Riven studied the creature.
He didn’t watch the weapon. He was looking at its body, specifically where its right arm attached to its side.
Every time it attacked with its favored limb, the creatures’ left shoulder rotated forward and a small amount of it’s plating would open to attack. A pattern.
"Its weak on its left," Riven muttered.
Adams looked at him. "You’re sure?"
"I think so."
"That’ll do."
The beast charged again Riven met it head on. The creature swung at Riven, but the young warrior ducked and drove his blade into the creature’s left knee. It stumbled.
Adams feinted forward and sliced the opening in the creature’s left shoulder, cutting through one of their plates. The monster screamed in pain, but managed to keep Riven from driving in with a powerful tail strike. The beast’s right arm swung again, but Adams was ready with Kinetic Reinforcement.
Gravemarsh met its blade with a flash of light as the energy feed into Adams muscles, enhancing his speed and reflexes to keep up with the faster than normal movement of the beast. He drove one into its chest, but the creature was recovering. It spun around, tail slamming into Riven’s side.
Adams attacked again, keeping his blows quick and sharp. Forcing the creature to keep pace with him.
Riven was sent to one knee, but Elena sent a beam of energy into one of the creatures legs, forcing it to step back.
Adams took advantage of its stumble. He drove his weapon across the creature’s chest, following the same pattern as his earlier attack. A wide slit appeared, but before he could drive in with a second blow the beast turned on him.
Its mighty tail sent him skidding backward. He blocked the strike with Kinetic Reinforcement and the force sent him flying sideways.
Kinetic Reinforcement was all the strength he could handle, but he needed more. Adams fed the energy into his leg, sending him rocketing forward to meet the creatures’ charging blade.
The force sent him flying, his back cracking against the floor. Elena was with him in an instant, her hands glowing as she applied a healing touch to his ribs, mending the damage.
"Can you fight?" she asked.
"You alive?"
Riven groaned. "Unfortunately."
Elena almost laughed. "Can you at least fight?"
Riven looked up at the creature, his eyes narrowed. "If I get another opening, yeah."
Adams was on his feet, studying the beast. "One more try."
The creature roared, but it wasn’t the usual sound.
Riven frowned. He wasn’t sure, but something was off with the beast’s sound.
The beast turned and disappeared. Its weapon glowing an eerie blue.
"Look out!" Riven shouted.
It reappeared next to Elena.
Adams was the first to react, blocking the blow. The force sent him onto one knee, cracks branching off the stone floor behind him. Elena stumbled back.
Riven attacked the creatures side.
The beast swung at Riven and sent him flying across the room. "Riven!"
Adams nearly reached him, but the beast made another attempt. Admas blocked, his arms shaking. He could barely hold the creature back.
Kinetic Reinforce sent a ripple of power through him. The energy from the last blow fed into his muscles. His ribs burned, but he held on, ignoring the pain.
The creature drew closer.
Adams fed the energy into his legs and sent a blast of power into the beasts gut, driving it back and away from Riven. He twisted, sending a blast of power into its side, causing a small explosion.
Elena was close, her eyes locked onto the creature. She sent another blast as the beast turned to face them. Sparks of energy shot from Gravemarsh, cutting into the monstrosity.
Riven was back on his feet, his weapon slicing open the creatures side. He forced it back and away from Adams. Elena fired a blast across its chest, cutting off another strip of its armor.
The core was exposed.
Adams was already moving.
Riven attacked the beast’s left leg, forcing it to slow its movement. With his free hand, Riven sent a blast of energy into the exposed muscle of the creature’s side.
Adams was faster, his enhanced senses helping him keep up with the beast’s increased speed. He drove in, his weapon slicing the open strip of plating. Riven followed, driving his weapon into the same spot.
The creature roared in pain and backed away.
Adams prepared a second blow, but the beast’s blade was already coming. Kinetic Reinforcement blocked its blow with ease. The creature wasn’t done. It swung again and again, each pass sending Adams skidding backward, his breath coming in short pants.
Elena was at his side, her breath also shallow. "Can you do it? Your health is going to be low."
"One more pass," Adams ground out.
The creature attacked, but Riven was faster. He took the blade in his hands, sending a jolt of pure energy through the monster.
