Chapter 44: Outclassed
Lashley was fucked up. I mean, really fucked up.
I stood there, looking down at him, beaten to a pulp, barely hanging onto life. His breath came in these shallow, wheezing gasps, and his face? Swollen beyond recognition. If I didn't know better, I'd think someone had mistaken his head for a training dummy and gone to town on it.
Neralia was on her knees beside him, sobbing. I'd never seen her like this—always sharp, always in control—but now? She was cradling him, shaking, whispering his name over and over like it would bring him back from the brink.
And then there was him.
Menato Sanchez.
He wasn't impressive. Not in the way you'd expect. Five feet tall, scrawny, not a musclehead like some of the freaks I'd seen. But the sheer pressure coming off this guy? It was suffocating. It crawled up my spine, made the air feel thick, like I was breathing in something rotten.
And the worst part? I knew this was the guy.
The mission. Kill Menato Sanchez.
But something was off.
The system had given me this mission before I even knew he existed. Just like the Goblin Chief from before. It knew. It always fucking knew.
And if that didn't send a chill down my spine, nothing would.
But I didn't have time for that shit. I drew my sword, took my stance. This was it. Another foe ready for slaughtering.
Menato tilted his head, looking at me like I was an amusing little puzzle.
"You look like you've just figured something out," he said, voice smooth, almost casual.
I exhaled through my nose. "I was just thinking about how much I hate this system."
He chuckled. "Oh? That's a funny thing to say right before you try to kill me."
I narrowed my eyes. "Yeah, well, you're in my way."
His smirk widened. "No, no, no. You're in my way.*"
Then he disappeared.
Oh, fuck.
A blur of white from the left. My body moved on instinct, sword raised just in time to block—
CRASH.
It felt like trying to stop a goddamn freight train with a stick. The impact rattled my bones, sent me flying. My feet barely scraped the ground before I was skidding backward, my arms screaming in protest from the sheer force.
I gritted my teeth. "Fast. Great."
Then he was on me again.
I ducked. A clawed swipe tore through the air where my neck had been. Pivot. Thrust. My blade shot toward his ribs—
And he flipped over it.
The bastard landed smooth as hell, like he wasn't even trying.
I barely had time to process that before his knee slammed into my gut.
White-hot pain exploded through my ribs. My breath left me in a wheezing gasp as I felt the air forcibly leave my lungs. My feet left the ground.
Then his fist smashed into my face.
The world spun. I didn't even remember hitting the ground, but suddenly, I was there, skidding across the stone floor, coughing up blood.
Jesus fuck.
I staggered up, wiping my mouth. My jaw throbbed. My vision was swimming.
Menato stood there, grinning, tilting his head like a wolf that had found an injured rabbit.
"This is disappointing," he said. "I expected more from you."
I spat out a glob of blood. "Yeah? Well, I expected you to be taller."
His grin twitched. "Funny."
I cracked my neck. "I try."
Then I charged.
I swung for his throat.
And this motherfucker caught my sword.
My eyes widened. His clawed fingers gripped the blade, stopping it cold, like it was nothing.
"Oh, that's just bullshit," I muttered.
Then he squeezed.
CRACK.
My sword bent.
My fucking sword.
I barely had time to react before he ripped it out of my grip and sent it flying.
FUCK.
Now I was unarmed.
Menato moved.
I rolled, just barely dodging as his claws gouged deep into the stone where my head had been. I had no weapon now. Just my fists.
And a shit-ton of adrenaline.
I exhaled. Fine. If that's how it is—
I lunged, throwing a punch at his jaw.
He sidestepped.
I spun with the momentum, bringing up my knee.
He caught my leg.
My brain barely had time to register how fucked I was before I was soaring through the air.
I slammed into a stone pillar. The impact shattered it. My ribs screamed. The air in my lungs evaporated.
Dust filled my vision.
I groaned, pushing myself up from the rubble.
Menato hadn't even moved.
He was just standing there. Watching.
I clenched my fists. My breathing was ragged, my head pounding.
But I wasn't done.
Slowly, I wiped the blood from my lips and let out a breath.
"Alright," I muttered. "Round two."
Menato's grin widened.
"Now we're talking."
Quickly I reached for my bent sword and lunged at him. As soon as I grapped it, I felt my ki drain out of me and into the sword. In that brief moment it straightened again.
Menato Sanchez was a blur. A goddamn nightmare wrapped in white fur and sharp teeth. I swung my sword, but he was already gone, reappearing behind me like some kind of twisted ghost. My ki blasts? Useless. Every time I tried to summon one, he'd already moved, dodging with an ease that made me feel like I was moving in slow motion.
"Come on, Kaizen," he taunted, his voice smooth, almost bored. "Is that all you've got? I expected more from someone who took down a dragon."
