The iron spike was about to plunge into Genus's battered body...
Bang!
The rifle cracked again! But this time the bullet wasn't aimed at The Exiled directly—it struck the iron rod in the creature's grip with surgical precision! The impact sent the makeshift weapon spinning from its grasp!
Cyrus stood atop the nearby rubble, smoke still curling from his barrel. His eyes burned with determination and rage. "I won't miss a third fucking time... you bastard!" he snarled.
The Exiled whipped around to face Cyrus, crimson eyes blazing with fury. Its freshly regenerated arm—the same one that had torn through Eva and Leon—clenched until veins bulged beneath the bark-like skin.
"Come down here so I can crush you properly... you miserable rat!" it roared, before launching itself toward Cyrus's position with terrifying speed.
Cyrus barely had time to react! He raised his rifle for another shot, but the creature was already too close!
But Leon, despite his body still trembling with fear and confusion, couldn't let this chance slip away. Seeing Cyrus in mortal danger, he gritted his teeth hard.
"RAAAHHH!" Leon bellowed, gripping the massive iron hammer tight and hurling it with everything he had at The Exiled's flank as it soared through the air!
Thwack!
The hammer connected with a dull impact, but seemed to barely faze the creature. The Exiled simply staggered slightly mid-flight before swatting Leon's weapon away like an annoying fly. Leon's body was sent tumbling from the deflected force.
Ignoring Leon completely, the beast focused on reaching Cyrus. But just before it could reach him, the ground beneath its feet suddenly gave way!
"It's not over yet!" Genus's hoarse but determined voice rang out! She still lay prone below, but her palm pressed against the earth, strange energy radiating from her broken form!
The ground beneath The Exiled's feet turned to quicksand, dragging it down slightly before stone walls erupted around it, throwing off its trajectory and sending it spinning back into the air!
The Exiled roared with absolute frustration! It had been toyed with again and again! This time it ignored both Cyrus and Leon—its target was Genus! The woman who kept interfering at every turn!
It broke free from the closing stone walls and dove toward Genus's position at breakneck speed! When its massive form slammed into the ground, the impact sent shockwaves rippling outward!
Without hesitation, it raised one thorn-covered knee high before driving it down toward Genus's chin with crushing force!
Ugh!
Genus's body lifted off the ground helplessly, blood spraying from her mouth.
The Exiled didn't waste the opening. It leaped up after her! Its thorn-covered hand shifted into razor-sharp claws!
Rip!
The claws punched through Genus's chest! Fresh blood poured out in streams!
The situation had reached its absolute worst! Had it... had it killed Genus?
Cyrus, who had just regained his footing, stared at the scene in disbelief. "GENUUUUS!!!" he screamed at the top of his lungs, despair and rage crushing his chest!
Raven, who had just regained consciousness and was struggling to stand, felt his knees buckle at the sight. "Lady Genus..."
The Exiled grabbed Genus's limp form and hurled her to the ground without care, then slowly approached her prone figure to finish the job.
Genus lay gasping weakly, her vision starting to blur, but she still gazed up at The Exiled with defiant eyes...
"I'm... I'm sorry... Cyrus... Raven..." she whispered softly. A faint, weary smile appeared on her blood-stained face... before her eyes slowly closed... and she passed away peacefully...
"NOOOOOOO!!!" Cyrus lost it completely! He raised his rifle and fired at The Exiled in a mad frenzy! Bullets streamed out by the dozens! But with his emotions in chaos and his aim completely off, the shots went wild and barely had any effect! The Exiled simply raised one arm and swatted the bullets away like annoying insects!
Small memories he shared with Genus flashed through his mind... her smile... her encouraging words... fighting side by side countless times...
[Cut to Leon]
Leon stood frozen, watching the horrific scene unfold before him, helpless to act. His heart felt crushed to pieces... He saw Eva lying motionless... He saw Genus brutally murdered... someone who had reached out to help him... someone who had given him hope...
He felt guilt... guilt unlike anything he'd ever experienced in his life... guilt over Eva... and guilt over Genus...
He looked over to see Barton staggering back into the battlefield, the old man's face filled with despair and rage...
Leon was completely lost... What should he do? What could he possibly do? The Exiled's power was too overwhelming... There was no way they could fight it...
But then... in that split second when despair was about to consume him entirely... some kind of energy surged up from the depths of his body!
Burning heat spread through the arm that had once been "severed"... and now it was extending to the massive iron hammer he was holding!
What was coating the surface of the iron hammer... it looked hideous and terrifying... like the twisted flesh of the Vine-born... with dark veins bulging out... pulsing as if alive!
Leon's eyes widened in shock and bewilderment. He could feel tremendous energy flowing through him... energy filled with rage... and the desire to "destroy"!
His eyes, once filled with confusion, now blazed with crimson light! He stared directly at The Exiled, who stood laughing mockingly over Genus's corpse...
His target was clear... its heart!
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!"
Leon roared like a wild beast! He didn't charge forward blindly like before, but instead gathered all his power in his legs! The ground beneath his feet cracked slightly!
Then his body shot forward with unbelievable speed! So fast it was almost invisible!
The iron hammer in his grip, now coated with that strange energy... began expanding rapidly! Growing to massive proportions!
He swung the enormous hammer with everything he had! Straight at The Exiled's body as it turned toward him in surprise!
CRAAAAAASH!!!
The impact was more devastating than anything before! The ground shook violently! Shockwaves rippled outward in all directions! Dust and smoke billowed everywhere until nothing was visible!