Dual combat

CHAPTER FIVE: DUAL COMBAT (EXTENDED VERSION)

The night air felt heavier than before.

Benjamin noticed it immediately.

Not just the silence… but the pressure.

Like the world itself was holding its breath.

“You feel that?” he asked quietly.

Ava didn’t slow down.

“I always feel it before they appear.”

Benjamin frowned.

“…That’s not comforting.”

They moved through a narrow street lit only by flickering streetlights. Shadows stretched unnaturally along the walls, bending at angles that didn’t make sense.

Then—

A low growl echoed.

Deep.

Vibrating.

Not human.

Benjamin stopped.

“…Yeah. That’s definitely it.”

Ahead—

Something stepped into the light.

It was massive.

At least eight feet tall.

Its body looked like it had been forged from living stone and molten metal, dark veins glowing like lava beneath cracked armor-like skin.

Its eyes burned a violent red.

And unlike the last one—

This one was aware.

It tilted its head.

Studying them.

System Alert:

High-Level Emergent Entity Detected

Combat Recommendation: Extreme Caution

Benjamin swallowed.

“…It’s looking at us like it’s thinking.”

Ava stepped slightly forward.

“That’s because it is.”

The creature’s chest expanded—

Then it roared.

The sound hit like a shockwave.

Benjamin flinched instinctively.

“…Okay, yeah, I preferred the dumb ones.”

Without warning—

It moved.

Not fast.

Not rushed.

But powerful.

Each step cracked the ground beneath it.

“Benjamin,” Ava said calmly, “don’t try to overpower it.”

“…Wasn’t planning to.”

“Good. Because you’d die.”

“…Thanks.”

The creature lunged.

Benjamin’s vision snapped into slow motion.

Reflex Acceleration activated.

He saw the movement—

The shift in weight.

The tightening of its muscles.

He dodged to the side—

—but the creature adjusted mid-swing.

“Wait—!”

It clipped him.

The force alone sent him sliding across the ground.

“Ghh—!”

System Feedback:

Impact detected

Stability compromised

Benjamin pushed himself up, breathing harder now.

“…Yeah… that’s way stronger.”

The creature turned—

Now fully focused on him.

“Great. I’m the target.”

Before it could attack again—

Ava stepped in.

Her wrist lit up.

From beneath her sleeve, a stream of liquid-metal nanotech surged outward, wrapping around her arm in seconds.

The transformation was smooth.

Precise.

Beautiful.

Armor formed.

Sleek. Metallic. Glowing faint blue at the seams.

Benjamin blinked.

“…That is so unfair.”

The creature swung.

Ava raised her arm—

BOOM.

The impact shook the street.

Dust exploded outward.

But she didn’t move.

Her boots dug into the ground, cracks spreading beneath her feet—but she held the line.

“…You done?” she muttered.

Her other arm shifted—

Reshaped—

Forming a compact cannon.

Energy gathered.

“Benjamin—move.”

He didn’t argue.

He ran.

A split second later—

BLAST!

A concentrated beam of blue energy tore through the air, slamming into the creature and launching it backward through a parked car.

Metal twisted.

Glass shattered.

Benjamin stared.

“…Okay. You definitely should’ve shown me that earlier.”

Ava didn’t respond.

Her eyes stayed locked on the target.

Because—

The creature stood up again.

Slower this time.

But angrier.

Its body pulsed—

The glowing veins brightening.

System Alert:

Energy output increasing

“…That’s not good, right?” Benjamin asked.

“No,” Ava said. “That’s very bad.”

The creature slammed its fists into the ground—

BOOM!

A shockwave burst outward.

Benjamin barely had time—

DANGER.

The warning hit his mind like lightning.

He jumped.

Just in time.

The ground beneath him cracked open.

He landed hard, rolling—

eyes wide.

“…That wasn’t me.”

System Prompt:

New ability detected…

Benjamin froze for half a second.

“…Wait.”

Unlock: Danger Sense (Basic)?

The creature charged again.

“…Yeah. Now would be great.”

“Do it!”

A pulse spread through his mind—

sharp.

Clear.

Suddenly—

Everything changed.

He didn’t just see movement—

He felt intent.

The creature’s next attack—

He knew it before it happened.

Benjamin stepped aside effortlessly.

“…Whoa…”

He ducked another strike.

Then another.

Each movement cleaner.

Faster.

More precise.

“Okay… this is insane.”

Ava noticed.

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

“…You unlocked it mid-fight.”

Benjamin grinned.

“Guess I’m a fast learner.”

“Don’t get distracted!”

The creature adapted again—

Faster now.

Smarter.

But now—

So was Benjamin.

He moved in sync with its attacks—

dodging, weaving, slipping through openings.

“Hey!” he shouted. “I’ll keep it busy!”

Ava didn’t respond—

but her armor shifted again.

More pieces formed.

Expanding.

Strengthening.

Energy built in both arms now.

Benjamin dashed forward—

baiting the creature.

“Come on!”

It swung.

He dodged.

Again.

Again.

Closer.

“Almost…!”

System Feedback:

Energy Pulse available

Benjamin’s hand ignited with golden energy.

“NOW!”

Ava fired.

Two beams.

One blue.

One gold.

They collided—

merged—

and exploded against the creature.

BOOM.

The shockwave shattered nearby windows.

Dust filled the air.

Silence followed.

Benjamin stood still, breathing hard.

“…Did we get it?”

The smoke cleared.

The creature—

was gone.

Only fragments remained.

Fading.

Disintegrating.

System Notification:

Threat eliminated

Experience gained

Benjamin dropped to one knee.

“…Okay… yeah… I felt that one.”

Ava’s armor retracted slowly, the nanotech flowing back into her wrist device.

“…You didn’t die,” she said.

Benjamin looked up.

“…You say that like you expected me to.”

“I did.”

He laughed weakly.

“…Wow.”

She turned away slightly.

“…But you improved.”

Benjamin smirked.

“Careful. That almost sounded like a compliment.”

“…Don’t get used to it.”

For a moment—

The tension faded.

But not completely.

Because both of them knew—

That creature…

Was stronger than the first.

And something told them—

It wouldn’t be the last.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***