I gritted my teeth, my ki flickering weakly around me. I was running on fumes, and he knew it. Every swing of my sword, every ki blast I hurled at him, he dodged like it was nothing. It was like trying to hit smoke with a hammer.
"You're fast," I muttered, wiping blood from my lip. "I'll give you that."
He smirked, his sharp teeth glinting in the dim light. "And you're slow. I'll give you that."
I lunged at him again, my sword slicing through the air. He sidestepped, his movements fluid, almost lazy. Then, before I could react, he was behind me. His clawed hand slammed into my back, sending me flying.
I hit the ground hard, skidding across the stone floor. My sword clattered out of my hand, and I barely had time to roll to the side before his foot came down where my head had been. The stone cracked under the force of his kick, and I scrambled to my feet, my chest heaving.
"You're not even trying," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "This is boring."
I didn't respond. Instead, I focused on my ki, trying to summon another blast. The energy flickered in my palm, unstable and weak. I hurled it at him, but he was already gone, reappearing a few feet away with a smirk on his face.
"Pathetic," he said, shaking his head. "I thought you'd be more of a challenge."
I didn't have time to think. He was on me again, his claws slashing through the air. I ducked, barely avoiding the strike, but he was relentless. His knee came up, slamming into my gut. The air left my lungs in a rush, and I doubled over, gasping for breath.
Before I could recover, he grabbed me by the collar and hurled me across the room. I crashed into a pile of rubble, the impact sending a shockwave of pain through my body. Stones and debris rained down on me, burying me under a heap of rubble.
I groaned, my body screaming in protest as I tried to move. My vision swam, and for a moment, I thought I might pass out. But I couldn't. Not yet. I had one last trick up my sleeve.
With trembling hands, I reached under my leather armor and pulled out the Philosopher's Stone. Its faint, pulsing glow was the only light in the darkness of the rubble. I didn't have time to think. I activated my spatial ring and sent the Stone into it, hiding it away where Menato couldn't get to it.
Then, with a deep breath, I pushed myself to my feet, the rubble falling away from me. I stepped out of the pile, my body aching, but my resolve unshaken.
Menato was there in an instant, his hand wrapping around my throat before I could even blink. He lifted me off the ground, his grip like iron, and I felt the air being crushed out of me.
"Where is it?" he growled, his golden eyes burning with fury. "Where's the artifact?"
I choked, my hands clawing at his grip, but it was no use. He was too strong.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I managed to gasp, my voice strained.
His grip tightened, and I felt my vision start to blur. "Don't play dumb with me, Kaizen. Hand it over, or I'll rip it out of you."
I struggled to breathe, my mind racing. I had to think of something, anything. But with Menato's hand around my throat, it was hard to focus.
"Last chance," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Where's the Stone?"
I didn't answer. Instead, I focused on the last bit of ki I had left, summoning it to my hand. It was weak, barely a flicker, but it was enough. I slammed my palm into his chest, the ki blast exploding on contact.
Menato staggered back, his grip loosening just enough for me to break free. I hit the ground, gasping for air, my body trembling from the effort.
He recovered quickly, his eyes narrowing as he glared at me. "You're persistent. But it's not going to save you."
I didn't respond. I couldn't. My body was spent, my ki drained. I had nothing left.
But I wasn't going down without a fight.
Menato lunged at me again, his claws slashing through the air. I dodged, barely, but he was too fast. His fist connected with my jaw, and I felt my teeth rattle as I was sent flying again.
I hit the ground hard, my vision swimming. I could feel the darkness closing in, but I forced myself to stay conscious. I couldn't give up. Not yet.
Menato stood over me, his expression cold and unreadable. "You're done, Kaizen. Hand over the Stone, and I'll make it quick."
I coughed, blood spilling from my lips. "Go to hell," I muttered, my voice barely audible.
He sighed, shaking his head. "Stubborn to the end. Fine. Have it your way."
He raised his hand, his claws glinting in the dim light. I closed my eyes, bracing myself for the end.
But it never came.
Instead, I heard a voice, sharp and commanding.
"Menato Sanchez. Step away from him."
I opened my eyes to see Neralia standing there, glowing with a fierce, blue light. Her eyes were blazing with fury, and for the first time, I felt a flicker of hope.
Menato turned to her, his smirk returning. "And who are you supposed to be?"
"Your worst nightmare," she said, her voice cold and steady. "Now back off."
Menato chuckled, but there was a hint of caution in his eyes. "This just got interesting."
I didn't have the strength to move, but I managed a weak smile. "Took you long enough," I muttered, my voice barely a whisper.
Neralia glanced at me, her expression softening for just a moment. "Shut up, Kaizen. I've got this."
I wanted to believe her. I really did. But as Menato stepped forward, his claws gleaming, I couldn't help but wonder if this was the end after all.