Mutant awakening: My evolution knows no bounds

Without warning, the Sycrax raised one of its massive claws, each talon resembling a gleaming, axe-like blade. The deadly appendage descended in a brutal arc toward Miley, a whistling sound cutting through the tension-laden air like a herald of doom.

SLASH!

Just as the claws were about to cleave through Miley, a sphere of raw black energy erupted from nowhere, intercepting the blow with a thunderous impact. The resulting shockwave rippled outward, kicking up dust and debris.

The sound snapped Miley out of her daze. She turned her head, eyes wide with disbelief, and saw Barry standing a few feet away. His body was battered, bruises and cuts marring his skin from the earlier explosion. Blood trickled down his temple, yet he stood firm, defiance burning in his eyes.

"Get your shit together, Miley. This is no joke," Barry growled, his voice rough but resolute. His gaze never left the Sycrax, who now glared at him with a disdainful snarl, its eyes glimmering like molten lava.

The creature's glare intensified for a moment before it lunged forward with predatory speed. Barry's throat went dry as the Sycrax closed the distance, its monstrous form looming larger with every step. He swallowed hard, steeling himself, and shifted into a defensive stance, muscles coiled like springs.

In a heartbeat, the Sycrax was upon him, its claws slashing out in a blur of motion. Barry's eyes widened as the razor-sharp talons raced toward him. At the last possible moment, he summoned an energy barrier—a translucent shield shimmering with dark, swirling patterns.

The claws struck the barrier with explosive force. CRACK! The shield shattered like glass, shards of energy dissipating into the ether. Barry barely managed to leap backward, the claws missing him by mere inches. He landed heavily a few meters away, gasping for breath, his heart pounding in his chest.

"It destroyed my Grade 4 barrier... with a single strike? Damn it, this thing's strong," Barry thought, gritting his teeth as he steadied himself.

"Die!" A new voice cut through the chaos. Sam emerged from the shadows, his blade gripped tightly in both hands. He sprinted forward, muscles straining, and swung at the Sycrax's leg with all his strength.

CLANG!

The blade struck the creature's armor, producing a deafening metallic ring. The Sycrax barely flinched. It spun around, eyes narrowing as it spotted Sam—a mere human, daring to challenge it.

"You humans just don't learn!" it roared, the guttural sounds vibrating through the ground. Without warning, it lashed out with one of its massive legs. Sam raised his Grade 5 blade to block the attack, but the force behind the kick was overwhelming.

CRASH!

The blade shattered like porcelain. The impact lifted Sam off his feet, sending him hurtling through the air. He tumbled end over end, his body a ragdoll in a violent wind. Mid-air, he suddenly stopped—suspended by an invisible force.

"Telekinesis," Barry realized, dread twisting in his gut. He watched, helpless, as Sam was dragged back toward the Sycrax, his limbs flailing.

The moment Sam was within reach, the Sycrax's claws flashed. SLASH! Blood sprayed through the air, painting the ground in crimson arcs. Sam's body fell in two pieces, his upper half collapsing in a lifeless heap, organs spilling out in grotesque detail.

The Sycrax wiped the blood from its claws with a deliberate, almost disdainful gesture, its gaze locking onto Barry. Any remnants of confidence Barry had evaporated. His breath came in shallow gasps, panic clawing at the edges of his mind.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

'It killed Sam... a Grade 4, effortlessly. I knew the Sycrax species were strong, but this… this is beyond anything I imagined,' he thought, every muscle in his body screaming for action—or flight.

The Sycrax's eyes flicked to the side. It grabbed a discarded metallic rod, dragging its claws along the surface. Sparks flew as it sharpened the tip, transforming it into a deadly spear. With a sudden, fluid motion, it hurled the makeshift weapon.

The spear sliced through the air with terrifying speed. Barry threw up his hands, summoning a thick wall of black energy in front of him. The spear collided with the barrier and tore through it like paper. His eyes widened as he hastily summoned another wall—then another.

The spear slowed, its momentum sapped. Finally, it lodged into the second barrier, quivering before falling inert. Barry exhaled, sweat beading on his forehead. Without hesitation, he lowered his hands and shot a beam of black energy from his palms.

The beam struck the Sycrax dead-on, but the creature didn't even flinch. It charged forward, moving faster than Barry could react. Its claws descended again, a blur of death aimed at his head. Barry dove backward, the talons missing him by a hair's breadth, gouging deep furrows into the ground. The impact sent a shockwave rippling outward, knocking Barry off his feet.

