Chapter 12 Wave after wave?!!

Words : 1227 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

Lila's sharp eyes scanned the Stoneback Behemoth, her gaze dissecting every inch of the grotesque creature. Its massive form loomed over them like a nightmare given flesh—a twisted parody of a bear, monstrous and foreboding. But despite its terrifying presence, Lila focused on what mattered. Teeth and claws. Its primary weapons were obvious. Jagged, bone-like claws that could tear through stone, and a mouth bristling with teeth that looked like crude blades. Those were the threats. Lila's voice was cold and methodical as she muttered just loud enough for Noah to hear. "Teeth and claws—it doesn't seem to rely on much else." Her gloved hands tightened around the shaft of her scythe. "We avoid those. That's step one." Noah stood nearby, his shoulders tense, though his eyes were alive with focus. He didn't flinch under the creature's roars, even as the cave walls trembled in response. Lila continued, her tone unwavering. "Category 3 beasts are a different breed, Noah. That scythe of mine?" She twirled it once for emphasis. "Level one. Made for handling Category 1s, maybe a weak 2 on a good day. This thing?" She gestured at the Behemoth with her chin. "It's a whole other level." 'She's calm... too calm,' Noah thought, forcing his own breathing to steady. His mind raced. Lila might be more experienced, but even she knew they were punching well above their weight. A Category 3 wasn't just big or dangerous—it was smart. Noah's gaze flickered to the creature's hulking torso. The thick plating, the rippling muscles beneath... getting through that would be hell. As if reading his thoughts, Lila spoke again. "It'll guard its core like its life depends on it—and it does. We get through that armor, or we don't walk out of here. Simple as that." She glanced at Noah. "But we need to find the weak spot first. Most beasts leave themselves open somewhere—an opening, a delay. We hope it doesn't have a surprise attack waiting for us." 'And if it does?' Noah pushed that thought away. He couldn't afford to think about failure. His pulse hammered in his ears as he ran a quick assessment in his head. He raised his voice just enough to cut through the tension. "I'll take point. Lila—you hit from the rear." Lila arched a brow at him but didn't argue. Her smirk was faint but approving. "You're the boss, Noah. Just don't get eaten." Noah nodded, his mind settling into a calm rhythm. Teeth and claws. Avoid them. Get to the core. He crouched, muscles coiled, ready to sprint. "Coordinates locked. Let's move."@@@@ The two launched forward, boots pounding against the cave floor. The air seemed to crackle with tension as they closed the distance, the Stoneback Behemoth's guttural growl echoing like thunder. Noah led the charge, zigzagging to keep the beast's attention on him. Every movement was calculated; every step placed with precision. He could feel the Behemoth's feral eyes tracking him, the claws already preparing to swipe. 'Keep moving. Keep breathing. Focus.' From the corner of his vision, Lila swept wide, her scythe gleaming with deadly intent. The Stoneback Behemoth roared, its monstrous form shifting, and the battle began. Noah gripped his twin blades so tightly his knuckles went white. For a fleeting second, a ridiculous idea hit him 'What if I threw one at its eye?' But reality kicked back in just as fast. 'Yeah, sure. And what if I miss? Then I will be down a weapon and the bastard still breathing down my neck,' Risk had its place, but this wasn't a video game where he could hit restart, adjust his strategy, and try again. This was life or death, and Noah liked being alive. The Stoneback Behemoth made the first move. It slashed down, claws screaming through the air like knives. 'Shit!' Noah ducked low, instincts kicking in as his body slid across the dirt floor in a scrape of boots and grit. He twisted mid-slide, blades flashing as he got within striking distance. With every ounce of strength, he slashed both weapons into the Behemoth's side's one for good measure. Nothing. It felt like smacking wood with a blunt machete. Zero damage. Noah's heart sank. 'This thing's hide is tougher than it looks,' He barely had a second to process before the beast roared, twisting its massive frame. Noah's stomach dropped as its jaws snapped down toward him, teeth gleaming like bloody daggers. 'Move, move, move!' Noah threw himself into a roll, skidding out just in time to avoid becoming lunch. He wasn't faster than the beast so no way could he outspeed a Category 3 monstrosity like this but his instincts were sharp. They had to be. Growing up in the barracks, he'd spent too many years scrapping with other kids in the dirt. No formal training. Just raw fights, bruises, and survival. Enough to give him a fighting chance, but not enough to win against this thing alone. His mind swirled with desperation. His blades were useless. His power— His power. Noah's head snapped toward the cave entrance. Without warning, he bolted. Behind him, Lila managed to look up. Her face fell as realization hit. "You coward," she whispered. It wasn't anger. Just quiet resignation. But Noah didn't stop. He ran, chest pounding, feet slamming against the ground. Just when it looked like he might escape entirely, he skidded to a halt near the cave's inner exit. He turned around, fists clenching as his throat vibrated with something raw, primal. His mouth glowed faintly purple. "Rarrrrrghhhhh!!!" The sound that erupted from him was monstrous, so perfectly replicated it sent chills down his own spine. The Stoneback Behemoth froze mid-motion, its massive head swiveling toward him. Noah's heart thundered as the beast began to stalk toward him, claws dragging through the earth with a screeching scrape. Lila, still on her knees, gaped at him. 'What the hell are you doing, you idiot?' she thought. But Noah didn't stop. "Rarrrrrghhhhh!!!" he roared again, his voice echoing even louder this time. Sweat dripped down his forehead as the beast picked up its pace, drawn to the sound like a moth to flame. Noah stepped back, leading it away from Lila and deeper into the open area of the cavern where the terrain widened into three separate tunnels. 'Come on, ugly. Follow me,' Noah thought, forcing his breathing to steady. The beast's attention locked onto him, its slow, deliberate movements intensifying with every echo of his voice. "Rarrrrrghhhhh!!!" The third roar blasted through the cavern. Only—this time, it wasn't Noah. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled. The bracelet on his arm buzzed with a chilling notification. [Level 3 beast detected] [Alpha Stoneback Behemoth] Noah's face paled. "...Just fuck me," he muttered under his breath as another deafening roar thundered through the cavern. The sound came from one of the tunnels. 'There's two of them?' The cave rumbled, shadows shifting as the second beast's massive silhouette emerged from the darkness. Noah let out a sharp breath, his grip tightening on his blades. "This day just keeps getting better."

Chapter 12 Wave after wave?!!

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