The roar of the adult creature still echoed through the jungle as Kairo pushed himself up from the ground, his heart pounding in his chest like it might burst. In front of him, the mutated beast staggered back—wounded, but far from defeated. Around them, smoke rose from the destroyed drone, drifting among scorched roots and the lifeless bodies of its offspring.
Robert stepped forward with his rifle raised, his gaze cold and calculating.
"Don't let your guard down. That thing can still kill us."
Kairo nodded, swallowing hard as he raised his own weapon. His arms trembled—not from fear, but from the rush of adrenaline. For the first time since arriving on Virelia, he truly felt like he was in the middle of a real war.
The adult beast let out a low growl, almost a suppressed roar, and charged again. Robert fired first, aiming at the weak points he had already identified: the joints where the scales met around its neck and underbelly. The bullets struck true, but the creature didn't fall.
Kairo circled the clearing, looking for a better angle. If he couldn't bring it down head-on, the least he could do was support.
"Kairo, to the left! Distract it!" Robert shouted.
The young warrior didn't hesitate. He leapt over a massive root and fired a burst of shots at the monster's flank. The beast turned violently, roaring again, its glowing orange eyes locking onto him.
If I don't do it now, I never will, he thought.
He sprinted between the trees, shooting on the move, drawing the creature after him. Each of its steps shook the earth. Kairo slid under a fallen branch and rolled just in time to avoid a massive claw that tore the tree limb in half.
Robert took advantage of the angle and fired a special round—an explosive projectile that hit the beast squarely in the back, eliciting a pained roar.
Kairo panted, covered in dirt and sweat.
"I can't hold it off much longer!"
"Just a few more seconds," Robert replied, loading another shot.
But the beast, wounded and enraged, charged straight at Kairo. It no longer cared for tactics or strategy. It only wanted to destroy.
Kairo raised his weapon, but he wouldn't have time to fire. The creature was closing in fast, claws outstretched.
"Kairo, catch this!" Robert yelled, tossing him a small metal cylinder while dodging a swipe. "Press the button and throw it!"
The device landed in Kairo's hands. Without hesitation, he pressed the button and hurled it at the beast's feet. A burst of electricity exploded on impact, surrounding the monster, which let out a wild bellow and froze—paralyzed for just a moment.
"Now!" Robert shouted, taking the opening to fire with precision.
The bullets struck the beast's side, and it stumbled, weakened by the electric shock. Kairo felt a wave of relief and adrenaline as the creature reeled, hurt and vulnerable.
Robert didn't lower his guard. He moved in, rifle steady, ready for any final move. Kairo stood by his side, weapon still raised, learning with each passing second what it meant to be in a real battle.
The beast let out one last roar before collapsing with a heavy thud, unable to continue. Silence returned to the jungle, broken only by the labored breathing of the two warriors.
Robert approached Kairo, patting him on the shoulder with a tired smile.
"You did good," he said. "It wasn't easy, but you held on."
Kairo nodded, his heart still racing. That battle had been a trial—and he had passed it.
Robert stepped away a few meters and scanned the area carefully. After several minutes, he returned with a serious yet calm expression.
"I've checked the surroundings," he said. "Not a single offspring left alive. We can be sure the mission is complete."
As they gathered their gear, a soft hum from Kairo's communicator broke the moment.
"Level up... Level 2 reached," announced the mechanical voice.
A holographic screen appeared briefly in front of Kairo, displaying his updated stats:
Level: 2
Experience (EXP): 20 / 150
Health (HP): 110 (+10) / 110
Energy (EP): 55 (+5) / 55
Strength: 9 (+1)
Agility: 10 (+1)
Vitality: 9 (+1)
Intelligence: 11 (+1)
Defense: 8 (+1)
Speed: 10 (+1)
Active Skill: None
Current Mission: Mission Completed ✔