Chapter 37: Final Gambit
The air was heavy with heat and tension, the glowing fissure casting ominous shadows across the trembling chamber. The creature loomed above them, its massive form battered but far from defeated. The jagged runes on its body pulsed brighter now, their light crackling with raw energy. Each breath it took reverberated through the room like the growl of a distant thunderstorm.
Ethan was barely holding himself together. Blood dripped from a deep gash along his side, his legs felt like they could give out at any moment, and his vision swam with every step. But he refused to back down. He tightened his grip on his glowing pipe, his fingers sticky with sweat and blood. "All right," he muttered under his breath, forcing a shaky grin. "One more round, big guy. Let's see what you've got."
The monster roared in response, a sound so loud it rattled his bones. It lunged forward with terrifying speed, its claws slicing through the air like scythes. Ethan dodged left, barely avoiding the blow, but the movement sent a sharp jolt of pain through his ribs. He hissed through clenched teeth, struggling to keep his balance.
"Ethan, get back!" Karis shouted, her knife flashing as she darted in to intercept the creature. Her blade found a weak point in its leg, and the monster stumbled slightly, its glowing eyes flickering.
Naomi loosed another arrow, this one aimed directly at the creature's chest. The projectile struck true, embedding itself in a glowing rune. The monster roared in pain, its movements faltering as the light in its runes dimmed slightly.
"Keep hitting the runes!" Naomi called out. "That's its weakness!"
Lucas charged in next, his shield raised as he slammed into the creature's side. The force of the impact knocked it off balance, and he followed up with a powerful swing of his sword, targeting one of the runes on its arm. The creature shrieked, its massive claw twitching as the rune cracked and dimmed.
Ethan saw his opening. Gritting his teeth, he activated Ravager's Pounce, leaping onto the creature's back. He ignored the searing pain in his side as he swung his pipe down with all his strength, aiming for the glowing runes along its spine. The first strike sent a pulse of energy rippling through the monster's body. The second shattered one of the runes entirely.
The creature convulsed violently, its massive body thrashing as it let out a deafening roar. Ethan clung to its back, his fingers digging into the jagged surface as he fought to stay on. "Guys, I think it's mad!" he shouted, his voice hoarse.
"Get out of there!" Karis yelled, her blade flashing as she struck at the creature's legs. "You're too exposed!"
"Working on it!" Ethan replied, activating Shadowstep just as the creature slammed its back into the wall. He reappeared a few feet away, stumbling as his knees threatened to buckle. His vision blurred, and he wiped at the blood dripping into his eyes.
The monster turned toward him, its glowing eyes burning with unrelenting fury. It raised one massive claw, the jagged edges crackling with energy as it prepared to strike.
Ethan's heart pounded in his chest. He knew he couldn't dodge this one. His body was too slow, too battered. Time seemed to slow as the claw descended, the air crackling with the force of the attack.
And then, just before the blow landed, Lucas threw himself in front of Ethan, his shield raised to intercept the strike. The impact sent a shockwave through the room, and Lucas grunted as he was driven to one knee, his shield barely holding.
"Get up!" Lucas shouted, his voice strained. "You're not dying here!"
Ethan blinked, his breath catching as he forced himself to his feet. He could feel his heart pounding, adrenaline surging through his veins. "Thanks," he muttered, gripping his pipe tightly. "I owe you one."
"Just kill it," Lucas said, shoving the claw aside and rising to his feet.
---
The monster staggered, its movements growing more erratic as the group continued their assault. Naomi fired arrow after arrow, each one targeting the glowing runes on its body. Karis moved like a shadow, her blade striking with surgical precision. Lucas held the line, his shield absorbing blow after devastating blow, while Ethan darted in and out of the fray, using Shadowstep to stay one step ahead of the creature's attacks.
Finally, the monster let out a guttural roar, its glowing eyes dimming as it collapsed onto one knee. The runes on its body flickered weakly, their light fading. The fissure below the creature pulsed with energy, casting a red glow across the chamber.
"This is it!" Karis shouted. "Finish it off!"
Ethan nodded, his breathing ragged as he stepped forward. He activated Ravager's Pounce, leaping onto the creature's chest and driving his glowing pipe into the largest rune at the center of its body. The impact sent a blinding burst of energy through the room, and the monster let out one final, deafening roar before it dissolved into a cloud of ash and light.
The chamber fell silent.
---
Ethan collapsed onto the ground, his chest heaving as he stared up at the swirling mist above. His entire body ached, his ribs throbbed, and his vision swam, but they had done it. The creature was gone.
"Is it over?" he asked weakly, his voice barely above a whisper.
"For now," Karis said, standing over him. She offered him a hand, her expression unreadable. "Get up."
Ethan groaned, taking her hand and allowing her to pull him to his feet. "Remind me to never fight anything like that again."
"No promises," Karis said, a faint smirk tugging at her lips.
Naomi approached, her bow slung over her shoulder. "That was brutal," she said, her sharp eyes scanning the room. "But it's done. We survived."
"Barely," Lucas said, leaning on his shield. "But yeah, we survived."
---
As the group caught their breath, the glowing fissure pulsed one final time before sealing itself, leaving the chamber still and quiet. A soft chime echoed through the air, and their system interfaces flickered to life.
"New rewards unlocked," Naomi said, reading the notification on her screen. "Looks like the Forge is finally being generous."
Ethan pulled up his interface, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten as he scanned the rewards. His eyes widened. "No way," he said, a grin spreading across his face. "I got a healing spell. Renewal Surge. Says it scales with intelligence."
"Same here," Lucas said, his expression brightening. "Finally, something that'll make staying alive a little easier."
Naomi raised an eyebrow. "That explains the intelligence stat. Looks like magic is tied to it. About time we got some clarity on that."
Karis nodded, her voice thoughtful. "The Forge is expanding our capabilities. It's not just testing our physical strength anymore—it's pushing us to grow in new ways."
"Great," Ethan said, closing his interface. "But can we please take five minutes to enjoy the fact that we're not dead?"
Karis smirked faintly. "You've earned it."
The group settled into the quiet chamber, their battered bodies and frayed nerves finding a brief moment of peace. For now, the Forge was silent—but they all knew it wouldn't last.