RLRD Chapter 4

Chapter 4 An Encounter.

Kyro's gaze was locked on the surreal scene unfolding above. The rift in reality, like a pane of glass shattering, revealed more of the ominous creature. Its arm, dark-skinned and massive, extended through the rift, ending in a claw that seemed to have leaped out of a nightmare.

The hand was a grotesque fusion of human and animal traits. The claws, curved and irregular, resembled overgrown, untamed fingernails rather than the precise cut of a blade.

Slith's recognition was immediate and chilling. These were the same entities that had once invaded Earth, the same foes he had battled against in a bygone era.

"Why are you just standing there? Are you waiting to be devoured? Move, get out of here!" Slith's voice boomed in Kyro's mind, a clear command in the face of looming danger.

The words of warning were perhaps a little too late. Kyro's shock was palpable as the creature, immense as a house, emerged fully from the rift. It soared over them, its upper body rippling with muscles, contrasting sharply with its more slender lower half. But it was the creature's face that captured Kyro's attention – four small, yellow, glowing eyes and sharp teeth protruding like tusks.

With a powerful leap, the creature landed squarely on the convenience store, crushing it under its massive weight. The impact sent Kyro tumbling to the ground, a blast of wind and debris swirling around him. He raised his arm to shield himself, his heart pounding in his chest.

As the dust began to settle, a faint, desperate voice pierced through the chaos.

"Kuk—help... Help me!" The cry for help resonated in the air, adding a new layer of urgency to the already dire situation.

Kyro's body nearly froze at the sight before him. He struggled to breathe, his mind reeling from the shock. In the wreckage of the convenience store, a middle-aged woman in a purple dress lay pinned under a collapsed wall. Blood trickled from her head, her attempts to speak hindered by the flow from her mouth.

"Kyro, leave now! You'll end up like her and the others if you stay!" Slith's voice, urgent and frantic.

The creature from the rift, massive and terrifying, spread its arms and unleashed a deafening roar that vibrated the ground. The sound resonated through Kyro, a deep, primal force that shook him to his core.

"We need to get out of here, now!" Kyro's survival instincts kicked in. He quickly picked himself up and started to run, adrenaline fueling his every step.

“That’s exactly what I’ve been saying this whole time!” Slith argued.

In a blur of panic and adrenaline, Kyro's newly strengthened legs carried him faster than he'd ever moved before. He was pushing his body to its limits, a wild mix of fear and determination fueling him.

"Jump to the right!" Slith's urgent command broke through his thoughts.

Without questioning, Kyro leaped aside, narrowly avoiding a car that crashed down onto the road, skidding and flipping onto its side. He realized, with a jolt of fear, that the creature had flung the vehicle.

"Why aren't the army or police here? Someone, anyone!" Kyro's voice trembled, his body shaking. He struggled to rise, but as he did, the beast launched another vehicle directly at him.

The car hurtled towards him at terrifying speed. Kyro doubted he could dodge this one. "Slith, you're a dragon, a legendary creature! Do something, save me!" he cried out in desperation.

As the vehicle bore down on him, Kyro instinctively closed his eyes, bracing for impact. But nothing happened. No pain, no darkness.

"Was it you, Slith? Did you save me?" Kyro asked, bewildered.

"No, it wasn't me," Slith replied, equally surprised.

Kyro opened his eyes, expecting destruction, but instead, he found himself unharmed, the vehicle stopped in its deadly trajectory. Confusion and relief flooded him. If not Slith, then who or what had intervened at that critical moment?

As Kyro cautiously opened his eyes, he saw a tall, slender figure standing before the halted vehicle. Her hands were outstretched, and the vehicle was entirely encased in ice.

"Get out of here, Kid!" The woman's voice was firm, authoritative. "I'll handle this!"

Kyro could only see her back, but as she leaped into the air, leaving a trail of ice behind her, he was certain of her identity. This was no ordinary hero; she was an S Rank Purger, Arlet Spring, a name he recognized from online.

