Alpha Instinct-Chapter 95: "Spark of Understanding"

A colossal shadow sliced across the overcast sky of that morning in the Skull Volcanoes, accompanied by a growl that surpassed in volume and ferocity even the roar of an Ursulus Rex.

"Quick! Inside!" Leonard shouted, pointing to the narrow fissure in the rock face that Evelyn had indicated, very close to the second volcano.

Xavier, acting as scout, slipped inside the small cavern. "Clear!" he announced, after a quick inspection. "By some miracle, it's empty. I think we should stay here for a while... at least until that thing passes."

"We might already be in the area of the flying reptiles," Evelyn suggested, her voice tense. "And this area is much more dangerous than the last one."

BOOM!

A muffled explosion echoed in the distance, followed by a thunderous roar that reverberated throughout the area. It wasn't the sound of a destructive explosion, but something... different.

"What was that?" Mikaela asked, frowning.

"I have no idea..." Leonard replied, looking around, apprehensive.

"Do you think Raviel's in trouble?" Xavier asked, his voice filled with concern. "But he didn't use the whistle..."

"We'd better focus on getting out of here," Mikaela interrupted. "We need a plan."

Silence filled the cavern in the next few minutes, each one inert in their own thoughts, trying to find a way out of the problem at hand.

Kaleb, who until then had remained silent, focused on a possible plan and felt the atmospheric mana shift. Suddenly, he opened his eyes wide. "Something's coming..." he said, his voice strained. He closed his eyes, concentrating. "And it's pissed!"

The footsteps began to grow louder, a growing rhythm that turned into the thundering of heavy footfalls, making the ground shake. Leonard, driven by urgency, ran to the entrance of the small cavern and peered through the fissure, searching for the source of the sound.

A guttural roar, so intense that it made him instinctively cover his ears, exploded inches from his face. A colossal paw, armed with claws that looked like obsidian daggers, advanced toward him with frightening speed.

Leonard barely had time to take a step back, back into the relative safety of the cavern.

"U... U... Ursulos... Rex..." Kaleb stammered, pale as a ghost.

Before them, partially blocking the entrance to the cavern, rose a monstrosity of pure power. Almost seventeen meters tall, a mountain of taut muscle beneath a thick coat of reddish-brown fur. The head, disproportionately large, was that of a bear taken to the extreme of ferocity, with red eyes bloodshot with fury and fangs that could easily tear a man to shreds. A long, thick tail, covered in scales, like that of a reptile, whipped the air, adding a bizarre touch to its bestial appearance.

It was the embodiment of brute force, a primeval predator at its peak.

The Ursulus Rex attacked the entrance to the cavern with blind fury. With each blow, chips of stone flew, the opening widening dangerously. Its paw, enormous and armed with sharp claws, was already breaking through the entrance. The roars, followed by the crashes of punches and paws, echoed like explosions on the rock face. The rage of the Named Elite was palpable, a primordial force that conveyed to any living being the certainty of lethal and imminent danger.

Amidst the chaos, Evelyn, breathing with difficulty, smelled a strange, yet familiar scent, emanating from the Leirion. White phosphorus...? Could it be...?, she thought, her mind racing.

"That monster's sense of smell is insane!" exclaimed Mikaela, interrupting Evelyn's thoughts. "He came straight for us!"

"Yes," Silverin agreed, her voice tense. "I thought it was impossible for him to track us so easily in a cave... He's on another level."

The Ursulus Rex's brutal aggression, however, would not go unnoticed. The ruckus and noise in that territory did not make him the only predator there. The shadow that had previously been circling the skies grew larger and more defined.

Whoosh!

An aerial attack, swift as lightning, struck the Ursulus Rex's back squarely. The giant bear-reptile roared in pain as the claws of a Ruby Wyvern tore into its flesh, opening deep furrows.

The Ruby Wyvern landed with a thud behind the Ursulos Rex. Its scales shimmered like incandescent rubies under the weak morning light, reflecting shades of red and orange.

Its membranous wings, vast and powerful, stretched for several meters, supported by strong and light bones. The head, triangular and adorned with short, sharp horns, displayed golden, piercing eyes, fixed on the Ursulus Rex with a predatory intensity. It was a creature of cruel beauty and undeniable power.

The Ursulo, growling in pain and fury, turned to face the winged reptile and charged towards it. Without hesitation, the Wyvern opened its jaws and spat out a concentrated ball of fire, which struck the Ursulos Rex's chest squarely.

Attracted by the sudden flash and the momentary silence of the Ursulos, everyone inside the cavern ran to the entrance, peering cautiously outside, keeping a safe distance.

The impact of the fireball threw the Ursulos Rex backwards, but the creature recovered quickly, its fury redoubled.

New novel chapt𝒆rs are published on ƒгeewebnovёl.com.

It charged at the Wyvern, which dodged with a flap of its wings, hovering out of reach of the bear-reptile's blows. A deadly dance ensued.

The Wyvern, agile in the air, attacked with swoops, claws, and bursts of fire, while the Ursulos Rex, grounded, retaliated with powerful paw swipes and brutal charges.

With each attack, the Wyvern managed to rip off pieces of fur and flesh from the Ursulos, but the latter, in turn, took advantage of each approach of the reptile to deliver blows that, if they connected fully, would be fatal.

In one of those moments, the Ursulus Rex, absurdly fast, managed to grab the tip of the Wyvern's wing, pulling it down with a triumphant roar. The wyvern screamed, a high-pitched, piercing sound, struggling to break free.

The Ursulos Rex prepared a final attack, its claws raised to crush the Wyvern's skull. But, with a desperate effort, the Wyvern managed to break free, leaving behind part of its wing membrane, now torn and useless.

The Wyvern, even injured, spat a concentrated blast, hitting the Ursulos Rex's head squarely.

The bear-reptile staggered, stunned, its snout and eyes burned. It let out a roar of pain and frustration, but it didn't fall. Even seriously injured, with its fur singed, deep cuts across its body, and its breathing heavy, it was still a formidable threat.

The Wyvern was a formidable opponent, but it was still not an Elite. In a moment of carelessness, the Ursulos grabbed its tail, pulling it with all its might. With a deadly slam on the ground, the wyvern growled in pain.

Before it could even attempt to react, the Ursulos bit the neck of the flying reptile, ripping off its head.

Leonard, watching everything from inside the cavern, felt a shiver run down his spine. The brutality of the fight, the ferocity of the creatures... all of this was a reminder of the colossal strength he would need to face. But, at the same time, a spark of understanding ignited in his mind.

"I understand, Master!" he whispered to himself, the words charged with a new conviction. "To defeat this beast, I need to use everything at my disposal... including other Leirions."

Without hesitation, Leonard drew "Smiling" and "Absolution." Determination shone in his eyes. Ignoring the silent protests of his companions, he dashed out of the cavern, running towards the wounded Ursulos Rex.