Morning broke with a faint glow, but the tranquility shattered as a series of deafening roars echoed through the forest. Kibo's eyes snapped open, and he instinctively leaped down from the branch where he had spent the night. Quickly grabbing his shirt from the branch, he slipped it on, his mind already racing.
"Ignis," Kibo thought, his tone sharp. "Do you know what beast makes that kind of sound?"
As he strode toward Lily and Syl, who were still fast asleep, Ignis responded gruffly in his mind.
"That roar belongs to a Kraggor."
Kibo crouched next to Lily, shaking her shoulder gently. "Lily, wake up."
She mumbled groggily, "Just one more minute..." turning her face away.
Kibo was still gently shaking Lily, trying to wake her. Meanwhile, Syl stretched and yawned, rubbing her eyes sleepily.
"Kraggor?!" Kibo's voice echoed in his mind as he asked Ignis, who replied with a sharp tone.
"Yes, brat. Kraggor. Must I repeat myself?"
Suddenly, the distant roars grew louder, signaling the approach of something massive. Lily, still half-asleep, stirred as Syl stood up, now fully awake, her voice trembling.
"What's that sound?"
Lily blinked and rubbed her eyes before focusing on Kibo. "What's wrong, Kibo?" she asked, her voice laced with confusion.
Before he could respond, the treetops above them rustled violently, and a colossal creature came crashing down with a thunderous impact. Syl's eyes widened in horror as the creature revealed itself—a massive, muscular monkey standing nearly 10 feet tall, its grayish-brown fur matted and its glowing red eyes piercing the air like an ominous warning. The Kraggor raised its enormous arms, ready to smash them into the ground.
Syl screamed in terror, her feet frozen in place. Lily, still processing the situation, looked on in shock. But Kibo moved with precision, grabbing his katana from where it rested against the tree near Syl. In one swift motion, he unsheathed the blade and launched himself toward the massive beast. With a single clean slash, he severed the creature in half, its body falling to the ground with a sickening thud. Warm blood splattered across Syl's face and Lily's legs, the metallic scent thick in the air.
Syl staggered back and leaned against a tree, her stomach churning as she vomited. Lily quickly regained her composure, but before anyone could react further, more roars echoed through the forest.
From every direction, Kraggor appeared—some hanging from branches, their red eyes glowing ominously, while others emerged from the ground, their massive frames shaking the earth with each step.
"Ignis," Kibo muttered in his mind, his focus sharpening.
"Brat, you better kill them mercilessly," Ignis growled, his voice seething with irritation.
As the Kraggor were angered by the sight of their dead kin, they began to attack.
"You don't have to tell me twice," Kibo replied, his grip tightening on his katana.
One of the Kraggor lunged at him, its massive arm swinging down like a hammer. Kibo sidestepped, slicing through the thick limb in one fluid motion. Blood gushed like a fountain, and the beast howled, its stump thrashing wildly. Another charged from behind, but Kibo spun, slicing through its throat and kicking its collapsing body into a group of three more approaching.
He dashed forward, cutting through muscle and bone as his blade tore flesh apart. A Kraggor managed to grab his arm, squeezing with bone-crushing force, but Kibo snarled, wrenching his arm free and stabbing his katana straight through its eye.
More surrounded him, their red eyes burning with rage. Kibo grinned, blood splattering his face. He roared back at them, his voice raw and primal. They rushed in, and he dove into the chaos, his blade dancing through the air like a whirlwind. He hacked off limbs, decapitated heads, and drove his sword into chests, twisting and ripping it free as viscera spilled around him.
A Kraggor grabbed his shoulder from behind, and Kibo jerked his head back, smashing his skull into its face. Bone cracked, and he followed up by slicing its jaw clean off, then ramming his katana through its heart. Another beast tried to crush him from the side, but he ducked under its swing, slicing through its abdomen and spilling its guts onto the forest floor.
His muscles burned, blood soaking his clothes and hair, but his movements never slowed. He was relentless, a storm of violence that left mangled corpses in his wake.
Seeing Kibo in action, Lily drew her dagger, her hands trembling before she steadied herself. A Kraggor lunged at her, its massive fists hurtling downward with crushing force. She twisted her body at the last moment, the air rippling from the power of the missed blow.
Lily's movements were swift and precise, her dagger flashing as she counterattacked. She drove the blade into the beast's side with a sharp thrust, the sound of tearing flesh drowned out by its pained howl. Another Kraggor charged toward her, its glowing red eyes brimming with fury. She ducked low, evading its swipe, and slashed across its legs, forcing it to stumble.
With each attack, her strikes grew bolder, her movements more refined. She danced around her enemies with agility, dodging their powerful blows and retaliating with deadly accuracy. Her blade found its mark repeatedly, slashing through thick hides and sending the towering beasts crashing to the ground. Her determination was unwavering, every strike delivered with the intent to protect, to survive.
