The earth trembled violently as two overwhelming forces collided.
On one side stood a colossal, tentacled monster—its massive body writhing as if the very ground struggled to contain it. On the other was a streak of blue light, swift and relentless, cutting through the battlefield like a living blade.
The creature's tentacles lashed through the air at terrifying speeds, each movement leaving behind blurred afterimages that distorted the space around them. They struck with enough force to shatter steel and pulverize rock, turning the battlefield into a storm of destruction.
But the blue light was faster.
With every precise movement, it slipped between the tentacles, weaving through impossible gaps as if guided by instinct alone. Each pass carved through the monster's limbs, slicing them apart or blasting them into fragments with bursts of concentrated energy.
Yet the creature did not fall.
Its vitality bordered on the absurd—severed tentacles regenerated almost instantly, new ones surging forward to replace what had been lost. The relentless assault seemed to do little more than slow it down.
'I need to find the core.'
Jonas narrowed his focus, his mind racing as he analyzed the chaotic flow of energy within the creature. Normally, the core would be obvious—the source of its life and power—but here, the signals were distorted beyond recognition.
The readings were too erratic, too tangled to decipher.
'I'm going to need a clearer view.'
Making his decision, Jonas shifted his approach. The blue light intensified as he pushed forward, diving straight toward the khaerix with renewed aggression.
This technique wasn't meant for this.
Originally, it required two swords—perfect balance, perfect symmetry. But Jonas didn't have that luxury now.
'I'll just have to make it work somehow!'
He drew in a deep breath, steadying himself as he prepared the attack. In one hand, he gripped his blade. In the other, his gun. The two weapons moved as one, perfectly synchronized despite their difference.
He swung and fired at the same time.
"Moonlit Sword Style — Celestial Crossing."
The attacks converged midair, forming a distorted crescent of blue energy. Though imperfect, it carried immense power as it tore forward, smashing through the incoming tentacles and reducing them to countless fragments.
The battlefield cleared for a brief moment.
'Not yet.'
Jonas didn't hesitate. Forcing Fortune beyond its limits, he prepared the next technique.
"Moonlit Sword Style — Heavenlit Finale!"
The moment he initiated it, cracks spread across the Kairos. The strain was too much—systems pushed far beyond safe thresholds. Through the neural linkage, every fracture, every point of stress was transmitted directly to him.
Pain surged through his body in full force.
That was the price of control.
The khaerix reacted instantly.
Sensing the overwhelming threat, its countless tentacles withdrew, folding inward as its body hardened, reinforcing itself in preparation for the incoming attack.
'Trying to block? It's no use!'
If this were any ordinary strike, perhaps it could defend against it.
But this was no ordinary strike.
Within the Moonlit Sword Style, this was the pinnacle of raw destructive power.
Warning alerts flooded Jonas's vision, flashing urgently as his systems screamed at him to stop. He ignored them all.
Instead, he pushed even further.
'Sorry to push you this much.'
Fortune responded.
At a speed that surpassed perception itself, the machine surged forward. Its body spun rapidly, gathering momentum—compressing energy into a single, devastating point.
Then—
A spear of blue light pierced the battlefield.
For a fleeting instant, it illuminated everything… and then it vanished.
Silence followed.
A heartbeat later, a deafening explosion tore through the area, obliterating everything in its path.
When the dust settled, the khaerix was no longer a defined shape.
Its body had been reduced to a grotesque mass—flesh and muscle scattered, barely holding together.
But Fortune… and Jonas… were not unscathed.
The Kairos had been pushed beyond its breaking point.
Its arms were gone, completely torn apart. The remaining structure was shattered, fragments barely clinging together. It was no longer capable of sustaining combat.
Jonas fared no better.
The impact, combined with the overwhelming strain, had inflicted severe internal damage. His organs burned with pain, each breath heavy and uneven. A jagged fragment from Fortune had pierced his side, blood steadily flowing from the wound.
Still…
'I have to finish it.'
He forced himself to stay conscious.
The khaerix, even in its ruined state, would regenerate. Given time, it would recover—far faster than Jonas ever could.
'But…'
His gaze shifted to Fortune.
There was nothing left to rely on.
'In that case…'
He would end it himself.
Through the destroyed mass, the khaerix's core was visible.
Unlike the rest of its body, which possessed overwhelming durability, the core was different. Fragile. Vulnerable.
And this one was no exception.
Jonas forced open the cockpit and stepped out.
The moment his feet touched the ground, his body nearly gave out beneath him. Still, he pushed forward, dragging himself across the ruined battlefield.
In one hand, he held a small handgun.
The other pressed tightly against his bleeding side.
'I have to…'
Gritting his teeth, he forced his damaged suit to function beyond its limits, drawing out just enough strength to keep moving.
Each step was heavier than the last.
But then—
The ground trembled.
A subtle vibration, but unmistakable.
Jonas froze for a fraction of a second.
He knew that feeling all too well.
'More khaerix are appearing?'
Of course they were.
They never came alone.
It was their nature—to overwhelm, to conquer through sheer numbers. They were expendable, artificially created soldiers. Losing a few meant nothing to them.
'Still… I don't plan on losing.'
Summoning the last of his strength, Jonas surged forward.
He raised the handgun.
Without hesitation, he fired.
A concentrated beam shot forth, carrying everything he had left.
It struck the exposed core directly.
There was no resistance.
The core shattered instantly.
A powerful shockwave erupted outward, blasting through the battlefield and sending Jonas flying backward.
His body hit the ground hard, rolling before finally coming to a stop.
Silence followed.
The approaching khaerix reached the battlefield.
Jonas, barely conscious, turned his head slightly to look at them.
A faint smile formed on his face.
'If it's this much… they will be able to take care of it.'
His vision faded.
Darkness crept in.
And then—
Nothing.
…
They understood.
The human was on the verge of death.
Their objective remained unchanged.
Annihilate the humans.
They advanced without hesitation.
But then—
They saw them.
Two figures.
Human… yet not.
Something about them was different.
Even with their limited intelligence, the khaerix recognized the threat immediately. These beings were unlike any others they had encountered.
Far more dangerous.
Far more powerful.
Instinct took over.
They would relay this information to their masters.
They turned—
But never got the chance.
"Die."