Crimson Nexus

POV - ATHENA MANGAL-GRAH

Athena ducked, her body bending with the grace of a seasoned fighter, claws slicing through the air where her head had been a moment before. She attempted to close the distance, to strike back, but the K'tharr's long arms reached out, forcing her to leap back. She was irritated; all she could do was evade, and it was taking everything she had.

She had sounded bold and brave when she told her father she'd wait for him, but the reality was far from simple, even for her. She had endured the hellish and infamous 'Hundred Days in the Underworld' training, yet this was unlike any challenge she faced there.

Athena scrutinized the three K'tharr in front of her. She had backed herself against the wall to prevent being surrounded, but now she was effectively trapped.

She had only managed to hold on because only one was actively attacking, while the others waited, watching. It was as if they were learning from her every move. She could see how their dark, malevolent eyes tracked her, adapting to her strategies. The K'tharr currently engaging her kept shifting its attack pattern, forcing her to constantly adapt.

Its arms were absurdly long, tipped with claws that seemed to stretch on forever, towering over her with an intimidating presence, matched only by its insane speed. Athena couldn't help but think that whoever had designed these creatures did so with the explicit intent to counter beings like Martians or similar species.

What to do, what to do, she thought frantically. She couldn't keep evading forever; unlike her, these creatures showed no signs of fatigue. She thought, seriously, this isn't even fair. She wondered if this was how her peers saw her - as an impossible opponent.

Then it hit her; she didn't need to hold on indefinitely, just until her father dealt with the others. She couldn't see past the K'tharr surrounding her to gauge his progress, but with only three on her, he must have been doing great. She couldn't let herself be the weak link.

With a sharp intake of breath, she plunged into the Crimson Nexus, her mind and body aligning in perfect harmony.

In this state, Athena transcended the mere physicality of battle, entering a realm where time seemed to bend and flow around her, an ethereal dance of motion and thought. Every muscle in her body hummed with a preternatural awareness, her senses heightening to the point where the air itself whispered its secrets to her.

The world slowed, or perhaps it was she who accelerated, her perception of reality stretching into a tapestry where every thread of action and reaction was laid bare.

In the Crimson Nexus, Athena knew she could effortlessly dodge all three K'tharr if they attacked simultaneously. The issue was the immense physical and mental toll the state took.

She was the first in fifty years to sustain the Nexus longer than thirty seconds, her record standing at one minute and forty-nine seconds.

The Crimson Nexus was a technique, one among others taught to cadets but forbidden to use due to its draining nature on both body and mind.

She hoped she could last long enough until her father could come to her aid.

Noticing the shift in her demeanor, the other two K'tharr joined the assault, unleashing a storm of claws upon her. Yet, Athena dodged with a dancer's grace, each movement precise and minimal.

It was all she could do, no, it was all she needed to do. Every unnecessary movement would hasten her exhaustion, so she limited herself to evasion, buying more time within the Crimson Nexus.

But evading wasn't the only thing she was doing...

...She was learning how the K'tharr learned. She watched them watch her, noting how they absorbed, stored, processed, and adapted their strategy in what seemed like an impossibly short time for any biological entity. But here she was, learning from their learning.

She knew this knowledge would make her even stronger. She laughed, a sound of both exhilaration and defiance, as she evaded the relentless barrage of claws.

They ramped up their speed, refined their strategy, but Athena was learning from their very adaptation, staying one step ahead. She continued to laugh.

The K'tharr's claws missed her repeatedly, their hisses of frustration filling the air.

After a while, Athena began to feel lightheaded, the exhaustion from maintaining the Crimson Nexus overwhelming her. As eager as she was to keep learning, she knew she must exit the state if she wanted to conserve any energy.

She took a gamble, forcing herself out of the Crimson Nexus, and collapsed to the ground. Six claws descended upon her with lethal speed, but she was too weak to evade.

Yet, a smile spread across her face as she muttered, "Just in time."

The claws were mere inches from tearing into her when suddenly, they stopped, frozen in place by an unseen force.

Even though it wasn't directed at her, Athena could feel the immense, palpable bloodlust emanating from her father.

She watched as the K'tharr recoiled, their grotesque faces contorting into expressions that could only be described as fear.

They turned towards the source of that overwhelming aura of violence.

Athena saw her father standing, or at least, someone who looked like him.

This wasn't the doting father or the stern instructor she was accustomed to seeing.

It was his body, but something else wore his face—a visage transformed by battle.

His face was covered in blood, his clothes were tattered, revealing ugly wounds on his right forearm and left side. Blood dripped from his hands, painting a picture of a man who had become one with the ferocity of war.

He scanned the room, his gaze briefly lingering on Athena, confirming she was exhausted but unharmed.

His eyes then locked onto the K'tharr with a predatory intensity.

When he spoke, his voice was a growl, echoing like thunder, "Now then, come on, you bastards. Attack at once, let's end this quickly. I have somewhere to be."

The K'tharr hesitated, sharing uncertain glances among themselves.

Then, as if coming to an unspoken agreement, they attacked. Unlike before, where they took turns, now all the K'tharr moved in unison.

Athena couldn't blame them. It was the only way they stood a chance.