"Oh, I will," Grey said, a menacing grin spreading across his face. His sharp gaze shifted to Gale. "Get them."
Gale didn't hesitate. In a blur of motion, he dashed toward the opening Sebastian had created for his friends to escape. His movements were swift and precise, a testament to his skills.
"What the—?!" Sebastian staggered back, his wings flaring in frustration as his clawed fists pounded against the unseen wall.
Across the cliff, Grey stood with his arm extended, his fingers curled as though gripping something intangible. His smirk was triumphant, his eyes glinting with malicious amusement. "You didn't think I'd let you interfere, did you?" Grey taunted, his voice dripping with condescension.
Sebastian's crimson eyes burned with fury. He roared, his powerful fists smashing repeatedly against the invisible box that trapped him. But no matter how much force he applied, the barrier didn't budge.
Meanwhile, Gale disappeared into the chasm, his figure swallowed by the darkness as he chased after the others.
"Damn it!" Sebastian bellowed, his voice echoing across the mountainside. He turned his enraged glare toward Grey, his wings flaring wide in the invisible barrier. "You'll regret this!"
Grey's grin widened further as he tightened his grip on the invisible cage, the air shimmering faintly around Sebastian. "Oh, I doubt that," he said smoothly, his voice dripping with mockery. "But don't worry, Morphet. I'll end this sooner than it started."
Sebastian's intense red gaze never wavered. His breathing slowed, his expression calm and deliberate. Then, without warning, his body began to shrink, reverting to its normal form within the confines of the invisible barrier.
Grey tilted his head, a mocking laugh escaping him. "Now look at you," he jeered. "All that power, just a bluff. I expected more."
Sebastian remained unfazed, his movements deliberate as he reached into his pouch. From within, he withdrew another small bottle filled with crimson liquid. Without hesitation, he uncorked it and drank every last drop.
The transformation was instantaneous. Sebastian's body convulsed, his muscles expanding and reshaping as his bones cracked and shifted. A guttural growl escaped his throat, deep and primal, echoing across the mountainside.
Grey's laughter faltered, his eyes narrowing. "What—?"
Before he could finish, Sebastian erupted from the invisible cage with explosive force. The air around him shattered like glass, sending shards of energy and debris flying outward. A piece of the debris scraped across Grey's cheek, leaving a thin, bleeding cut.
Standing where Sebastian once was now loomed an enormous beast. His head was that of a panther, sleek and menacing, with glowing crimson eyes and sharp fangs glinting in the light. His body was massive, resembling that of a gorilla, but with fur crackling with electric currents that sparked and danced along his frame. He stood over eight feet tall, his chest heaving as he pounded it with thunderous force.
Sebastian let out an earth-shaking roar, the sound reverberating through the cliffs and causing loose rocks to tumble from the mountainside. Electricity surged through his fur, lighting up the surrounding area in sharp, jagged flashes.
Grey took a cautious step back, his smirk slipping as his mind raced. His fingers brushed the fresh cut on his face, and his eyes narrowed. "Shit," he muttered under his breath. "How the hell could he have gotten the blood of a beast so sinister?"
Sebastian's panther-like eyes locked onto Grey, glowing with an intensity that sent shivers through the air. His growl rumbled deep, a promise of devastation. This was no longer a battle of wit—it was raw, unrelenting power against sheer cunning.
Grey sighed heavily, brushing dirt from his coat as he rose to his feet. "Looks like I have to get serious," he muttered, cracking his neck. With a burst of speed, he dashed toward the monstrous Sebastian, his movements swift and calculated.
But Sebastian was faster.
The beast's electrified fist struck like a thunderbolt, landing squarely on Grey's jaw. Sparks flew as the impact sent Grey hurtling through the air, crashing into the forest below. He skidded through the underbrush, leaves and branches scattering around him as he came to a stop.
Grey groaned, his cheek throbbing as he touched the fresh bruise. Sparks of electricity still danced across his skin. "Shit," he muttered, steadying himself on an invisible platform that formed beneath his feet. Hovering mid-air, he spat to the side and flexed his jaw. "I'll need to be more careful with this one."
The sound of a feral roar split the air, and Grey's head snapped upward. Sebastian had leapt off the cliff, his massive frame silhouetted against the sky as he plummeted toward Grey like a meteor.
