The horde''s roar had faded into an eerie silence, leaving only the soft wind and the lingering scent of burnt earth. The last of the creatures crumbled to ash, vanishing as if they had never existed. The strange quiet was more unsettling than the battle itself.


    Daisy let out a shaky breath, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Her voice, faint but filled with disbelief, broke the silence. "Did it feel like we fought for a century packed into five minutes, or was that just me?"


    Oliver, still clutching his rifle, nodded without speaking, his sharp eyes scanning the street, ever vigilant. "It’s not over. We need to check inside."


    I slid my sword into its sheath, the weight of the moment sinking into my bones. Every muscle screamed with exhaustion, but there was no time for weakness. Civilians were still out there. I couldn’t afford to falter—not yet.


    Daisy knocked on the community hall’s door, her hands trembling as she did so. "It’s safe now," she called out, her voice strangely calm despite the tension in her body.


    The door creaked open, revealing a man gripped by fear. He held a crowbar as though it could protect him from the horrors outside.


    "Are they gone?" His voice cracked with anxiety.


    "They’re gone," I replied, stepping forward, my gaze meeting his. "You''re safe now."


    He hesitated, as if weighing my words, then finally gave in, relief flooding his face. "Thank you," he murmured, his voice thick with gratitude. A few evacuees trickled out behind him, looking warily at the darkened streets, their fear palpable.


    Daisy managed a weak smile. "That''s what we’re here for."


    As the civilians gathered their things, some still visibly shaking, I lingered at the edge of the street, my eyes scanning the area. My heart raced, memories of Tessa and Zane, trapped in the chaos, clawing at the edges of my thoughts.


    "We should regroup," Oliver said, his voice firm and low. "The Eye Beast is still out there."


    I grabbed the comm, fingers numb from the cold, my breath shallow. "Tessa, Zane, do you copy?" I pressed the button, frustration creeping into my chest when all I heard was static. "Come on… Come on…" I tried again, my impatience growing. Still, nothing.


    Daisy frowned beside me, her brow furrowed. "Maybe it’s a dead zone?"


    "Or worse," I muttered, my thoughts spiraling into darker possibilities.


    Oliver’s gaze turned grim, but he said nothing. He nodded once. "Let’s head to their last known location."


    Before we could move, the ground trembled, a deep, foreboding rumble that sent a chill through my spine. The evacuees froze, eyes darting to the shadows at the street''s edge. The evening light barely pierced the deepening gloom. Daisy''s pendant, small but bright, flickered in the growing darkness, catching my attention.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Is that…?" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the rising tension.


    Another rumble, this one louder and closer. Panic began to spread, whispers turning into frantic murmurs among the evacuees. A scream echoed from somewhere distant.


    “Stay calm!” I barked, my voice cutting through the rising panic. "We’ll handle this."


    Footsteps, deliberate and heavy, echoed from the shadows. Then, through the mist, a figure emerged. Black armor, sleek and menacing, moved with eerie precision.


    “What is that?” Daisy whispered, her hand instinctively reaching for her weapon, fingers trembling.


    "I don’t know," Oliver said, his voice grim as he raised his rifle, but he didn’t fire. "But…"


    Before he could finish, the armored figure raised its arm. A pulse of energy shot out, slamming into the ground with the force of a small explosion. The shockwave sent me sprawling, my chest tightening as the world spun around me.


    "Scatter!" I shouted, pushing myself to my feet, heart racing. The evacuees, now in a full-blown panic, fled toward the safety of the hall. Their footsteps were frantic, erratic.


    The figure advanced with a predator''s grace, its movements unnervingly smooth. Oliver fired. The bullet struck the armor with a dull thud and bounced off, as though it had hit solid stone.


    “We can’t take it head-on,” he muttered, frustration heavy in his tone. “This thing is too strong.”


    “Then we outsmart it,” I replied, teeth clenched. Strength alone wouldn’t be enough—not with our limited numbers and time. We had to buy the civilians more time.


    The figure drew a glowing blade, moving with unnerving precision. Without hesitation, I rushed forward, positioning myself between it and the hall.


    "Rei, are you insane?" Daisy shouted, her voice rising in panic.


    "Buy time!" I yelled back, adrenaline flooding my veins. "Get them out. Now!"


    Oliver hesitated for a fraction of a second, then nodded grimly. "Let’s move."


    The figure’s glowing visor shifted to focus on me. My grip tightened on my sword, its weight cold and unfamiliar now, as if it carried the burden of every decision I’d made up to this point. There was something wrong with this thing—something mechanical. Cold.


    It lunged at me. I raised my sword just in time, blocking its glowing blade. The impact sent a shock through my arms, throwing me back with surprising force. The figure was faster than anything I’d ever faced. Its movements were fluid, almost silent, deadly in their precision.


    I dodged its next strike, the heat from its blade singeing the air beside me. My chest burned with every breath, my legs ached, but I didn’t have time to rest. This wasn’t a fight of strength. This was a fight of timing, of concentration.


    And then it clicked.


    What if I''ve been using my grace without realizing it?


    The thought struck me like a lightning bolt, and I focused all my attention on the figure’s movements, my heart pounding. Suddenly, I saw it—a faint shimmer outlining the trajectory of its blade. A ghostly reflection of its next move.


    Time stretched.


    I sidestepped the strike by a hair''s breadth, the phantom trail guiding me. My right eye burned with a brilliant golden light, the ticking of a clock echoing in my mind. With a quick exhale, I spun and struck at the figure’s exposed side.


    The sword hit with brutal impact, sending sparks flying. The figure staggered, but it didn’t fall. Its movements were still eerily controlled.


    I didn’t hesitate. I focused again, watching the shimmering outline of its next strike. The phantom trail was clearer now, its movements slowing, giving me an edge.


    “You’re learning,” the figure’s voice was cold, distant, almost mechanical.


    “Yeah,” I gasped, my grip on the sword tightening. “And I’m about to put you down.”


    I pressed the attack, the shimmering outlines leading each strike. The figure blocked them all, but each clash slowed it further. Its armor cracked, and I knew it was weakening.


    But so was I.


    My limbs felt like lead. The phantom trail flickered, fading with every move I made. My breath came in ragged gasps.


    With a roar, the figure slammed into me, sending me crashing into a parked car. Pain erupted through my body, and I gasped, blood trickling from my mouth. My vision swam as I struggled to rise.


    "Not done yet," I growled, gritting my teeth. The ticking steadied my thoughts, forcing the panic back.


    The figure raised its blade for a final strike. I saw it again—the move was crystal clear this time. With every ounce of strength I had left, I sidestepped the blade, letting it sweep through the air, missing me by inches. My sword drove into the figure’s chest.


    "Checkmate."


    The figure froze, sparks flying from the wound. It collapsed to its knees, flickered out of existence, and crumpled to the ground.


    I staggered back, gasping for air, my vision darkening at the edges. The ticking faded, leaving only the sound of my ragged breath.


    Daisy and Oliver rushed to my side, their faces a mix of disbelief and relief.


    “You… you took it down?” Daisy’s voice trembled.


    “Somehow,” I muttered, feeling my legs give way beneath me.


    Oliver crouched beside the fallen figure, inspecting the cracked armor. “This isn’t a monster,” he said, his voice tinged with unease. “This is something else.”


    “Great,” I groaned, struggling to push myself up. “Something else to worry about.”


    Daisy helped me to my feet, her hand firm despite everything. A distant shockwave rattled the city, followed by the flicker of streetlights before everything was swallowed by darkness.


    But as darkness enveloped us, I knew the real fight was just beginning.