Meanwhile, Syl, still shaken, struggled to steady herself. Her breathing came in short, uneven bursts, and her hands trembled as they gripped her dual blades. She fought to focus, but fear gnawed at her resolve, making her legs feel weak. The sounds of battle echoed around her, but her mind was still reeling from the sheer brutality of the Kraggors.
A sudden rush of footsteps behind her sent her heart into overdrive. She whirled around, panic flashing in her eyes, only to see a massive Kraggor charging straight at her. She raised her blades instinctively, trying to steady her stance, but her fear paralyzed her movements. Before she could even react, another Kraggor crashed down from above, slamming into the charging beast and knocking it off course.
Syl gasped, her eyes widening as the two Kraggors clashed. The newcomer roared fiercely, its powerful fists smashing into the other beast's skull with relentless force. Dust and debris flew as they grappled, their monstrous strength cracking the ground beneath them. The protector Kraggor landed a crushing blow, finally driving its opponent into the dirt with a sickening crunch. The defeated creature let out one final, gurgling roar before its body went limp.
Syl stumbled back, barely able to process what had just happened. The protector Kraggor stood between her and the others approaching, its hulking frame almost shielding her completely. Confusion swirled in her mind as she tried to make sense of it all.
"Why... is it protecting me?" she whispered, her voice trembling. The realization sent a chill down her spine, and despite herself, she took a hesitant step closer to the beast. Its harsh, ragged breathing echoed in her ears, and for just a moment, she felt a strange connection—like it was more than just a mindless monster.
Why? Syl's mind raced, struggling to comprehend. Why would a beast like this... shield me?
High above, Kibo stood atop a Kraggor's twitching corpse, his katana still buried in its spine. He glanced down, his dark eyes catching sight of Syl and the odd scene unfolding below.
"What the hell is going on?" he muttered, his voice low and suspicious.
"Brat, stop gawking and keep moving!" Ignis snapped, his tone a mix of irritation and dark amusement. "Or are you so fascinated by a brainless beast playing bodyguard that you forgot how to finish a fight?"
Kibo scoffed, tugging his blade free and kicking the corpse off the branch. As it crashed to the ground, another Kraggor lunged at him from the side, its massive claws aiming to rip him in half. He ducked low, feeling the wind of the swing pass over his head, and countered with a vicious upward slash. The blade tore through the creature's arm, severing it cleanly, and hot blood splattered across his face.
The Kraggor howled in pain, but Kibo didn't give it a chance to recover. He moved forward with ruthless precision, his blade a blur as it carved into the beast's torso. Bone cracked and muscle tore as his strikes landed one after another, merciless and unyielding. The Kraggor staggered, its remaining arm flailing desperately to crush him, but Kibo sidestepped effortlessly and drove his katana straight through its throat. The beast choked, blood pouring from its mouth as it collapsed, dead before it hit the ground.
"As the last Kraggor fell with a heavy thud, the forest fell eerily silent. Kibo stood amidst the carnage, blood splattered on his clothes and sweat glistening on his skin. His chest heaved as he caught his breath, the adrenaline slowly fading.
He glanced around, his eyes landing on Syl, who had collapsed to her knees next to the Kraggor that shielded her. Her dual blades rested loosely in her trembling hands, and her eyes were locked on the beast's massive, lifeless form.
Kibo frowned, wiping blood from his cheek with the back of his hand. Why would a Kraggor protect her?
Syl's hand shook as she hesitantly reached out, brushing her fingers against the coarse fur of the fallen creature. She bit her lip, fighting back a wave of emotion that threatened to break through her tough facade. Her lips quivered as she whispered, "Why... Why did you save me?"
Her voice was shaky, raw with confusion and guilt. She bowed her head, eyes closing as she whispered, "Thank you... Rest well now."
Kibo couldn't help but feel a pang of something unfamiliar. Seeing Syl like that—vulnerable and shaken—stirred something deep within him. He wasn't used to seeing her like this. Usually, she was confident, almost reckless, but now... she looked so human.
That's right, brat, Ignis sneered, his tone unusually contemplative. She's just as breakable as anyone else. Funny how even the strongest can look so damn weak. A twisted chuckle followed. Though, maybe that beast wasn't as stupid as it looked. Took one glance at her and decided she was worth saving. You should learn a thing or two.
Kibo's jaw clenched, but he didn't reply to Ignis. Instead, he let his gaze linger on Syl a moment longer before shifting it to Lily.
Lily stood over a Kraggor's corpse, her dagger buried deep in its skull. Her small frame was smeared with blood, yet her expression remained as gentle as ever, her eyes wide and almost innocent. With a soft hum, she wiped the blade on a nearby leaf and tilted her head, as if pondering something simple and mundane.
Kibo's brows furrowed. There was something unsettling about the way she calmly dealt with death. It wasn't normal—not for someone like her.
Lily glanced up and caught his gaze, smiling brightly as if she hadn't just taken a life. "I'm okay, Kibo," she chirped. "Are you hurt?"
He forced a smile back, but his mind churned. "I'm fine," he replied. But as he looked at her—adorable, gentle Lily—standing amidst the carnage without a hint of remorse or fear, a strange chill ran down his spine.