CHAPTER 39: CHAPTER 39 – GAP (PART 2)

Chapter 39 – Gap (Part 2)

"ROAR!!"

The earth-shaking roar reverberated in Jack’s skull as the Dire Tiger lunged forward with even greater fury than before. The fresh scar across its face only made it more terrifying. Despite the towering predator’s murderous intent, Jack’s expression remained cold and composed—utterly devoid of panic.

That was Jack. No matter the place, no matter the odds, he saw fear as a useless luxury. Panic clouded judgment, and in moments like this, surrendering control to fear was the fastest path to death. He saw how people were easily scared of things they didn’t know, or things they deemed a threat and yet... It never came across their minds that they could have better chances of getting the intended result if they simply didn’t panic and didn’t let their fear be the deciding factor.

It was one of the reasons why he had found himself completely getting rid of that feeling... The feeling of fear. He was never scared in his life, and he doesn’t think he will ever be, even against certain death. It simply was something that clashed with what Jack believed and how he viewed life itself.

The fight erupted again, fiercer than ever. Both combatants moved with the singular intent to kill, their speed almost impossible to track with the naked eye. Every slash, every strike, was lethal—swift, ruthless, and coming from angles that left no margin for error.

’Close.’ Jack’s sharp eyes read the monster’s movement in an instant. ’Dodge, reverse grip, use the momentum against it. Left shoulder’s open.’

Swish!

His blade thrust forward, cutting into the Dire Tiger’s thick hide—yet the wound was shallow, barely more than a scratch. The beast countered without hesitation, lunging with snapping fangs.

’Dodge—side step. It’ll follow with a claw swipe. Hit it when it loses balance.’

Jack’s mind worked faster than the attacks themselves, his body executing orders without hesitation. In the mere two minutes since their clash began, he was already starting to decode the monster’s patterns, adapting to its relentless aggression.

But all the while, he noticed something else—more and more of the surrounding monsters were closing in.

"Jack, you need to retreat now!"

"RAWR!!"

"I... know! It’s... not letting me move!"

The Dire Tiger’s speed and pressure gave him no chance to break away. His only path to survival was to kill it—fast.

’Think... think!’

"Rawr!"

Slash!

Its massive paw came down, and Jack met it with a deflecting strike before retaliating, slicing across its face once more. The beast let out a savage screech, flailing its claws wildly in a burst of unpredictability.

BANG!

Jack was a fraction too slow. The erratic barrage caught him off guard, and in that split-second lapse, claws raked across his right arm.

He hissed through clenched teeth, blood running freely down to his hand.

"Dammit..." The sharp sting quickly gave way to a deep, numbing throb.

"Jack!" Lune’s voice rang out as she dove toward him. "Let me heal you, my love—just a few seconds and—"

"Do you think... that thing will give me... agh... a few seconds?" His voice was tight with pain, but his eyes never left the Dire Tiger. "It’s about to attack."

ROAR!

Ignoring the agony, Jack rolled aside, narrowly escaping another devastating strike. But his speed had faltered. His right arm was nearly useless, forcing him to wield his sword with his left—his weaker hand.

And as if that wasn’t enough, the swarm surrounding him surged forward.

’Great.’

He cut them down as they rushed in, his movements still sharp despite the handicap. But killing them all wasn’t realistic—too many angles, too little room.

ROAR!

"Behind you!!" Lune shouted.

His instincts screamed danger. Jack twisted, but the swarm hemmed him in from every side. No escape.

He flared every last drop of essence, a violent wave of energy blasting outward to buy a heartbeat of space. He turned—just in time to catch the Dire Tiger’s pounce.

BANG!

The impact slammed him to the ground, the beast’s paw pinning him like a boulder while smaller monsters piled on, biting and tearing.

Lune’s eyes went wide. The restraint she’d been forcing on herself all this time began to crumble. They’d agreed she wouldn’t interfere—he needed to learn to survive without her—but this was beyond brutal. She had already swallowed her instincts to save him a hundred times today. Now, watching him being crushed beneath a swarm, that self-control was seconds from breaking.

"Get... off me!" Jack snarled through the crushing weight and searing pain. The Dire Tiger’s claws dug deeper, while fangs and teeth from the swarm shredded at him from all sides. The agony was almost blinding.

’This is... bad...’

"JACK!!" Lune’s voice cut sharp as she raised a finger, condensing a bead of red energy at its tip. It pulsed dangerously, ready to annihilate the monsters pinning him.

But before she could release it—

A silhouette blurred into existence.

"Jack!"

His head snapped up just as the monsters surrounding him were sent flying by a single sweeping kick. A moment later, Evelyn burst through, her fist driving forward in a devastating blow.

BANG!

Her punch landed clean, forcing the Dire Tiger back several steps and breaking its grip on him. Jack wasted no time and pushed himself up.

"Now!" Evelyn barked as she darted toward the beast.

Jack didn’t bother with a reply—he was already moving, chasing her in a dead sprint.

ROAR!!!

The Dire Tiger’s howl split the air as it charged again. Jack and Evelyn split wide, attacking from opposite flanks.

The monster locked onto Jack instantly, seeing him as the greater threat. It lunged, powerful limbs tearing the ground apart beneath its weight.

Jack didn’t retreat. He baited it instead, letting it commit to the attack. At his current speed, dodging was impossible—but that was fine.

The Dire Tiger’s mouth opened wide to tear him apart—

And Evelyn was suddenly there, her foot slamming into its side with brutal force.

Jack moved the instant her kick landed. As the beast staggered, he leapt with all the strength he had left, driving his blade deep into its throat.

"ROAAAAAR!!!"

The monster thrashed violently, trying to shake him off. Jack clung to the hilt with failing strength—his body a wreck from blood loss and exhaustion.

With one last violent jerk, the Dire Tiger flung him away.

"Jack!" Evelyn sprinted toward his airborne form—but Lune was faster. She appeared at his side, her hand making a small, graceful motion.

His body slowed mid-air, drifting down until his feet touched the ground softly. She hid her relief behind an unreadable expression, even as her heart hammered in her chest.

"Huh?" Evelyn froze for half a second, thrown by the sight. She had expected to catch him herself, but he’d... floated?

Shaking it off, she knelt beside him, assessing his condition.

"Jack? Can you hear me? Jack." Her voice was sharp but urgent.

Up close, she saw the full extent of his injuries—deep gashes, torn muscle, blood soaking through everything. Realization struck like ice. ’So that’s why the other path was clear... he drew them all here.’

Her jaw tightened, the usual coldness in her eyes clouded by something she rarely allowed to show—raw concern.