The Monarch did not like that one of its two prey had escaped its stomach.
Raising one of its tentacles high, it swept downward. The attack was so intense it carried the same inertia as a falling meteor.
Michael acted on instinct, altering the form of Heaven's Judgment into a shield.
When the tentacle struck him, it hurled him toward the ground like a ragdoll, shattering the terrain beneath him.
A sharp gasp escaped Michael's lips, his eyes locking onto the towering figure of the Monarch.
The alien had swallowed Ruby in one bite, without causing external or internal harm to her.
Inside the creature's stomach, Ruby still had to be alive, likely for at least a few minutes.
"I have to…"
The hand with which Michael had held Heaven's Judgment was broken, refusing to obey his orders.
Using his only functioning arm, he buried Devil into the ground beneath him, using the soul weapon like a crutch to move forward.
His limping arm trailed behind him, leaving a trail of crimson blood.
