Arthur stepped in, intending to take out the leg before going for the kill. But he didn't get the chance to strike, because the husky was already moving before he could react.
It passed him in a blur, faster than before, faster than anything he'd seen from it so far. No hesitation this time. It went straight for the damaged joint, slamming into the ant and biting down hard.
For a second, nothing happened.
Then something felt… off.
Arthur noticed it before he could make sense of it. The air around the husky's mouth started to twist, like heat rising off stone—but heavier. Darker. It clung to its jaws, seeping through its teeth as it bit down harder.
The ant reacted instantly, thrashing, trying to pull away—
but it couldn't.
The joint didn't crack.
Didn't give.
It just… vanished.
Not cleanly. Not like anything Arthur had seen before. One moment it was there, the next it wasn't—like that part of its body had been erased, leaving behind something jagged and incomplete.
The ant let out a sharp, broken screech and dropped to one side.
Arthur froze for half a heartbeat.
"What the hell was that?"
The husky didn't stop.
The distortion thickened, pulsing faintly as it bit deeper, tearing into the next joint before the ant could recover.
Same thing again.
That same warped feeling.
The second joint disappeared.
Now the ant couldn't hold itself up. Its body dipped lower, legs failing as it tried to stay upright.
Arthur moved.
"Move—!"
He stepped in immediately, taking advantage of the opening. His hand came down hard against the ant's head—not to break it, just to force it down, to keep it from recovering.
The ant lashed out, but it was slower now. Sloppy. Off balance.
Arthur slipped past the strike and pushed forward again.
"Stay down."
The husky finally let go—
and staggered.
Not by choice.
Its footing slipped the moment it pulled back, body unsteady as it landed. The dark distortion around its mouth flickered once—
then disappeared.
Arthur noticed.
Too quickly.
"Hey—"
The ant moved again.
Even like this, it wasn't done.
It dragged itself forward, forcing movement out of what little stability it had left, lunging in one last attempt.
Arthur turned back with a quiet breath.
"…seriously?"
No hesitation this time.
He stepped in and struck the weakened side again, aiming where the husky had already torn it apart. Without that joint, the structure couldn't hold.
It gave.
The ant's body collapsed hard against the ground, dust kicking up around it.
A twitch.
Then another.
Then nothing.
Silence settled in.
Arthur didn't move right away. He watched for a second longer, just to be sure.
When it didn't get back up, he finally exhaled.
"…okay."
He straightened slowly, rolling his shoulder before turning toward the husky.
It hadn't gone far.
But something was off.
Its breathing was heavier now, uneven. Its stance wasn't steady anymore. Whatever that thing was, the brutal power had taken something out of it.
Arthur walked over, slower this time.
"Hey."
No response.
He crouched slightly, studying it.
"You couldn't do that before."
Nothing.
Just that same quiet presence by his side, just a lot weaker now.
Arthur let out a small breath, shaking his head.
"Yeah… figures."
He glanced back at the ant, then at the husky again.
"Don't do that unless you have to." His voice was sterner, no longer the soft voice he used to not startle the husky.
A pause.
Then, quieter—
"Good job partner"
The husky's ear twitched.
It's tail kicking up the dust as it stared at arthur's clenched fist loosening up.
Arthur straightened, looking back toward the cave.
The way forward was open now.
But things weren't the same anymore.
His eyes dropped to the husky again, his hand now on its head, patting the good boy who deserved the pats.