The world around them was silent
The kind of silence that only comes before disaster.
The air was thick and metallic, the faint scent of blood clinging to every breath.
Broken buildings cast long shadows over the cracked pavement, and somewhere in the distance, the sound of dripping water echoed like a heartbeat.
Bronya's steps slowed. Her silver hair caught the dull red light bleeding from the clouds.
"Wait," she murmured. "Something… is here."
Kuhaku felt it too — a pressure, heavy and suffocating, crawling down his spine. His hand instinctively went to his weapon.
"Left," he muttered.
The next instant, the world erupted.
A massive shadow lunged from the rubble, a blur of black and red. The air cracked as the monster's fangs sank into the earth where Kuhaku had stood seconds ago, crushing stone like paper.
Kuhaku threw himself backward, barely dodging the strike.
"Move!" he shouted, grabbing Kiana by the arm and pulling her aside as the ground split open.
The creature raised its head — and they finally saw it.
A serpent, larger than any creature they'd ever seen.
Its scales were jet-black, traced with pulsing crimson veins that glowed like molten lava under its skin.
Its eyes, red and alive, fixed on them with a chilling intelligence.
The ground trembled as it uncoiled its massive body, the tail smashing through a nearby car with an echoing clang.
"Y-you've got to be kidding me…" Kiana whispered, tightening her grip on her weapon.
"It's huge," Mei said, her voice trembling despite her calm tone.
Kuhaku swallowed hard. His palms were slick with sweat. "We've fought worse-looking things… right?"
"Statistically false," Bronya said flatly, summoning her energy field.
"…Not helping."
The serpent hissed, its breath a wave of burning air. The red veins along its body pulsed faster, and the ground beneath it cracked.
Then it struck.
⸻
"Scatter!" Kuhaku shouted.
The serpent's tail slammed down, sending a shockwave that threw debris into the air. Kiana rolled aside, Mei darted behind cover, and Bronya's barrier flared to life just as rubble exploded against it.
Bronya thrust her palm forward. "Flare!"
A blinding flash of light burst from her hand, flooding the area in white. The serpent hissed and recoiled, scales sizzling where the light touched.
"Now!" Kuhaku charged, sprinting low. His blade cut through the air, striking the serpent's side —
clang!
The impact barely left a scratch.
"What the—!?" Kiana swung her rod next, sparks flying off the serpent's armor-like hide.
"It's not working!" Mei yelled.
The serpent retaliated, tail sweeping in a blur. Kuhaku's eyes widened —
He barely managed to block before being sent flying, crashing into a shallow pond that had once been part of a park.
The water swallowed him in cold shock. His lungs screamed for air as he forced himself up, coughing.
"Still… alive," he groaned.
The serpent reared its head again, eyes locking onto Bronya.
She reacted instantly, raising a force field — just as a beam of red energy fired from its mouth. The impact shattered her shield, the recoil flinging her backward through the air.
Kuhaku sprinted, catching her before she hit the ground.
"You okay!?"
"Systems… stable," she muttered, dizzy. "That beam… analyzed my barrier."
"It's learning?" Mei gasped.
Kiana spat out a curse. "Great. A smart monster. Just what we needed."
⸻
"We can't win like this," Kuhaku said through gritted teeth. "We need a plan."
Bronya adjusted her stance. "Lure it. Abandoned construction site. North."
They ran, leading the serpent through the wrecked streets.
It followed, massive body crushing everything in its path.
Concrete fell like rain as it smashed through buildings, the sound of destruction echoing through the air.
When they reached the site, Kuhaku pointed toward the half-standing structure.
"If we can get it stuck between the pillars, we can—"
The serpent suddenly spun in place, its massive body twisting faster than anything that size should move.
A howling wind erupted around it — a swirling tornado of debris that hurled them off their feet.
Kuhaku hit the ground hard, ears ringing.
"Damn it… it's getting smarter!"
⸻
Bronya's eyes glowed blue. "Freezing field… deploy!"