Arlet maneuvered through the air with grace, surfing on the ice. She extended her hands, launching two orbs of ice at the beast. The projectiles hit their mark, freezing sections of the creature at its shoulder joints. But the beast was undeterred, breaking free from the ice as it charged toward her.

In a swift response, Arlet coated the creature's claw with more ice, quickly forming a slide-like path. She appeared to be wearing ice skates, gliding down the path she created with ease.

The creature, relentless in its pursuit, shattered the ice path as it moved forward, its massive form crashing through the frozen trail. The scene unfolded with a mix of danger and awe, as Arlet continued her battle against the monstrous being.

Arlet cursed under her breath, frustrated at the situation unfolding on her day off. "Why does this have to happen when I'm not even on duty?"

The beast, having shattered its ice-encased claw, didn't pause to search for Arlet. Instead, it charged forward with a single-minded focus.

"Is it going after that kid?" Arlet realized, her surprise mirroring Kyro's own disbelief. He had barely escaped death once, and now the monstrous creature was barreling towards him again.

"Why is it after me? Can it read my thoughts?" Kyro panicked, darting to the side in a desperate bid to escape.

Arlet, meanwhile, continued her assault, flinging ice at the creature's legs, trying to slow it down. But the beast's strength was overwhelming, shattering the ice with each thunderous step.

Kyro glanced back as he fled, only to see the massive claw swiping towards him. The force of the impact sent him flying through the air, his body crashing into a parked car with such force that it briefly lifted off the ground before thudding back down.

"Crap, the news is going to blame me for this," Arlet groaned, placing her hands on the ground, preparing for her next move against the relentless giant lizard.

The entire parking lot transformed into a winter wonderland as Arlet's powers took full effect, the ice encasing even the ground where the beast stood. Its attempts to regain footing were futile; it slipped and fell, struggling against the icy surface.

Arlet, poised high above on an ice platform, prepared her next move. She conjured a massive ice pillar in the air, its end sharpened into a deadly spike.

With a fierce cry, "Die, you piece of crap!" she released the pillar. The beast, barely managing to rise, was impaled by the ice, black blood gushing over the frozen surface.

Not satisfied with just impaling it, Arlet launched a barrage of ice, targeting several parts of the beast's body, each hit spreading more frost across its form. She repeated her assault until the entire creature was encased in ice.

Descending from her icy perch, Arlet skated down to the ground beside the now frozen beast. She pressed her ear against it, listening for any signs of life. Only her own heartbeat thudded in her ears.

Panting, sweat trickling down her face, Arlet looked exhausted but triumphant. "That was a tough one," she gasped, catching her breath. "When's the last time a rift break unleashed something this big? I can't even remember."

As Arlet scanned the area, the distant sound of helicopter blades and the screech of cars signaled the imminent arrival of news crews, military, police, and other Purgers. The aftermath of the battle was about to become a major event.

 Determined to at least recover the boy's body, Arlet skated swiftly across the parking lot towards the car Kyro had collided with. But as she spun around for a closer look, she was met with a baffling scene.

"I'm sure this is where the kid got hit... am I imagining things?" Confusion crept into her voice. The car was unmistakably damaged, a deep dent on its side and splatters of blood marking its surface. But there was no sign of Kyro.

"This makes no sense! Even a low-ranking Purger wouldn't survive a hit like that, let alone a regular kid." Arlet spoke aloud, her voice tinged with disbelief. The absence of Kyro's body was a puzzle, defying the brutal reality of the creature's attack. Arlet stood there, trying to make sense of the impossible scenario before her.

Arlet's mind raced as she examined the trail of blood leading away from the scene. The evidence was undeniable – somehow, against all odds, the boy had survived the monstrous attack.

The realization sent a shiver down her spine. "Who is this kid? Could he be a Purger in disguise? But I would've recognized him if he was," she mused, perplexed. She committed the boy's appearance to memory, feeling a growing sense of intrigue and curiosity.

The mere thought that someone, especially a seemingly ordinary kid, could endure such a violent strike and still manage to escape was astonishing. It hinted at a mystery, a hidden depth to Kyro that demanded further investigation. Whoever he was, one thing was clear – he was no ordinary individual.