Hidden behind a tree, swords in hand, Ray and Ice silently watched the beast. Their gazes flickered with hesitation. They knew they had to take it down. But how?
"What exactly do you know about that thing?" Ice asked, eyes fixed on the blade in his hand.
"Not much," Ray replied gravely. "Only that killing it at our current level is supposed to be impossible."
"Always reassuring, aren't you?" Ice said, cracking a dry smile. "You said escaping the darkness was impossible too."
Ray sighed at his sarcasm. "I'm not kidding. I don't even know how to kill it. The only thing I'm sure of is this: either pierce its heart or take off its head."
A brief silence fell.
Ice leaned back against the tree, propped one foot against the bark, and started tossing his sword into the air like a child playing with a stick.
"Well, we know what we need to do then. It's not like cutting its head off is on the table," he said flatly.
Ray raised an eyebrow. "You talk a lot for someone who's never held a sword before."
"Exactly," Ice replied, catching the weapon one last time. "That's why I'll distract it while you go for the heart."
Ray's eyes widened. "You're serious?"
Ice had already stepped away from the tree.
"We don't have a choice. Every second we waste, we grow weaker," he said, walking steadily toward the beast.
Ray stared at him for a second, then clenched his teeth. He didn't like the plan. But he trusted Ice. There was no time for hesitation.
He turned his focus to the beast, which was beginning to stir, its body twitching with rising aggression. Ray knew one thing: when the moment came, he would have to throw himself at it with everything he had. No second chances.
But he also knew Ice wouldn't last long not against that thing. So the moment had to come quickly.
As soon as he stepped out from behind the tree, the beast snapped to attention. Ice approached slowly, and the creature immediately rose with a guttural snarl.
He stopped in his tracks, staring at the beast as it charged forward.
His stare was cold. His body was not.
His hand trembled around the hilt of the sword. Each step the beast took sent another jolt of fear through his chest. His mind spun, desperate for a way out. But there was none.
That's why he ran straight at it.
If he had waited a second longer, all his courage would've crumbled.
Up close, the creature was worse. Its blackened scales glinted like razors, each one sharp enough to tear skin on contact. One clean hit and he was dead.
One hit and it's over, he thought, jaw clenched tight.
The beast struck first, missing narrowly. It reared back, then lunged again this time snapping its jaws wide to crush his shoulder. Ice ducked low, letting the monster soar above him.
It's slow, he realized.
That was his only hope.
Back when they were escaping with Celestia during the double moon paradox, the beast hadn't instantly caught them. It had kept up, yes, but not effortlessly. It had started to pant. To slow down.
It acted on instinct. No strategy. No thought.
That was the only edge they had.
Ice sprinted into the forest, drawing the beast with him. It let out a thunderous growl and bounded after him. The thud of its steps grew louder, faster, closer.
He didn't look back.
Once among the trees, he adjusted his pace, scanning his surroundings. Nothing. Until a faint hissing noise caught his attention. He veered sharply, grabbing a trunk to pivot and change direction in a heartbeat.
The beast struggled to follow his sudden turn and lost ground.
Reaching the clearing he aimed for, Ice frowned. No sign of Ray.
He tensed. Did something go wrong? Then a crack of a branch above.
He looked up and smiled.
Seriously?
He turned back toward the beast, gripping his sword with both hands. He had to hold on. He didn't need to win he just needed to survive long enough.
The creature crashed through the trees, roaring as it charged again, arms outstretched, claws like blades.
At that same moment, Ray, hidden above, chosed his time .
While the beast was focused entirely on Ice, Ray descended from the tree like a shadow, blade in hand.
The monster reached Ice first, swinging its massive arm in a sweeping blow.
Ice blocked with all his strength, both hands bracing the sword. The impact jolted through his bones. He held just long enough for the beast to overpower him and hurl him back.
But that moment was all Ray needed.
He lunged, driving his blade straight into the beast's chest.
It was a clean strike. Straight through where its heart should be.
For a second, everything went still.
Ray stood frozen, blinking in disbelief.
We did it… we actually...
But then he saw it.
The beast wasn't falling.
Something was wrong.