The Outergod's Avatar-Chapter 56: The Return Party (3)

"Nyx, attack," Sophia commanded.

The wolf growled at the approaching danger, fur bristling, muscles tensed. Then, with a burst of movement, it charged forward.

The Horned Beast didn’t slow down, even as the wolf barreled toward it. It had no reason to. The wolf wasn’t even half its size—barely a nuisance.

It snapped its jaws as soon as Nyx got close, rows of jagged teeth chomping through the air, missing only because Nyx twisted to the side with swift agility.

With its attention momentarily diverted, Sophia seized the opportunity. She drove her spear forward, the tip aimed at the exposed side of the beast. The spear connected—this time, it actually pierced the skin. But the damage was shallow, a scratch on an armored tank. The beast let out a furious bellow, more enraged than hurt, its blank eyes narrowing as it turned on her.

It lashed out with a powerful swipe of its massive claws.

Sophia barely had time to react. She brought up her spear to block, bracing for impact, but the force behind the blow was immense. It sent her flying backwards, tumbling across the dirt like a rag doll.

Meanwhile, Nyx had sunk his fangs into the beast’s leg. He growled, biting harder, refusing to let go. But to an onlooker, it looked more like a dog gnawing on a boulder. The Horned Beast grunted in annoyance and kicked the wolf aside with one brutal motion.

Izikel stood frozen, watching them struggle. His heart sank.

Everything they’d tried... it had been useless.

Any hope he’d held onto slipped through his fingers like sand in the wind.

"I guess this is it," he muttered, gritting his teeth. He stood defiant, but inside he felt hollow. This wasn’t the way he wanted to die. Not like this. Not helpless.

He glanced down at his hand. Summoning his gun again was an option... but just barely. He could already feel the toll it had taken on his body. If he tried again, he’d die. And even if he succeeded, the bullets probably wouldn’t even scratch the beast’s rock-hard scales.

This wasn’t how he imagined his end.

But it wasn’t over yet.

Because Sophia—bloodied, bruised, and limping—was still standing.

She pushed herself to her feet, blood trickling down from a gash on her forehead, her grip tightening on the shaft of her spear. Her eyes burned—not with fear, but with defiance.

She charged again.

Nyx, wounded but undeterred, growled and lunged from the side. The coordinated distraction worked. Sophia struck once more—but this time, the blade of her spear only scraped against the stone-like bark of the creature’s hide.

She had no time to react.

The beast was faster now.

Its claws slashed across her right shoulder. She gasped as pain erupted through her body, but she didn’t fall. She staggered back, barely keeping her balance.

Nyx snarled and rushed to intercept, only to be swept aside by a brutal swing of the creature’s tail. The wolf yelped, his body hitting the ground hard—but Sophia took advantage of the momentary chaos and stumbled away from the monster’s reach.

it was Nyx who paid the price.

Before he could get back to his feet, the Horned Beast loomed over him. Its massive talons came down, slamming into the wolf’s side with a sickening crunch.

Steam hissed out from the wolf’s body as his morning drew closer, but with the full weight of the Horned beast pressing on him, it seemed death might get to him before the morning did.

Sophia’s heart clenched. "Nyx!"

She didn’t think. She acted.

With a roar, she charged again, driving her spear with every ounce of strength she had left. This time, the tip sank deep—deeper than before. Blood spurted from the wound as the beast let out a furious screech, stumbling back for the first time.

It was the first real sign of pain. The first time it had ever retreated.

Sophia’s eyes widened. This was it. Their chance.

All this time, they had been running—hunted like prey. But now the roles were reversing.

The beast clawed at her wildly, but she dodged with a newfound clarity, her body moving on instinct, guided by the rhythm of battle. She struck again, breaking through its skin, drawing more blood.

The obstacle had always been that tough hide.

Now that she could pierce it—now that she had hope—she wasn’t going to waste it.

She adjusted her grip, set her stance, and aimed for the throat.

This was the killing blow.

She poured everything into it—all her strength, all her will, all her desperation. The spear sliced through the air, the tip mere inches from its target—

And then, with a sudden movement, the beast ducked its head. The spear clashed against its curved horn, skidding off to the side.

Her eyes widened. No. It had anticipated her.

The speed... it was too fast.

Before she could recover, the beast’s tail lashed out and slammed into her midsection, sending her soaring through the air. She hit the ground hard, skidding across the earth—

But this time Nyx, battered and bleeding, caught her with his body, cushioning the final blow.

She coughed up some blood, the wind knocked out of her, tears stinging her eyes—not from pain, but from the bitter weight of failure.

The realization hit her like a blade to the gut.

The beast hadn’t gotten faster.

It had always been that fast.

She’d simply forgotten... blinded by her desperation to break through its hide. But with that kind of speed it didn’t even matter.

She looked up at the motionless form of Nyx. She could feel his shallow breaths, his body trembling beneath hers.

And she knew... there was no way out.

She had failed.

She couldn’t protect Izikel. She couldn’t protect anyone.

This wasn’t what she promised his mother.

She had looked Fionna in the eye. She’d sworn on her life that she’d keep Izikel safe.

"I’m sorry, Fionna," Sophia whispered, voice cracking. "It seems I’ve failed you in the end."

She lowered her head, her tears falling freely now. She didn’t bother wiping them away.

What a sad way to die...

"Raise your head, Saint of the Lunar Moon. For you have fulfilled your duties."

Her breath caught.

That voice.

She knew that voice.

She raised her head slowly, heart pounding—and her eyes widened in disbelief.

A blue cloak danced in the wind, the Argenthex crest gleaming proudly on its back. Standing before them, tall and composed, was the man who had always been a legend in her eyes.

The Legion Commander.

The Silver Sword Saint.

Flavius Argenthex.