CHAPTER 7
"NOOO! RAY!"
'... Is this how it ends? Die uselessly against a more powerful creature? Die weak and insignificant?'
Ray's life began flashing before his eyes as the sharp claws descended from above, ready to split him in two.
He was unable to react or do anything as his mind went blank in an instant.
His breath hitched in fright as he turned to face the Aberrant, which wore a menacing ear-to-ear grin that split its face unnaturally.
But despite watching the claws descend toward him, Ray refused to close his eyes.
If he was going to die, he would do it with his eyes open.
Staring deep into the yellow eyes of his killer, he refused to blink.
No matter what happened, he would not shut his eyes as the claws came closer, now only inches away.
'... I guess this is where my story ends, eh?'
Pffff—!
Swooosh—!
The sound was loud as something flew in from the side with immense speed, slamming into Ray and pushing him away from the path at the last possible moment.
Bang—!
The claws crashed into the spot where the young boy had been standing only a second ago.
They ripped through the ground like a hot knife cutting through butter, sending dust and debris flying violently into the air.
A deep crevice tore open in the earth.
Ray's mum instinctively shut her eyes, afraid of the dust spraying into them.
Her heart pounded fiercely against her chest as fear consumed her thoughts for her son's life.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
When the dust finally settled, she slowly opened her eyes to see two bodies skidding across the ground before rolling a few times and coming to a halt.
"Ack…"
"Ugh…"
The two figures groaned in unison.
Slowly rising from the ground, Ray coughed several times as the lingering dust burned his lungs.
His mind remained fuzzy for a few seconds as he turned around to see who had saved him.
"Uncle Han?"
Han pushed himself up, a shaky smile spreading across his face as he tightened his grip on his shotgun.
His eyes remained locked onto the Aberrant with unwavering focus.
"... Han, Han… Han! I need you to get Ray away from here now. Take him and run, please!"
Han quickly turned toward the voice.
His gaze landed on Ray's mum, and his eyes widened at her battered condition.
He was about to respond when he glanced up again, spotting the Aberrant crouched low.
Its eyes shifted between Ray's mum and the two males, filled with predatory amusement.
"Another toy to destroy, huh?"
Ray clenched his fists tightly and sprang up from the ground.
"Mum!"
He took a step forward, but his hands were swiftly grabbed by Han, halting him in place.
"What are you doing? Stay back. I'll handle this."
Ray turned toward him, tears streaming down his face as he tried to yank his hand free.
Sensing his intent, Han reacted instantly.
He hurled the young boy backward without hesitation.
Before anyone could speak, Han kicked off the ground.
His boots erupted as jets of gas sprayed from the back, boosting him forward as he rocketed ahead at full speed.
His hands tightened around the shotgun as he rapidly closed the distance.
The Aberrant's grin widened.
Crack! Crack—!
POW—!
A bullet tore through the air at blazing speed toward the creature, forcing it to instinctively lift its forearm.
The projectile ricocheted harmlessly off its hardened, armor-like body.
Han cursed beneath his breath as he landed directly in front of Ray's mum.
Irritated, the Aberrant swung its claws toward him with terrifying speed.
Han's boots activated instantly.
He launched himself sideways, narrowly avoiding the strike as the claws sliced through the air with a violent crack.
'... Damn it! Conventional weapons don't work on these things. I'm not part of the Vanguard Order… what do I do?'
"Han! Are you listening to me? Take the kid and escape now! Please, I beg you."
Han didn't answer immediately.
He was forced into constant motion, dodging the Aberrant's relentless attacks as his thoughts raced.
"No, Mum! We won't leave y—"
"... Okay."
Pffff—!
"I'm sorry." Han's voice drifted into Ray's ears.
The next second, Han wrapped both arms around the boy and kicked off the ground, propelling them forward using his boots as momentum.
The Aberrant scowled upon seeing this.
"Escaping so soon? Why?"
"Uncle Han. Let me go now. Mu… mum is still back there. I want to save her!"
"I'm sorry, boy. It's a lost cause." Han replied, focusing on fleeing while occasionally firing into the air with his boots.
He landed on a rubble, then kicked off again, hovering two metres above the ground for a few seconds, covering another metre of distance with each push.
This put a total of five metres between them—the Aberrant and Ray's trapped mum.
"Unhand me now! I want to go to mum!" Ray bellowed in pure rage, tears streaming down his face as he struggled desperately to wiggle free from Han's tight grasp, to no avail.
'Mum?' The Aberrant thought before finally glancing toward the ground to spot Ray's mum.
With a menacing grin, it reached out, grabbing and easily lifting the woman from the rubble.
Now, she dangled helplessly in its grasp, her legs a mangled mess swaying limply in the air.
Her gaze remained fixed on her retreating son, tears filling her eyes.
"NOO! Let my mum go NOW!" Ray hollered like a madman, smashing his fists against Han's shoulders, trying desperately to break free.
"... Come on, boy. Come and try to save her before I end her life." The Aberrant taunted, increasing pressure on the woman's body.
A loud cracking sound filled the air as her eyes bulged.
"AHHHH! Mum." Ray shrieked and, in pure panic, plunged his teeth into Han's shoulders and arms.
"Argh~!" Han yelped in pain, accidentally loosening his grip on the teenager.
Seizing the opportunity, Ray pulled himself free, kicking off to land on the ground nimbly.
With his panicked gaze locked on his mum, he sprinted frantically toward her, desperation driving every step as the Aberrant's grin widened.
"Atta boy. Almost there."
Ray grimaced, fighting through pain that ravaged his body while his teeth clenched tightly.
"Let her go, you monster!"
The distance had now shrunk to about two metres.
The Aberrant continued pressing on her body, forcing her bones to crack loudly.
Blood spilled from her mouth, and crimson trickled from her eyes as she watched her son barreling toward her.
A warm, bittersweet smile crossed her face as she observed Ray screaming like a lunatic, occasionally stumbling yet refusing to stop.
He was a metre away when his foot caught an iron stake embedded in the ground.
He crashed headfirst into the earth, grimacing from the torturous impact.
"Tsk. Time's up. You lose, boy."
Hearing this, Ray snapped his head upward in fear, only to hear the dreaded sound.
Crack! Crack—!
"I… I'm sorry, Ray. Plea… please take care of yourself."
The next second, the Aberrant clenched its fist, compressing and crushing her bones and organs.
Crimson sprayed into the air as she fell limply in its hands, blood trickling from the corners of her mouth.
Ray froze.
His eyes felt like they were deceiving him, his heart pounding with immense force—like a massive drum being struck relentlessly.
A gnawing headache ruptured in his skull, and his body weakened as his vision spun in disbelief.
"AAAAAAAAARGH! NOOOO! MUM!" he bellowed into the air, saliva dribbling down his face.
Tears fell freely as he lay flat on the ground, stomach pressed to the dirt, paralyzed in horror.