Chimera ascension

Likely immobilized by a skill from the other adventurers seen in the distance, the beast endured a barrage of long-range attacks, knocking a few health points off.

"Whoosh!" The beast's massive body shuddered with the impact, muscles rippling under its hide as dark blood sprayed, splattering the ground. The twins' twist of fate seemed to be turning around, and Jacob felt an upsurge of hope. Maybe we're going to make it through this after all, he thought, a flicker of relaxation washing over him as he looked over at Connor, smiling as if they had already made it. But just as the thought seemed all but confirmed, the beast broke free from its suspended state.

A low, terrifying shriek erupted from the beast. The brothers, who had grown too comfortable, were shocked and unprepared for it to break free, catching them off guard. A swift slash was heard, followed by the beast swiping its claws right below the knee, severing the connection between their legs. Immediate, searing pain shot through them both as they yelled out, "Ahhh!" Their legs were gone; they couldn't feel what should have been their legs anymore. Blood was everywhere, its sharp metallic scent hanging heavily in the air.

Their worries about the beast took a back seat as they focused on the aftermath of the attack. Connor and Jacob stared at their amputated legs lying on the floor, shocked and in disbelief at what had just happened. Then, a sound—"Rah"—reverberated in their ears, pulling them back to the reality of their impending doom. The beast was staring dead at them and began walking toward the twins, sending shivers down their spines. In that split second, the beast closed in, bringing its face dangerously close to them.

Connor and Jacob's hearts raced, their muscles tensed—time seemed to slow as their lives flashed before their eyes.

Whether it was fate or whoever was in charge of writing their life events taking pity on them, a slew of long-range attacks—arrows and fireballs—struck the beast. Registering the greater threat from the adventurers in the distance, the creature disengaged from the twins and sank into the shadows.

Jacob's vision started to blur as darkness crept in, the dull ringing growing louder with every passing moment. His body felt frail, and the floor beneath him swayed. He tried to hold onto reality, but he could feel it slowly slipping away. It was like trying to hold onto water—it was no use. Cold sweat gathered on his forehead, his breath becoming shallow. Damn it, Jacob, he said to himself, trying to wrestle with the inevitable. Every blink felt like it was in slow motion, as if reality were slipping away. His eyelids grew heavier with each blink until they no longer opened. Jacob succumbed to blood loss and passed out.

His body gave in, and suddenly Connor felt the extra weight dragging his right side down. "Ohh… oh shit," Connor said, confused about the best course of action. He scanned the surroundings, trying to locate the beast. Suddenly, the creature reappeared near one of the adventurers.

In an instant—"Shrripp!"—the wet sound of blood gushing out filled the air as the beast claimed its victim. A cacophony of wailing and screaming followed, the sound of flesh and bone being slashed piercing through the jungle.

The beast continued traveling through the adventurers' shadows, attacking, retreating, and repeating a cycle that had worked well for it due to its ability to catch the adventurers off guard. Connor watched as it again made its way into another adventurer's shadow, continuing its assault. This time, however, the individual, now wiser, dodged and fought back fiercely, likely having seen the previous attack. Meanwhile, another adventurer, taking advantage of the beast's opening, shot an arrow at the creature.

Using an activation ability, Connor saw the beast's HP.

{Skill activation: Identify}

Health points (HP): 125/200.

Connor's vision wavered as he struggled to stay conscious. He knew that if he passed out and the adventurers killed the beast, they might leave him and Jacob behind. Or worse, they would fail, and the beast would return to finish them off. Glancing at Jacob, who was already unconscious, Connor knew his brother wasn't dead—they shared a body, after all. If Jacob were dead, so would he be.

Connor checked his {MP}. The mana bar had dropped to ten. Desperate to stop the blood loss, he envisioned a stainless-steel cable tie around his leg. The mana bar continued to drop until it reached three.

Ding!

Skill unlocked: {Metal Zip Tie (Common)}

A magic circle materialized over his injured leg, placing a metal zip tie, halting the bleeding. Relieved, Connor tried to roll over but was reminded that Jacob was unconscious. Their bodies were one, after all. Even though Connor often found Jacob's unserious attitude annoying, at this moment, he missed him. All of Jacob's bad qualities didn't seem so bad now, and without him, Connor couldn't move or use the attacking spells Jacob knew.

Suddenly, Connor had an epiphany as he looked at his missing leg and the one lying on the floor. His voice was sharp and biting as he clenched his teeth. Each syllable was laced with tension and fury, his throat tight, making the following words sound harsh. "Where the fuck is that beast?" he growled, his words cutting through the air like a blade.

Connor scanned the area amidst the chaos. Where was that damn beast?

The battle between the beast and the adventurers had reached a stalemate, with both sides holding their ground. However, the beast was in a much worse state than it had been just a few minutes ago. Despite its health being down to one hundred out of two hundred, the creature was relentless.

The beast crouched low, taking a battle stance, muscles rippling beneath its onyx black fur. Its green eyes gleamed with focus as it faced the adventurers. A deep growl vibrated in its chest, escaping into the air. The beast was sizing them up. The wind flickered around them, and the air hung heavy with anticipation as the adventurers and the beast prepared for the next move.