I stare at the monstrous beast closing in. Every second stretches endlessly, time moving like molasses. My heart pounds—each beat a brutal drum. "Why won''t you move?!" My body betrays me, frozen in place, fear tightening its grip. "I can''t die like this!" Panic claws at me, but I wrench my gaze from the creature''s feral eyes, forcing my thoughts to Kristine''s smile. That fleeting memory sparks something within me—something fierce. I''m not done yet. Not like this.


    My limbs spring to life with a groan of protest. Every muscle feels like it’s on fire, but they obey. A surge of purpose floods me—not just for myself, but for Kristine, for the people I care about.


    CRASH!


    The ground quakes as the monster''s massive fist collides with the pillar behind me. I throw myself aside, heart hammering. Dust chokes the air, mingling with the sharp scent of sweat and panic. "Way too close," I mutter under my breath.


    I glance back, dread creeping up my spine. The beast looms, blocking out the light, its thunderous steps making the very earth tremble. It’s fast. Too fast. My body aches from the near miss. There’s no more room for escape, but I refuse to be caught—not like this, not now.


    I scan the wreckage around me—crumbling columns, shattered stone, jagged debris. I can’t outrun it, but maybe I can outsmart it. Something clicks in my mind.


    I smirk, the adrenaline pulling at my lips. "Guess running’s not gonna cut it."


    I dive sideways again, narrowly dodging another crushing blow. The beast roars with unhinged fury, its gaze blazing with rage. “Missed, idiot!" The taunt bursts out before I can stop it. The monster growls low, angrier now, and charges at me again—blind, brutal, relentless.


    "Come on, big guy! Is that all you''ve got?" I run towards another pillar, breath coming in ragged gasps. Fear gnaws at me, but I push it down, refusing to let it show. But as I glance back, my confidence wavers. The beast is faster than it should be. “Shit, how is it keeping up?"


    CRASH! THUD!


    The sound is deafening as the creature smashes into the pillar, shaking the ground beneath my feet. I barely sidestep in time, hearing the loud crack of wood splintering behind me. “Need a hand with that?” The sharp mockery stings the air. I dart behind the next pillar, my breath ragged. It’s too close now—its shadow stretching long across the ruins.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    “I’ve got you figured out, you brute," I mutter, but there''s doubt creeping into my voice. I can feel its rage pulling at the very air around us. And then it happens. The creature’s eyes narrow, a dangerous glint flickering in them. Without warning, it seizes a boulder—its massive fingers crushing it as though it’s paper.


    "What the hell?" I freeze, stomach dropping. This is different. The monster’s adapting.


    WHOOSH!


    A gale rips through the air. Rocks shoot toward me, tearing the space between us. The whistle of deadly stone is all I hear before I dive, arms raising in an instinctual guard. The ground explodes as rocks crash into the walls, followed by a cascade of dust. My side bursts with searing pain as a jagged stone strikes, but I bite down on the scream, forcing myself upright. I can’t stop. Not yet.


    Behind the column, blood slicking my cheek, I hear a sound that freezes me. The unmistakable roar of the creature uprooting something. I peek around, dread pooling in my stomach—it’s pulled a tree from the ground.


    The earth shudders as the monster turns, hoisting the tree with terrifying ease. "No way..." My heart sinks, vision tunneling.


    With a bellow, it hurls the tree through the air like a child’s toy.


    “DAMN IT!”


    I throw myself to the side. The tree hits with the force of a freight train, shattering the pillar like brittle wood. A shockwave shudders through the ground, and debris rains down around me. I scramble, bruised and aching, but the way ahead is narrowing, the collapse closing in.


    The creature jumps—its massive shadow blotting out everything in its wake. Its fist slams down.


    I feel the blast of air just before impact. My spine shudders in terror, but by sheer instinct, I roll just out of reach. The fist lands with a deafening crack, sending a tremor of pain ripping through me. Blood bursts from my mouth. My vision flashes to white.


    "Shit... this is it.” The words tumble from me, a breathless, broken admission.


    The monster’s fist curls around me with brutal precision. It lifts me effortlessly, like a rag doll.


    With a sickening snarl, it throws me into another pillar. My body smashes into it, the impact like a thousand sharp blades raking across my skin. My ribs scream in protest.


    It lumbers toward me, slow, deliberate—each step making the very ground moan under its weight. The air presses tight around my chest as the creature raises its massive fist.


    This is it. I won’t make it. Not like this.


    But I can’t stop now. Not when I can barely breathe. I twist desperately, throwing myself away from the column—just as the punch lands where I was. The column behind me splinters in two, sending rubble crashing down as the structure groans.


    My mind whirls. There’s no more cover. No more room. I make a split-second decision, diving behind a broken chunk of debris—my heart thundering in my chest as the building above groans dangerously.


    Come on, come on...


    I grit my teeth, pushing past the pain, refusing to stop. Then the sound of the final crash tears through the air, deafening.


    The pillar collapses.


    And the monster with it.


    Dust clouds the air, thick and choking. I can barely breathe, but I can’t afford to stop. My body screams, but I won’t give in. My vision starts to fade, the weight of the collapsing ruins pressing on me.


    "Dammit, Rei... keep your eyes open," I whisper, forcing my eyelids to stay open, even as everything around me threatens to go dark. The world fades, but something keeps me fighting.


    Not yet. Not yet.


    [End of Chapter]