The forest air was thick, almost metallic. Every breath Auren drew tasted of tension and iron.

Shadows slithered across the ground, darting between the gnarled roots like predators waiting for a signal to strike.

"I see we're going for a finale now," he murmured, voice calm yet threaded with quiet excitement.

His eyes narrowed.

Even beneath the pale wash of moonlight, he could see them—ripples in the air, faint distortions that betrayed invisible movement.

His [Eagle Eyes] pulsed faintly gold, tracing the flow of mana that brushed through the leaves, revealing ghostly outlines moving through the darkness.

From across the river, Alyssa's voice cracked through the silence.

"What are you doing!? Come back now, Herbon! It's too dangerous!"

Her cry echoed, raw with panic. The sound cut through the night like a blade. Instantly, every lurking creature froze. The shadows twitched, realizing the human wasn't alone.

Auren's jaw tightened.

Then it came—the surge. The Alpha's mana flared, shaking the air itself. Even before it revealed its form, the ground began to tremble. A low rumble grew until it erupted into a thunderous roar.

GROAAR!

The beast burst from the dark like a living avalanche, muscles coiled beneath thick black fur streaked with violet mana veins. Its eyes burned with cold blue fury. Steam hissed from its maw, glowing with inner heat, while claws tore deep scars into the earth as it advanced.

High above, Blas crouched among the treetops, bow in hand. His breath caught when he saw it.

"You've gotta be kidding me," he whispered, knuckles white against the grip. The monster's sheer size made his stomach twist.

"Herbon, it's too much! We can't take that thing down!" he yelled, voice cracking.

Further back, Essel trembled beside a moss-covered tree. Her Observation skill wasn't high enough to see the Alpha clearly, but she could feel it—the air bending around that monstrous aura.

"Herbon, please! Get out of there!" she screamed, voice breaking.

But Auren didn't move.

Instead, he smiled faintly. A calm, dangerous smile that unsettled even his teammates.

"I told you to trust me!" he shouted back, eyes gleaming as he flicked his storage ring open.

Twin weapons shimmered into his hands—Magnum Krakaboom II, sleek submachine guns etched with molten runes that pulsed like living veins.

Ember light danced along their barrels, humming in rhythm with his heartbeat.

The Night Stalkers surged forward, claws pounding the dirt in a wave of death.

Auren planted his boots, steadied his breath, and raised his guns. The hum of mana cores synchronized with his pulse.

"Stick to the plan. I got this."

Then he pulled the triggers.

BABABANG!

The air erupted in streaks of red and gold. Fire-elemental bullets blazed through the night like comets, each one a miniature sun tearing through the dark.

They struck skulls, chests, and limbs—each hit blooming into a burst of flame.

"Showtime," Auren muttered, eyes glowing gold.

Graak! Gruuack! Greeigk!

Each beast that lunged met a bullet before it could land a claw.

Their own speed betrayed them—momentum driving the shots deeper before they detonated inside. Heads burst, chests collapsed, and the ground shook with each collapse.

Dirt and embers rained around him like sparks from a forge. One creature fell face-first, its fur still aflame. Another spun midair before crashing into the roots of a Velzar tree, smoke curling from its wounds.

The survivors howled, staggering back in confusion. Auren's guns never stopped. He moved like a storm—rolling, sliding, pivoting, his arms blurring with motion. Each shot found a mark.

In just five seconds, seven Night Stalkers lay dead, ten more burned or limping away. Fear rippled through the pack.

But the Alpha didn't waver. Its aura swelled, shaking the leaves overhead.

Then came another roar—

GROAAR!—louder, deeper, furious.

The monster lunged.

Air cracked as its claws sliced through space, each strike releasing compressed waves of mana that tore through trees and shattered stone.

Auren ducked low, vaulting aside as a shockwave blasted dirt across his face.

He landed hard, skidding backward. A grin tugged at his lips.

"Your turn."

He snapped new clips into both guns, the motion a blur, then fired point-blank.

BABABABAM!

The rounds struck—but the Alpha barely flinched. The wounds sizzled, bubbling shut as violet mana stitched its flesh together.

Auren's grin faded. "Yeah. I figured."

GRRRR!

The Alpha's eyes gleamed like molten sapphire. Its steps grew heavier, faster, and confident. Behind it, the smaller beasts hesitated but began to circle again, emboldened by their leader's regeneration.

From across the riverbank, Alyssa's voice rang out. "Herbon! Get out of there!"

