Rion crouched on the rooftop, the cold wind whipping around him as he watched the battle below unfold with a mixture of awe and horror. His breath fogged in the night air, the chill biting through his clothing and seeping into his bones, but he barely noticed. His entire focus was on the riveting scene on the courtyard below.
The courtyard was a wide-open space, bordered by the high walls of the compound and dotted with sporadic bursts of flame and light from the ongoing conflict. The dim glow of security lamps cast long, eerie shadows that flickered and danced across the ground, creating a disorienting tapestry of light and darkness.
But even more disturbing was the figure in opposition to the agents and guards. It was unlike anything he'd ever encountered, even in this world where origin energy and superhuman abilities were the norm.
The monstrous beast towered over the battlefield, its massive serpentine body coiling and uncoiling with terrible power. It was like something out of a nightmare, its dark, glistening scales catching the faint light of the stars above, casting a shimmering, almost hypnotic pattern across its hide.
It slithered through the courtyard with an eerie grace that belied its massive size. Each movement it made was accompanied by a deep, rumbling growl that reverberated through the air, the sound reverberating through Rion's bones and shaking him to his core.
It was a sound that spoke of ancient power and primal rage, a sound that seemed to bypass his conscious mind and tap directly into his most basic instincts.
Fear.
While it was clear the creature was formidable, it wasn't invincible. The agents and guards below were doing their best to bring it down, using a variety of weapons and tactics in an attempt to subdue the beast. Rion could see them clearly from his vantage point, tiny figures compared to the monster, but they fought with a fierce determination.
They fired at the creature with everything they had-automatic rifles, heavy machine guns, even a few shoulder-mounted rocket launchers. The air was thick with the staccato of gunfire, echoing off the compound walls.
Qi blasts, generated by strykers, streaked through the darkness like shooting stars, their trajectories arcing gracefully through the air before slamming into the beast's body with explosive force. The colors of the qi blasts varied; some were a brilliant blue, others a fiery red, and still others a vibrant green-each representing a different master's unique energy signature.
The explosions from the rockets barely made it flinch, and most of the bullets ricocheted off its scales harmlessly, with only some managing to penetrate. As for the qi blasts, each impact caused the creature to recoil slightly, a ripple of energy coursing across its scales.
It wasn't enough to bring it down, but it was clear the attacks were doing some damage. The beast let out an angry roar, more in frustration than pain, as it swatted at the agents with its massive tail.
Rion's eyes were wide, his mind racing to comprehend the scene. He had originally thought he could escape the base without much hassle, but what he was witnessing now was beyond anything he could have anticipated. The beast's head snapped to the side, its jaws opening to reveal rows of jagged teeth.
With a roar that sounded like a mix of thunder and the screeching of metal, it lashed out with its massive tail, sweeping a group of agents off their feet and sending them crashing into the walls with bone-shattering force. The impact was brutal, the sound of bodies hitting the concrete like the crack of a whip, followed by the sickening crunch of breaking bones. Each swipe of its claws or lash of its tail resulted in more agents being sent crashing into walls or skidding across the concrete, broken and bloody.
"Focus your fire!" one of the lead agents shouted, his voice tinged with urgency but not panic. "Keep it contained! Do not let it breach the perimeter!"
The creature's roars were loud and furious, but they were not as overpowering as before. The agents were managing to hold their own, even if just barely.
As he watched, one of the agents—a woman who was covered from head to toe in blue martial qi like some kind of qi-shield, and wielding a glowing sword that was also covered in blue qi, charged at the beast. She moved with incredible speed, her qi-enhanced muscles propelling her forward in a blur of motion. She leapt into the air, bringing her weapon down in a powerful arc aimed at the creature's head.
For a moment, Rion thought she might succeed. The blade cut through the air with a high-pitched whine, leaving a trail of brilliant blue light in its wake.
The beast twisted to avoid the blade, but not quickly enough. The sword struck its flank, slicing through its scales and drawing a spurt of dark blood. The creature roared in pain and rage, its tail lashing out and catching the woman in midair, sending her flying backward. She hit the ground hard, her sword skittering across the concrete, but she immediately got back up, her qi-shield seemingly having blocked most of the damage.
"Shit," Rion muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible over the chaos below. If there was one thing he prided himself on besides his wit, it was his natural ability to remain calm and rational in most situations. Practicing the [Lesser Focus] technique had also slightly enhanced this trait.
However, the sight of the creature battling back despite the agents' best efforts filled him with a dread he hadn't felt ever since he transmigrated to this world. His usual bravado, his wit, and his confidence in his abilities, all seemed insignificant in the face of such a powerful and resilient opponent.
He shook himself, forcing his thoughts away from the grisly scene below. He needed to get out of here. He wanted nothing to do with either this creature or the woman that shrugged its attacks like nothing.
Rion quickly scanned the rooftop, his mind working at lightning speed as he searched for a way down. His eyes landed on a set of maintenance pipes running down the side of the building. It was a risky climb, especially with the slick rain-slicked metal, but it was his best option.
Without wasting another second, Rion moved. He dashed across the roof, keeping low to avoid being seen, and reached the pipes. He grabbed hold of one, testing its sturdiness, then began to climb down swiftly but carefully. The metal was cold and slick under his hands, but he gripped tightly, his focus unwavering.
