Chapter 7: The Aeternae Hunts

Cleondra's sharp eyes darted in every direction, tracking the monstrous beast before her. The Chimera prowled, its emerald serpent tail writhing like a coiled spring ready to strike. She knew that a single drop of its venom could drop her in minutes. The frigid gusts of the goat's ice attacks battered her, trying to lock her in place. And then there was the lion—massive, primal, a juggernaut of raw muscle and fury. It was a perfect hunter.

A smirk curled on her lips. "You truly are a marvel."

Her fingers found the small keychain at her waist, metal cylinders glinting in the moonlight. She plucked one and rolled it into her palm.

"Gun Chain."

With a snap, the metal unfurled into a sleek silver pistol. Without hesitation, she squeezed the trigger. Four shots rang through the air—one found its mark. The Chimera roared in irritation, its lion face twisted with rage.

"I hate dealing with animals." Cleondra sighed.

An explosion rocked the ground from Darren's direction. Her head snapped toward the blast.

"What the hell?!"

The Chimera lunged, its deadly tail whipping toward her like a barbed spear. Cleondra leapt back, pulling another cylinder from her chain.

"Sword Chain."

The weapon morphed instantly—a gleaming blade, nearly as long as she was tall. With one fluid motion, she severed the serpent tail from the beast, sending it writhing in agony.

The Chimera howled but refused to retreat.

"You won't let me check on my interns, ya bastard." Cleondra spat.

"Miss Cleondra!" Ren Ol's voice cut through the chaos. "I'll check on them! Can you handle this?"

She didn't break eye contact with the beast. "Of course I can. You're injured—how will you fight?"

Ren Ol smirked. "We all have our ways."

He dashed toward the T-Squad.

---

Pain was nothing to Christopher. His body was charred with third-degree burns, but instead of screaming, he laughed—a maniacal, bone-chilling sound that sent shivers through the battlefield.

"Come on now!" He stepped forward, dragging a finger across his exposed muscle. "Don't tell me you're scared. All that teamwork—it actually hurt me!" He grinned wildly. "And I love it!"

The gap between us vanished in an instant. His fist slammed into me, sending me crashing through tree after tree. My back erupted in agony as I finally stopped against a thick trunk.

"Darren!" Joshua's voice was distant, like a dream.

"Look out, Joshua!" Chris shouted.

Too late.

A brutal kick struck Joshua's temple like a swinging axe, hurling him into the darkness.

"Bastard!" Japheth roared. His hands hardened to stone as he charged, fists flying in a frenzied onslaught. Blow after blow met only air—until finally, one landed.

Christopher barely flinched. He giggled, Japheth's fist still pressed against his cheek.

"That was a nice hit."

Japheth stumbled back, sweat drenching his face. "What...?"

Chris leapt between them, conjuring a wall of fire to separate the two. He grabbed Japheth and yanked him away as flames curled around Christopher.

"The same trick?" Christopher smirked. He stepped through the fire unscathed.

"Monster." Japheth growled.

Ren Ol emerged from the shadows, his body encased in a red aura. He locked eyes with Christopher.

"Hey, old man, I suggest—"

Ren Ol didn't let him finish. His palm connected with Christopher's chest, sending him flying.

---

Pain pulsed through my body, a relentless tide.

"Pathetic." Malvick's voice oozed through my mind. "Your will is strong, but your body is weak."

"Shut up..." I forced myself up, gripping the tree for support. "What the hell is he?"

"A Soul Fusion." Malvick's voice was cold. "His resurrected soul is fused with a beast from the time when Man and Monster walked as equals—the Aeternae."

"How do we beat that?"

"Simple."

A coldness deeper than death wrapped around me. It felt as if Malvick stood right behind me.

"Let me take over," he whispered. "It'll be over in a flash."

"Shut up!" My vision blurred.

"Darren!" Chris grabbed me, shaking me back to reality. "We can win! We just have to keep hitting him."

His auburn eyes burned bright with determination. I nodded, pushing forward.

"Yo, Joshua!" Japheth yelled. "Stop napping!"

"I'M NOT NAPPING, YOU IDIOT!"

Japheth looked up—Joshua was tangled in the towering trees. Despite the chaos, Japheth let out a laugh.

Joshua groaned. "This isn't funny! That guy's gonna kill us!"

"Nah." Japheth smirked. "He's laughing 'cause we're hurting him. Old man Ren is holding him off. Now let's return the favor."

He punched the tree, toppling it and freeing Joshua.

---

Cleondra exhaled as she gazed at the lifeless Chimera. Only its severed tail still twitched, its final defiance against death. She sliced it clean off, ensuring it would never rise again. Flicking blood from her white coat, she pulled out her phone.

"Mr. Hernandez," she began, her voice tense. "This mission might be too much for the T-Squad."

"They must learn, Cleondra." Samuel's voice was calm. "If they can't handle this, imagine what Donovan has in store."

Cleondra remained silent.

"Watch their battle. If they need help, intervene. But only if necessary."

---

We regrouped with Ren Ol, his small frame wavering.

Christopher grinned. "So, what now?"

Ren Ol exhaled sharply. "I'm at my limit. He's been toying with me."

Christopher gripped his own horns and yanked them free. Blood poured down his face as he clutched them like daggers.

"Get ready." I braced myself.

Christopher vanished.

He reappeared before Joshua, his dagger poised for the kill. Japheth blocked with his stone hands. Christopher kicked him aside, but Joshua retaliated, sending a slicing gust that smashed Christopher into the dirt.

"Let's go!" Ren Ol charged.

My fist clenched with swirling darkness. I followed.

Christopher howled with laughter as we tore into him—flames, fists, shadows, all colliding with his cursed flesh. He staggered but kept grinning.

I grabbed his face, darkness seeping from my fingers. With all my strength, I slammed him into the earth. A sickening vibration shook the ground. Christopher spun, lashing out with a kick—I caught his leg and, with a ferocity I didn't recognize, shattered it with my elbow.

His smile flickered. "You..."

Ren Ol appeared behind him, fists hammering his chest in a blur. "You unholy monster! You stole my daughter! You stole lives!"

Christopher sneered—then drove a dagger into Ren Ol's side.

"Because it's funny."

Something inside me snapped. Darkness bled from every pore. My gaze locked onto Christopher.

His smile faded.

I ripped his arm from his body.

Christopher threw his head back, laughing hysterically.

"Aeternae," Malvick's voice rumbled from my throat. "You're just prey. And I am the hunter."

I drove my clawed hand into his chest, gripping his pulsing heart.

The darkness devoured it.

Silence fell over the battlefield.

I swayed, my vision dimming. "Why do I feel so…"

Darkness took me.