The battle was not over yet...

But for the first time since the monstrous feline burst into the temple, there were no collisions, no roars that threatened to split stone apart, and no explosions of fire or Aether.

Only silence remained; a heavy silence. It was the kind that descended after a storm had torn through everything in its path...

The ruined sanctuary stood battered from the conflict. Broken pillars littered the floor, ancient marble was cracked and gouged, while dust drifted lazily through the scarlet beams of light that poured from the shattered ceiling overhead.

Amidst that devastation, the only sound that remained was the ragged breathing of four exhausted youths.

Regaleon stood motionless...

His chest rose and fell heavily as he struggled to steady his breathing. Sweat mixed with blood beneath his damaged Armour and every muscle in his body felt as though it had been stretched beyond it’s limits.

The battle against the Rank One Anima had drained him more than any fight he had ever experienced but thankfully, he was still standing. Then slowly, the Forgotten Knight turned around...

Several meters away, the gigantic predator lay sprawled across the marble floor. Moments earlier, it had crashed onto it’s belly with enough force to shake the entire structure.

Now, it remained where it had fallen. Black blood continued to spread beneath it’s enormous frame, creeping across fractured stone like dark rivers.

Occasionally, it’s body would twitch. A paw would tremble, or a shoulder would jerk, and then, stillness would return once more...

Regaleon watched it for only a moment before turning away. Instead of approaching the creature, he walked toward Valmyr...

The failed Vanguard was attempting to stand from where he collapsed. But unfortunately, it seems like his body had other ideas.

His Broadsword was planted into the floor beside him, serving as a crutch. But even then, his legs still refused to cooperate.

And the moment he tried to rise, his knees buckled and the weapon slipped from his grasp before clattering onto the marble floor.

Valmyr spat out another mouthful of blood before sitting back down with a bitter smile on his face...

Then, he turned toward the silver-haired Knight and let out an exhausted but genuine laugh. "By Aetherium... That was absolutely cool." He praised.

Regaleon didn’t reply as he simply grabbed his arm before pulling him upright. Immediately, Valmyr leaned most of his weight onto him before turning toward the fallen predator.

"Is it dead?" He asked, eyeing the fallen feline.

Regaleon’s golden eyes drifted toward the motionless beast before he replied. "Not yet..."

Hearing that, Valmyr’s expression almost faltered...

Then Regaleon continued. "...But it will be soon."

Only then did the failed Vanguard release a long sigh...

A few moments later, Vaelorin and Kaeloris finally reached them and once more, the quartet stood together, but this time, with miserable conditions.

Valmyr could barely remain standing; bruises covered his body while several portions of his beastskin armour had been torn apart during the battle. His Shield bore deep claw marks that seemed almost craved into it’s surface...

Vaelorin looked only slightly better. The failed Pyromancer’s face was pale from excessive Aether expenditure. His Staff remained clenched in his hand, but his fingers trembled around it from fatigue.

Just maintaining his flames against the Anima had nearly emptied his reserves...

Meanwhile, Kaeloris appeared one strong gust of wind from collapsing. The failed Gnost’s breathing was shallow, blood stained the corner of his lips, and his hand shook visibly as he tried adjusting his glasses.

Clearly, repeatedly invoking "Law Script" against something vastly stronger than himself had exacted a massive toll...

Even Regaleon himself was hardly in a better condition. His Armour looked as though it had survived a war; deep scratches covered the chestplate, one pauldron was missing entirely, and several sections were dented inward.

Beneath the damaged Soul Essence, fresh blood seeped through torn clothing. His Halberd remained stained with black blood as the bent axe blade reflected the scarlet light filtering through the temple...

Only after gathering together did the group finally look toward the Anima...

The sight was difficult to reconcile with their memories from moments ago.

Gone was the overwhelming presence that had dominated the hall when it first entered, and gone was that terrifying predator that regarded them as little more than prey... Or was it thieves?

Anyways, the feline now lay helpless, broken, and bloody. It was reduced to a pitiful state by accumulated injuries; a destroyed eye, a wounded paw, damaged forelimbs, torn joints, and the catastrophic injury done to it’s groin...

