Meanwhile, inside.
Ren took the opportunity to come close to her while the creature was busy with opening the door.
"Are you okay?"
He asked worriedly.
"Yeah. But we need to deal with it."
Taking a deep breath to calm herself and restore her stamina, she replied. The anger on her face disappeared, leaving only calmness.
"What do we do now? Can we take this thing down?"
He asked.
"We can't go out and escape like him. It's unpredictable what's happening outside. It's safer in here."
She explained while taking out a white, ordinary-looking small glove from her bag beside the bed.
"Here."
She shoved it into his hands.
"You don't seem to have protection. It's not much, but this should keep you safe for a few seconds."
Feeling the cold and smooth texture of it in his hands, Ren was amazed.
But this was not the time to think about this.
He quickly wore it on his hands. It was tight. Obviously it was meant for hands smaller than his.
Seeing that he had already put it on, she explained how to use it swiftly.
"Click the button at the back. Then when you open your fingers, it'll generate a shield in front."
Then she added.
"I noticed that it seems to unconsciously protect the back of its head, and its healing capability has slowed down with every attack."
She continued. Her azure eyes glowed slightly in focus. She saw the slowly healing hole in its forehead. Flesh like living worms stitched itself together.
"Its weakness must be somewhere around its head. I don't know why it didn't go down earlier. But blasting its head off should take it down."
He nodded, acknowledging her plan.
She recalled that it seemed to fall into an unconscious state after she pierced its forehead earlier.
*Also, my aether capacity is low.*
She thought while sensing the remaining aether in her body. It should at most support four or five more attacks.
"Alright. I got a plan!"
She said.
In front.
The creature found out that it couldn't come out. It turned around and noticed them.
**Arg!!**
It then let out a distorted, unintelligent roar and sprang up. Its claws made of flesh and bone hung in the air.
Eyes locked onto them.
Seeing this.
Ren's palms turned cold with sweat. He felt as if an unstoppable tiger was coming at him. Fear and nervousness gripped his mind like dark clouds.
Then adrenaline took over.
*I need to fight! Or I'll die!*
The memory of ancient survival awakened deep within each of his cells. They who had lived in peace for so long had now awakened.
Humanity, who started with wood and stone, relied on beastly ferocity and wisdom to survive. The modern age had tamed the beast. But when the need arose, the beast woke up!
When an honest man is angry, he can tear tigers and leopards apart with bare hands!
In an instant, his heart pumped even more blood throughout his body, delivering nutrients to support it. He had never felt as energetic and brave as now.
"Alright!"
He shouted to dispel the fear.
Turning on the protective gloves.
He took a step forward and stretched out his hand.
A transparent shield like an umbrella appeared inches above his hand.
*I can do it!*
He encouraged himself.
The solidness of it gave him confidence.
**Roar.**
The creature swept its long claw across, making a sound of tearing the air.
Its burly figure arrived in quick, chaotic steps!
Ren suddenly felt that his thinking had become clearer and sharper.
"1, 2... 3... I see it!"
His eyes captured the trajectory of the claw and quickly made countermeasures.
Both hands combined together to catch the falling claw. He groaned under the pressure. A cracking in his bones. But he held firm. The transparent shield saved his hands from its sharp claws, making a teeth-grinding sound while colliding.
He forced more strength out of himself and locked its arm so that it couldn't hurt him.
"Do it!"
He yelled. Sweat on his forehead. *This thing is strong! So strong I feel as if I'm carrying a boulder half a ton.*
The creature didn't care at all and instead raised its other arms. One on its shoulder brought it down.
Two eyes were bloodshot, locked onto him. Its mouth, lined up with a messy set of teeth like a shark, opened, releasing a foul smell into his face.
*Is it... laughing?*
It seemed angry. But also enjoying itself with wild instinct.
How arrogant!
A flash of blue suddenly hit the back of its head.
"Arg!"
A bloody arm flew through the air.
Landing on the ground with a thud.
The creature staggered and Ren quickly took the opportunity to get away.
It was her.
Their plan was: he holds it while she looks for an opportunity to destroy its head.
But it looked like...
It didn't succeed.
At the last second, the creature sacrificed its arm to save its head.
It was now wailing wildly, looking around for who it was.
Suddenly.
Ren's heart sank. He shouted.
"Be careful!"
The creature grew wild and ignored him, heading straight at her.
"I missed!?"
She took a deep breath.
No!
Noticing the fallen arm on the ground, she understood.
She turned and made a run for it.
But the creature caught up.
Its burly arm, swelling to thigh thickness, grasped at her back.
In her calm azure pupil, its bloody claw, like a demonic arm, enlarged rapidly.
The wind from its descent caused the hair at her temples to dance slightly, framing her beautiful face.
She blinked.
Suddenly.
A figure stood between her and it.
"I'm still here, bastard!"
Like a savior, the figure stretched out his arms and blocked the falling claws.
.....