As Maya advanced toward Garvin and Louise, the chosen mbers knew they had to act quickly, or they would all face certain death.
Larry, Ethan, Hunter, and Ryder continued their desperate battle, but they were hopelessly outnumbered. The undead creatures kept coming, their numbers seemingly endless, as they devoured humans and turned them into more of their kind. The horde surged forward relentlessly, a tide of death that threatened to overwhelm everything in its path.
Just when hope seed lost and Maya was within inches of grabbing Garvin, her gaping mouth poised to swallow him whole, Ethan felt a surge of determination ignite within him. Focusing all his energy on the earth, he allowed the familiar rush of power to course through his veins. The ground beneath his feet began to tremble, and the vibration grew stronger as the other chosen mbers joined him, channeling their powers into the earth.
The tremors turned into a violent earthquake, splitting the ground open in a massive fissure. The undead creatures stumbled and fell into the gaping pit, clawing futilely at the crumbling edges. Seizing the mont, Ethan summoned the fire elent, igniting the depths of the chasm. Flas roared upward, consuming the creatures in an inferno that lit up the night like a second sun.
Despite her terrifying strength, Maya stood watching, seemingly unimpressed by the devastation. Though she appeared almost invincible, the horde of undead was rely a distraction mindless beings driven only by an insatiable hunger for flesh. The chosen mbers knew that eliminating the lesser threat first was essential before turning their focus on Maya, the true danger.
"Now’s our chance!" Ethan shouted, urgency sharpening his tone.
Larry, Ethan, and Ryder sprang into action, herding the remaining survivors toward the bus they had purchased. With swift precision, they loaded everyone into the bus, as well as Garvin and Louise. Hunter climbed into the driver’s seat, gunning the engine as he prepared for a hasty retreat.
"Go, Hunter!" Larry yelled, motioning frantically.
The bus roared to life, and with a screech of tires, it sped away from the chaotic battlefield.
Maya stood on the opposite side of the chasm, her expression calm yet predatory. A wicked smirk curled her bloodstained lips as she watched the chosen mbers’ efforts. "Impressive," she muttered, her voice dripping with mock admiration.
Ethan, Ryder, and Larry remained behind, their focus locked on Maya. They knew they couldn’t kill her, but they had to keep her at bay long enough for the bus to escape.
"You really think you can all escape from ?" Maya called out, her voice laced with malice. She licked the blood from her lips, her gaze gleaming with sadistic delight.
"Maya, you’re still human," Larry said, stepping forward. His voice trembled slightly, betraying the turmoil in his heart. "All of this, you don’t have to do it. You’re giving us no choice. We don’t want to hurt you."
For a brief mont, his words hung in the air, filled with an almost desperate sincerity. He couldn’t stop himself from speaking, even as his heart ached. Maya was more than just an adversary to him; she was soone he had cared for deeply. From the beginning of the apocalypse, they had traveled together, fought side by side, and shared monts of vulnerability. Watching her now, twisted by darkness, felt like a knife being driven into his chest.
Maya’s response was a sharp burst of laughter, devoid of any warmth or humor. "Hurt ?" she echoed, her voice filled with scorn. "How touching, Larry. But don’t waste your breath. I don’t need your pity or your weak attempts at reasoning."
Her eyes narrowed as she regarded the group with a sinister smile. "I love a good ga of hide and seek. Why don’t you all go and hide like the others? When I find you, I’ll eat you. So, make sure to hide well."
Her chilling words sent a shiver down Larry’s spine. His hands clenched into fists, but he didn’t respond. There was no reasoning with her, not anymore. Whatever remnants of humanity Maya had once possessed were buried deep beneath her monstrous facade.
As the survivors’ bus disappeared into the distance, Ethan glanced at Larry and Ryder. "We need to hold her off as long as we can," he said firmly, his voice steady despite the fear in his eyes.
Larry nodded silently, his jaw set with grim determination. No matter how much it hurt to face Maya, he knew what had to be done. This wasn’t about his feelings or his past with her, it was about survival.
Ryder stepped forward, his eyes blazing with fury. "You’ve left us no choice now, Maya! I don’t care who you were before. The only thing I know is this...we’ll kill you if you don’t back down. Enough is enough! We’ve had it with your madness. There will be no more rcy!" His voice thundered, his face a mask of anger.
