desperate fight

The serpent was enormous, its scales gleaming in the dim light, eyes blazing red with malice. The ground trembled beneath its weight as it advanced, and before Zera could react, Orin pushed her away.

"Stay behind me!" he shouted, his voice strained. He faced the creature, fists raised.

Zera hit the ground hard, pain shooting through her limbs as she scrambled to her feet. She saw Orin's eyes, full of determination, of trust. He wasn't afraid. But then the python struck.

Its fangs glinted in the dark, and the air smelled of sulfur as it lunged at them. Orin dodged, but the snake's venomous spittle hit him. Zera watched, helpless, as the venom splashed onto Orin's body, and within seconds, his movements slowed, stiffened. He gasped, but his body began to petrify. His limbs locked, his skin hardening to stone.

"No!" Zera screamed, but the words choked in her throat.

The serpent coiled around him, lifting him off the ground, and with terrifying speed, it swallowed him whole.

Zera froze, her heart pounding in her chest. Orin's voice echoed in her mind. "Stay behind me." But it was too late. The beast was gone, and so was he.

Zera dropped to her knees, feeling the weight of his loss settle heavily on her shoulders. Her hands shook as she pressed them to the ground, trying to steady herself, trying to breathe.

A memory struck like a lightning bolt, so sharp it nearly knocked the wind out of her. She was ten years old, and her power had exploded without warning. Electricity surged through her body, uncontrolled. She hadn't understood it then, hadn't known how dangerous it was. She had been terrified. When the storm subsided, her home was in ruins, and her brother had been paralyzed because of her.

She could still hear his scream, the sound of his nerves burning as her power had overwhelmed him. He could never walk again.

I did this, she thought, clutching her arms as the guilt washed over her. She swore then to never use her power again. But here she was, helpless, watching Orin taken by a monster.

If only I could do something..

Her body trembled as she forced herself to stand. Orin was gone, but she wasn't done yet. She couldn't let this thing take everything.

Zera's armor buzzed faintly, the core pulsing with energy. She could feel the power thrumming beneath her skin, but it wasn't enough, she couldn't rely on that. She had to move, had to act.

The tracking system activated in her helmet, and she locked onto the faint energy signature left by Orin's petrified body. She couldn't waste any time. The serpent had to have left a trail, and she wouldn't lose it.

With every step, her mind replayed Orin's words, his unwavering belief in her. Even when she had doubted herself, he had never stopped believing. He always thought she was stronger than she thought.

I have to be stronger, she thought, pushing forward through the thick forest. The trees loomed over her, blocking out the sky. The air grew heavy, oppressive, thick with the serpent's presence. But Zera wasn't going to stop. She couldn't.

The path she followed grew colder, darker. Then, a blur of movement caught her eye, shadows darting between the trees. She barely had time to react as a pack of wolf-like creatures with glowing eyes emerged from the forest, their movements fast, almost unnatural.

Without thinking, Zera raised her hands, releasing a burst of electricity from her palms. It struck the first wolf, sending it howling into the air before it collapsed into a pile of black mist. The others hesitated, clearly sensing her power.

Zera didn't hesitate. She wasn't going to let these beasts slow her down. One by one, she struck, her electric attacks precise and controlled. The last wolf dissolved into smoke, its body disintegrating with a final, agonized howl.

Zera stood, chest heaving, her body shaking from the exertion. She was drained, but she couldn't stop. She had to keep going.

The cavern entrance loomed before her, its bones scattered around the perimeter, reminders of monsters who had fallen before. The python's lair. Zera took a deep breath, steadying herself. She couldn't afford to hesitate.

Inside the cavern, the python's massive form was coiled around a pile of glowing stones, its figure barely visible.

Her heart sank, but she didn't let herself falter. She clenched her fists, focusing on the task at hand. She wasn't going to let this creature win.

The serpent's fiery eyes snapped toward her as it uncoiled, hissing. It was ready for round two.

Zera didn't wait for it to strike. She threw herself into action, her hands crackling with electric energy. A spear of lightning shot from her fingertips, aimed directly at the creature's head. It struck with a violent crack, but the serpent barely flinched. Its scales absorbed the blow, and it retaliated instantly, its tail whipping through the air toward her.

She dodged, but the tail caught her side, slamming her into the cavern wall. Pain exploded across her chest, but she forced herself to rise, her breath ragged, heart pounding.

The serpent hissed again, slithering toward her, venom dripping from its fangs. Zera raised her hands, drawing in every bit of energy she had left. She wasn't backing down now.

Her core flared to life, the power inside her growing, crackling through her body, desperate to be unleashed. She stopped holding back.

Purple lightning erupted from her body in a violent storm, crackling through the air, arcing through the serpent's massive form. The creature shrieked as the electricity coursed through its body, its scales cracking and smoking. It thrashed, but Zera had to stop.

She dropped to her knees, exhausted, her whole body burning from the effort. The serpent was still alive, tired but still there.

But Zera didn't have time to rest.

A growl echoed through the cavern, deep and guttural, sending a chill down Zera's spine. She turned slowly, her muscles aching, barely able to stay on her feet. From the cavern entrance, another figure emerged.

A creature, towering and humanoid, its body covered in jagged, crystalline armor that glowed with an eerie red light. It stepped in, its glowing eyes locked onto her. It wasn't like the serpent. This was different, intelligent, calculating.

Zera's heart pounded as the creature moved closer, its presence suffocating. Her power had nearly drained her, and now this new threat appeared. She couldn't fight this. She didn't have the strength left. Now she is surrounded by two beasts each one is more dangerous than the other.