Kael barely had time to process what had just happened.
The heavy metallic projectile had struck the minotaur square in the side of its horned head, causing the creature's massive frame to twist violently with the force. One hoofed foot lost traction against loose debris, claws tearing long gouges through asphalt as its balance gave way.
Five meters of obsidian mass crashed sideways into the street, shattering what remained of a cracked median barrier. The ground shook beneath the impact, dust erupting around its body in a thick rolling cloud.
For a breathless second—
It was down.
The minotaur snarled low, a furious vibration rumbling from its chest as it struggled against the rubble pinning one of its arms. Its horn scraped sparks from the pavement as it tried to lift its head.
Only then did Kael see him clearly.
To his right, standing atop a tilted slab of concrete like it was a firing platform, was a young man in standard-issue provisional gear — same dark tactical weave, same reinforced boots.
But his kit was somewhat modified more than his. Fitted closer to the body. Extra straps secured along the thighs. A heavier brace around his left shoulder.
Golden hair caught the filtered light, bright against the gray ruin. Not long — but long enough to move in the wind, framing sharp features set in steady focus rather than panic.
Resting against his shoulder—
A rifle.
An absurdly long one.
Its barrel extended nearly from the boy's shoulder to the ground when angled, reinforced with segmented plating along its spine. The stock was heavier than anything Kael had seen up close, cables feeding into a chamber near the midpoint where faint light pulsed within.
It looked less like a firearm and more like a siege instrument scaled down for a single wielder.
The golden-haired boy adjusted his footing, re-shouldering the massive weapon with fluid familiarity as the minotaur began to push itself upright.
"Hey!" he shouted. "Unless you want to get flattened when it stands back up — move!"
Kael didn't waste another second staring as there was only one thing that mattered.
Another human.
Alive.
He sprinted.
Boots pounded against cracked asphalt as the minotaur's furious bellow shook loose dust from the surrounding ruins. Behind him, the creature forced itself upright again, claws gouging trenches into the street as it regained its full height.
Kael reached the concrete slab and slid into cover beside the golden-haired boy just as a massive chunk of debris was hurled in their direction. It smashed against the slab's outer edge, showering them in grit and stone fragments.
'Close!'
The boy didn't flinch. He was already adjusting the rifle's angle, bracing its stock tighter into his shoulder harness.
"Where's your partner?" he asked sharply, eyes never leaving the target.
Kael blinked. "My what?"
The boy spared him the briefest glance. "Your partner. Don't tell me you got separated. Assault squads were assigned in pairs for this sector."
"Assault—?" Kael stared at him, genuinely confused. "I'm... not assault."
The boy frowned.
"I'm from Post-Mortuary Support and Recovery Detail," Kael said quickly. "Corpse handling. Retrieval."
"You're recovery?" the boy shot back, incredulous. "What are you doing in this section? This grid's flagged for active instability."
"I was assigned perimeter sweep," Kael snapped, with an uneven breath. "It turned before I could mark it."
The minotaur roared again, turning fully toward their position.
The golden-haired boy shifted his footing, recalculating distance.
"Why didn't you use your slate to signal the others?" he demanded.
Kael held up the shattered device for emphasis.
"It's broken..."
"You're kidding me."
"...I wish I was."
A thunderous roar cut through their exchange.
The ground trembled.
Both of them risked a glance.
The minotaur had regained its footing after its earlier stumble, massive hooves grinding against fractured stone as it swung its horned head, searching. Blood matted the fur along its flank where it had struck the ground, but the fall had only enraged it.
But before either of them could move—
A sharp whistle split the air, causing the creature to jerked.
Something burst from its side in a spray of dark blood.
A spear.
The shaft quivered violently, embedded deep beneath the creature's ribs. The minotaur roared — this time in pain.
Kael's head snapped toward the source.
She emerged from behind a shattered pillar with swift, controlled steps. Short brown hair clung damply to her temples. Her armor was lighter than the boy's — like it was built for speed — but scuffed and smeared. In one smooth motion, she tightened her grip on the spear's tether-line wrapped around her forearm and yanked.
The blade tore sideways inside the wound.
The minotaur bellowed, staggering violently, one leg buckling as blood poured down its flank. It swung blindly, smashing into a column and sending debris crashing down around it.
Through the dust and falling stone, the creature's blazing eyes locked onto her.
It had found the source of its pain.
With a guttural snarl, the minotaur lunged — massive arm sweeping in a brutal arc meant to crush her against the rubble.
"Hey! Be careful!" the golden-haired boy shouted.
But she was already moving.
The moment the beast shifted its weight, she pivoted, skidding across broken stone as she ducked under the swing. She didn't release her spear—instead, she twisted with it, using the embedded shaft as leverage to sling herself around the creature's side. The minotaur's fist smashed into the ground where she had stood a heartbeat earlier, cracking stone like glass.
The boy exhaled in relief.
She landed lightly, ripped the spear free, and retreated in a blur of motion. The minotaur roared again, spinning clumsily as blood streamed from its side.
She didn't press the attack.
Instead, she sprinted back toward them and slid behind their cover in one smooth motion.
"Tch," she muttered, checking the blood along her spear's edge. "Not deep enough…"
Then she noticed Kael.
Her sharp brown eyes narrowed. "Who's he? A friend?"
Before Kael could even open his mouth—
"Apparently," the boy answered. "Lost and slate-less."
She studied Kael for a brief second longer, weighing him, then gave a simple, unreadable hum. "Hm."
And just like that, she was gone again — vaulting over the rubble and heading straight back toward the minotaur.
"Hey—wait!" the golden-haired boy hissed, half-rising before dropping back with a groan.
"Curses… she never listens to me!"
Another crash echoed as the minotaur swiped at her again.
The boy glanced down at his functioning slate, its faint blue projection flickering across his face.
"Closest squad responding to my signal is about ten minutes out. Give or take..."
The minotaur roared again, furious and very much alive.
He swallowed, jaw tightening.
"I hate to admit it, but with just me and her? We won't be enough. Not to kill it. Probably not even to stall it that long."
He looked at Kael fully now.
"So I'm going to need your help."
Kael blinked at the ridiculous request.
"Me?"