Frost spread outward from her hands, covering the ground, creeping up the serpent's body.
It hissed, slowing as the ice locked its coils in place.
Kiana seized the chance, grabbing a fallen metal pillar. "Let's see you eat this!"
With a shout, she hurled it like a spear. The impact struck true — denting the serpent's scales.
Mei dashed in next, blade flashing as she sliced into the gaps between its armor plates. Sparks and dark fluid sprayed out.
For a moment, it worked.
Then the serpent's body surged with power, breaking the ice, tail lashing out.
"Kiana—!"
The blow sent her flying into a crumbling wall.
"Mei!"
The next strike smashed her into a half-collapsed building that groaned and fell around her.
"Mei! Kiana!" Kuhaku's voice broke, panic rising.
The serpent turned to Bronya, energy charging in its mouth again.
⸻
Bronya braced, gathering mana into a shimmering orb. "I won't let you—"
"BRONYA!" Kuhaku sprinted forward, climbing a broken structure. His legs screamed, but he didn't stop.
He looked down — Kiana had already gotten up, glaring at the serpent.
"Kiana!" he shouted. "Ready!?"
Her grin was sharp. "Always!"
Kuhaku leapt from the wall, grabbing her arm mid-air, and spun her with all his strength.
"Go!"
She soared like a bullet, wind howling around her.
"Take this, you overgrown belt!" she screamed, swinging her weapon down.
The metal rod slammed into the serpent's skull, cracking it open with a thunderous impact.
The shockwave rippled outward, shattering nearby windows.
"Now, Bronya!" Kuhaku yelled.
Bronya's hands glowed with blinding light — she combined everything she had.
[Skill Fusion: Arc Burst – Prototype]
Flames, frost, and pure mana twisted together, forming a sphere of unstable energy that pulsed violently before firing.
The beam tore through the serpent's head, bursting out the back in an explosion of blue and red light.
The monster convulsed once — then collapsed, crashing into the ground with a quake that shook the earth.
[Boss-Class Enemy Defeated]
[EXP +2500]
[Level Up → Lv 18]
Kiana fell to her knees, panting. "We… we did it?"
Mei emerged from the rubble, coughing but smiling. "Looks like it."
Bronya dropped to the ground, sweat dripping from her chin. "Energy… almost zero."
Kuhaku helped her up, his voice soft but firm. "Nice work. All of you."
He managed a tired grin. "Told you we could win."
For a second — just a second — there was peace.
⸻
Then the world trembled.
The egg pulsed.
A single heartbeat echoed through the air — and the sky split open.
Bolts of crimson lightning rained down, each strike a thunderclap that shattered the clouds.
The serpent's corpse twitched.
"No…" Mei whispered. "No, it can't—"
Kuhaku felt the energy before he saw it — a torrent of red and black surging through the air.
"It's recharging it!"
The lightning struck the serpent's body, searing through the open wound.
Bronya raised her hands, forcing mana into a shield. "Barrier—expand!"
A massive dome of blue light formed around them just as the explosion hit.
The air turned to fire. The ground cracked apart beneath their feet.
Kiana screamed over the wind. "It's too strong!"
"Hold on!" Kuhaku shouted. "Don't let go!"
The storm raged for what felt like eternity — red lightning clawing at the earth, tearing through steel and stone.
Then silence.
Dust and smoke blanketed the area.
Kuhaku coughed, his vision blurred — then froze.
The serpent was standing again.
Its once-black scales now glowed crimson, molten light seeping through the cracks.
The veins along its body pulsed like living magma.
Its eyes burned brighter than before, and its roar —
— shook the city itself.
"Is that… the same thing?" Kiana whispered.
Mei took a trembling step back. "No. It's worse."
Kuhaku raised his weapon, heart pounding.
"Round two," he said quietly.
Lightning flashed behind him.
The serpent reared its head — and screamed.
⸻
End of Chapter 1 – Part 15