Icy blue light filled everyone’s eyes when the blade light slashed forth from the saber, the weapon releasing a distinct cracking sound even as it slashed straight through the beast’s hide and to it’s bone. Boiling blood splashed from the wound and hissed as the surrounding snow turned crimson.

The Burning Sun Cat roared in pain as the attack sent it staggering backwards, a bone-deep gash left along the entire length of its body. It’s eyes filled with a deep confusion even as it looked towards the feeble human and the near-broken weapon in it’s hand. It didn’t understand what happened even as the bladesman continued approaching.

Sebastian, however, was focused on something else. New text had appeared in front of him and stayed at the centre of his vision. Reading it as he walked, the words put a smile on his face.

[Congratulations on creating the first Vitality Art]

[Sebastian Albrecht has created the first known Vitality Art after the occurrence of The Light, breaking through the first threshold of his meridians and creating a unique Ice Vitality Art. Vitality Art has been named Dragon’s Hymn based on past experiences.]

Sebastian nodded as he read the notification before dismissing the text. Circulating his Vitality through his arms, the strengthening effect felt even stronger than before, and he felt he could even channel his Vitality into his saber, like he just had. A wry smile formed on his face though as he felt his Vitality reserves were half empty.

Focusing his breathing and channeling his Vitality into the blade, Sebastian heard the metal crack again as a few more fractures appeared, turning the wry smile into a frown. Inferior Weapons apparently couldn’t handle Vitality for too long, and that initial strike only came about from the force of the breakthrough, he couldn’t recreate it.

The bladesman’s eyes abruptly narrowed as he sensed the beast move again, forcing his body to jolt backwards and dodge the cat as it crushed the asphalt he was previously standing on. It didn’t stop at that, immediately deciding Sebastian wasn’t worth the effort and sprinting towards the other three.

Hasan had only seen a flash of icy blue light before he immediately felt a heavy pressure descend upon him, the heat directly evaporating any sweat on his skin that remained as the Burning Sun Cat swiped at his chest and shoulder with a burning claw. Sebastian did his best to catch up even as the beast stopped to attack, but the physical stats from being so many levels apart were just too different.

Everything seemed to slow down as Sebastian tightened his grip on his blade, An arm flew through the air and a scream came with it; the portion of the limb at the shoulder burned and scorched. The sound of someone falling to the ground and crushing the snow beneath them rang out.

It took all he had to push himself just that little bit faster, channel just a little bit more vitality into his blade even as it continued to deteriorate. The sudden injury reminded him of what was going on.

Sarah was injured and in unknown condition.

Hasan was injured and had lost a limb.

This was no longer just a fight, but a race against time.

--------------------

The convoy had come to a complete halt some few hundred feet away. The groups at the sides had cleared the area almost completely, with even the group at the back having made their way up to the front. Dallas frowned at the lack of Ken nearby, but his group members just told him that he was clearing out an apartment complex. The assumption that it might have had people in it is the only reason he didn’t get someone to call the kid back.

“What’s going on up front?”

“The front group has engaged with the beast, sir.”

“Anyone here see the details?”

“No sir, but most of us saw a bright blue light just a minute ago, and we heard a howl and a scream shortly after. We’re unsure as to the results but the beast still seems to be fighting something.”

“Did someone manage to identify it at least?”

“It was Lv. 16.”

The group went silent for a moment as they contemplated the man’s words. Not a single person hadn’t subconsciously gripped their weapons tightly when they heard the beast’s level. Most of them had only just levelled up to their current Lv. 6 or 7 with the rare Lv. 8. Dallas himself had only just gotten to Lv. 9, yet they had sent just a group of four to deal with the Lv. 16?

Many uttered a silent prayer for their survival, but even more of them gave quiet apologies towards the group of four, speaking out into the void.

--------

White steam constantly poured out into the surroundings, creating a hazy mist over the battlefield. Chris had done his best to heal Sarah’s wounds as much as he could have, but he didn’t have the proper equipment or knowledge for it. Worry consumed his mind as he stared down at her wounds, before looking over at his other companion.

Hasan had a few large gashes that ran across his chest but suddenly stopped at his left shoulder, not because the wound ended there, but simply because the shoulder was torn off. The man had somehow stayed conscious through the pain, but his eyes were glazed over and it seemed like he lost all spirit, even as he refused to let go of the saber still in his right hand. He forced himself to look back over at the battlefield as the fight raged on, though the mist was hard to see through.

The Burning Sun Cat’s body temperature was so high that it created steam, but a large portion of it came from Sebastian. Like exhaust, every movement and breath of his resulted in a large portion of hot air jetting from the holes in his cheek, almost as if it was on fire.

Chris cradled his head between his hands silently, but slapped himself quickly. He couldn’t just wallow here in fear. If anything approached his two injured teammates, they wouldn’t be able to defend themselves. Forcing himself to stand and taking one last glance at the battle behind him, he decided all he could do was have faith.