As he descended, he kept one eye on the battle below. The agents were doing their best to keep the beast contained, forming a defensive line around it, and it was clear they were making some headway. The creature was strong, but it was bleeding now, its movements slower and more deliberate. Rion could hear it in their voices as they shouted orders and called for reinforcements.
For Rion, the only thought that mattered was getting out. He wasn't a hero, and he wasn't about to play one now. He just needed to focus on getting down safely. Each breath he took was controlled and measured, his mind zeroed in on the task at hand.
After what felt like an eternity, his feet touched the ground. He took a moment to steady himself, his heart pounding in his chest, before he took off running. He didn't look back. There was no point. His only goal now was to put as much distance as possible between himself and that monstrous beast.
The forest loomed ahead, dark and foreboding, but it was his best chance for cover. He sprinted toward the trees, pushing himself to move faster despite the burning in his legs and lungs. His body screamed in protest, but he ignored it, driven by the adrenaline coursing through his veins and the urge to survive.
The agents were too occupied with the beast to notice him slipping away, and he moved quickly, ducking into the shadows and staying low as he made his escape
The sound of the battle gradually faded behind him as he reached the tree line, the dense foliage swallowing him up. He didn't stop running, his legs pumping furiously, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
He could still hear the creature's roars echoing through the night, distant but clear, and he knew he had to put as much distance between himself and the compound as possible. The beast might have been occupied with the agents, but there was no telling when it might turn its attention elsewhere. And then there were the agents themselves—if they survived, they'd be looking for him too.
He ran for what felt like hours, pushing himself to his limits, driven by a primal instinct for survival. The forest was dark and foreboding, the trees towering above him, their branches twisting and intertwining to form a dense canopy that blocked out the sky. The ground was uneven, littered with roots and rocks that threatened to trip him up, but he kept going, his focus singular.
There were large dark circles underneath his eyes. His silver-white hair was a mess like a magpie's nest. He hadn't had a good rest for 4 days. The accumulated fatigue had begun to press down at his shoulders.
His legs burned with exertion, his lungs ached with every breath, and his vision blurred from the effort. He could feel his stamina depleting, his strength waning, but he couldn't afford to stop. Not yet.
Suddenly, he heard a sound that made his heart skip a beat—the low rumble of an engine cut through the night, coming from somewhere behind him. Rion's instincts kicked in immediately. He dove behind a tree, pressing himself against the rough bark, and peered out cautiously. About three hundred meters away, he could see a set of flickering headlights cutting through the darkness, moving slowly along a dirt path.
As the vehicle drew closer, he crouched low, his heart pounding in his chest. He watched as it came to a stop not far from his position, the engine idling quietly. The doors opened, and three figures stepped out, their silhouettes illuminated by the faint glow of the headlights.
Rion's eyes narrowed as he focused on the newcomers. He strained his ears, trying to catch their conversation over the noise of the engine.
"Stop hounding me. You know that my ability only allows me to guess his general location you fuckwad," one of them said, his voice low and gravelly.
Rion held his breath, staying perfectly still as he listened to the other two reply. They were speaking in hushed tones, their words difficult to make out, but he caught enough to understand their intent. They were searching for him, and they were close.
How could this be?
He had purposefully refrained from taking the power-dampening collar back in the cell, even though it held an untold amount of research value in how origin energy could be integrated with normal technology. This was because he couldn't be sure if the collar could be tracked.
His mind raced, weighing his options. He could try to take them out quietly, but three-on-one was risky, more so now that he was heavily injured, bleeding, and almost out of stamina. He needed to figure out who they were and what they wanted before making a move.
Then he caught a glimpse of one of the figures in the light of the car's headlights. The man's face was partially obscured by a hood, but Rion recognized the distinctive tattoos on his neck. He felt a wave of relief wash over him as he realized who they were.
The Four Horsemen....
For a moment, Rion hesitated, unsure of what to do. He hadn't expected them to show up here, hadn't expected them to find him in the middle of all this chaos. But it was a welcome surprise.
Taking a deep breath, Rion stepped out from behind the tree, keeping his hands visible and raised. "Hey!" he called out, his voice low but firm. "I'm here. Don't shoot."
The mercenaries turned toward him, weapons raised, eyes narrowing as they assessed him. The leader of the group, a tall, muscular man with a scar running down his cheek, stepped forward, lowering his rifle slightly. "Mr. Nobody," he said, a slow grin spreading across his face. "You're a hard man to track down."
Rion shrugged, forcing a calm smile. "I like to keep things interesting."
The leader chuckled. "Well, you've certainly succeeded. Now, how about we get out of here before that thing back there decides to come after us?"
Rion nodded, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "Sounds like a plan."
As they moved toward the vehicle, Rion glanced back toward the general area of the facility. He had no idea what that creature was or where it had come from, but one thing was certain—it was far beyond anything he had ever dealt with before. And if it was still out there, still causing havoc, then this world was even more dangerous than he had imagined.
As the vehicle sped through the dark, winding roads, Rion leaned back in his seat, his mind reeling from the day's events. He had planned for many contingencies, but nothing had prepared him for the sight of a colossal beast tearing through the facility. At least one thing was sure.
For now, he was safe.