Fight

Jack and the chimera were alone beneath the collapsed ceiling, trapped inside the wreckage-filled cabin. Jack stepped forward slowly, eyes locked on the creature's. He raised one hand, fingers loosely spread as he extended it toward the beast.

"So… you know my name," he said coolly.

"And I guess you want to kill me…"

He shrugged, his tone now laced with mockery:

"Bad news — there's quite a long list of people who want me dead. So if you're serious about it, you'll have to get in line."

He smirked.

"And judging by the queue... you'll be waiting a while. Cutting ahead is just rude."

The cabin once again echoed with that deep, guttural voice. The chimera narrowed its eyes and tilted its head slightly as it repeated in the same ominous tone:

"Jack Rose... Jack Rose... must die..."

As it finished speaking, it bared its teeth and roared.

Its tail curled up over its head like a snake, the black tip gleaming—

then suddenly launched straight at Jack.

Jack twisted his body just in time. The black spike whistled past his ear and embedded itself in the wall behind him, making the wood groan under the impact.

But the chimera gave no pause. Like a predator, it lunged.

Jack was barely recovering when the beast was already upon him. Its thick, scaled hand clamped around Jack's throat.

"Gh—!" Jack was lifted off the ground.

The chimera yanked him back and hurled him with all its strength.

BOOM!

Jack smashed into the wooden wall — it exploded in splinters, boards flying in all directions as his body crashed through and was thrown outside.

Silence fell outside. A cloud of dust settled.

The chimera stepped forward toward the broken wall, dark eyes scanning the open space.

Between clenched teeth, it hissed menacingly:

"Jack Rose... your end is here."

It walked to where Jack's body lay motionless. Leaning down, it grabbed him by the collar and lifted him high. Jack's feet dangled off the ground.

The chimera drew back its claw, ready to strike But then:

"RAAAAGH!" it roared in pain.

A claw was lodged deep into its side, just below the ribs — Albert. When Jack had thrown him out, Albert had hidden beside the cabin. Now, having seen everything, he'd acted despite his fear and launched a surprise attack from behind.

But the chimera's reflexes were still those of a predator. Without turning, it whipped its tail around, the tail snared Albert by the neck.

"Hhkk!"

Albert's body was flung in an arc before it even hit the ground. He crashed into a pile of wood and lay still.

Jack didn't waste the opening.

His eyes lit up. His jaw opened unnaturally wide and his teeth sank deep into the chimera's neck.

"RAAAAAAAAAAGH!!"

The chimera howled again, wild with pain. Its face twisted in rage. Jack bit down harder. Then with a sharp pull, he tore out a chunk of thick flesh. The beast screamed in agony.

It swung at Jack, but staggered, thrown off balance.

Jack hit the ground hard but recovered instantly. He rushed behind the creature, grabbing its swaying tail. His claws dug deep into it, muscles tensing.

With a roar:

"Time to fly!" he shouted.

The chimera was hurled through the air like a massive sack. It slammed into a thick nearby tree — the impact shattered branches, and the crash shattered the night's silence.

The chimera struggled to rise, trembling.

Its breaths were ragged, and its body bore the marks of devastation.

Jack stepped toward it, one slow step at a time, his form shifting. His muscles swelled. Bones cracked and reshaped. His skin was now covered in dark fur; his hands reached the ground, fingers transforming into claws.

And when the last traces of his human body faded a monstrous, jet-black wolf stood in the darkness.

Steam rose from its breath, and its glowing eyes burned with primal fury.

Wolf-form Jack stood face to face with the chimera. The beast stared at him, and for the first time in its eyes was fear.

Jack bared his teeth and growled.

A deep, resonating roar shattered the night.

Then he lunged. His massive jaws clamped down over the chimera's head, biting clean through to the neck.

CRUNCH.

With a swift jerk, the head tore free.

Jack turned, spat the twitching skull onto the ground with disgust.

The chimera's lifeless, headless body remained slumped at the base of the tree it had crashed into. Though its muscles still twitched with fading impulses, life had long since fled that grotesque form. Its torso rested against the tree, as if burdened by the shame of the savagery it once contained.

Jack turned away, his eyes still glowing faintly with a hazy light. He walked slowly toward Albert who was struggling to rise from the underbrush. His shirt was shredded, his body battered and trembling, each breath shallow and labored. Jack approached, his imposing wolf-like silhouette looming above him.

"Get on my back," he said. His voice was deep and rough, yet unmistakably still Jack's.

Albert's eyes widened in surprise, but he didn't hesitate. Grabbing hold of Jack's thick fur, he pulled himself up with difficulty. Despite the pain, he managed to mount the beast. As soon as Jack felt Albert's weight settle, he crouched low to the ground. Then, planting his hind legs firmly into the earth, he launched forward with all his might.

As they tore through the dark forest, tree trunks rushed past like fleeting ghosts. Jack surged onward into the night, carrying Albert on his back, heading toward the villa with relentless speed.

Jack raced through the forest with super speed. Moonlight filtered through the leaves, and shadows clung to his fur like silent companions. Each stride disrupted the rhythm of the earth, leaving only the wind in his wake. They had put a good distance between themselves and the cabin. Jack's muscles remained tense—his burden was precious, and the path ahead uncertain.

Suddenly, Jack's ears perked up. Something... a fracture in the silence... danger!

In a split-second reflex, he leapt to the side. Before the vapor of his breath could touch the ground, a thick bolt embedded itself into the very spot he had just vacated. The earth trembled slightly.

With a growl, Jack turned toward the direction the bolt had come from, his eyes locking onto the darkness.

Out from the trees, through the dim shadows, a woman slowly stepped forward. In her hands was a crossbow that shimmered with a metallic gleam. Her face was calm, but her eyes were the kind that had prayed often to the gods of sharpshooters. The trigger of her crossbow remained taut, ready for the next shot.

A branch shifted lightly above. Jack's gaze lifted. Perched among the limbs was a man, almost lost to the shadows, aiming a silenced pistol. He held his breath, his eye locked through the sight.

The hunters had sprung their trap.