Grey barely had time to react, raising his hands defensively. An invisible wall materialized between him and Sebastian just as the beast's electrified fists crashed down. The impact sent shockwaves rippling outward, forcing Grey to his knees.
"Damn it!" Grey hissed, sweat beading on his brow as he braced himself. The raw force of Sebastian's attack fractured the invisible barrier, cracks spreading like spiderwebs across the air.
With a snarl, Grey rolled to the side just as Sebastian delivered a final blow. The barrier shattered completely, and Sebastian's fists slammed into the forest floor, shaking the ground. Dust and debris erupted in all directions, but Grey managed to land safely a few feet away, crouching on another invisible platform.
Sebastian's crimson eyes darted toward him, filled with an unrelenting fury. Grey gritted his teeth, materializing a shimmering, invisible spear in his hand. "Let's see how tough that hide of yours is," he muttered, lunging forward.
The spear struck Sebastian's chest with precision, but it barely pierced his thick, beastly skin. Sparks erupted where the weapon made contact, but Sebastian didn't so much as flinch.
"What the hell?" Grey muttered, his eyes widening.
Sebastian snarled and swung his massive fist. Grey barely dodged, leaping back as the punch obliterated the ground where he'd stood.
Landing nimbly, Grey materialized an invisible crossbow in his hands, his fingers moving quickly to load it. He aimed for Sebastian's glowing red eyes and released the bolt with deadly precision.
Sebastian swiped the first bolt away with a massive claw, a defiant roar rumbling from his throat. But Grey had anticipated his move. A second bolt shot from the invisible crossbow, this time finding its mark. It struck true, embedding itself in Sebastian's other eye.
The beast let out an earth-shaking roar, a sound that reverberated through the forest and beyond. His massive form staggered as he clawed at his face, electricity sparking wildly from his fur.
Far below, Nox, Lilith, and Crimson plunged into an underground river. The icy water engulfed them, and they surfaced with gasping breaths, the force of their fall leaving them drenched and disoriented.
Lilith coughed, wiping water from her face as she trodden toward the shore. "What was that roar?" she asked, her voice trembling as the sound echoed faintly through the cavernous tunnel.
"I don't know," Crimson replied, his tone grim as he pulled himself onto the rocky bank. Water dripped from his clothes as he turned to help Nox out of the river. "But we need to get out of here—and fast. Nox, do you know the way out?"
The tunnel stretched before them, the glowing walls casting eerie reflections on the rippling surface of the river. The sound of flowing water filled the air, masking all but their laboured breathing.
"Nox?" Crimson repeated, his voice tinged with concern.
Nox stood frozen, her body trembling. Her pink eyes were wide, and her hands were clenched into fists at her sides. "We shouldn't have left him behind!" she cried, her voice cracking. "Why did you make us leave Sebastian?"
Crimson stepped closer, his face softening despite the urgency of their situation. "Nox, listen to me," he said firmly, gripping her shoulders. "Don't do this now. Sebastian told us to go. He made us leave. He's stronger, and you know him better than I do. You know he can survive this."
Nox shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. "But—"
"No 'buts,'" Crimson interrupted, his voice steady and calm. "Right now, the best thing we can do is get out of here. For him. For all of us. He'll come back to us. You have to believe that."
Lilith stepped forward, placing a hand gently on Nox's arm. "He'll find us, Nox. Believe in him," she said softly.
Nox hesitated, her gaze darting between them and the river. Her breathing was shaky, her resolve teetering on the edge. But finally, she nodded, wiping her tears with trembling hands.
"Alright," Nox said, her voice barely above a whisper, her resolve shaky but intact.
Suddenly, a loud splash erupted from the river behind them, the sound echoing through the tunnel like a warning bell. The trio spun around, their gazes snapping to the water.
The surface rippled violently as something—or someone—emerged.
With a sudden burst, Gale popped out of the river, his red hair plastered to his face and his piercing eyes glinting with cold determination. Water streamed off his Xeno Corpse armour, the dark and silver material gleaming menacingly under the faint glow of the tunnel's walls.
You're not going anywhere," Gale growled, his voice dripping with venom as he pulled himself onto the rocky bank, his movements fluid and predatory.
Crimson's grip tightened on his blade as he stepped in front of the others, shielding them. "Gale…" he spat, his voice a mix of disbelief and anger.