Chapter 36: Edge of Oblivion

The creature's massive claw descended toward Ethan with the force of a landslide, its jagged edges glowing with lethal energy. Time seemed to slow as he stood frozen, the weight of exhaustion and fear pinning him in place. His mind screamed at him to move, but his body was too sluggish to respond.

"Ethan, move!" Karis's voice cut through the chaos like a blade.

At the last possible moment, Ethan forced himself to activate Shadowstep, phasing through the attack as the claw slammed into the ground where he'd been standing. The impact sent shockwaves through the chamber, fracturing the floor and sending chunks of stone tumbling into the glowing fissure below. Ethan reappeared a few feet away, gasping for air as adrenaline coursed through his veins.

"That was way too close," he muttered, his voice trembling. "I really hate this thing."

"You're not alone," Lucas called, his shield raised as he charged the creature. "But it's not done yet. Stay sharp!"

The monster let out a guttural growl, pulling its claw free from the cracked ground. Its glowing eyes burned brighter, its rage palpable as it turned its attention to Lucas. With a deafening roar, it lashed out with both claws, forcing Lucas to brace himself against the onslaught. Sparks flew as the jagged claws scraped against his shield, the sheer force driving him back step by step.

"Naomi, I could use some help!" Lucas shouted, his muscles straining as he held the line.

"On it!" Naomi replied, loosing an arrow aimed at the creature's exposed shoulder joint. The arrow struck true, burying itself in the glowing rune embedded in the joint. The monster faltered for a moment, its arm jerking awkwardly as it tried to recover.

"Nice shot!" Ethan said, using the opening to dart in and swing his glowing pipe at the same joint. The impact sent another pulse of energy through the creature's body, causing it to roar in pain.

"Keep at it!" Karis commanded, her knife flashing as she targeted the creature's other leg. "We can't let it recover!"

---

The battle raged on, each member of the group pushing themselves to their absolute limits. Naomi moved like a phantom, firing arrow after arrow with deadly precision, each shot aimed at the creature's weak points. Karis was a whirlwind of motion, her blade striking exposed joints and glowing runes with ruthless efficiency. Lucas held the line, his shield absorbing blow after devastating blow, while Ethan darted in and out of the fray, using Shadowstep and Ravager's Pounce to stay one step ahead of the monster's relentless attacks.

But no matter how many hits they landed, the creature refused to go down. Its glowing eyes burned with unyielding fury, and its massive claws carved through the air with terrifying speed. The chamber trembled with every impact, the glowing fissure below casting ominous light across the battlefield.

"This thing just won't quit!" Ethan shouted, narrowly avoiding a swipe from one of the monster's claws. "Does it even have a breaking point?"

"It does," Karis said through gritted teeth, slashing at the creature's leg. "We just have to find it."

"No pressure or anything," Ethan muttered, activating Shadowstep to dodge another attack.

---

The creature suddenly reared back, its massive body radiating a pulse of energy that forced the group to scatter. Ethan tumbled across the ground, his head spinning as he struggled to regain his footing. When he looked up, his heart sank.

The monster was changing.

Its jagged body began to shift and contort, the glowing runes on its surface rearranging themselves into new, more intricate patterns. Its claws grew longer and sharper, and the fiery glow in its eyes intensified. The air around it crackled with energy, and the temperature in the chamber spiked.

"What the hell is it doing?" Naomi asked, her voice tense.

"Evolving," Karis said, her tone grim. "The Forge is adapting it to counter us."

"Because of course it is," Ethan said, dragging himself to his feet. "Why would this be easy?"

The creature let out a deafening roar, and then it charged again, its movements faster and more precise than before. Lucas barely managed to raise his shield in time to block its claw, the impact driving him to one knee.

"It's stronger!" he shouted, gritting his teeth as he pushed back against the monster's overwhelming force. "We need to end this now!"

---

Naomi fired an arrow at the creature's glowing chest, but it moved with lightning speed, deflecting the projectile with one of its claws. She cursed under her breath, already reaching for another arrow.

Karis darted in close, aiming for the newly formed runes on the creature's legs. Her blade struck true, but the monster retaliated with a backhanded swipe that sent her skidding across the ground. She rolled to her feet, blood dripping from a gash on her forehead.

"We can't keep this up!" Naomi shouted, loosing another arrow.

Ethan's mind raced as he watched the creature overwhelm his friends. His body ached, his vision blurred, but he forced himself to focus. He knew they couldn't win this fight by playing it safe. They needed to take a risk.

"Cover me!" he shouted, sprinting toward the creature.

"Ethan, what are you doing?!" Karis yelled, her voice sharp with alarm.

"Something stupid!" Ethan replied, activating Ravager's Pounce to launch himself onto the creature's back. He clung to the jagged surface, his glowing pipe humming with energy as he struck at the newly formed runes along its spine. Each impact sent a burst of light through the creature's body, causing it to thrash violently.

"Ethan, get out of there!" Lucas shouted, his shield raised as he deflected one of the creature's claws.

"Working on it!" Ethan said, holding on for dear life as the monster slammed its back into the wall, trying to dislodge him. He activated Shadowstep at the last moment, reappearing on the ground in a crouch. His chest heaved as he looked up at the creature, which was now focused entirely on him.

"Uh-oh," he muttered, taking a shaky step back.

The creature lunged at him, its claws slashing through the air with terrifying speed. Ethan dodged the first swipe, but the second caught him across the side, sending him sprawling. He cried out in pain, clutching his ribs as blood seeped through his shirt.

"Ethan!" Naomi shouted, loosing an arrow that struck the creature in the shoulder. It roared, momentarily distracted, giving Karis and Lucas an opening to attack.

Karis darted in, her blade slicing into the creature's leg, while Lucas drove his shield into its chest with all his strength. The monster staggered, its glowing eyes flickering, but it didn't go down.

Ethan struggled to his feet, his vision swimming. His body screamed in protest, but he tightened his grip on his pipe and forced himself forward. "Come on, you ugly bastard," he muttered, blood dripping from his lip. "Let's finish this."

---

The group fought with everything they had, their movements a desperate symphony of coordination and willpower. The creature's attacks were relentless, but slowly, they began to chip away at its defenses. Each strike was precise, each arrow and blade aimed at its glowing runes.

As the battle reached its peak, the creature let out one final, earth-shaking roar, its body radiating a blinding light.

And then... everything went still.