It was an eclipsed beast, its form an absolute, light-devouring black. Its face protruded grotesquely, a snouted maw. Four long, sinuous front legs carried its massive body with an unsettling grace, each step silent on the muddy ground.
But it was the twin tails that truly inspired terror; long and whip-like, they ended in dagger-sharp points that gleamed with malevolent intent, even in the pervasive gloom.
Multiple glowing red eyes, flickered across its obsidian head, fixing on the four of them in front.
Beads of sweat had formed on Grey’s forehead, he wasn’t sure if he would be able to deal with this beast while also protecting the ones with him, since his eyes had shown him what this beast was.
[--]
RACE: Eclipse Dwellers
LEVEL: 44
CLASS: Shadowheart
STAMINA: 57
STRENGTH: 62
INTELLIGENCE: 28
AGILITY: 56
SKILLS: Dash (B+), Tail whip (C+), Energy blast (B+)
Cash’s body hung limp for a horrifying moment, the tail of the beast pierced through his belly.
Then, with a sickening retraction, the beast pulled its tail back, and Cash’s body dropped with a soft thud onto the muddy ground.
Panic erupted, the other three of their faces etched with horror, hey were scared shitless, their vision perceiving nothing in that darkness.
Aura condensed onto Grey’s fist, a ray of hope for the three of them within that abyss. They immediately moved towards his direction, when Grey leaped, his fist arched back. Like a spring, his punch zoomed towards the beast’s head.
"Jab impact!"
BOOM!
His skill laden punch hit squarely on the beast’s face, caving it in, as it lifted off the ground, flying back to the distance.
This was the new skill he had acquired during his cracked lands exploration. A skill with less aura expenditure, saving his deadlier skills for later.
"Clara! Release a fireball towards the ceiling." Grey bellowed and immediately moved towards Cash, who was groaning and lying helpless. He picked him up on his shoulders and moved towards the others.
"There’s no time! Hurry!" Grey yelled, seeing her frozen in fear.
His yell pulled her out as her staff stone started glowing, mana gathered into a fireball above. She pointed her staff upwards when the fireball rushed out, flying up towards the ceiling.
The burning fireball illuminated the surrounding, finally letting them get a clear look around them. Before they could gather anything, Grey appeared beside them. He handed Cash to James and urged them to hurry when the light from the fireball was still alive.
"He’ll die if you tarry. Move out and find the professor who might be outside for our evaluation. I’ll hold the beast in the meantime."
"B-But...you alone...how.."
"There’s no time! This is a Shadowheart class, we cannot deal with it. Go! Find the professor, that’s our only hope." Grey cut off James, hurrying them to move fast. It wouldn’t be lying down for more, it would be starting its attacks anytime now, and the shadowheart was not a beast class he could deal, with distractions around him.
"Don’t die please." James left those words and with a heavy mind, he started climbing the rope up.
After the three of them were almost halfway up, an angry roar erupted from the beast. It was back on its legs. Those bloodthirsty eyes staring right into Grey’s.
"Come you bastard! Let’s see how much I’ve grown."
The cave shook with its heavy steps, water splashed out as it rushed forward. Grey lifted his fists up, legs bent as he took stance. Red aura burst out of him as his jacket fluttered from the pressure.
Grey dashed forward, leaving a ditch in his trail as the mud and water parted, splashing outwards. Just then, he saw something shining from the corner of his eyes.
Before he could react, the dagger like sharp tail lashed out with terrifying speed, a black blur slicing through the cave. In a hurry, he halted, turning to the side, gathered the aura on his arms and crossed them in front of him.
CLANG!
The tail bounced off, striking the layer of protective aura, releasing sparks out.
DING!
[Obtained skill: Arm Guard (B) (Active)]
But before Grey could rejoice at acquiring his first defensive skill, a glowing crackling ball of energy came rushing at him. It arrived so fast that he couldn’t even move his arms to defend.
BOOM!
The energy blast slammed onto Grey, blasting him off to the distance as he slid along the ground, finally stopping after hitting the wall.
The beast roared in excitement, seeing his attack being successful.
Refusing to give Grey time, to collect himself, another energy blast gathered in front of his opened maw.
The energy blast zoomed towards Grey at breakneck speed, but he was still lying motionless, his back rested along the wall while his eyes reflected the bluish energy blast getting bigger.
****
The door slammed open as Brook rushed out, followed by Clara and James, carrying Cash on his shoulders.
Running through the thorny vines, they moved out of the complex. Right after they were out, James passed Cash upon Brook’s shoulders.
"Take him to the infirmary, as fast as you can, or else it’ll be too late, he’s lost too much blood already." James said, gasping for breath still. "You go with him too Clara and inform the professors about this. I’ll try to find the evaluating professor nearby."
Both Brook and Clara nodded. Their faces still not recovered from the terror they had just faced down there. But just when they were about to move out, a tall figure landed just in front of them. Appearing out of nowhere.
"What’s going on? What happened inside?" It was the professor who was in hiding, looking over their evaluation. But seeing them out so soon, he got skeptical and showed himself.
Just then his eyes fell on the blood-soaked Cash lying unconscious over Brook shoulders.
"W-What...who did this?" His eyes opened wide in shock. This was not a mission where they should gain life-threatening injuries. He also noticed that they had a member missing among them.
"Where’s your other teammate?"
"T-there’s a huge eclipse beast inside professor, it’s a Shadowheart class! We e-escaped somehow." Tears welled up as they flowed like a stream down Clara’s cheeks. Seeing the professor appear, her tense muscles eased as relief dawned upon her.
"What!?" The professor yelled out in surprise. James then explained what they saw underground, how Cash was injured and about Grey who stayed to hold back the beast.
"Take him to the infirmary then. Hurry! I’ll bring your friend back."
"I’ll go too professor." James came forward, he urged to go back since he still felt guilty about leaving Grey alone down there.
BOOM!! CRASH!!!
Just then the roof of the haunted house blasted open. The roof tiles broke apart opening a large hole as the broken tiles and debris rained down below, clattering.
ROAR!!
Through the hole, the beast and Grey flew out. Grey hung suspended in the air facing the beast, his clothes soaked with blood. One of his eyes closed, as blood had seeped inside, flowing down his head injury.
The beast was lunging upwards, its maw wide open, ready to tear into Grey’s flesh, while both of Grey’s fist were covered with condensed aura, his arms pulled back like a spring, building tension for a destructive strike.
"Gattling Destruction!"