Louis charged forward like a crimson storm, each step cracking the ground beneath him. The massive S-rank beast—part eagle, part shadow—screeched in fury, slamming its talon down to crush him. But Louis was no longer the boy who cowered in alleyways. He was something more—something awakened.
He vanished in a blur of speed and reappeared on the beast's side, driving his glowing fist into its ribs. A shockwave tore through the chamber, sending ancient stones crumbling from the walls. The beast howled, staggering back. Dark mist poured from its wound, hissing as it touched the floor.
Locob, half-buried under rubble, managed to lift his head and gasp. "That… that wasn't normal strength."
He forced himself up, blood trickling from his forehead. His wide eyes locked on Louis, who leapt into the air, spinning mid-flight as red energy flared around him. His punch struck the beast's skull like a meteor, sending the creature skidding backward across the broken temple floor.
Locob's thoughts spun. B-rank? No. That's not B-rank. That's… impossible.
He stared at Louis, realization dawning slowly, like a dawn he wasn't prepared for. He's S-rank. That mark… that strength… Betty knew this the whole time?
But there was no time for questions.
Locob limped to Betty's side. She was pale, barely breathing, her scarf soaked with blood. "Betty," he whispered, gently holding her shoulder. "Stay with me."
Her lips barely moved. "Lou…is…"
"He's fighting. But we need to get you help. Just hold on."
A deafening roar snapped his head up. Louis had taken to the air again, wings of red energy unfurling behind him—ethereal and radiant. He crashed into the beast mid-flight, sending feathers, shadow, and blood scattering in all directions. The beast countered with a screech that shattered pillars and knocked Locob flat. Chunks of ancient stone burst like fireworks as the battle ripped through the temple like a war between titans.
Louis gritted his teeth as claws scraped across his chest, drawing blood. But he didn't slow down. He grabbed the talon mid-swing, twisted, and slammed the beast into a wall. His eyes were glowing now—red like fire, wild and unrelenting.
The beast flapped its wings, summoning a storm of dark energy, launching spikes of corruption in every direction. Louis dodged one, batted another aside, but one clipped his shoulder, tearing through his cloak. He roared and lunged again, fists blazing.
Every impact between them shook the ground. Craters formed beneath their feet. Dust and magic hung thick in the air. Louis's energy crackled louder than thunder.
Locob shielded Betty from falling debris. "He's fighting like… like it's personal. Like he knows that thing."
And in a way, Louis did.
The beast bore the same mark. The same pulsing wings of red on its side. It was connected to him. To his destiny.
But right now, none of that mattered.
Betty was dying.
And Louis was going to end this.
With a roar that tore from his core, he summoned every ounce of strength the goddess had blessed him with. His mark flared like a supernova, and a circle of glowing runes erupted beneath his feet. The energy surged through his limbs, making his muscles hum with raw power.
He dashed forward, faster than before, and landed a punch that shattered the beast's beak. Blood sprayed into the air. The beast shrieked, rearing back. Louis grabbed its throat and slammed it into the ground.
Over and over and over.
The floor caved in.
With one final leap, Louis soared high above, a spear of red energy forming in his hand—crafted not of metal, but sheer divine wrath. He hurled it downward.
The beast tried to rise.
Too late.
The spear pierced its chest.
An explosion of red and black light engulfed the temple. The shockwave swept through every corridor, shaking the ruins to their foundation. Locob clung to Betty, shielding her body from the falling rubble.
Silence followed.
A thick, eerie silence.
Smoke curled through the broken air. The beast lay motionless, its body slowly turning to dust. The red mark on its body faded.
Louis stumbled out of the smoke, panting heavily. His body was covered in wounds, his eyes dimming as the rage slowly ebbed away. But there was no time to rest.
He ran to Betty's side and fell to his knees. "Is she—?"
"She's alive," Locob said, voice tight. "Barely. We need to get her to a healer now."
Louis looked at her, bloodied and still. The strongest girl he knew, the one who never flinched, now dying in his arms.
He clenched his fists.
Not again.
He stood, trembling but determined. "Then we run."
To be continued…