"Our plan was simple," the Sycrax growled, its voice dripping with malice. "We made you believe in an illusion—Sycrax's buildings, false clues. All to lure you here. Now, when you're all dead, we'll return to Earth. Your portal will be our gateway."

Barry struggled to rise, his limbs trembling.

Then, from the corner of his eye, he saw movement. Miley. She had stood frozen, a statue of shock and fear. But now, she drew her blade, determination hardening her features.

Her grip tightened on the hilt, knuckles white. She charged forward, a battle cry tearing from her throat.

The fight was far from over.

"Barry! We can't defeat it on our own! We need Klaus on our team! Find a way to bring him back here while I distract this bastard!" Miley's voice carried a mix of urgency and determination as she launched herself forward, a blur of motion against the backdrop of the war-torn battlefield.

Her eyes, fierce and resolute, locked onto the Sycrax as it stalked toward Barry with an ominous, measured gait, its monstrous frame casting long, terrifying shadows.

Before the creature could close the distance, Miley leaped high into the air, her movements graceful yet desperate. With both hands gripping the hilt of her blade, she swung down hard, aiming for the creature's neck.

CLANG!

The impact resonated through the battlefield like a bell tolling for the dead. Sparks exploded where the blade met the Sycrax's neck armor, but the impenetrable carapace held firm.

The creature, unfazed, turned its head, its eyes gleaming with a cold, predatory light. With a guttural snarl, it lashed out with its claws, the axe-like claws slicing through the air with deadly precision.

Miley, quick to react, activated her Grade 4 wind ability. A powerful gust erupted beneath her, propelling her higher into the sky, just inches beyond the reach of those deadly claws. The wind roared around her, whipping her hair into a frenzy as she steadied herself mid-air, her eyes never leaving the beast below.

She tightened her grip on the blade, muscles tensed, and descended like a vengeful comet, aiming for the creature's exposed head. The blade struck true, colliding with the Sycrax's skull. But instead of slicing through, it rebounded with a dull thud, as if she had struck solid stone. The shock rattled up her arms, leaving her momentarily stunned.

"What the—?" she began, but before the realization could fully dawn, the Sycrax's two enormous horns began to glow, eerie green light pooling at their tips. A low hum filled the air, building to a crescendo before a searing beam of energy shot forth.

The laser struck Miley square in the chest. The force of the blast sent her hurtling backward, her body spinning through the air like a ragdoll before she crashed face-first into the sand, skidding several feet before coming to a stop. A small cloud of dust and debris settled around her motionless form.

Meanwhile, Barry was crawling away, desperation etched into every movement. His body ached, wounds from the earlier explosion slowing him down, but his mind raced with a singular goal: contacting Klaus. He rummaged through the debris, eyes scanning frantically for the communication device he'd lost in the chaos. Every second felt like an eternity.

"Damn it," he muttered through gritted teeth. If he couldn't find the device, he'd have to resort to a risky, untested alternative. There was no time to doubt; failure wasn't an option.

The Sycrax's gaze shifted, its predatory senses zeroing in on Barry. With a casual flick of its massive hand, it extended its telekinetic power. Barry's body stiffened, paralyzed by an invisible force. Panic surged through him as he fought to move, muscles straining against an unyielding grip. Slowly, he was lifted off the ground, drawn toward the towering monstrosity.

"Now, where do you think you're going?" The Sycrax's voice was a chilling rumble, each word dripping with dark amusement. Barry's feet dangled helplessly as the creature lifted him higher, its eyes gleaming with a savage hunger.

"It's been too long since I tasted human flesh and blood. Perhaps now is the time for a feast," it continued, its mouth opening wide. Rows of razor-sharp fangs, jagged and deadly, lined its maw like the blades of a merciless machine.

Barry's heart pounded as he was released, gravity pulling him toward the gaping maw. Desperation and resolve collided within him. In a final, defiant act, he raised his right hand and unleashed a surge of energy into the sky.

The dark projectile shot upward, a streak of light against the oppressive gloom. High above, it exploded in a brilliant burst, illuminating the battlefield like an otherworldly firework.

In the distance, Klaus and Kara stood inside the second building, their faces illuminated by the distant flare. They were quick to understand what it meant.

Without a word, they exchanged a determined glance—trouble had come, and they had to act fast.