GRRAAHH!!!

A pained snarl erupted throughout the temple.

The sound was deep, guttural, and filled with enough fury and agony to shake dust from the fractured ceiling. Cracks raced across several ancient pillars while loose fragments of stone rained upon the marbled floor.

The colossal feline threw it’s head backward and roared. Thick strands of saliva hung from it’s jaws as it’s amber eyes blazed with a murderous Intent.

Standing beside it was the Forgotten Knight.

Regaleon’s golden Armour gleamed beneath the crimson light pouring through the fractured roof. His silver Halberd was buried deep within the webbing between the beast’s massive toes...

This was not a random strike; instead, it was calculated. Regaleon had noticed that the scales protecting the feline’s body were resilient, even against the failed Pyromancer’s flames.

He had seen that most of the weak points which includes the neck and chest were armoured heavily, and even it’s joints were hidden beneath overlapping layers of metallic scales.

However, there was only one vulnerable point that existed amidst this near-perfect defense and that was the soft flesh between the digits of the predator’s paws.

Therefore, the instant Valmyr had forced the Anima backward, Regaleon had committed everything into a single thrust...

And now, it paid off.

Dark blood erupted outward as he ripped his Halberd free from the paw. The Anima recoiled violently, and for the first time since the battle began, it had been injured.

Unfortunately, this minor victory lasted for less than a heartbeat because in the next moment, the Anima’s pain transformed into fury...

It’s glowing eyes locked onto Regaleon’s armoured frame... And then, it lunged ferociously.

The distance between them vanished instantly...

Regaleon’s pupils contracted...

The creature was too fast; it’s claws gleamed with a metallic radiance as it activated one if it’s Impulses. The air itself seemed to scream as the feline pounced...

The silver-haired Knight barely managed to raise his Halberd before the monster slammed into him heavily...

BOOM!!! 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

The impact shattered the marble beneath his feet...

Regaleon crashed into his back and immediately, several cracks exploded outward from the point of impact...

The weight pressing down on him was suffocating; his lungs erupted instantly, and for a terrifying moment, he almost couldn’t breath.

The giant predator towered above him, pinning him to the floor beneath one massive paw, then it’s claws descended...

CLANG!!!

Metal screamed and sparks exploded...

Regaleon watched in as the razor-sharp claws began tearing through his Count Tier Armour. The Soul Essence yield like butter beneath knife as fragments of metal peeled away and scattered across the floor...

Given another few seconds, and those claws would reach flesh...

The failed Knight gritted his teeth as he thrust his Halberd upward repeatedly in a desperate struggle...

CLANG! CLANG!! CLANG!!!

The strikew lander against the scales protecting the beast’s chest but none of them penetrated as the scales were simply too thick...

The creature’s defense was absolute, and this realization sent a chill down his spine.

Then, a familiar roar echoed through the hall. "GET OFF HIM!"

Seeing Regaleon’s desperate straits, Valmyr charged without hesitation. The failed Vanguard looked more like a berserker than a human; blood stained the corner of his mouth, his breathing was ragged, and yet... He still came.

His Broadsword shone brilliantly as "Giant Slayer" activated. Silver light coated the massive blade...

Valmyr roared before swinging with everything he possessed within him...

CLANG!!!

The strike connected with the beast’s underside and for the first time, the scales gave way. The sword carved through several layers of armour before finally embedding itself into flesh...

The Anima howled painfully... And suddenly, it’s hind leg lashed out. The kick connected squarely with Valmyr’s torso...

CRACK!

Several ribs instantly fractured as the failed Vanguard flew through the air like a broken kite. Blood sprayed from his mouth before he eventually smashed into a pillar...

His Broadsword slipped from his grasp and clattered across the floor...

But thankfully, that distraction of his had managed to create an opening. Regaleon’s golden eyes flashed as he activated his Essence Rune "Bulwark Flesh."

Pain exploded throughout his body, then instantly, it transformed. Under the Rune’s influence, the agony surging through his muscles converted into temporary strength...

His limbs swelled with renewed power as he activated "Silver Sheen" in tandem with "Predator’s Strike."

Suddenly, the Halberd extended as the shaft elongated unnaturally. The blade shot upward as Regaleon thrust with all his might, then...

