Chapter 38: A Glimmer of Last Hope
As the massive claw, growing larger in his eyes, descended upon him, Kaelen realized that a direct fight was pure suicide. He didn't have enough strength to withstand a single blow from this entity, let alone face it. The "desperate idea" that had crossed his mind wasn't a plan to attack, but to evade, to buy a single second—a fraction of a second—that could mean the difference between life and death.
"No time to think," he whispered to himself, his eyes fixed on the claw that was descending with astonishing speed. He relied on his pure combat instincts, those instincts he had honed in dozens of battles. There was a simple move, requiring little energy, but demanding perfect precision and timing: "Sudden Ground Rush." It wasn't an attack, but a disruption.
While Emily and Caleb were still holding him, providing some stability, with all the strength he had left, Kaelen focused the last drops of energy in his body towards his feet. He felt a sharp sting, as if every cell in his body was screaming in protest at this final exertion. The very moment the Commander's claw was mere centimeters away from his body, Kaelen struck the ground with his right foot with immense force. He didn't push himself forward alone; the sudden burst of energy from his foot, combined with the steady support from Emily and Caleb, was the signal for a collective rush.
It wasn't a massive explosion, but it was enough. The ground beneath the Commander's feet suddenly trembled, not with the force of an earthquake, but with a sudden, unexpected shock. A thick cloud of dust and debris rose from the ground, obscuring him from view for a brief moment. At the same time, it caused a slight tremor in the Commander's immense balance.
The Commander let out a deep growl, not of pain, but of surprise and annoyance. Its movement had paused for a moment, its massive claw striking the ground with tremendous force, but it missed the group, which had already slid away.
Kaelen seized this precious moment. He didn't think of attacking, but of moving. He slid on the ground, dodging falling debris, his eyes searching for any shelter. He saw a small gap in a nearby rock wall, barely large enough for the four of them. It wasn't a permanent sanctuary, but it was better than standing exposed before this nightmare.
With all his remaining strength, he pushed himself, and with the help of Emily and Caleb, they all scrambled towards the gap, followed closely by Ethan and Laila, ignoring the pain tearing through their bodies. With great difficulty, they managed to squeeze in one by one, their bodies scraping against the rough rocks. They felt the Commander's hot breath hit the rock wall directly behind them and heard the sound of its claws scratching at the stone, trying to reach them.
The Commander regained its balance with astonishing speed. Its crimson eyes burned with rage, realizing that these small beings had dared to defy it. It began to strike the rock wall with its massive fist, each blow shaking the entire cave and causing rocks to fall from the ceiling. The group was not safe; they were trapped.
Kaelen realized that this wasn't the end of the battle, but the beginning of a new chapter of despair. They had bought a few moments, but the Commander would not stop. They had to find a way out of this predicament, or this rock wall would become their tomb.