“Its strength is its speed and its wings. So, when it comes at us once again, we slow it down as much as we can and clip its wings. Once it is on the ground, we thrash it till its health goes to zero,” explained Uruvi.

  “Not a bad plan. Told your instincts would figure it out,” said Ashwin.

  However, Rambha was not convinced. “Darling, I admire your optimism. But there is no guarantee we have an advantage on the ground.”

  The Pisachi began to descend rapidly.

  “It is our best strategy right now.” He watched as the monster headed right at them. “It is coming back. You girls ready?” asked Ashwin.

  “Ready,” they replied in unison.

  Rambha quickly stepped aside while Uruvi took her position beside Ashwin.

  Red aura covered her body while her health shrank. She slowed her breathing and patiently waited for it to reach them.

  Just as it reached the parapet of the building, he lifted the dome and shouted, “now!”

  She thrust her hand forward and shouted, “mark them!” A strange mark appeared over it, and its speed began to plummet.

  The monster spread its arms, ready to nab them. However, Ashwin quickly ducked out of its path while Uruvi leapt over it. She swung the axe, cutting through the base of its right wing.

  The wing flew into the air while the Pisachi crashed into the floor, tumbling until it slammed into the parapet.

  “Score!” said Rambha, raising her fist into the air.

  Uruvi landed on her feet before turning around. Her eyes scanned the monster’s body, looking for its weak points. Bright red spots appeared on its neck and the base of its wings. ‘Not a lot of options to work with…’ She thought as she dashed towards the monster.

  Rambha pulled out her gun and shot at it. However, the Pisachi flicked the bullet away with its wing. “Fuck!”

  Uruvi brought her axe down, aimed at its neck, but the monster managed to scamper away just in time. She chased after it, throwing in a flurry of axe swings. The Pisachi effortlessly dodged and countered her attacks, all the while gaining speed. ‘Not good! It is getting faster!’

  Suddenly, the monster became sluggish once again. A metal blade pierced the side of its torso before being pushed against the parapet wall by Ashwin. “Go for its head, now!”

  She swung her axe at its neck, but the monster countered by spinning around and slamming its wing into them.

  Thrown back by a few feet, Uruvi quickly got back on her feet and dashed towards it. She could see a tiny wing sprouting out of its back, replacing the wing she had clipped. ‘Not good! Not good!’ She struck it in its arms, but the monster parried them before swiping at her with its claws. “Barricade!” she said, blocking the attack with a shield.

  The monster spun around, slamming its wing into the shield, shattering it and forcing her to retreat. Its smaller wing had grown to the size of its arm. It gently rose into the air, its feet levitating off the floor.

  “Fuck! This thing is flying again!” shouted Uruvi.

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  Suddenly, Rambha appeared beside her and shot her grappling gun at it. The hook flew past the monster, but the wire hit its wing and brought the hook back towards it. It spun around the monster, wrapping the wire around it.

  The monster fought back, leaping over the edge and taking Rambha with it.

  Uruvi leapt onto the monster, grabbing onto its neck with one arm and Rambha with her other hand. The three flew off the building, just as it spread its wings. It tried to gain elevation, but to no avail, instead gliding towards the face of an adjacent building.

  She ducked behind the monster as they smashed through the glass front and crashed into a series of cubicle walls and wooden tables. She felt her back hit the hardwood, which broke under her weight, driving sharp splinters into her skin. She grit her teeth and let out a loud grunt as she picked herself off the floor. Her eyes immediately searched her surroundings until they saw Rambha lying on the floor, a few feet away. She quickly hopped over to her and helped her get back onto her feet. “Are you okay?”

  “I am fine…” said Rambha. Her eyes shifted to her screen and said, “my health is also fine… Rejuvenate…”

  She let her go and turned her attention towards the Pisachi. The monster cut through the tangled wires with its claws, finally freeing itself. Its left wing had grown back to full size, while it health bar was at 60 percent.

  “We can’t let it leave the building,” said Uruvi.

  “Think you can take it on?” asked Rambha.

  “Pretty confident.”

  Rambha placed another puck in Uruvi’s hand and said, “here. I will try and block the exit.” She quickly trotted over to the broken window.

  The Pisachi whipped its wings around, clearing its surroundings, before spreading them wide. It looked back at Uruvi and let out a scream.

  “Huh, babe… We may want to hurry up,” said Rambha, looking out the window. She turned back to her and said, “it is calling its army over.”

  Uruvi exhaled, wiping the sweat off her face. ‘Let’s do this…’ She stretched her left arm forward and said, “Mark them!” Red aura covered her body as she lunged forward at the monster.

  A mark appeared over the monster, slowing it down just enough for her to have a speed advantage, even if it was for a few seconds.

  She drew the first blood, cutting the Pisachi across its torso. It retaliated by swiping at her with its right claw, but she parried it with ease. The two exchanged blows, striking and countering each other’s attacks. The Pisachi tried to knock her off using its wing, but she was able to dodge the attack and get behind her. She placed the puck on its back. ‘Checkmate!’

  However, her small victory was short-lived. The monster leapt back, smashing its back into her before crashing through a series of cubicle walls. She felt her body squeeze and her muscles scream as she smashed into a brick wall.

  “Warning! Health at 30 percent!” said Arya.

  “Rejuvenate!” she said. She felt like new life was breathed into her.

  “Warning! MP too low!” said Arya.

  She shot a glance at her screen and saw that the MP bar had been drained. She turned her attention back to the Pisachi. The puck on its back was missing. However, its health bar was only about 30 percent. ‘Come on! Just a little further!’

  The Pisachi staggered forward, trying to stay on its feet.

  Uruvi felt her body heat up as a red aura flared up. Arya gave her another warning, which was promptly ignored as she leapt at the monster. She hit the back of it with a charged attack before Kickback sent another hit. It replied by wiping its wings around, which she was able to dodge with ease.

  A bullet cut through the air and struck the monster in the arm. Suddenly, the monster’s speed tanked.

  Seizing the opportunity, she struck it in the jaw, causing the monster to spin around. With its back exposed, she quickly struck the base of its wings, clipping them and sending the monster back onto the ground. Its health bar fell into the red. She felt her lungs burn, but she didn’t relent. She repeatedly struck it on its back, keeping the monster from getting back up, before delivering the final blow to its neck, separating the head from its body.

  She watched the head roll away, then slowly disintegrate into dust. Satisfied that the monster was truly dead, she gently fell onto the floor, landing with a dull thud.

  “New Level attained. 5 Attribute points, 1 skill point, 1 spell point gained,” said Arya.

  She rolled onto her back with a soft grunt and stared into the ceiling above. Rambha walked into her view before bending over.

  “Doing good, darling?” asked Rambha.

  “Yeah… Give me a minute. Body wants some rest.”

  “Take all the time you want.”

  “Huh? Don’t we have a crap ton of Pisacha to deal with?” asked Uruvi.

  “We now got an army of Contestants to help us out. They are having a parade out there.”

  “In that case, I am going to take a short nap,” she said with a satisfied smile.