Sphere of Flesh

-CRACK! -SQUELCH! -CRUNCH!

The horrible sound of snapping bones and tearing flesh echoes through the cold air, breaking the uneasy silence.

Muscles, half-torn and twitching, slither like worms, wrapping around shattered bones that move on their own. The dark and thick blood oozes out and drips onto the icy ground.

A monstrous mass of flesh, twisted and pulsing, slowly forms into a grotesque sphere. It slowly floats in the air and starts spinning in its place. Bits of bone stick out at odd angles, and every slow rotation sends out wet, disgusting noises—like raw meat being crushed underfoot. The smell of blood and rot fills the air.

Sol's body stiffens, a sharp chill running down his spine. His breath quickens, coming out in short gasps. His chest feels tight, as if something is squeezing the air out of him.

A cold drop of sweat slides down his forehead, trailing past his pale cheeks before falling soundlessly to the ground. His fingers clench into fists, his knuckles white. His teeth press hard against his lip, almost enough to draw blood.

From the start, he knows something is about to happen. He senses it earlier—something worse, something dangerous… something evil!

Shit! Shit! This is worse—way worse!

The energy radiating from the grotesque sphere sends a deep, nauseating chill through his body. It isn't just power—it's something vile, something unnatural. The air itself feels heavy, pressing down on him like an invisible weight.

The sickening presence of the sphere claws at Jaz's senses, a cold, oppressive force snaking down her spine. Yet, she doesn't waver.

Her instincts scream at her—this isn't the time to hesitate, Hesitation means death.

With a burst of crimson aura engulfing her body, Jaz tensed her legs and slightly lowered her stance. Her muscles coiled like a spring, ready to explode into motion. 

And then with no hesitation she dashed forward, the ground cracking beneath her feet from the sheer force.

Ahead, Alex was already in position, his stance firm, his breath steady. 

A ragged green aura flickered around him, surging like wildfire. His emerald eyes glowed with raw energy as he gripped his sword, shifting it sideways. Then—

-BOOM!

His aura erupted, sending a violent shockwave through the air. The water around him shuddered from the sudden burst of power, rippling outward in chaotic waves.

At that moment, with a lightning-fast burst of speed, Jaz flashed to Alex's side and in the blink of an eye, she already passed him, her crimson aura crackling around her. 

A quick side glance was all Alex caught before she surged ahead, fiercely charging toward the grotesque sphere.

But Alex didn't stay still. As if a sudden thrill sparked in his chest. Without wasting a second, he bent his legs and launched himself into the air with explosive force. 

The sheer power of his jump sent a violent gust of wind rippling outward, the ground beneath him trembling from the impact.

As Jaz reached her desired distance, her fingers tightens around the worn hilt of her ancestral sword. In a single, fluid motion, she unsheathed it, the blade sliding free with a sharp, metallic whisper.

The weapon was long and narrow, forged from black steel that seemed to swallow the surrounding light. Its surface bore faint, intricate engravings—ancient runic symbols that had faded over time yet still carried an ominous presence. The steel pulsed with a deep, hidden power, as if it had witnessed countless battles and absorbed the echoes of warriors long past.

Though time had dulled its shine, its presence alone could still instill fear. Even now, as Jaz wielded it, the air around her seemed to grow heavier, as if the sword itself demanded reverence.

In that moment, the ferocious storm of her aura suddenly settled, flowing with an eerie steadiness—calm, yet immense. It no longer raged wildly but condensed, controlled, and dangerously precise.

The black steel of her ancestral sword drank in her crimson aura, the glow wrapping around its length like living fire. 

Jaz's eyes locked forward, sharp and unwavering, like a predator closing in on its prey. With a slight narrowing of her gaze, she thrust her foot into the ground – sending cracks through the icy surface beneath. Her upper body twisted in a smooth and controlled rotation, her sword following the motion with perfect precision.

"Cut Zero" The words left her lips like an unshakable decree.

Her black steel blade, pulsing with crimson aura, sliced through the air, the force behind it tearing through the space between her and the grotesque sphere. The blade was about to connect—

- CLANG!

A violent impact erupted as the sword crashed against something unseen. The sphere did not split, did not bleed. Instead, Jaz's strike was halted mid-air, colliding against an invisible shield that rippled outward like a distortion in reality.

A deep, reverberating hum filled the air as the protective barrier absorbed the force of her attack. Sparks of crimson aura crackled at the point of impact, but the blade refused to cut through.

What…? Jaz's eyes widened.

However, her shock deepened when she realized—she couldn't move her sword.

Her fingers clenched around the hilt, her muscles straining as she tried to pull the blade free. But it was no use. It was as if the sword was attached to the barrier, locked in place by some unseen force.

Damn it!

Rejecting the struggle, Jaz tightened her grip, her knuckles turning white. She wasn't letting go.

Her crimson aura surged again, wrapping around the black steel like a living flame. The air crackled, heavy with energy. Tension rose. The wind howled.

Her teeth ground together, veins pressing against her skin as a knot of tension bulged at her forehead. Her pulse thundered in her ears.

If force alone wouldn't break this shield—then she'd push past her limits!

"Hwaahhh!" Jaz let out a feral scream, her voice raw with struggle and frustration.

Her blade roared with power, its black steel engulfed in her blazing crimson aura. Sparks of raw power flared violently where her blade met the shield, as if the two forces were waging war against each other. 

The icy ground beneath her feet crumbled, spiderweb like - cracks spreading outward.

Yet—it still wasn't enough.

The sword didn't budge. No matter how much power she poured into it, no matter how much she pushed—the shield held.

This was the first time she had ever struggled to cut through something. The first time her sword had been stopped so completely. A mix of confusion and awe flickered in her eyes.

Her jaw clenched, her fingers tightening around the hilt. But no matter how much force she used, no matter how fiercely her aura raged.

Then as if she noticed something, Without thinking, she loosens her grip.