The monster stood before them, its enormous body blocking the path ahead. It was nearly six meters tall, with the body of a gigantic tiger, black stripes running across its thick hide, and a long snake-like tail moving slowly behind it. Its eyes glowed with a terrifying hunger as it stared at the group. For a moment, nobody moved. Even the sounds of the jungle seemed to disappear. The group had faced danger before, but this was different. The creature standing before them was the same kind of terrifying beast they had witnessed when they first entered this mysterious world.
Then, suddenly, the monster's gaze shifted.
Its eyes locked onto Mateo.
Before anyone could react, the beast lowered its massive body and rushed forward.
"Mateo!" Javier shouted.
The monster charged like a living mountain, shaking the ground with every step.
But before the creature could reach him, a voice came from behind the group.
"Give me the bomb!"
Everyone turned.
It was Aditya.
He and the others had been waiting in hiding, keeping themselves out of sight until the right moment. Beside him stood Manan, Li Wei, Yuna, and Aanya. They had been preparing for this moment for days, ever since Abhimanyu had first suggested that they create something powerful enough to help them survive against the monsters of this world.
And that memory suddenly flashed through Abhimanyu's mind.
Several days earlier...
The group had been training and preparing themselves for the dangers of the jungle when Abhimanyu called Aditya, Manan, Li Wei, Yuna, and Aanya over.
"I need you five to gather some things for me," Abhimanyu said.
Aditya raised an eyebrow. "What things?"
"Charcoal. Flint. Anything that can help us create an explosion. Look for whatever materials you can find."
Manan stared at him.
"Why?"
Abhimanyu hesitated for a moment before answering.
"Because I and a few of the boys have decided to make something that might help us fight the monsters."
Aanya looked confused.
"What are you planning?"
"A bomb," Abhimanyu finally admitted.
Everyone stared at him.
"A bomb?" Li Wei repeated.
Abhimanyu nodded.
"I know I should have told you earlier. I'm sorry for that. We were still figuring things out, and I didn't want to give you unnecessary hope before we knew whether it was even possible."
The group exchanged uncertain glances.
"But we can help," Yuna said.
Abhimanyu smiled faintly.
"That's exactly why I called you."
The five immediately split up and began searching the jungle for anything useful. They collected charcoal, dry materials, flint, and other ingredients they believed might help. However, when they returned, their collection was far from complete.
"This is all we could find," Aditya said, placing the materials on the ground.
Abhimanyu examined them carefully.
"We're still missing some important things."
Karan stepped forward.
"Let me try."
Everyone looked at him.
Karan rubbed the back of his neck.
"I was a chemical engineer back on our planet. I may not have everything we need, but I should be able to figure out something with what we have."
Abhimanyu studied him for a moment before nodding.
"Then let's do it."
And so, the group worked together.
It wasn't perfect.
It wasn't anything close to the bombs they had known on Earth.
But it was something.
Something that could explode.
Something that could hurt a monster.
And now, they were about to find out whether their desperate creation could actually save their lives.
"Aditya!"
The shout brought him back to the present.
The monster was almost upon Mateo.
Aditya grabbed one of the bombs.
"Give me one!"
li Wei quickly handed it to him.
Aditya pulled out the ignition wire and prepared himself.
The timing had to be perfect.
He ignited the fuse by stone and flint.
The small flame began moving along the wire.
"Come on..." Aditya whispered.
The monster was almost at Mateo.
"Now!"
Aditya threw the bomb.
The small object flew through the air.
The monster didn't even notice it.
Monster was completely focused on Mateo.
For one brief moment, everything seemed to slow down.
The bomb passed through the air.
Closer.
Closer.
Then—
BOOOOOOM!
The explosion erupted beside the monster's head.
The force of the blast sent smoke and debris flying through the air. The monster's enormous body staggered violently, and its attack was interrupted.
At the same moment, Aarav rushed forward.
"Mateo!"
He grabbed Mateo and pulled him away from the beast's reach.
"Move!"
Aarav dragged him backward while the others quickly helped him reach a large tree some distance away.
"Stay here," Aarav said. "You're safer here."
Mateo was still trying to understand what had happened.
"That... was a bomb?"
Aarav looked back toward the battlefield.
"Apparently."
The smoke slowly began to clear.
Everyone stared.
The monster was still standing.
But it had been badly injured.
Part of the flesh around its neck had been burned away by the explosion. Blood ran down its enormous body as smoke rose from the wound. Its head hung slightly to one side.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Ravi slowly stepped forward.
"Well, look at that."
Everyone looked at him.
"The giant murder-cat can bleed after all."
Silence.
Every person in the group turned toward Ravi with a serious expression.
Ravi immediately realized his mistake.
His smile disappeared.
"...What?"
Nobody answered.
Ravi slowly lowered his head.
"Okay. Maybe that wasn't the right time."
The others continued staring at him.
A few seconds passed. Then the monster moved. Its enormous body began to tremble.
Everyone immediately became alert.
"Wait..."
The beast slowly raised its head.
Its eyes glowed brighter.
A strange energy began to gather around its body.
Blue light started flowing across its body.
Abhimanyu's expression changed.
"What is that?"
The blue energy became stronger.
The air around the monster began to vibrate.
The beast opened its mouth.
And suddenly—
A massive wave of blue energy exploded outward.
"WATCH OUT!"
The group scattered.
The attack struck the ground where they had been standing only moments earlier.
BOOOOM!
Water energy spread across the battlefield.
Everyone froze.
Abhimanyu stared at the monster.
This wasn't a normal beast.
It was using an ability.
Just like the two monsters they had witnessed fighting when they first entered this strange world.
Aarav's eyes widened.
"That's it..."
"What?" Abhimanyu asked.
Aarav pointed toward the beast.
"It's fighting like those two monsters we saw when we first entered this world."
The group finally understood.
The monsters weren't simply powerful animals.
They could use energy.
They could use abilities.
And this creature had just shown them exactly how dangerous that power could be.
The monster roared.
The blue energy around its body grew even stronger.
Abhimanyu tightened his fists.
"Everyone..."
The beast launched another attack.
"RUN!"