Two of its tentacles were cut clean off and the creature screamed again, its voice shaking the walls. The fight had already torn the house apart from the inside.
The creature drew in a dense surge of cosmic energy into one of its sharp tentacles and swung, releasing a slash that tore straight through the air.
The strike cut a destructive line through everything in its path. Lord Dan reacted just in time, light gathering around his right hand before he drove an uppercut into the creature, blasting it upward.
The force sent it crashing through the roof and out into the open.
Lord Dan followed. In the air, the creature whipped its arms and slashed at nothing, sending invisible blades screaming forward. Lord Dan could see them as streaks in the air and twisted out of their path mid-flight.
The moment they hit the ground outside, the creature joined four of its tentacles together, swinging them like a massive club at terrifying speed.
Lord Dan was pinned in a bad angle, nearly cornered, the tentacles already crashing down over him. He forced his body sideways at the last second, dodging by an inch.
The blow slammed into the ground with a thunderclap, shockwaves tearing through the area and shaking the whole street.
People nearby screamed, rushing out of their homes. They spilled into the streets, running as far as they could from the battle.
Lord Dan steadied his breath, only to realize his left arm had been severed. In a flash, light poured from the wound and his arm grew back.
His eyes narrowed, power flaring. He kicked off the ground so hard it cracked beneath him, darting forward at speed. The creature swung again and again, tentacles cutting through the air.
Lord Dan blocked, dodged, moved faster than sight. Houses, cars, and the street itself were shredded by the chaos.
In the blur of movement, Lord Dan's fist connected with the creature's face, sending it flying across the field. Before it could recover, he gathered light in his palm, enough to burn the air itself.
The creature raised three tentacles charged with a reddish-yellow glow to defend, but Lord Dan's light tore straight through, burning them to ash.
He closed the distance, his foot blazing with energy as he swung for a kick. The creature mirrored him, and their feet collided. The impact cracked the earth wide open, energy blasting in all directions.
The ground erupted in a circular shockwave, rocks and debris shooting high into the air.
They pressed in close, trading blows, fists colliding over and over until the roads around them split apart and the whole area quaked under the force.
Then Lord Dan shifted, grabbing hold of the two remaining tentacles, spinning the creature through the air and slamming it hard into the ground. He followed with a brutal kick, launching it far across the ruined field.
Lord Dan tried to chase, but his body faltered. His knees shook.
"Not now… this body has reached its limit. Dave will take control soon… I must finish it here."
He muttered under his breath, forcing himself upright. But the creature was already rising, dragging itself toward him. Lord Dan dropped to one knee, his focus breaking.
When he looked up, he froze. Tears streamed from the creature's eyes. For a moment, it wasn't the monster, it was Rita, her true self breaking through. He lifted his hand, energy sharp and bright, and struck but too early. He missed.
Rita seized control of her body in that instant. Her eyes softened back to their human color. She forced herself forward, throwing her weight into Dave's arms.
His hands, still burning with power, pierced straight through her stomach as she collapsed against him, her head falling to his shoulder.
Dave was back in control now. His hands were buried in his mother's body.
"No… no, no, no, no, no…"
His voice cracked, shaking, tears spilling down his face. Rain began to pour, soaking them both as they knelt in the mud and ruin.
He held her tighter, refusing to pull his hands free, knowing it was the only thing keeping her alive for these last moments.
"Don't blame yourself, Dave… it's not your fault. Thank you… for saving me."
Her voice was weak, fading.
"Mom, please, don't. Just hang on. I'll find a way, please, stay with me."
His tears mixed with the rain, grief written all over him. He couldn't accept it.
"Dave… you are my trophy. No one will ever take that away from you."
"Mom… you're not leaving. Someone will come, I'll get help. Please stop talking like this, just stay with me."
"There's one more thing… my last wish. Find your father before it's too late. He's the only truth to everything…"
Her breath faded with her words. Her head grew heavier against his shoulder. Then her body dissolved, breaking apart into black dust, scattering into the air until nothing was left.
Dave stayed frozen, unable to move, his hands trembling as if he were locked in ice. Steam rose from his skin.
His tattoos lit up, glowing bright blue as the rain sizzled and evaporated around him.
His energy surged, too strong to contain. In an instant, his body was wrapped in light, his tattoos still burning blue.
Then a column of blinding energy shot out of him, streaking into the sky, tearing through the clouds above.