Zed raised his arm high, deep within the belly of the beast. A searing light pulsed from his hunter's mark as it began to glow intensely. In an instant, a massive sword materialized in his grasp. With a roar and a thrust, he drove it forward, piercing through the thick flesh of the creature. A hole tore open in the beast's body with a sickening sound.
"Come on let's go!" Zed shouted.
Felt stood still for a moment, then smirked. "You really are full of tricks, huh?" he said, grabbing Zed by the waist.
Far behind, Banid strained to hold the massive worm in place, his muscles trembling. He glanced over his shoulder just in time to see the gaping hole open up along the worm's back.
"Well, that's something," he muttered.
With a crackle of electricity, Zed and Felt shot out through the opening, Felt's lightning jump launching them skyward. They landed roughly on the surface. Behind them, the hole in the worm's body began to mend, sealing shut as the creature rapidly regenerated.
"Phew…" Felt exhaled, catching his breath.
Suddenly, the worm began to thrash more violently, the ground rumbling beneath them.
"Right. Floris…" Felt murmured, already tensing.
"Wait…" Zed looked around, his expression shifting to panic. "My sword it's not here!"
"Oh, that's right," Felt said casually, then added with a more serious tone, "But the main agenda is rescuing Floris."
"Ahhh!" Banid roared from afar, still wrestling with the monstrous worm. "Monster and Zed something's happening on the eastern side! And I don't think it's your friend who needs saving now!"
Zed's eyes narrowed. "East?" he echoed, then turned without hesitation. He leapt from the worm's side, landing with a thud below. "Then I'm going there. Felt you help him hold the worm!"
Without waiting for a reply, Zed took off, sprinting eastward.
The scene cut to a ruined city, crumbling and chaotic. Screams echoed through the smoke-filled air as people ran in every direction. Bodies littered the streets, and the sharp clink of metal rang out.
A barrage of chains shot toward Floris. With precise timing, she flipped backward, dodging the deadly assault.
"Hm," she muttered, analyzing the attack.
The chains didn't stop. Instead, they coiled around the fists of a figure Kochi like armored knuckles. With a sharp intake of breath, Kochi lunged forward, her fists aiming straight for Floris's face.
Floris raised her hand, manifesting a shimmering block of energy that absorbed the blow.
"Nice punch," she said calmly. "Let me repay the favor."
Dark energy surged around her arm. With a sudden strike, she punched Kochi square in the chest, sending her flying backwards.
But in mid-air, Kochi retaliated. With a flick of her fingers, a chain lashed out and wrapped around Floris's leg, anchoring her in place.
"You haven't even seen my mark's ability yet," Kochi said with a wicked grin.