Chapter 10: The Behemoth’s Wrath
The ground quaked with each step of the behemoth, its massive silhouette blotting out the artificial lights above. The air seemed to vibrate with its guttural growl, a sound so deep it resonated in their bones. Kaito tightened his grip on his weapon, but his palms were slick with sweat, and his hands trembled despite his best efforts to steady them.
"How do we even kill something like that?" Haruto's voice cracked as he crouched behind a dented steel barrier, peering at the approaching monstrosity.
"We don't," Reika replied, her tone sharp and commanding. "We survive. If we split up, it might slow them down."
"Split up?" Mika's voice rose with disbelief. "Are you insane? That thing will pick us off one by one!"
Kaito stepped forward, his breathing ragged. "We can't fight all of them. But if we can distract it… maybe we can buy time to figure something out."
The behemoth let out another roar, this one louder and more guttural, causing Kaito's ears to ring. Smaller creatures swarmed around it like an army of insects, their glowing eyes fixed on the team.
Mika tightened her grip on her rifle. "If we're doing this, we need a plan, and we need it now."
"Plans take time," Reika said grimly, loading another clip into her gun. "Time we don't have."
Without warning, one of the smaller creatures lunged forward. Reika spun and fired, the shot landing squarely in its glowing eye. The beast collapsed with a screech, but three more surged forward in its place.
"They don't stop!" Haruto yelled, backing away.
"Cover me!" Reika shouted, moving forward to intercept the swarm.
Kaito felt his heart pounding as he raised his weapon. Every instinct screamed at him to run, to get as far away from the monsters as possible. But there was no escape. The walls of the arena loomed high, cutting off any hope of retreat.
The behemoth roared again, the sound reverberating through the air as it charged. Its massive claws scraped against the metal floor, leaving deep gashes in its wake.
"Scatter!" Kaito yelled, diving to the side just as the behemoth's massive claw slammed into the ground where he had been standing. The impact sent a shockwave through the arena, knocking everyone off their feet.
Kaito scrambled to his knees, his vision blurry from the fall. He spotted Mika a few meters away, struggling to stand.
"Mika!" he shouted, running toward her.
The ground shook again as the behemoth roared, its glowing eyes fixed on them. Kaito grabbed Mika's arm, pulling her to her feet.
"We need to move!" he said, his voice frantic.
"Where?" Mika asked, her eyes wide with fear.
Kaito glanced around, his mind racing. The arena was chaos—monsters everywhere, the air filled with gunfire and the acrid smell of burning metal.
"There!" he said, pointing to a stack of crates that offered some cover.
They sprinted toward the crates, ducking behind them just as another wave of smaller creatures swarmed past. Reika and Haruto were nearby, their weapons blazing as they held the line.
"Glad you could join us!" Reika shouted over the noise, reloading her rifle.
"We need to fall back!" Kaito said, his voice trembling.
"There's nowhere to fall back to!" Haruto yelled, firing wildly.
The behemoth loomed closer, its massive form blotting out the light. Its claws tore through the barriers like paper, sending debris flying in every direction.
"Everyone, move!" Reika commanded, her voice cutting through the chaos.
They regrouped, retreating further into the maze of the arena. The behemoth pursued relentlessly, its roars shaking the ground with every step. Smaller creatures darted ahead, their glowing eyes gleaming with predatory hunger.
"This isn't a fight," Mika said, her voice barely audible. "It's a massacre."
"We can't let it end here," Kaito said, his jaw set. "There has to be a way to turn this around."
Reika nodded, her eyes scanning the battlefield. "Keep moving. Stay alive. If there's an opening, we'll take it."
As the team darted through the chaos, the behemoth let out another earth-shaking roar, its massive claw swiping toward them.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Tenshimeo
Tenshimeo The chapter ends with the claw coming dangerously close to striking Kaito, leaving the outcome uncertain.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone