Alpha Instinct

"L-Leo, p-please," Kaleb stammered, his eyes wide with terror, fixed on the menacing form of Fleshripper. "A little h-help here, maybe? If you're not, you know, busy?"

Leonard didn't even spare him a glance. His focus narrowed, sharpening to a razor's edge. He instantly activated Temporal Cognition, pushing his ELEV to its absolute maximum output.

Fleshripper hefted his massive battle-axe, the weapon glinting wickedly even in the dim, fiery light. With a grunt that seemed to shake the very ground, he threw it. The sheer force of his powerful, muscular arms generated a sonic boom that cracked the air.

The axe spun through the air, a whirlwind of death closing the distance to Kaleb with the terrifying velocity of a crossbow bolt. Kaleb stood frozen, helpless. He had no chance.

Leonard activated Ghost Steps. His world became a blur, his speed tearing him across the intervening space. Even with Temporal Cognition active, stretching time, the axe seemed fast, a relentless projectile hurtling towards his friend.

Then, the memory hit him. The fire reflecting off the spinning axe blade... just like before. Liam. Impaled. Lifeless. A freezing chill shot down Leonard's spine. "Not this time..."

He closed his eyes for a fraction of a second, concentrating all his remaining energy into his legs, launching himself directly towards the spinning axe, simultaneously activating his Battle Aura.

From Kaleb's perspective, time remained agonizingly normal. He saw the impossibly large object rushing towards his face, a blur of metal and death. He knew he was going to die without even comprehending what hit him.

In the final milliseconds, just as the axe blade was a mere fifteen inches from Kaleb's face, Leonard intercepted it. He brought both Smiling and Absolution up, not just to block but to redirect, unleashing Elemental Sword Dance as a desperate, focused parry.

His arms locked, muscles bulging, straining against the impossible force. The sheer energy required to alter the trajectory of the massive, spinning weapon was surreal. Leonard felt he had to give everything he had, just to nudge it off course.

Using both swords, he pushed, exploding his stored energy through his arms. Steel screamed against the axe blade, showering sparks before Leonard's eyes. The world, for him, still moved in slow motion, a desperate ballet against physics.

He then exploded his Battle Aura, one final, desperate surge of power.

The axe, deflected upwards at nearly a ninety-degree angle, shot skyward.

Leonard roared, a raw sound of exertion, releasing Temporal Cognition. Time snapped back to normal.

To Kaleb's eyes, Leonard had simply appeared beside him, as if teleporting. The deafening CLANG of steel striking the axe, forced Kaleb to clap his hands over his ears.

The massive axe soared eighty meters into the sky before plummeting harmlessly into the swamp far to the side.

Leonard stood panting, sweat dripping from his brow, his entire body trembling. He had given everything; he poured every ounce of his power into that single, desperate act. And that... that was just Fleshripper's first attack.

Leonard hissed to Kaleb, his eyes never leaving the enraged Gnoll. "Whatever happens, don't let him get near that axe! We have a chance!"

Kaleb understood Leonard's plan immediately. If Fleshripper was disarmed, they might actually stand a chance. "Got it! Axe-less Fleshripper! Understood," he replied, already scanning the area for a better vantage point.

"Do you still have one of those mana potions?" Leonard asked quickly.

Kaleb didn't answer, simply pulling a small blue vial from one of his pouches and tossing it to Leonard, who caught it mid-air and drank it down in one gulp.

"Renewed..." Leonard said, feeling the energy surge through him, masking the exhaustion. "Think I can play a little longer, Mr. Fleshripper," he taunted the Named Elite.

Fleshripper seemed genuinely surprised, tilting its head, looking at Leonard with a flicker of confusion. It had seen the axe throw, seen the interception, but its relatively crude brain couldn't process the impossible speed Leonard had displayed.

Leonard took a few steps, deliberately positioning himself between the Gnoll and its fallen axe.

Fleshripper snorted, rage overcoming its brief confusion. "You... Die... Today..." it growled, the words disjointed, spoken in a halting, rudimentary grasp of the human tongue.

"No, Fleshripper," Leonard retorted, his voice cold. "Today, this will be your grave." He then charged, Smiling and Absolution leading the way towards the unarmed Elite.

Fleshripper roared and met the charge, relying purely on its brute strength and natural weaponry. Leonard, using Ghost Steps, weaved around the Gnoll's initial wild swipes, his swords flashing. He aimed for the joints, the eyes, and the existing burns left by Kaleb's fire—anything to slow the beast down.

