Oh HELL no

The ground split open, deep cracks racing through the earth like something ancient and pissed off was waking up. The trees shook, the wind howled, and the already insane situation somehow got worse.

Kikidori barely had time to process the goddamn unicorn before the ground exploded outward—dirt and stone flying in all directions.

And then…

A MOTHERFUCKING CHIMERA STEPPED OUT.

"Oh, you have GOT to be fucking kidding me," Haruna groaned, her hands flying to her hair.

The massive, three-headed beast emerged from the freshly torn earth, its lion head roaring loud enough to shake the trees, its goat head hissing like something demonic, and its serpent tail coiling and snapping at the air.

Kikidori exhaled, tilting his head slightly. "Alright. That's new."

Coraline, still perched on the rock, looked personally offended. "THIS IS NOT WHAT I MEANT WHEN I SAID SOMETHING BIG WAS OUT HERE."

The Wendigo screeched, its hollow eyes locking onto the Chimera, its twisted body tensing.

The Unicorn snorted, its horn still glowing, its muscles rippling like a war horse preparing for battle.

Haruna just stood there, arms crossed. "So. We've got a rotting nightmare deer, a fairy-tale horse, and a three-headed abomination straight out of Greek mythology." She turned to Kikidori, deadpan. "On a scale of 'oh shit' to 'we're gonna die,' where do you think we land?"

Kikidori rolled his shoulders, cracking his neck. "Depends."

"On what?"

He grinned, his fangs glinting under the moonlight. "If we fight or run."

The Chimera moved first.

Its massive claws dug into the earth, its serpent tail striking with lightning speed—straight for the Wendigo.

The Wendigo jumped back, hissing, its bony limbs contorting as it dodged. But the lion head lunged, jaws snapping—too fast.

CRUNCH.

The Wendigo screamed as the lion's fangs tore into its shoulder, shaking it like a ragdoll.

"Oh, damn," Haruna muttered. "Guess we're not the only ones that hate Wendigos."

The Unicorn charged, its horn aimed at the Chimera.

Kikidori grabbed Haruna's wrist, pulling her back as the two mythic beasts collided, sending shockwaves through the ground.

"Alright," Kikidori muttered, watching as the monsters ripped into each other. "I say we let them fight it out."

Haruna exhaled, still staring at the chaos. "Agreed."

Coraline, sitting on Kikidori's shoulder now, muttered, "This place is a goddamn zoo."

And honestly?

She wasn't wrong.

The End of Chapter 13.