Morell was on one knee, gasping for air.
Blood streamed from countless wounds, soaking into the dirt beneath him. His face had turned pale—almost lifeless.
"Can you still fight?" Elincia asked, her hands glowing with soft green light as she tried to close his wounds.
Morell let out a strained breath.
"We have a plan… don't we?"
Ahead of them, the Minotaur roared.
One of its eyes was already destroyed—burned and pierced—but it continued its rampage as if nothing had happened.
Arrows suddenly stopped.
Bao turned—
Just in time to see Xun sprint past them, daggers in both hands.
Without hesitation, he leapt—
And began climbing the monster.
Like a man scaling a cliff, he drove his blades into flesh and fur, pulling himself upward.
"NOW, GO!" Xun screamed.
Bao didn't hesitate.
He grabbed Elincia's hand.
"Run!"
They sprinted toward the Monolith.
Loose sand and scattered debris slowed them down. Every step felt heavier than the last.
Still—
They pushed forward.
A shadow flashed overhead.
Xun came crashing down beside them—
His body twisted unnaturally.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
"Don't look!" Bao shouted, pulling Elincia forward. "We have to keep moving!"
Yun rushed past them, her movements almost weightless.
Steel clashed behind them.
Screams echoed through the crater.
Bao didn't turn around.
He couldn't.
Because he knew.
They weren't just fighting.
They were buying time.
With their lives.
And those weren't just avatars.
They were real.
"Just a little more!" Bao gasped.
The Monolith loomed before them—
Massive.
Unyielding.
Step by step—
They closed the distance.
Then—
With one final push—
Bao slammed into its cold metallic surface.
They had made it.
For a brief moment—
Everything went silent.
Then Bao turned.
And saw hell.
Yan—
Collapsed.
Her body torn open—
Four massive wounds carved into her torso.
Xun—
Lying motionless where he had fallen.
Morell—
Still standing.
Barely.
"…What… happened…" Bao whispered.
"David!"
Elincia's voice cut through the chaos.
"We have to lure it here! Now! Or more will die!"
She was right.
He knew it.
But his body wouldn't move.
His mind froze.
The sight of his companions—
Broken.
Dying.
His will shattered.
"David!"
Her voice felt distant.
Like it came from another world.
Then—
Warmth.
Soft.
A kiss.
His eyes widened.
The world snapped back into focus.
"…I'm back," Bao muttered, shaking his head.
He tightened his grip.
"Your magic—can you still use it?"
Elincia nodded.
"Do it."
She dropped to one knee, pressing her hand into the ground.
The air hummed.
Then—
The earth moved.
Thick, root-like tendrils burst from the soil—
Twisting.
Reaching.
Grasping.
At the same time—
Bao pulled a vial from his pocket.
He threw it.
It shattered against the Minotaur's head.
A sharp, pungent smell filled the air instantly.
"Back!" Bao shouted.
Those still fighting retreated.
Bao lit a torch—
And hurled it.
Fire erupted.
Not enough to kill.
Never the plan.
But enough.
The Minotaur turned.
Its remaining eye locked onto them.
Burning.
Focused.
"Yeah… that's it," Bao muttered.
He stepped forward.
"Come on."
He raised his voice.
"COME HERE, YOU DAMN BEAST!"
The ground shook.
One step.
Two.
Three—
And suddenly—
It was in front of them.
Towering.
Its massive arm swung.
Bao reacted instantly—
Throwing himself into Elincia—
They crashed to the ground.
A deafening screech rang out behind them—
Metal tearing against metal.
The Monolith.
They turned—
Deep claw marks carved into its surface.
And between them—
A breach.
A narrow opening.
Just wide enough.
Bao pushed himself up, breathing heavily.
"…That's our way in."