A downward slash raked across Fleshripper's arm, drawing blood. The Gnoll bellowed and swung its massive fist, missing Leonard by inches as he darted away. Leonard countered, ducking under another swipe and scoring a hit on the Gnoll's ribs.

But Fleshripper was fast, despite its size, and learned quickly. It anticipated Leonard's next move, catching him with a glancing backhand blow that sent Leonard staggering. Pain flared in his chest, but he recovered quickly, parrying a clumsy follow-up attack.

The fight became a deadly dance: Leonard's speed and precision against Fleshripper's raw power and resilience. Leonard landed several more cuts, scoring hits on the Gnoll's legs and torso, but Fleshripper endured, its thick hide and sheer muscle mass absorbing much of the damage.

Then, Leonard made a slight miscalculation due to exhaustion. He dodged a swipe but didn't account for the Gnoll's powerful kick. The blow caught him squarely in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him and sending him tumbling backward.

Leonard spat blood from his mouth; the damage was serious.

Fleshripper saw its chance. Ignoring Leonard momentarily, it turned and sprinted towards its fallen axe.

"Kaleb!" Leonard choked out, struggling to catch his breath.

Kaleb, anticipating this exact moment, was ready. He thrust his staff forward, focusing his remaining mana. "EXPLOSION!" he screamed, channeling the spell not into a wide area but into a concentrated blast aimed directly at the charging Gnoll.

The sphere of raw energy, smaller but no less potent than the previous one, slammed into Fleshripper just as its claws were about to close around the axe's handle.

Again, the high-pitched whine of gathering energy, the abrupt sucking in of air, and then the explosion. But this one was different. Instead of expanding outwards in uncontrolled destruction, the force erupted upwards, a pillar of roaring fire directed towards the sky. Kaleb, even depleted, demonstrated impressive technical skill and control.

Fleshripper dodged at the last second, but not entirely. The searing pillar of merciless fire grazed his left arm. It didn't just burn; it vaporized. Fleshripper shrieked, a sound of pure agony, as his hand and forearm were obliterated, leaving only charred bone exposed from the elbow down.

He roared again, shaking uncontrollably, his eyes glowing blood-red. An insane, overwhelming energy pulsed off him in waves.

"Shit, I barely missed... And he's entered Battle Rage!" Kaleb yelled, alerting Leonard. "Need your help, buddy! Drink a regenerative potion!"

Leonard didn't hesitate, pulling a small potion from a pouch strapped to his boot and downing it.

"That scream is releasing too much energy!" Kaleb shouted over the din. "We have to end this fast, or Skullcrusher might sense it..." His voice was serious now, determined.

He raised his staff, not waiting for a response, and looked at Leonard, his expression grim. "Leo, if I pass out... leave me here..." The words came out rough, tinged with sorrow. Then, he winked, a flash of his old self, before completing the final staff maneuver.

"VULCANO!"

A massive ball of fresh magma coalesced and shot directly towards Fleshripper.

The magma sphere slammed squarely into Fleshripper's face. The Gnoll, already reeling from pain and the fury of losing its hand, thrashed wildly, trying to claw the molten rock away.

It stumbled blindly, shaking its head, trying to clear its vision, scraping its burning snout against the muddy ground... and its remaining hand brushed against the handle of its fallen axe.

"Shit, he... found it..." Leonard thought, forcing himself to his feet, readying himself for the next phase of the fight.

Fleshripper slowly rose, its vision blurred from the burns, its snout scorched, breathing raggedly. It had never experienced such humiliation. "Two... dirty... fight... dishonor...", it growled, the words clearer now, fueled by rage.

Leonard scoffed. "Dishonor my ass. If you die, nobody's gonna care how it happened."

Fleshripper glared, lifting its head slightly. "Seven... Gods... not... promised..."

Leonard didn't understand what Fleshripper meant, but mentioning the seven gods of Humbra... that was something else. How does a monster know about the Gods discovered by humans? he thought, bewildered.

A soft thud sounded behind Fleshripper. Kaleb had fainted again.

Fleshripper, with its one good hand, hefted the massive axe onto its shoulder. It pointed its mangled, burning arm—the flesh dangling obscenely around the gleaming tip of bone—directly at Leonard. "You... pentagram... death... now...."

Leonard froze. "Pentagram?" What the hell is that? How does a Leirion know about that?