Meldos unleashed

The ground trembled beneath Meldos' weight as it lunged toward Kuro with terrifying speed. Kuro barely managed to dodge, his body instinctively moving to avoid the massive claws. Dust and debris filled the air as Meldos' strike shattered the rock where Kuro had been standing.

"I can't keep dodging forever," Kuro muttered, gripping The Eminence tightly. His mind raced. This thing is faster and stronger than anything I've ever faced. If I don't find a weak point, I'm done for.

Meldos roared, its crimson eyes glowing with malice. The beast's aura grew darker, almost suffocating, as if it were trying to crush Kuro under its sheer presence.

Kuro... you cannot defeat this beast with brute strength alone, the system's voice echoed in his mind. Use your environment and strategy. Meldos' power lies in overwhelming its opponents with fear. Stay focused.

"Great advice," Kuro said, rolling his eyes. "Now tell me how to actually hurt this thing."

Unknown. Its weak points are hidden under layers of demonic energy. Observing its movements may reveal openings.

As Meldos lunged again, Kuro sidestepped and slashed at its exposed side. The blade sparked against the beast's hide, leaving only a shallow mark. Meldos roared in fury and whipped its tail, sending Kuro skidding across the ground.

Aurora and Alice, watching from behind the boulder, trembled with fear. "We can't just sit here!" Aurora shouted, gripping Alice's arm.

"But what can we do? Meldos is beyond us!" Alice replied, tears welling in her eyes.

Aurora clenched her fists, forcing herself to stand. "If Kuro's fighting, we have to help. I won't let him face that monster alone!"

She began chanting, summoning her spectral bow. The shimmering weapon materialized in her hands, its glowing arrows crackling with energy.

Meanwhile, Kuro struggled to his feet, his body aching from the impact. Meldos charged once more, but this time, Kuro was ready. He leaped onto a nearby rock, using it to propel himself above the beast's head. He slashed downward, aiming for its eyes.

The attack struck true, and Meldos let out an ear-splitting roar as one of its glowing eyes darkened. The beast thrashed wildly, shaking the ground.

"I got you now," Kuro said, a faint grin on his face.

But Meldos wasn't done. It reared back, its body emanating a dark aura. The air around it seemed to distort, and Kuro felt an immense pressure pushing down on him.

"System, what's happening?" Kuro shouted.

Meldos is activating its demonic core. This is the source of its devastating power. Be warned: its attacks will now be even more lethal.

"Perfect," Kuro muttered, his grip tightening on The Eminence.

Aurora's voice rang out from the distance. "Kuro, get down!"

He instinctively ducked as a glowing arrow streaked past him, striking Meldos square in the chest. The beast staggered, its dark aura flickering for a moment.

"Aurora!" Kuro called out, surprised but grateful.

"We're not letting you do this alone!" Aurora replied, nocking another arrow. Alice hesitated for a moment before stepping forward, summoning her twin daggers.

Kuro smirked. "Took you long enough."

Meldos, now enraged, roared again and charged toward Aurora. Kuro intercepted it, slashing at its legs to slow it down. The beast swiped at him, but this time, he anticipated the attack and ducked under its massive claws.

"Keep it distracted!" Aurora shouted, firing another arrow. This one struck the beast's shoulder, drawing more dark energy from its core.

Alice darted in, her daggers flashing as she aimed for the creature's legs. Her strikes weren't powerful enough to cause significant damage, but they slowed Meldos' movements just enough for Kuro to land another strike on its back.

The teamwork was starting to pay off, but Meldos was far from defeated. Its aura flared again, and it let out a guttural growl. The ground beneath them cracked, and dark tendrils of energy erupted from the earth, lashing out at the group.

"Move!" Kuro shouted, barely avoiding a tendril that nearly impaled him. Aurora and Alice dodged as best they could, but the tendrils forced them to separate.

Kuro's mind raced. We can't keep this up forever. If Meldos keeps using its core, it'll wear us down before we can take it out.

The system chimed in again. Meldos' demonic core is vulnerable when its aura flares. Strike it directly to weaken the beast.

"That would've been nice to know earlier!" Kuro snapped.

Aurora regrouped with Kuro, her breathing labored. "What's the plan?" she asked.

Kuro glanced at her, then at Alice, who was struggling to fend off the tendrils. "We need to hit its core. When its aura flares again, I'll go for it. You two keep it distracted and cover me."

Aurora nodded. "Got it."

As Meldos charged up for another attack, Kuro steadied himself. This was their chance—if they could take out the core, they might just survive.

"Let's end this," Kuro said, determination burning in his eyes.

To Be Continued...