That Sebastian wouldn’t lose.

---

Forcing himself to swallow back down the blood in his throat, Sebastian was sent sliding backwards on the asphalt as his soles were practically torn from his boots. The back and forth between the two resulted in injuries for both parties with Sebastian having just earnt himself two new cuts across his chest that threatened to have cut straight through him if he didn’t maneuver in time. His saber was coated in blood, but the beast was bigger, stronger, faster. The Vitality breakthrough helped bridge the gap in attacks, but it’s endurance far outstripped his.

His Vitality was nearly empty, blood flowing from every one of the many different lacerations given to him by risky dodges or by getting too close for an attack. The fight reminded him of the conversation with Dallas. The Burning Sun Cat wasn’t quite close to the level of the super strong beast they were theorizing about, but it was getting there.

Leaning forwards whilst taking a step and slashing upwards, he left a new bone deep gash along the cat’s side. He caught a glimpse of Therin still slithering around on the creature’s shoulders before having to quickly roll to the side and avoid a heavy paw.

Therin hadn’t been able to contribute at all once it found its way on the beast's body. If it could get to its eyes, the fight would be over. The issue was that any creature was innately sensitive to things on their face and near their eyes. Humans were at least, and he didn’t see why this monster cat would be different. It has to do with survival after all.

Deciding to just take a gamble, Sebastian breathed in and pushed all of his Vitality towards his blade, causing the Inferior Saber to glow bright blue like a blade made of shining ice. It cracked and threatened to shatter, but Ice Vitality filled the gaps and solidified, forcing the blade to stay together as it filled with rampaging energy.

Leaving only enough Vitality within his body to keep himself moving after the strike, he darted forward towards the Burning Sun Cat. Ducking and dashing under it’s paw when it attacked, he ripped the spear from its side. Escaping another swipe of it’s paws by twisting his body, Sebastian thrust the spear towards the monster's eye as it turned to face him.

The attack was quickly met with a deep orange claw, slicing apart the shaft of the spear. The beast's eyes narrowed abruptly as an icy blue glow filled it’s vision. Roaring out and bringing its paw up while moving it’s head, the beast did it’s best to block the blow.

Blade light flashed through the air as it cut through the orange claws and dug into the cat’s face, tearing flesh from it’s skull and sending blood splattering all over it’s fur. The saber shattered into pieces and lodged itself into the flesh around the wound.

Howling in rage and pain from the injury, the cat opened its mouth in Sebastian’s direction. The air temperature rose incredibly in a mere moment as its throat filled with an orange glow. Ignoring the signs, Sebastian leapt forward towards the beast with the broken remains of his blade, glaring into the beast’s eyes as it stared him down in kind. As if believing it had won, disdain filled its eyes once more until it instead began filling with panic.

A water blue snake’s head filled it’s vision in one eye, and then it’s fangs, and then a mind-shattering pain as it felt the snake bite into its eye. Dispersing the building flames in it’s throat with an enraged roar, it swept a paw towards it’s own face to remove the serpent from it’s flesh; forgetting about the bladesman in front of it.

Sebastian leapt up towards it’s remaining eye whilst holding the broken blade in a reverse grip, not using any Vitality for his movements or the attack. He simply jumped when Therin finally acted, aiming for the beast’s eye and everything behind it with a final attack. The Burning Sun Cat sensed his attack and tried to back away, but it was too late. The serpent attacking it’s eye wasn’t big enough to get through, but the blade Sebastian was holding definitely was.

A disturbing sound of flesh popping echoed out as the broken blade pierced through it’s eye and forced its way through the surrounding bone that made up it’s eye socket. The resulting squelching sound drove shivers down his spine, even as the beast roared out in fury and slammed it’s paw into his back.

The attack sent him flying, leaving the blade wedged into it’s eye socket. Rolling across the asphalt, his body felt like it was on fire, blood soaking his clothes as every single cut stung and seared into his mind. Finally unable to prevent it, Sebastian coughed up blood onto the asphalt. He was just lucky there were no meaty chunks within.

Looking up from his puddle of blood weakly and not moving his body at all, the bladesman looked over at the feline beast with some hope. It looked back at him, weakly, though it didn’t have much of an eye left. Therin had been swept away by a paw, but the damage was still done.

As the Burning Sun Cat slowly walked over to him, it released low roaring sounds. Blood dripped from it’s face and the many bone deep gashes left in it’s sides as it approached, leaving a deep red trail in its wake. Every step took all of its strength yet even still it wobbled and stumbled. The beast finally managed to stand in front of Sebastian in it’s dying breaths. The two looked into eachothers eyes, even when the beast finally fell on it’s side and text filled Sebastian’s vision.

[You have slain a Lv. 16 Burning Sun Cat]

[Defeated Higher Level, Higher Tier]

[Awarded 400 xp]

[Congratulations on reaching Lv. 10]

[Class Requirements met]