I push Overdrive to the top again.

I rush forward.

The pincer comes straight at me. I slow my pace, letting it close the distance. As it reaches for me, I change direction sharply and accelerate.

The pincer crashes down with a deafening thud. The shockwave blasts me forward, lifting me slightly midair. I use it to my advantage.

I keep moving, but I don't leap this time. I position myself near its massive legs, watching their movement, anticipating the next swing.

It starts to shift, preparing to strike.

I don't wait. I twist my body and hurl my sword with everything I have. The blade spins rapidly, a blur of steel as it flies.

It strikes true, severing one of the appendages.

The creature reacts instantly. Its movements grow erratic, violent. It retaliates, but I'm already moving.

I track the trajectory of my sword, estimating its final position based on the throw.

I sprint toward it, but the other pincer moves to intercept. I feint right, then pivot left as the claw swings through the air.

This time, it doesn't crash to the ground. It snaps midair.

The shockwave slams into me. Even with preparation and distance, it hits hard, sending searing pain through my skull. My head pounds, a splitting headache taking hold.

But I can't stop. I dodge another swing of its massive legs and sprint along the coast, reaching the spot where my sword lies.

With a pulse, I summon it to my hand. The familiar weight steadies me as I turn back to face the beast.

Its claw comes at me again, pincers wide, ready to snap me in two.

I push harder, magnetizing the blade to give myself an extra burst of speed. Just barely, I manage to slide under the jagged terrain beneath it, the pincer grazing overhead.

I roll forward, coming to my feet in one smooth motion, and keep my momentum. I can't afford to stop. Using my sword, I propel myself closer to its head.

But the creature is ready this time. One of its massive pincers shifts, blocking its vulnerable appendages.

Fuck.

I cannot hesitate. I keep moving, dodging one of its massive legs as it tries to squash me.

Think!

My eyes dart to the pincer again. It's massive, completely blocking my striking range to the appendages. Wait… it's massive...

An idea flashes through my mind.

I accelerate, weaving around its strikes, narrowly evading the crashing leg and snapping claw. Each impact feels like a bomb detonating, blasting dust and shards of rock into the air. Every snap of the pincer reverberates through the EM field, threatening to tear my mind apart.

The bleeding from my nose continues, dripping onto my lips, metallic and warm. My ears feel wet too. A rupture? Maybe. I don't have time to check.

Then I spot it. A gap. The curvature of its massive claw and the length of its appendage create a fleeting space—a sliver. But that's all I need.

I leap onto its leg. The crab reacts instantly, twisting to shake me off, but it's too slow.

My sword is already spinning through the air.

I hear the satisfying sound of the appendage severing. Dark blue blood sprays from the wound, misting the air.

The sword strikes the pincer afterwards and clatters to the ground.

I'm already moving. I dash under the towering crustacean.

My pulse surges, connecting to the sword. It jerks mid air and snaps back to my hand.

Only two more.

I'm already close. The giant creature grows visibly agitated.

No longer treating me like a bug, are you?

I grin, blood and sand caked on my face.

A claw lashes out, faster than before. But not faster than me.

I roll beneath it, my sword driving me forward in a burst of momentum.

I find a good position again, but the other pincer remains in place, blocking my path.

I pivot to its left side, but the crab mirrors my movement, turning to face me. Shit.

Its sheer size is a problem. No matter how quick I am, it's still too large for me to outmaneuver easily.

It's learning.

I exhale sharply, steadying my thoughts. My strategy has to change.

I keep running in one direction, baiting it to follow. As the crab lifts a massive leg to shift its weight, I suddenly change course, darting in the opposite direction.

Now I'm back on its right side, but there are no appendages here to target.

But that's not my intention. I dash forward with everything I've got, my foot stomping the ground and kicking up a trail of dust behind me.

I dive under it.

It's dangerous, but I don't have a choice.

The crustacean reacts quickly, shifting backward as its legs strike out to crush me. I dodge each one, sidestepping sharply to the left, then to the right.

Is this what war feels like? Dust choking the air, noise so loud it drowns your thoughts, the ground shaking like bombs exploding all around? It's not a good feeling…

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I shove the thought aside and keep moving, forcing myself forward. The crab retreats, sensing my intent. But I won't let it escape.

I press on, faster than before, my focused waves giving me the extra speed I need.

Another leg lashes out, desperate and erratic. I sense its intent and dodge just in time.

Finally, I'm clear, directly beneath its raised pincer on the left side.

There it is—the tiny gap.

Without hesitation, I twist my body, pivoting 180 degrees, and hurl my sword with everything I have.

The crab doesn't have time to react.

Squelch.

The third appendage falls.

Only one more to—

CHHIIIIIIRRR!

The sound wave crashes into me like a sledgehammer.

Pain explodes in my head.

My ears are useless, blood trailing down the sides of my face. The world goes silent, deafeningly so.

My tears mix with the blood already streaking my cheeks. My body wants to collapse. My mind screams, writhing in agony.

Then I see it—a leg lunging toward me. I force myself to move, gripping my sword with trembling hands.

The leg slams into the ground next to me, the impact hurling me through the air. I roll across the rocky terrain, every inch of me burning from the force.

I hear nothing.

My head spins.