Every wound would not have been enough alone, but together, they had slowly dragged the mighty feline down.

Vaelorin stared at it, then shook his head in disbelief. "Did we actually do that?"

Nobody answered but they all understood the reason behind his question. They were Awakeners... Four ordinary Awakeners that went against a true Rank One Anima and lived to tell the tale.

In fact, even if they were to tell others about this battle, most people would assume they were either lying or insane.

Even Regaleon remained silent; not out of pride, but because the battle was still unfinished.

The creature was still breathing and if there was one thing Animas were known for, it was their astonishing vitality. They could endure injuries that would instantly kill ordinary creatures...

So until death truly arrived, one could never lower their guard against them.

Without another word, Regaleon shifted Valmyr’s weight onto Vaelorin. The failed Pyromancer immediately groaned...

"What the hell?!" He exclaimed, feeling Valmyr’s body pressing on him. "Just how much do you even weigh?"

The failed Vanguard blinked before chuckling softly. "About two hundred pounds..."

Vaelorin nearly collapsed. "Damn! You weigh more than a freaking horse."

Ignoring then entirely, Regaleon walked toward the predator. His armoured boots echoed softly against marble as he moved...

The sound seemed unusually loud within the silent temple and the giant feline noticed him instantly...

It’s remaining eyes slowly shifted toward the silver-haired Knight’s as amber met gold...

Then a low growl emerged from it’s throat.

GRR!

But this time, the sound lacked it’s former authority as there was no overwhelming pressure behind it anymore.

The predator attempted to rise; muscles tensed beneath bloodstained scales as it’s claws dug into stone. For a brief moment, it actually lifted itself slightly off the ground...

Then, it’s strength eventually failed and it’s massive body collapsed back down.

Regaleon stopped a few paces away and observed the fallen feline. Neither of them moved, and for several moments they simply watched one another...

Then, the creature released another growl as a final warning. It was a final refusal to submit, but Regaleon’s expression remained unchanged.

Slowly, the silver-haired Knight raised his halberd and activated "Silver Sheen." Silver light flower along its length as the weapon gleamed brilliantly like a bloodthirsty fang.

The dying predator stared at him with defiance and an unyielding pride in it’s amber eyes...

Then, Regaleon moved. The Halberd shot forward...

CLANG!

The axe blade punched through the side of the creature’s skull and emerged from the opposite side in a spray of black blood.

The enormous body convulsed instantly, claws scraped violently across the marble, it’s tail lashed out... But it was all futile. In the end, it stopped...

Gradually, tension left it’s limbs as the muscles relaxed. It’s breathing ceased and the glow in it’s amber eyes faded away...

At last, the Rank One Anima was dead.

Silence returned as the quartet observed the dead body. Suddenly, Valmyr burst out laughing.

The failed Vanguard laughed not because something was funny, but because he almost couldn’t believe the absurdity of what they had done.

"We did it." Vaelorin muttered, staring at the corpse. Then he looked at Regaleon and chuckled loudly. "We actually did it..."

Even Kaeloris allowed himself a faint smile as the crushing tension that had grip him since entering the temple finally dissipated.

The battle had been tough but ultimately, they had survived. Excitement washed through the group, then... Something unusual occured.

A crimson glow appeared above the corpse. It was faint at first, then it intensified as it slowly rose from the dead Anima’s body in a wispy form.

Yet unlike the pale, almost invisible strands that emerged from the Wights before, this one was different. It was much thicker and denser, with a color that resembled fresh blood.

The energy drifted upward, then moved tuward Regaleon. The trio watched as the energy reached the Forgotten Knight and split apart...

One portion flowed into his Armour while the other entered his Halberd...

Immediately, the crimson lines engraved across both Soul Essences illuminated as the glow surged through the intricate patterns like blood coursing through veins.

The lines shone brilliantly and for several seconds, the crimson radiance pulsed throughout the Armour and Halberd.

Then gradually, the light faded away...