Scavratt turned back toward her, watching the tears slipping down Zelia's cheeks.
He grinned.
"There it is. That fear. That helpless little tremble. You feel it now, don't you?"
He stepped closer again, claws tapping lightly against the metal table.
"Now that you're here... let's play."
Zelia's eyes widened in panic.
She shook her head violently.
"No—no, no, no! Stay away from me!"
Scavratt leaned forward, his smirk growing wider.
"There's no one coming to save you, girl."
She jerked against the ropes again, chest heaving.
"If your brother steps foot in here, he'll only die. That's a promise."
Zelia froze.
Those words stabbed deeper than any threat to her own life.
She stared up at him, eyes wide.
"You're lying..."
"I've already prepared something special for him."
Scavratt licked his teeth.
"He walks in, he gets shredded. All that power won't save him when the whole base caves in on his head."
"Stop... just stop!"
Zelia screamed, tears falling freely now.
Scavratt chuckled darkly.
"Stay down. Scream if you want. No one will hear you."
Zelia trembled as Scavratt was going to force himself on her.
She looked down, tears dripping onto her lap.
Her voice cracked in her mind.
Zain… please… don't come here. If he's telling the truth… you'll die…
Scavratt only smiled, seeing Zelia calming down.
"let's get back to—"
Before he could do anything—
CRASH!
The mirror on the ceiling above shattered in a burst of flame.
Zain popped from it, fire blazing across his fist.
"—the hell?!"
BOOM!
Flame Hand: Impact Punch
Zain's flaming fist slammed directly into Scavratt's chest, sending the beast crashing across the room and into the wall.
Dust exploded outward, furniture shattered, and the lights above flickered.
Scavratt groaned, twitching in the debris.
"What… how the hell—?!"
He coughed and looked up, eyes wide with disbelief.
"You—how do you have her ability?! That was Mirro's—!"
Zain didn't answer.
He stepped past the smoke, eyes locked onto Zelia.
"Big Sister Zelia," he said softly, kneeling beside her.
"Are you okay?"
Zelia blinked through her tears.
Her voice was weak and full of panic.
"Zain… why… why did you come here?!"
"You could've died—he's strong! You could die here!"
Zain smirked gently and reached up to brush a bit of dust from her forehead.
"Don't worry about that," he said.
"I've told you plenty of times, haven't I? I'm stronger than you think."
Zelia's lips trembled. Her breath hitched.
And then everything caught up to her.
Terror, shock, pain, and relief. Her body gave out in an instant.
She collapsed against him.
Unconscious.
Zain caught her gently in his arms, lowering her down against the side of the wall.
Then, slowly, he stood.
He turned toward Scavratt—his eyes cold now. Silent. Burning.
---
Scavratt groaned and dragged himself up from the debris.
His beady eyes locked onto Zain.
"How the hell are you here? And how do you have Mirro's ability?!"
Zain stood tall, his back to the unconscious Zelia.
"You don't need to know," he said coldly.
Scavratt's brow twitched. "Where is she?"
Zain reached into his coat.
He pulled out Mirro's sniper rifle.
Held it by the barrel.
And dropped it on the floor with a loud clang.
"Dead," Zain said flatly.
"Like the rest of your pathetic crew."
Scavratt's face twisted. "You—how dare you!"
"You killed four of my enforcers—and now Mirro too?! That's five! Five!"
He slammed his claw into the ground, cracking the tile.
"You arrogant little shit! I'll rip your damn heart out!"
Zain didn't even flinch.
"You're the one who should be dead," he said.
"You're a villain. You've killed. Tortured. And then you kidnapped my sister."
His fists ignited with flames, eyes burning like embers.
"That was your last mistake."
Scavratt bared his fangs and snarled.
"I don't care what you think," he spat.
"You came here—you die here."
Zain stepped forward, voice calm but lethal.
"We'll see."
Without warning, he raised the second sniper rifle and pulled the trigger.
It was already loaded with Mirro's special explosive round.
BOOM!
The shot blasted through the air.
Scavratt's eyes widened just as the bullet struck his chest.
KRASH!
He was sent flying backward, crashing through the far wall and into the next room.
Dust and shattered debris exploded outward.
For a moment—silence.
Zain kept the rifle steady, eyes focused on the rubble.
Then—movement.
Scavratt stood.
Growling.
His fur was scorched, his jacket torn, but his body looked barely damaged.
Only a burn mark left where the round hit.
Steam hissed from his breath.
"…Damn you."
His claws flexed with rage, tail slamming against the ground as his voice rose into a furious roar.
"YOU BASTARD! You think you can just walk into my den and shoot me like some common thug?!"
Zain's eyes narrowed. He tanked that shot…?
He scanned him immediately.
---
[Name: Scavratt]
[Rank: B]
[Stats:]
[Str: B]
[Vit: B]
[Agi: B]
[Int: C]
[Low-Tier Abilities:]
[Rust Touch: corrodes metal on contact, weakening weapons, armor, or gear with repeated use.]
[Claw Shift: transforms the user's hands into beast-like claws, enhancing slashing and piercing attacks in close combat.]
[Mid-Tier Ability:]
[Rat Shift: transforms the user into a rat beastman, gaining high speed, agility, stealth, and instincts for evasion, infiltration, and unpredictable combat.]
---
Zain stepped back slightly, lowering the rifle. "No wonder…"
He glanced at the charred wall where Scavratt had crashed.
"B-Rank. Mid-tier transformation ability. And all his stats are solid."
He tightened his jaw.
"I shot him with a damn special round and he stood up."
Scavratt cracked his neck.
He let out a low growl as his muscles bulged and claws stretched longer.
"You done analyzing, freak?" he snarled.
"Good. 'Cause now I'm pissed."
He pointed at Zain with one finger.
"You killed my crew. You shot me. You disrespected my home. And you brought that filthy body of yours into my nest."
Zain shifted his stance, fire already licking across his hands again.
"You kidnapped my sister."
Scavratt roared, fangs bared.
"I'M GOING TO RIP YOU TO PIECES!"
Zain smirked.
"Try it."