The silver weapon plunged directly into the beast’s left eye...

GRRAAHH!

Black blood exploded outward and immediately, the predator reeled backward violently. It’s paw lifted from Regaleon’s chest and instantly, the pressure upon the failed Knight vanished.

Regaleon didn’t hesitate as he rolled away and rose to his feet. His breathing was ragged, his Armour was damaged, and blood dripped from several cuts across his body. But even with all this, he was still alive...

"Vaelorin!" He shouted. "Eruption Pulse! NOW!"

The failed Pyromancer didn’t hesitate as his Staff rose once more. Aether surged and the runes engraved upon the Soul Essence ignited as he activated "Eruption Pulse."

BOOM!!!

The floor beneath the feline exploded as gold-red flames erupted upward like a volcanic explosion. Colums of fire engulfed the giant beast entirely and heat swept through the hall like a raging storm...

But Regaleon knew that wouldn’t be enough to stop the monster so he shouted once more.

"Kaeloris! Law Script!"

The spectacled youth instantly moved as he unfurled his Scroll once more. The Soul Essence glowed brilliantly as the word HEAT appeared across the parchment...

Immediately, the flames intensified; their color deepened, their temperature skyrocketed, and the inferno became even more violent...

ROAR!!!

The predator’s roar echoed from within the flames and for the first time, it sounded genuinely distressed...

And yet, Regaleon’s expression remained grim. He also knew that this still wasn’t enough.

The feline was a true Rank One Anima which means that; it’s stamina bordered on the absurd, it’s durability was monstrous, and it’s vitality surpassed anything they had ever encountered.

Vaelorin’s flames might hurt it, but they wouldn’t kill it. At best, they could only the group little time...

Regaleon then turned toward Valmyr. Somehow, the failed Vanguard managed to stand on his feet... Though he did it barely.

"Can you still fight." Regaleon inquired solemnly.

Valmyr spat blood, then flashed a savage grin. "What do you think?"

The Forgotten Knight nodded. "Good..."

Then his eye shifted toward the inferno as he instructed. "On my mark, we attack the Anima’s carpus."

Hearing that, Valmyr immediately understood what the failed Knight was trying to do.

If they were to attack it’s forelegs, then, they would destroy it’s mobility and cripple it’s balance. And this would make it easier to bring the feline down...

The failed Vanguard bent low and his grip tightened around his retrieved Broadsword...

The flames continued raging, until...

"Vaelorin! Stop!" Regaleon shouted.

And immediately, the inferno vanished. Then...

"NOW!"

Regaleon and Valmyr exploded forward simultaneously. Both Awakeners sprinted toward the recovering feline...

The failed Vanguard activated "Giant Slayer" and "Cataclysmic Strike", uncaring about the toll the Runes would cost him...

While the Forgotten Knight activated "Silver Sheen" and "Conqueror’s Momentum."

Their weapons gleamed ominously... And the distance between them vanished rapidly.

Then, both of them slid beneath the Anima’s body and...

SLASH! SLASH!!

The Broadsword tore into the right wrist joint... While the Halberd carved through the left...

Black blood erupted as the giant predator staggered immediately...

It’s forelegs buckled suddenly and it’s massive body lurched forward... But the Forgotten Knight wasn’t done yet.

Rising to his feet, his golden eyes flickered as he shouted. "Valmyr! Shield!"

The failed Vanguard crouched low and planted his Shield instantly...

Regaleon sprinted toward him and jumped; one foot landed on the Shield and then...

Valmyr roared and with every remaining ounce of strength exploding from his body, he thrust upward.

The Soul Essence became a launch platform and immediately, Regaleon shot into the air...

For a brief moment, he soared above the battlefield, then he landed directly upon the Anima’s back...

Feeling the sudden weight, the feline began thrashing around. Uncaring about it’s injured legs, it’s enormous body twisted violently as it tried to throw the Forgotten Knight off.

But Regaleon grabbed hold of the thick mane covering it’s neck. The course strands wrapped around his gauntleted hand as he held on desperately...

"Vaelorin!" He yelled. "It’s legs! Burn it’s legs!"

Then he turned toward the failed Vanguard. "Valmyr! It’s hind legs!"

Hearing this, the two Awakeners burst into motion once more...