The big guy jumped over some wrecked cars, landing right in front of Riko again.
That chilling word the figure on the rooftop said was stuck in Riko's head, like a bad dream. But before he could figure it out, a huge crash shook the whole alley, making bits of brick fall off the walls. Riko spun around just in time to see a massive shadow block out the messed-up sky.
The boss monster was flying.
Its big body went over the ruined street, easily clearing a line of messed-up cars. Little glitchy cubes spun off its skin as it jumped, like bits falling off a broken video game character. Its claws were wide open, its teeth were showing, and its roar shook everything around them.
Riko barely had time to yell, "GET OUT OF THE WAY—"
BOOM!
The monster landed right in front of them with a huge crash. The ground shook, and the street turned into pixel dust. A flipped-over car behind Riko just disappeared, replaced by a bunch of floating cubes.
Riko slid back, grabbing Luna's arm so she wouldn't fall. "WHY DOES IT KEEP FINDING US?!"
Luna yelled back, "Maybe because you punched it in the FACE!"
"That was, like, ten minutes ago!"
"You knocked its face OFF, Riko!"
"It grew back!!"
"STILL COUNTS!"
The boss stood up, staring right at Riko. Not Luna, not the messed-up street, not the figure on the roof—just him. Steam was coming out of its mouth, all glitchy and messed up.
Riko felt sick. "Why does it hate me so much…"
"BECAUSE YOU PUNCHED ITS FACE OFF!" Luna shouted again, even louder.
Riko threw his hands up. "I SAID I WAS SORRY!—sort of!"
The monster didn't care. It slammed one huge foot down, smashing a parked bike into bits of metal and pixel cubes. It dragged its claws across the street, like it was getting ready for a fight.
Luna suddenly stepped in front of Riko.
He was shocked. "Luna—what are you doing?!"
She didn't even hesitate. She wasn't scared. She just stood there.
She SHOVED him hard in the chest.
Riko stumbled back, almost falling. "HEY—WHAT—"
"Stop running!" Luna yelled, pointing at his chest. "Punch it!"
Riko stared at her. "Are you crazy?! It's HUGE!"
"You can punch HUGE things! I saw you do it!"
"That was an accident!"
"THEN DO ANOTHER ACCIDENT!"
He couldn't believe it. "That's not how punching things works—"
Luna grabbed his shirt with both hands. "Riko, if we keep running, we're dead. If we hide, we're dead. If we TALK, we're dead! So do something only you can do!"
"I—I—" Riko looked at the monster, at how big it was, at the street turning into pixels, at his arm-screen flashing. His legs shook. His chest felt tight. "Luna, I don't know if I can control it! I don't know what I'm doing!"
"You never know what you're doing!" she snapped. "And somehow you still manage to live!"
"That's not a skill!"
"Yes, it IS! Use it!"
The alley shook again as the boss moved closer, its claws tearing up the road. Its big shoulders scraped the side of a building, sending bricks (and cubes) falling down.
Riko took a step back. "Just—just give me a second—"
"Riko." Luna grabbed his face. "You don't HAVE a second."
Her words hit him hard.
Riko's heart pounded. He looked at Luna, really looked at her—dust on her face, sweat on her forehead, her eyes shining with the fire of someone who wouldn't give up, even when the world was falling apart.
And for a second, he felt something change inside him.
Not confidence.
Not bravery.
Just the need to do something.
He stepped forward.
The boss immediately got ready to fight, digging its claws into the ground. Its eyes narrowed. Its muscles tightened.
Luna stepped back, watching. "Okay. Okay, good. Good! That's the spirit! Now, uh, try not to die!"
"I'll… try," Riko said.
A shadow fell over him as the boss leaned forward, its big claws scraping the ground. He made fists. The screen on his arm went crazy, flashing with static. It made a sharp, glitchy sound.
Riko looked at it. "Hey—system—if you have ANY advice—"
The screen flashed some random symbols.
"Great! Thanks for the help!"
He stood as steady as he could on the messed-up ground. His knees shook. Sweat dripped down his face. The monster breathed on him, like hot, glitchy wind.
Riko whispered, "Please don't punch me first…"
The boss tensed up.
Luna yelled, "Riko, look out!!"
The monster's muscles tightened like springs.
Then—
It charged.
The street cracked as it ran, its big arms swinging like wrecking balls. Bits of pixel stuff flew through the air as it came straight at him, roaring loud enough to shake the buildings.
Riko raised his fists.
Luna held her breath.
The screen on his arm made a high-pitched sound.
The boss charged with both fists.