tail whipped around, striking him mid-motion and sending him skidding backward across the floor. He rolled to his feet, breath ragged, gripping his dagger tightly, eyes narrowing at the colossal form of the Storm Tiger.
Sallie fired a green essence projectile simultaneously, aiming for Kelya's exposed flank.
RRROOOAAARR!!!!!
Kelya roared, sparks erupted around her, decimating the essence projectile. The roots caught on fire as the electrical charge ran violently across her body.
Kevin cursed under his breath. Even their combined assault wasn't enough to harm her.
Kelya's gaze settled on Black Rabbit, her tail spear straightening as an electric current arced from her body, forcing Kevin back and disintegrating another Sallie's projectile midair. The force of the tail strike and Black Rabbit's projectile collided with a deafening crash. Kelya staggered a step back while Black Rabbit slammed into a wall, leaving a deep crater in its wake. Kevin staggered to his feet again, coughing from the dust and the shockwave.
We can't keep this up, he thought grimly. At this rate, we'll all die.
He looked at Celize, standing frozen near the entrance, Sallie guarding her.
He made a decision.
Kevin turned sharply.
"Sallie, get Celize out of the temple. Now."
Celize's head snapped up. "Kevin—wait! I can help—"
"No." His voice was final. "We just need time. Go."
Sallie grabbed Celize's arm and began to pull. Celize resisted, tears forming instantly.
"K-Kevin, stop—DON'T! You'll die! A defiled beast—"
"I'll stall her."
"K-Kevin, please—!"
Sallie lifted Celize by the waist and began dragging her out by force.
Celize screamed, "KEVIN!"
Her voice cracked, raw and terrified.
He didn't look back.
He couldn't.
Kelya watched the scene, amusement flickering in her tiger eyes.
"How touching," she purred. "You trade your life so your little beloved can run away. How charming."
Kevin's jaw clenched.
"Stop talking and fight."
"Oh? Impatient to die, boy?" Her three tails lifted behind her, sparking violently. "Let me reunite the two of you… in death."
She pounced.
Her gigantic paw swept down like a falling boulder. Kevin rolled aside. Stone shattered beneath the weight of her strike. Black Rabbit emerged beside her and slashed at her flank, but the sparks around Kelya's body paralyzed his attack—the lightning on her fur burned deep into his arms.
Kevin threw himself forward, dagger aimed for her eye.
She jerked her head, and the blade scraped along her cheek, leaving a shallow cut—the first wound.
Kelya hissed in annoyance, lightning flaring. Her tail struck Kevin from above.
Kevin rolled forward, dagger in hand, narrowly avoiding Kelya's tail snapping just above his head.
Black Rabbit darted in from the side, slashing at her hind leg, forcing her to pivot mid-lunge.
Kevin sprang onto the broken wall, using it as a springboard to thrust at her flank, but Kelya twisted with terrifying speed. One tail whipped around, knocking him off balance, sending him skidding across the temple floor. He struggled to rise, dagger clutched tightly, as Kelya's eyes locked onto him.
Black Rabbit leapt onto her back. Kelya spun, slamming him into the floor so hard that cracks spread like spiderwebs.
Kevin sprinted to help—but her tail struck.
The armored tip pierced straight through his chest and pinned him to a nearby column.
Air exploded out of his lungs.
His dagger slipped from his fingers, clattering on the ground.
Pain shot through him in waves. The world blurred. His heartbeat became a dull thud in his ears.
Kelya leaned close, her hot breath crackling with static.
"Humans break so easily."
Kevin's vision dimmed around the edges.
He tasted iron.
He tried to move—but strength was leaving him. His limbs grew heavy. Even his rage—drowned under choking pain.
Kelya pressed harder, pushing him deeper against the stone.
"Don't worry… Celize will join you soon."
He tried to speak but coughed blood instead.
Kelya smiled.
Her tail tightened.
And Kevin felt the darkness swallow him whole.