Marcus launched a kick aimed at the Sableon's face, but the creature crouched and slipped underneath, dodging the strike with agility. Without missing a beat, the Sableon unleashed a wide swipe with its claw; Marcus ducked, the claw grazing the edge of the reinforced plate of his face and leaving a shallow mark. Swiftly, he countered with a short elbow strike to the beast's side, shifting the pace of the fight.
Marcus took a step forward.
The Sableon recoiled for a moment, gathering momentum before leaping at Marcus with a powerful strike. Its claw came down directly, and Marcus chose not to dodge; instead, he raised his shoulder, letting the claw collide with his reinforced plate, which absorbed most of the impact. Seizing the opening, Marcus countered with a strong punch aimed at the creature's head, forcing it to retreat.
Marcus took a step forward.
Visibly angered by the counterattack, the beast lunged at Marcus with a powerful jump, striking with both front paws. Assessing the situation, Marcus decided to take the risk of a direct exchange. He quickly channeled ether into the plates on his chest, allowing the impact of the paws to scrape two deep marks while absorbing much of the force. Without hesitation, Marcus grabbed the creature's paws and used the momentum to drive an upward knee strike directly into the Sableon's chest. The force of the knee shattered the bones of the chest with a sickening crack, forcing the beast to retreat once more and reconsider its next move.
Marcus took a step forward
The dynamic unfolded with intense precision. Each time the Sableon lunged, Marcus didn't dodge—instead, he blocked the attack, sacrificing a part of his body to absorb the impact. Each defensive strike was a calculated risk, allowing him to deliver a powerful counterattack in return. Blow after blow, the rhythm of offense and defense carried on, relentless and unyielding.
After some time, it became clear that the Sableon itself was beginning to tire. Its movements were less fluid, its leaps less precise, and marks of battle—hematomas, deep scratches, and fractures—marred its powerful body. Its tongue lolled from its mouth, saliva dribbling down, a clear sign of exhaustion. Despite its level one status, a very powerful-tier for its category, the creature's strength and cunning had pushed Marcus to maintain focus and adapt continuously.
Marcus, however, was not in much better condition. Though not overtly tired, he now fully appreciated the extent of his extraordinary endurance. Deep claw marks ran across his body, bleeding steadily from the worst of them. The constant reinforcement of his plates, combined with the prolonged duration of his monstrous form, had drained his ether significantly, leaving him with only a fraction of his usual energy.
Marcus assessed the situation quickly. He knew prolonging the fight would drain him further, so he decided to take a calculated risk. Stepping back, he subtly feigned a stumble, recalling how Kara had once used the same trick against him.
The Sableon, sensing an opportunity, lunged at Marcus's neck, jaws wide and teeth gleaming. But Marcus blocked the attack with his left arm, bracing against the force. The beast's bite clamped down on his arm, sending a jolt of pain through him.
Instead of rolling, Marcus allowed himself to drop, positioning his body directly beneath the Sableon, setting up the next part of his trap.
Marcus gritted his teeth, letting the ether thicken the plates on his arm to absorb some of the bite's impact. With his right hand, he quickly seized the attacking arm of the Sableon, controlling its movement. Simultaneously, he swung his legs around the creature's neck, locking them in a precise triangle hold. His thighs squeezed with calculated pressure, immobilizing the Sableon and forcing it into a position of submission, every movement precise and controlled. The pressure of the hold was now cutting off the creature's airflow, effectively choking it.
Marcus was squeezing with all his strength, every muscle in his body tensed as he maintained the choke. His mind, subconsciously recalling a lesson from his past life, tracked the critical windows of time: if the airway was completely blocked—no air in or out—a person could lose consciousness in roughly 10–20 seconds. Neurons would start dying after about four minutes without oxygen, and past five minutes, severe and potentially irreversible brain damage could occur. After eight to ten minutes of complete anoxia, the likelihood of death or permanent vegetative state became very high.
The memory of these limits sharpened his control. Even as he applied immense pressure with arms and legs constricting the beast, he counted the seconds internally, never losing focus on the struggling Sableon.
Twenty minutes later, Marcus released the hold—but only because he was running out of ether. He had every intention of confirming the creature's death before destransforming.
Remaining kneeling beside it, he concentrated the last of his ether into his right fist. Then he began hammering down on the Sableon's skull, again and again, again and again, each strike precise and brutal. The echo of his blows resonated through the forest, the rhythmic pounding cutting through the quiet of the trees.
He only stopped after the Sableon's skull was completely shattered, its head utterly destroyed. Marcus remained kneeling, his monstrous form towering and imposing, before shifting back to his human form. Still kneeling, he lifted his eyes with a calm, serene gaze, taking a moment to breathe and process the victory, before a broad smile of satisfaction and pride spread across his face. His clothes were torn, his body marked with the scratches and bruises of battle, blood trickling from old wounds and new ones alike, yet the smile remained, undimmed by pain.
Just as he allowed himself a moment of quiet, Marcus heard the soft sound of clapping echoing through the trees. He turned toward the noise and saw kara standing there, a proud smile on her face as she applauded his effort.
Lara approached, clapping with a proud smile. "Good job, kid," she said, her tone mixing approval and a hint of camaraderie.
Marcus looked at her, both surprised and confused. "How long have you been there?" he asked.
"Just a little while," Lara replied, shrugging. "I had time to watch you execute the chokehold—well done, by the way. Where did you learn that?"
"A long time ago," Marcus answered, a slight smile crossing his face as he vaguely recalled the old training that had taught him similar moves.
Kara regarded him seriously. "Can you move?"
"Yes," Marcus responded with effort.
As soon as he tried to stand, his legs gave way and he collapsed again. Kara reacted quickly, holding him firmly. "Yeah… I've been there," she said with a small smile, acknowledging the situation.
Without letting Marcus fall a second time, Kara lifted him and slung him over her shoulders. With steady steps, she began trotting back toward the camp, making sure Marcus remained stable as they moved through the forest.