I look up at it, the behemoth towering over me. Its massive mouthparts tremble, the screech having come from deep within. It's angry. Furious.

The world feels wrong without sound. Empty. Bland.

Then I sense it—vibrations in the ground. Many. I can't hear, but my waves scout, expanding outward.

And then I see them.

They are coming.

The horde of crabs is coming.

I start rushing to the coast, directly toward the giant leader. I have to end this now.

Its pincers come at me—both of them this time.

The pincer it had been using to guard swings into action, quick and relentless. My body feels heavy, but I keep pushing. I can't afford to falter.

I rush beneath them, my mental waves locked on my sword, using it to give me the extra push I need.

I circle the massive monster as I catch sight of the first crabs from the horde entering the battlefield. They look small in comparison.

I use the behemoth as cover to break the momentum of their stampede.

It works, but only for a moment. The crabs begin to circle around it, closing in from all sides. They're going to pincer me.

Shit.

I don't have time—I—

What the—

My senses scream as I detect an odd motion. The boss monster suddenly picks up one of its massive minions and hurls it straight at me.

My eyes widen. I predict its trajectory even before it leaves the behemoth's grasp, but… it's too big.

Fuck.

I roar, pushing my waves to their limit, forcing my mind and body to go beyond. Overdrive surges, the strain threatening to tear me apart, but I don't care. I propel myself forward, my sword dragging me faster as I push every limit.

The massive crab crashes toward the ground, seconds away from impact. I'm almost there.

"AHHHHH!"

I scream, even though I can't hear it. My legs scream back, threatening to give out. But I push. I push harder.

I leap forward, barely escaping, one of the crab's legs grazing mine as it falls.

Behind me, the ground explodes in a massive shockwave. The force flings me forward, tumbling through the dirt, my body slamming against the jagged terrain.

Pain radiates through me, but I can't stop. The giant monster is already attacking.

Its massive pincer swings toward me, its shadow consuming everything.

For a moment, I freeze, staring at the oncoming strike. My gaze shifts to the horde, closing in from both sides.

I have no choice.

It's do or die.

And I—

The pincer comes at me, massive, enormous, five times my size, its shadow swallowing me whole. I charge straight toward it.

At the last second, I leap, propelled by my sword.

Time slows.

The pincer looms around me, threatening to close. I see its amber eyes glowing, reflecting my desperate, bloodied face—angry, disheveled, but fierce.

Time resumes.

The pincer snaps shut.

But I'm already through.

I feel the edge of it graze my foot as it closes behind me. The EM shockwave follows, slamming into my mind like a battering ram, but I counter it with everything I have left. The pain is sharp, searing, but I don't care.

I land on its arm and sprint, my movements fueled by sheer will. Each step jolts through my battered body as I run toward its head.

One final leap.

Its other pincer hesitates, finally realizing my intent. But it's too late.

I see its mouthparts shifting, its last appendage trembling as it prepares to send another blast.

It doesn't matter. Whatever it throws at me, I'll take it.

I go through the air. My sword is ready. I am ready. I see my reflection in its amber eyes growing larger, closer.

The appendages close.

The shockwave bursts forth, crashing into me like a tidal wave. I roar, pouring everything I have into my defense. But it's not enough—it cuts through, searing into my brain. I feel the blood erupt from my lips.

But my body does not stop.

I connect.

My sword pierces through its eye. The outer membrane stretches taut before it ruptures. I can't hear the sound, but I feel the resistance give way.

My body follows, plunging into the thick, gelatinous fluid inside. It's sticky and warm, clinging to my skin, suffocating and heavy as I push forward.

It's disgusting.

The smell hits me first—a pungent mix of decay and copper, thick enough to make me gag. My chest tightens, but I force myself to keep going, slicing through the gelatinous mass with desperate swings of my sword.

The world around me is a blur of red and black as the creature's blood and viscous eye fluid mix and coat everything.

The sclera tears under my blade, tougher than I expected, the resistance making each strike a struggle. I push forward, deeper into the gore, every movement slow and heavy as if I'm wading through thick mud.

The creature thrashes violently, its desperation palpable. The walls of the eye collapse inward, sticky membranes clinging to me, trying to trap me in place. The pulsing heat of its body surrounds me, suffocating, choking.

I feel its optic nerve—thick, rope-like, and pulsating beneath my grip. My sword slices into it, severing the connection. I suddenly feel intense vibrations. The creature must be screeching. But my ears are already useless. I don't care.

The vibrations shake my entire body, but I press on.

The thrashing intensifies. The creature bucks violently, its erratic movements slamming me into the soft, oozing walls of its eye.

Pain shoots through my ribs, my arms burn with every motion, but I don't stop. My blade moves instinctively, slashing blindly, ripping through layers of tissue and blood vessels.

I gag again as more fluid gushes out, thick and acrid, pooling around my boots. The air feels heavy, soaked in the stench of death. My hands are slick with gore, but I grip my sword tighter, driving deeper.

Finally, the creature stills. The thrashing stops. Its massive body shudders once, then collapses under its own weight.

I don't hear it fall. I barely feel it.

I stumble forward, gasping for air, coated in blood and viscera. The heat of its lifeless body radiates around me, the smell now unbearable.

But I know.

The giant is defeated.

I won.

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