The clang of metal against shadow, the crackle of energy, the shouts of his team—Mukul felt it all as one chaotic pulse. The lieutenant moved with lethal precision, every attack testing the limits of their strength and coordination. But even in the whirlwind of chaos, Mukul's mind raced, scanning, calculating, searching for a weakness.
"Priya! Cover Ansh!" he shouted, blocking a claw swipe with a burst of energy. Sparks flew as he twisted, narrowly avoiding the lieutenant's next lunge. He could see it now—the pattern in its movements, the way it favoured quick, aggressive strikes over sustained attacks.
Mukul's eyes darted between his team members. "Kavya! Draw it toward the open area!" he called, mapping out a plan mid-fight. Every second counted. Every movement had to be precise.
Priya's silver aura flared, shielding Ansh as she moved. She nodded quickly, trusting Mukul's judgment even as the lieutenant turned its attention toward them with terrifying speed.
Mukul pivoted, analysing the lieutenant's rhythm. It was strong, fast, relentless—but not perfect. Every strike left a fleeting opening, a split-second vulnerability that could be exploited. He focused on timing, on angles, on baiting it.
"Team, listen! Don't just react—lead it! Force it into a predictable path!" Mukul commanded, his voice cutting through the noise. "We strike as one!"
The lieutenant lunged at Kavya, claws slicing through the air. She sidestepped as Mukul had instructed, ducking into the open space. The lieutenant's momentum carried it forward, just as Mukul predicted. With a shout, he and Priya converged from opposite sides, energy and force combined, hitting the creature at the exact moment of imbalance.
A hiss of frustration emanated from the lieutenant as it staggered slightly. It recovered instantly, but Mukul's eyes lit up—this was the opening they needed. He gestured sharply to the team, signalling the next phase.
"Anchor points—Priya and Ansh! Trap it from both sides! Kavya and I will finish the push!"
They moved like a well-oiled machine, each action synced with Mukul's strategy. The lieutenant, powerful and cunning, had never faced a coordinated assault with such precision. Every feint, every diversion was controlled, every attack designed to exploit the split-second flaw in its rhythm.
Mukul ducked under a sweeping claw and kicked off the wall, launching himself upward, energy glowing around his fists. He connected with a sharp strike, exploiting the lieutenant's momentary overextension. The creature stumbled again, more noticeably this time, and the team pressed their coordinated advantage.
"Now! All together!" Mukul shouted. Priya's aura flared, Ansh lunged with a calculated strike, Kavya intercepted the next sweep, and Mukul delivered the final blow in perfect synchronisation.
The lieutenant recoiled, staggering back, shadows flickering and twisting wildly around it. For the first time, it seemed unsure, unbalanced—vulnerable.
Mukul landed lightly, scanning his team, catching their quick, adrenaline-fueled nods. "That's it—we've got the rhythm. Keep it up!"
Even amidst the chaos, a spark of hope ignited. The battle was far from over, but for the first time, Mukul saw a path through the storm. The lieutenant was powerful—but it could be outmanoeuvred. And if they stayed united, they could turn the tide of the fight.
The shadows still roared around them, but now Mukul's team moved with clarity, precision, and purpose. They were no longer reacting—they were leading.
And the lieutenant was about to learn that hunting Mukul's team came at a cost.