He didn't answer at first. His gaze stayed locked on the Alpha's massive frame as it stomped closer.

Then, calm as ever, he shouted back, "Get ready!"

The beast closed in—fifty meters… forty… thirty…

Its claws swiped, each movement distorting the air with raw power. Trees exploded into splinters where they struck.

Auren dove and slid under another swing, the shockwave blasting past his shoulder as he kicked off the ground, using mana to propel himself backward.

The Alpha grinned—a horrifying expression stretched across its bestial face. The rest of the pack began howling, tasting victory.

But Auren's grin returned.

"Too close," he murmured.

At ten meters, he jumped backward—spinning midair toward the river.

"It's time."

Blue light flared beneath his boots. His MJ Boosters roared to life, four thrusters blazing. He rocketed backward over the river, trails of flame cutting bright arcs through the night.

"Nice!" Blas whooped from the treetops. Relief poured into his voice.

"Finally!" Alyssa shouted, sprinting toward the riverbank. "Everyone, ready yourselves!"

But the Alpha didn't hesitate. Rage overrode reason. It crouched low, muscles coiling, and then it leapt—GROAAR!

Its massive body shot through the air like a living missile. Midflight, its claws ignited with crackling blue mana, preparing to strike Auren down midair.

Auren's gaze lifted. "Oh no, you don't."

In one smooth motion, he dismissed his guns and summoned a different weapon—a massive, rune-lined Bazooka that hummed with unstable mana.

He aimed. He fired. No Hesitation.

ZZZT–KABOOOM!

The explosion swallowed the sky. A blinding flash tore through the forest, followed by a concussive blast that shook the air and sent waves surging across the river.

The Alpha vanished in a sphere of smoke and fire. Auren was thrown back by the shockwave but twisted mid-spin, his thrusters flaring to soften the impact. He crashed into the dirt, rolled, and came up on one knee.

Smoke curled from his jacket. His arms trembled from the recoil. Across the river, the Alpha's gigantic body hit the water with a crash, sending waves crashing against the banks.

Then—silence.

Only the crackle of flames and the whisper of the wind remained.

Alyssa rushed to his side, her face pale beneath the moonlight.

"Are you alright!?" she asked breathlessly, eyes darting to the burn marks on his sleeves.

Auren wiped his face, smudging dirt across his cheek.

"I'll live," he said with a faint grin. "Just a scratch. Essel can fix me later."

He grabbed Alyssa's arm gently and started pulling her back. "Come on. We need to get ready for the next phase."

"The next—what?" she asked, startled. "You mean it's not dead?"

Auren exhaled, still catching his breath. "Alphas don't die that easy. Watch."

The river answered for him.

SPLAAAASH!

GROOAAR!

Water erupted skyward.

The Alpha rose again, one eye gone, one fang snapped, its chest scorched black. Yet its wounds pulsed, knitting back together with dark energy that made the air vibrate.

Its roar shattered the night.

"The fight's not over," Auren said, voice low and steady.

Across the water, the surviving Night Stalkers began to sprint, splashing wildly to reach their master—but the river slowed them. Just as Auren intended.

Now it was only the Alpha against Blue Bound.

Blas dropped from his perch, lightning crackling along the arrow he nocked.

Essel planted her staff into the ground, channeling green light that spread like ripples through the soil.

Alyssa raised her sword and shield, her expression fierce, hair whipping in the wind.

The night glowed with gathering mana.

"The rest of its pack will cross soon!" Auren shouted, slamming a new shell into his bazooka. "We take it down now!"

Alyssa raised her sword high. Her voice rang through the trees.

"Blue Bound! Go all out!"

Their battle cry shook the forest.

The Alpha charged, tearing through the shallows, water spraying behind it like shattered glass. Its roar mixed with the hum of mana and the crack of lightning while sending a powerful claw strike.

Blas's arrow flew first, streaking blue across the night sky.

Auren fired again, the bazooka flashing bright orange towards its face.

Essel's spell surged up, roots snapping from the ground to bind the beast's legs, glowing with life energy.

And Alyssa—her blade gleamed pure silver as she sprinted forward, deflecting an incoming claw strike with a scream of steel.

The night exploded in light and chaos. Fire met shadow, lightning clashed with darkness, and the air itself seemed to shatter under their combined power.

The forest burned with fury and courage.

And as Auren reloaded, a wild grin spread across his face.

"The finale's just getting started."

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