The forest trembled under the massive weight of Ravagerak, its jagged obsidian-like scales glinting in the fractured sunlight that broke through the canopy. The apex predator prowled with calculated menace, each step leaving deep gouges in the earth, each breath radiating heat that shimmered in the air.
Hunnt stood at the front, fists clenched, chest heaving. His gauntlets, once a proud extension of his training, bore fresh cracks from the relentless blows he had rained down in the earlier exchanges. He exhaled sharply, body taut, adrenaline coursing through him.
Pyro darted ahead, tail flicking, ears flat, eyes sharp and wary. The little Felyne's whiskers twitched as he scanned the monster's movements. "Master… be careful! It's locking onto you, nyaah!" His voice carried a rare edge of urgency, though his posture remained defiant.
Corwin moved silently to Hunnt's right, hammer resting on his shoulder, every muscle honed and ready. He angled himself to watch Ravagerak's legs, the joints he had been targeting since the fight began. His eyes narrowed. "Its stance hasn't shifted. It's conserving power. The next strike will be heavier."
Elara trailed a few paces back, bow already raised. Her breathing was steady, her eyes sharp as she calculated distance and timing. She was flushed from exertion, strands of hair sticking to her face, but her form didn't falter. "I'll cover from here. Just keep it distracted," she called, her voice steadier than she felt.
The tension snapped like a taut string.
With a guttural roar that split the air, Ravagerak lunged. Its spiked tail swung like a wrecking bar, tearing through trees and sending splinters flying in every direction.
Hunnt reacted instantly, vanishing in a blur with Soru, his body flickering just out of reach. Pyro twisted midair, Kami-e letting him contort unnaturally around the spiked appendage. Corwin braced himself with Tekkai, absorbing the quake of the impact as the tail smashed into the ground beside him. Even with his hardened stance, the shock vibrated through his bones, forcing him to grit his teeth.
Hunnt surged forward, fists leading. He unleashed a flurry of blows at the monster's forelimb. His gauntlet groaned under the force, metal bending, screws rattling loose. Then—
CRACK.
The sound rang louder than the roar of the beast. Metal shards scattered across the dirt, glinting in the sunlight. Hunnt froze, staring at his hand in disbelief.
"Gauntlet… broken!" he gasped.
He had no time to process it. Ravagerak's tail lashed again, smashing into Hunnt's chest and sending him sprawling across the clearing. The air was forced from his lungs as pain exploded through his ribs. He rolled, coughing, vision spinning.
"Hunnt!" Elara's voice rang with panic. She sprinted forward, bow forgotten in her hand, and dropped beside him. Her eyes widened at the sight of his shattered gauntlet, blood already seeping through his fingers.
"I… I still have my fists," Hunnt growled, his voice strained but his gaze unyielding. He flexed his bare hands, blood running freely now, dripping onto the forest floor. His knuckles burned with pain, but inside him, something deeper stirred.
Elara bit her lip, torn between fear and respect for his resolve. "Hunnt, you can't—your hands will—"
He cut her off, pushing himself to his feet with sheer force of will. "No. I fight with what I have. My fists aren't done yet."
Corwin's hammer struck the monster's flank with a deafening boom, forcing it to stagger back and buying Hunnt a moment. Pyro leapt onto its tail, claws scraping sparks as he tried to keep its attention divided. "Master! Stay on your feet! Nyaah!"
Hunnt steadied himself. His fists trembled, blood streaking down his arms. He lunged again, slamming his bare knuckles against Ravagerak's plated hide. Pain flared, forcing him to wince, but he gritted his teeth.
Each punch landed harder than the last.
A heat swelled inside him, crawling from his chest to his arms, coiling around his fists. His strikes began to sound different—less like flesh against armor, more like steel meeting stone. Faint blackened marks spread across the monster's scales where his blows landed.
Hunnt barely noticed. He was too focused, too desperate. What… what is this? My fists… they're stronger… harder…
He didn't know it yet, but he had awakened Armament Haki.
Ravagerak recoiled slightly from his next strike, amber eyes narrowing. It tilted its massive head, a growl rumbling in its throat, acknowledging for the first time that Hunnt's fists could pierce its natural defenses.
Corwin's eyes flicked toward Hunnt briefly, shock flashing across his face before he refocused, charging his hammer. "Keep pushing, Hunnt! Don't stop!"
Elara repositioned with Soru, drawing her bow again. She loosed an arrow that buried itself near a leg joint, the shaft quivering as the monster snarled.
Pyro darted in, slashing at exposed flesh where Hunnt's fists had broken through the scales. "Nyahaha! Look, Master, you're making it flinch!"
Hunnt ignored the blood soaking his hands, ignored the burning pain climbing his arms. "We have to survive… no matter what," he whispered hoarsely, driving another punch into Ravagerak's chest. The impact sent dust and splinters flying, the beast reeling back a step.
The battle raged on. Corwin's hammer crashed down like thunder, Pyro weaved in and out of danger with reckless agility, Elara's arrows whistled through the air, and Hunnt's fists—raw, bloodied, but now empowered—slammed relentlessly against the monster.
Ravagerak roared, slamming its spiked tail into the earth, sending a shockwave rippling outward. Hunnt rolled with Kami-e, Pyro slipped beneath the wave, and Corwin braced with Tekkai, though even his hardened stance cracked under the force. Elara leapt to higher ground with Soru, loosing another arrow mid-air.
Hunnt's chest rose and fell in ragged breaths, his fists crimson. But his eyes burned with an intensity that mirrored the apex predator's. He could feel it—the strange, unseen armor coating his knuckles with every strike. He didn't understand it, but he embraced it, letting instinct carry him forward.
"We're not done yet," he growled, slamming another strike into Ravagerak's jaw. The beast reeled, its roar choked by the sudden force.
Elara's voice rang from the treeline. "Hunnt! Keep going! We're with you!"
Corwin's hammer swung in perfect rhythm with Hunnt's fists, each blow a drumbeat of defiance against the towering monster. Pyro's golden eyes glinted with pride as he chirped, "Nyahaha… Master, keep going! Nyaah!"
Ravagerak's amber gaze burned hotter, fury radiating as it prepared another devastating charge. The ground trembled, trees quivered, the canopy shook.
Hunnt wiped blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. His fists, trembling yet hardened, rose again. His voice was hoarse, raw, but resolute.
"We survive… together."
The words rippled through the forest like a vow.
And with that, the relentless assault continued—one bloodied fist at a time.
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✨ Hi amazing readers! ✨
I'm beyond excited to share not just one, but two epic stories with you!
📖 Final Fantasy: The Unwritten
Step into the vast multiverse of Final Fantasy—where heroes, destinies, and untold adventures intertwine in ways you've never seen before.
⚔️ Renegade: Arsenal of War
Follow the journey of a relentless tech soldier who forges groundbreaking weapons to end the war once and for all.
Your support means the world to me—every read, comment, and share helps bring these stories to life. 🌌🔥 Together, let's explore the unwritten and fight through the arsenal of war!
Thank you for being part of this adventure. Let's dive in! ✨
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