Wings of Despair [4]

The plan was set, and everyone was ready to execute it.

Lucas was still standing on the rooftop, knowing that the moment he moved, so would the behemoth. Klaus, Sylviette, and the others slowly moved away from the parking garage and towards the open streets.

'So this moth is one of the three calamities... I wonder what the other two would be. If my theory is correct, then the second calamity should be a spider since I met quite a few of them...'

As he was pondering, he suddenly felt a shift in the air around him. The moth did as well, stopping its gaze on him and turning its head away for the first time.

Lucas let out a deep breath and did the same, turning towards the source of the shift. He and the moth suddenly saw Klaus standing alone in the middle of the abandoned streets. A golden hue surrounded Klaus.

Lucas somehow felt calm as he gazed at Klaus, as if he could finally relax. He felt like he could let go of all his worries, as if the boy in front of him would handle everything for him. Klaus felt like a light shining in the vast darkness of Lucas's mind, like he was someone divine...

Lucas didn't like that feeling.

He didn't like it at all, and suddenly, the annoying sensation he got from Klaus disappeared instantly as his passive skill [Dragon's Pride] activated.

'So it affects the mind, huh...'

As Lucas realized the reason, he glanced back at the moth and saw that it was now looking only at Klaus.

The calamity suddenly descended from the broken building, its massive form moving with a nightmarish grace. The ground shook violently as it landed, cracks spiderwebbing through the pavement beneath its weight. Dust and debris filled the air, obscuring the night sky momentarily.

With unnerving precision, the moth stood directly in front of Klaus, its entire attention fixated on him. The creature's dark red eyes seemed to burn with newfound intensity, locking onto Klaus with a gaze that felt both ancient and malevolent.

The antennae, now fully extended, pointed towards him, twitching and writhing as they sensed the potent mana radiating from his body.

Klaus could feel the immense pressure of the Calamity of Despair's presence bearing down on him. The air grew thick with dread, and his every instinct screamed at him to flee. Yet, he stood his ground, his heart pounding like a war drum.

The moth's wings fluttered slightly, the resulting shockwave sending a violent gust of wind that almost knocked Klaus off his feet. It was as if the creature was testing him, gauging his strength and resolve. The sheer power of its focus was overwhelming, a tangible force that threatened to crush his spirit.

For a moment, everything else faded away. There was only Klaus and the Calamity of Despair, locked in a silent, harrowing confrontation.

'Now is the perfect chance...'

Lucas thought as he gazed from the rooftop, seeing them face to face.

Suddenly, before anyone else could take action, a strange blue hue began to pulsate throughout the behemoth's entire body, ending at its two antennae. The eerie glow spread rhythmically, as if the creature were charging up some formidable energy within itself.

Confusion and bewilderment spread among the onlookers. The pulsating blue light intensified, then abruptly disappeared. Silence filled the city, and everyone was left wondering what had just transpired.

'Just what did it try to—'

Lucas's thought was cut off as an intense shockwave erupted. Blue energy shot out of the behemoth, sending Klaus hurtling through the air. He crashed into an abandoned car with a violent impact, the metal crumpling beneath him.

Before Lucas could jump in and take action, the behemoth vanished from its spot, and a gust of wind hit everyone hard again.

In an instant, it reappeared right in front of Klaus, its dark red eyes gleaming with malevolent intent. The speed and precision of its movement were terrifying.

The behemoth raised its grotesque right leg, its jagged claws poised to strike down on Klaus. In a split second, Klaus summoned his silver sword, the gleaming blade intercepting the attack just in time.

However, facing off against a B-ranked beast like the Calamity of Despair, Klaus knew he couldn't hold out for long. With a mighty crash, he was sent tumbling across the streets, using his sword to anchor himself and halt his momentum.

Before Klaus could regain his bearings, the behemoth vanished with a swirl of wind, only to reappear in front of him once more.

This time, as it swung its jagged leg, Leonne intervened, positioning himself between Klaus and the calamity. A red aura enveloped Leonne and his weapon as he deflected the attack with expert precision.

Not content with just a defensive stance, Leonne countered, launching himself into the air with a graceful leap, intent on striking at the behemoth's bulging eyes. However, the creature proved to be quicker, blocking Leonne's assault with its razor-sharp claws.

A fierce battle ensued, the clash of sword against claw echoing through the deserted streets. Despite Leonne's skill and determination, the behemoth's overwhelming strength began to overpower him. With a brutal force, it crashed him into a nearby building, leaving him dazed and wounded.

Intending to finish him off, the behemoth was about to leave when its legs were suddenly ensnared by ice thorns, halting its retreat.

Not done yet, sharp blades of wind began to assail it, slicing through its thick hide and drawing annoyed screeches from the creature rather than agonized cries.

Turning its head, the behemoth saw that it was surrounded by multiple people, most of whom were visibly terrified. Yet, amidst the fear, it could sense two girls who exuded an aura of strength, the source of its annoyance.

Before anyone could react, the behemoth broke free from the ice thorns with a powerful burst of strength, closing the distance between itself and the group in an instant.

With a lightning-fast motion, it swung down both its legs, the sheer force of the strike cleaving three of the examinees in half, their gruesome demise inducing retching from those who witnessed it.

But the behemoth wasn't finished. Its two antennae began to pulsate with another blue hue, and in an instant, a shockwave of blue energy erupted from them. This time, instead of being flung away, most people fell to their knees, overcome by agonizing screams that echoed through the air.

Even Amaya and Sylviette were not spared. Though they remained standing, their faces twisted in pain as the relentless assault continued.

Summoning her strength amidst the torment, Sylviette raised her arm, causing dozens of icicles to materialize around her before launching towards the behemoth in a deadly storm.

As the creature prepared to evade the icy onslaught, Klaus suddenly materialized beside it, his silver blade flashing with a golden aura as he delivered a deep, searing cut to its left leg.

With a pained screech, the behemoth staggered, unable to retaliate as the barrage of icicles rained down upon it, tearing through its flesh and leaving a myriad of wounds in their wake.

Before it could recover, a barrage of wind struck, further impeding its movements. In the midst of the chaos, Leonne who was bleeding reappeared, slicing through one of the behemoth's eyes with precision.

The others didn't dare to approach the behemoth, fully aware of its formidable speed and power, unwilling to risk getting too close.

The creature's piercing screeches echoed relentlessly throughout the city, sending waves of fear and panic rippling through all who heard it, whether human or beast, compelling some to flee while others were drawn towards the source of the disturbance.

Despite the chaos and danger, the group continued their relentless assault on the behemoth, each member unleashing their own unique attacks in a desperate attempt to overwhelm and subdue the monstrous creature.

Meanwhile, Lucas remained unperturbed, perched on the rooftop with an air of calm detachment. His legs dangled over the edge as he observed the unfolding battle with a faint smile playing on his lips.

Chuckling softly to himself amidst the cacophony of destruction below, he remarked with an amused glint in his eyes

"I wonder when it's my turn..."