The First Breach

Daeho's fist connected like a falling meteor, sending a shockwave through the air that cracked the earth beneath the monster's rooted stance. The impact rattled buildings down the block. For a moment, it looked like the strike had worked, the amalgamated mass of bark and vine buckled slightly, vines whipping wildly in the air.

Then one of the glowing vine-limbs snapped forward with sudden speed.

It slammed into Daeho's side with a sound like a battering ram crashing through steel. His massive form launched backward, carving a trench through the pavement before slamming into the side of a parking structure. Dust exploded from the point of impact.

But when it cleared, he stood.

Unmoved.

Not a scratch on him.

He rolled his shoulders once, cracking his neck.

"Now that," he muttered, grinning wide, "felt like something."

The others didn't wait.