Adams drove in with all his strength and determination. His blade tore through the creatures open side. The beast’s core cracked, and with a scream, it lunged forward, slamming its claws against Adams’ shoulder.
Elena sent a blast of energy across the creature’s arm, causing it to loosen its grip.
Riven drove his weapon into the wound, deep enough to reach the beasts core. He planted his foot against the creature’s ribs and gave a powerful kick, sending it staggering back.
Adams stepped in for one final strike. He sent a blast of energy into the open part of the creature’s side. The core cracked completely and burst open. The creature gasped and fell to its knees.
Its lifeless body crumpled to the ground.
No one moved.
Adams’ shoulder bled, his ribs wailed in protest and his arms trembled. Gravemarsh was heavy in his grip. He barely had the energy to keep standing.
The System appeared.
[Gate Boss Defeated.]
That was all the message said.
Riven eyed the interface. "That it?"
Elena shot him a glare. "What were you expecting?"
"I don’t know. Some kind of response."
Another tremor rocked the chamber, sending dust raining from the ceiling. Looking up, Adams spotted a crack forming across one of the pillars.
"Move," he muttered.
The tremors grew stronger, sending loose stones tumbling to the room’s floor. Riven looked over at where the doors had been, but the wall was already splitting open.
The creature stirred behind them.
The floor gave way, sending a few people tumbling through the opening.
"Move," Adams shouted.
A new tremor sent more of the walls coming apart, chunks of stone breaking away and tumbling to the floor.
Then, to the side of the fallen boss, a small ring of light formed, swirling the same color as the Gate.
None of them moved towards it.
Riven studied the opening, his fingers flexing. "Do we know where that leads?"
"No," Elena said, eyes locked onto the ring.
"Good."
Another of the pillars broke free.
Riven looked up. Then at the ring. "I think that means we should go find out."
Adams was first, but he didn’t look back as the last of the stone ground away, revealing a crackling light. Riven and Elena were right at his heels as the last of the stones came loose.
They tumbled over and over until landing on the concrete floor of the warehouse.
Adams rolled to his back as he looked up. He didn’t see the ring on the wall, only an empty space.
Elena knelt. Slowly, she lowered her staff, watching the now empty floor with concern.
"Did it disappear?" Riven asked.
"I think so," Elena muttered, eyes still on the empty space. "It was there a moment ago."
Adams looked down at Gravemarsh. His breathing was shallow. He looked up the warehouse. They had entered the Gate and killed the boss. What now?
Far away, inside the facility, a siren blared.
A researcher looked up at the Grand Marshal. "Sir."
The old man turned. "What is it?"
The researcher hurried across the room with a tablet in hand. "One of the Gates went away."
Emmanuel frowned. "Which one?"
"The eastern gate."
"Check the instruments."
"We already did."
"And?"
The man stared at the screen. "We can’t find it."
Emmanuel walked up to the wall, studying the display. The Gate blinked twice before vanishing from the screen.
Another researcher looked up from her console. "Sir, there was an energy spike before it disappeared."
"How big of a spike?"
"LARGE enough to set off every sensor in the area."
Emmanuel looked up at the display. "Did something come out?"
"No."
"Did something go in?"
The researcher hesitated. "We don’t know."
Before Emmanuel could say anything else, a soldier entered the room. "Sir, Mira has reached the Gate."
Emmanuel turned.
A live video feed from the Gate appeared on the display. Mira stood several feet from her destination. Behind her, eight soldiers waited.
She looked up at the camera, arms crossed. Her expression was defiant, but more importantly, her grip was tight on her weapon.
A voice came over the radio. "Mira."
She looked at the camera again.
Emmanuel spoke. "Last chance."
Mira looked at the Gate. "You really don’t know what’s inside, do you?"
"No."
She looked up at him through the camera.
She took a slow breath and walked forward, one foot crossing the edge of the Gate.
The soldiers followed her, one after another. Until the last one was gone, and the Gate was sealed.
Emmanuel watched the screen in silence.
Behind him, one of the researchers spoke. "Sir."
He turned.
"We have another reading."
"What now?"
She looked at him. "The system just alerted us to a Gate clear."