BOOM!
The guard was reduced to dust in an instant—his body disintegrated like ash in the wind.
Gasps. Screams. Panic rippled through the crowd.
Lioran's eyes widened in horror.
"What… What now?" he muttered.
The green creature, smoke and menace, roared once more—its voice splitting the air like a jagged blade.
"Where are you hiding, Vaelion?!" it bellowed, its crimson eyes burning with fury.
Lioran frowned.
"Vaelion…?" he whispered, puzzled. "Who… who is that?"
But before he could finish the thought, a sharp pain surged through his skull.
Throb!
He clutched his head, gritting his teeth as flashes of unfamiliar memories pierced his mind. Images of grotesque monsters swarming like locusts… and amidst them, a radiant figure clad in golden armor, wielding a massive Gadā, crushing the beasts like insects beneath his might.
'That man… Was that… Vaelion?'
The creature's palm glowed ominously, summoning a pulsating orb of dark green energy.
"VAELION!" it shrieked. "Come out, you rat! Or I'll turn this place into a graveyard!"
It hurled the orb.
KRA-BOOM!
The auditorium erupted in a violent explosion. Flames, debris, and shattered metal flew in every direction.
Screams.
Terror.
Lioran's voice cut through the chaos:
"Everyone, get out—NOW!"
His eyes darted toward an under-construction building nearby.
Students bolted from the collapsing structure, pushing past one another in blind panic. Amid the stampede, Lioran noticed the door to the chemistry lab.
He veered inside.
"Lioran!" a voice called. It was Sharin, breaking from the crowd and chasing after him.
Inside the lab, glass rattled from the distant explosion. Lioran frantically opened cabinets and grabbed chemicals.
"What are you doing?" Sharin asked, out of breath.
"Making RDX." Lioran replied without looking up. "It's an explosive compound."
Sharin stared, stunned.
"You… what?!"
Outside, three guards surrounded the creature and opened fire.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Bullets pelted the monster's body. It shrieked, momentarily stunned.
Silence followed.
One of the guards lowered his gun, cautiously approaching.
"Is it dead…?"
"Heh… Heh… HAHAHAHAHA!"
The creature threw back its head and howled with laughter.
"You fools! Do you really think your puny toys can kill me?"
The guards opened fire again in a panic.
Rat-tat-tat!
But the bullets were useless. The laughter stopped.
"I'm bored now."
FWOOOSH!
In one swift motion, the monster incinerated them—leaving behind nothing but ash and smoke.
The remaining survivors screamed and scattered.
"Vaelion!" the creature roared again. "I'll wait a little longer. If you don't show yourself soon, I'll bury this entire place under rubble and bones."
Back in the lab, Lioran had finished preparing six crude RDX packets and sealed them in thick wraps.
"Why these packets?" Sharin asked, watching nervously.
"You'll see," Lioran muttered. "I'm going to stop that thing."
"Stop it? With this?" Sharin gaped. "This handmade stuff won't even scratch it!"
Lioran nodded.
"I know. It's not as powerful as real RDX, but… I've got a plan."
He laid it out in quick whispers.
Sharin's face paled.
"That's insane. You could die, Lioran!"
Lioran's eyes darkened, but his voice was calm.
"I have to."
"Why? Why risk your life?"
He paused. In his mind, a memory flickered—a woman's voice echoing gently.
"Promise me… Promise you'll help others. It is your duty."
Lioran whispered, "Because I promised her."
Out loud, he said,
"It's my duty. Will you help me?"
Sharin hesitated, then clenched his fists.
"I'm your friend. A friend never abandons his friend."
Lioran smiled.
"Then let's go."
Sharin grabbed a bottle of concentrated sulfuric acid.
"Just in case."
---
Outside, the creature stretched its claws.
"Time's up."
It conjured a massive fireball, crackling with energy, and raised its arm to launch it—
FWSSHHH!
A packet of RDX, tied to a burning rope, thrown by lioran and smacked the monster in the face.
BOOM!
Smoke billowed. Flames surged.
But when the dust cleared—the creature stood, unharmed.
"How dare you?!" it snarled.
It hurled the fireball toward Lioran.
Lioran dove aside.
KRA-KOOM!
The blast knocked him off his feet. He groaned and staggered to his knees, then sprinted toward the under-construction building.
The creature gave chase.
"Now it's all up to you, Sharin…" Lioran thought as he bounded up the stairs.
The monster thundered behind him, relentless.
"You can't run forever!" it roared.
Lioran reached the top floor.
CRACK!
A bolt of lightning shot from the creature's hand. Lioran dodged, but the shockwave slammed him against a wall.
THUD!
His head cracked against the concrete. Blood ran down from his head. His vision blurred.
The monster stalked closer.
"You worm," it sneered. "Now I'll give you a slow, painful death."
Lioran smiled weakly.
"Oh really? Look under your feet."
The creature looked down.
A packet of RDX—its fuse burning fast.
BOOM!
The floor exploded, and the creature plummeted, crashing through several floors before landing with a tremendous CRASH.
It snarled, shaken—but still alive.
"You idiot!" it roared. "You think childish tricks can stop me?"
But then… it paused.
Its gaze darted upward. On each of the four main support pillars, more packets of RDX burned.
Its eyes widened.
It saw sharin runing from there.
"NO—!"
BOOOOOM!
The support columns exploded.
The building groaned.
Steel bent. Concrete shattered.
The entire structure began to collapse.
Lioran dashed across the crumbling terrace and jump
THWIP!
He caught the rope tied to the crane and slid down, flames licking at his heels.
At the ground, Sharin stood waiting, arms open.
Lioran slammed into him. They both tumbled to the dirt.
CRASH!
The entire building came down in a cloud of dust and thunder.
"You're bleeding!" Sharin said, catching his breath. "I told you it was too dangerous!"
Lioran chuckled, coughing.
"But we saved everyone." He looked at Sharin. "Couldn't have done it without you… friend."
But then—
RUMBLE.
The ground trembled beneath them.
"What now?!" Sharin gasped.
Lioran's eyes widened.
"No… It can't be."
BOOM!
From the rubble, a second explosion tore the ground apart—and the creature emerged once again, scorched but alive, laughing maniacally.
"Well?" it hissed. "Did you really think I was dead?"
It lunged.
Lioran shoved Sharin out of the way.
The creature grabbed Lioran's face.
"You humans…" it growled. "You'll never defeat us."
Its claws dug into Lioran's skin.
"Now, you're finished."
TO BE CONTINUED…