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On another platform, Ryan faced his own nightmare.
The abomination before him defied easy categorization. It moved on four limbs when it wanted speed, rose to two when it wanted reach. Claws that could disembowel with a casual swipe. Teeth designed to tear and rend. And most concerning—intelligence gleaming in those too-human eyes.
This wasn't just a beast. This was a thinking predator.
It circled Ryan, assessing him the same way he was assessing it. Looking for weaknesses. Testing reactions.
Ryan remained still, arms crossed, watching calmly. Waiting.
The creature lunged without warning—a devastating charge that carried the weight of its massive body. Ryan didn't try to dodge. He planted his feet and met the charge head-on.
The collision sounded like a car crash. Ryan was driven backward, boots carving trenches in stone, but he didn't fall. His hands had caught the creature's reaching claws, holding them at bay despite the enormous pressure.