Maya’s eyes flashed a deep, nacing red as she fixed her gaze on the group. "Madness?" she repeated mockingly, her lips curling into a sinister smile. "Oh, Ryder, let show you what madness really looks like."
Before anyone could react, Maya surged forward with blinding speed. In an instant, she closed the distance between herself and the trio of Ethan, Ryder, and Larry. With inhuman strength, she slamd them against the mountain wall, pinning them effortlessly. Their struggles to break free were futile.
Larry stood frozen in horror, his mind racing. Are we seriously going to die like this, system? he thought desperately, his heart pounding as Maya leaned in close, her sharp fangs gleaming.
Ding!
The system’s chanical voice chid in his head, its tone flat yet ominous.
{Maya has consud countless humans and drank their blood. Now, as an SS-ranked monster, her power is imnse. Only another SS or SSS rank can rival her. For an S rank, defeating her would require nothing short of sheer luck.}
Luck? Larry thought, his resolve hardening. Then I’ll take my chances.
Without wasting another second, he focused his energy and directed his three elental powers toward Maya’s eyes. His sudden attack caught her off guard, and she shrieked in pain, releasing her hold on the others.
Ethan and Ryder didn’t hesitate. They joined Larry, channeling their elental forces toward Maya’s face. The combined onslaught forced her to stumble back, clutching her head as she let out a guttural roar of pain.
"I didn’t want it to co to this, Maya," Larry muttered under his breath, tears streaming down his cheeks as he unleashed another wave of attacks. "But you’ve left no choice."
Their relentless assault didn’t stop, even as Maya fell to the ground, her body writhing. The trio poured their powers into her, focusing on her head in an attempt to obliterate it. Finally, she went still.
Ethan was the first to speak, his voice barely above a whisper. "Is she... dead?" His wide eyes remained fixed on Maya’s motionless body.
The pungent sll of burnt flesh and monster fluid filled the air, a nauseating testant to their brutal battle. Despite their best efforts to destroy her, Maya’s body remained eerily intact.
"Are you sure she’s really dead?" Ryder asked, his gaze fixed on her. He didn’t dare move closer, his instincts screaming at him to stay vigilant.
Larry slumped to the ground, exhaustion and grief overwhelming him. "She’s dead," he murmured, his voice trembling. "I guess... I guess luck saved us." His tears continued to flow as he stared at Maya’s lifeless form.
Ethan and Ryder exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions mirroring their concern for Larry. They knew how much Maya had ant to him.
"How did Larry even manage to unlock the formation?" Ryder asked quietly, leaning toward Ethan. "Scarlett sealed it, didn’t she? If the cage had held, none of this would have happened."
Ethan frowned. "That’s not important right now. Either Scarlett’s formation wasn’t as strong as we thought, or... there’s another reason behind all this. Whatever it is, we’ll have to wait for Scarlett to explain when she gets back." He sighed heavily, casting a wary glance at Maya’s body. "For now, we need to leave. More monsters could show up. They always sense when one of their kind is in danger or dead."
Ryder nodded in agreent. "You’re right." Turning to Larry, he called, "Let’s go, Larry. We need to get out of here."
Larry, still kneeling beside Maya, took a deep, shaky breath. He leaned closer and cradled her body in his arms, ignoring the viscous fluids and smoke emanating from her remains.
"I’ll bury her," Larry said firmly, his voice heavy with emotion. Tears continued to roll down his cheeks, but his expression was one of determination.
Ryder’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Is he serious? How can he hold that thing in his arms like that?" he whispered to Ethan, his voice tinged with shock.
Ethan sighed, his gaze softening as he looked at Larry. "They were close. It’s only natural for him to act like this. Losing soone he cared about, even under these circumstances, must be unbearable."
Larry didn’t respond to their whispered conversation. He moved slowly, gently preparing to lay Maya’s body on the ground. But just as he began to lower her, her eyes snapped open, glowing red.
A wicked smirk spread across Maya’s face, and a chill ran down Larry’s spine.
"Now this is real madness," she hissed, her razor-sharp teeth glinting in the dim light.
Before anyone could react, Maya’s hand shot out. Her claws pierced Larry’s side, the toxic sharpness making him gasp as blood poured from the wound. He coughed violently, blood spilling from his mouth as he struggled to push her away.
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