From the shadows emerged an abomination that defied all logic and nature. His skin, blackened by putrefaction, cracked into multiple oozing sores, from which a yellow and viscous pus flowed. His body was an amalgam of rotten flesh: long, gnarled arms, one leg shorter than the other, giving him a wobbly but eerily agile gait. From his abnormally long, hooked fingers oozed a blackish liquid that reeked of death and decay.

But the most disturbing thing was his face... or the absence of one. His disproportionate head was dominated by a huge mouth that opened in a grotesque grimace, revealing irregular rows of teeth sharp as obsidian blades. It had no eyes, but instead, a constellation of red, slimy orbs flickered in no apparent order, as if trying to look in all directions at the same time.

Ryuusei felt a chill run down his spine. Beside him, Aiko, small but untamed, looked up determinedly. Haru, sharp-minded and precise, scrutinized the creature's movements with an analytical eye. Daichi, the quietest of the group, positioned himself firmly, ready for battle. Kenta, for his part, smiled nervously and murmured:

"Well... That was fast.

The ground rumbled as the beast, despite its misshapen appearance, moved with an improbable speed. Without warning, its tentacles, covered in thorns and blackness, rushed toward them with the violence of an unleashed storm. Ryuusei barely had time to react, rolling to the side as the creature's claws tore through the air where it had been an instant before. Kenta dodged on instinct, panting between every move. Haru, with his lethal precision, drew a pair of daggers and struck with calculated blows, tearing apart the beast's rot. Daichi, impassive and focused, unloaded a brutal blow to his side.

But the horror was just beginning.

The air became dense, as if the world itself were holding its breath. From the gloom a new silhouette emerged: tall, imposing, an abyss of darkness made flesh. Their presence devoured the light, transforming the atmosphere into a vortex of despair. He held in one of his icy hands a colossal sword, with a black edge and dripping with a sticky liquid that corroded the ground where it fell.

He was the Herald of Destruction.

Ryuusei's muscles tensed, and for the first time he felt the certainty that he was on the verge of a sealed fate. The Herald's multiple eyes locked onto him, shining with a crimson glow that seemed to look beyond his flesh, straight into his soul. Aiko, with a thread of voice, whispered:

"Ryuusei...

The Herald needed no more words. He raised his titanic sword and pointed it at him. There were no shouts, no speeches. Just a silent message: the combat was about to begin.

Tightly clenching his hammers, Ryuusei inhaled deeply. Adrenaline burned in his blood. He twirled the gun in his hands, feeling its weight with each racing beat of his heart. Around him, his teammates prepared for the inevitable.

The battle for their lives had begun.