The fight wasn’t over. The Rainbane with the claw-mouth got back up violently. Its jaw opened into a grotesque snarl, and from its throat shot blades that pierced the ribcage of the skull-faced mutant.

“THAT HURTS, ASSHOLE!” the latter roared, grabbing the other by the face and dragging him to the ground in a savage brawl.

“I’M DONE PLAYING WITH YOU!” shouted the skeletal-faced one, and finally revealed his left arm.

Instead of a hand, a dark flame surged forth —tentacles of fire and rot emerging from his coat in a horrifying display.

“Say hello to my left hand, loser,” he said with venom, slamming the limb against the mutant’s chest, who screamed:

“NO! NOOOOO! YOU’RE GOING TO BURN ME ALIVE!”

But it was too late: the air filled with the scent of charred flesh, and the forest fell once again into sepulchral silence.

Leonard pushed the cabin door open carefully. His weapon led the way, steady. He had no idea what had just happened.

The skull-faced creature lay on the ground, gasping. A dark, thick pool of blood spread slowly around him, deep blue in color, seeping into the soil.

Leonard aimed at his head, but the Rainbane only let out a hoarse, exhausted laugh.

“Hahaha… Hey! If I were you…” he said, coughing. “I’d hide back in that cabin. There are more Rainbanes… more and more of them… they’ll come for you.”

The human clenched his jaw and moved the weapon closer to the skeletal face.

“You’re one of them… right? A Rainbane?”

The mutant turned his face toward him.

“Yes… and not yet. Just a matter of time.”

“Your transformation,” Leonard said. “It's incredible that you still act like a… human.”

Hesitating slightly, he decided to take a step forward toward the Rainbane.

“Why did you save me?” he insisted. “Why didn’t you kill me like it wanted to?”

The mutant looked at him through empty sockets, as if he could see beyond what Leonard himself could grasp.

“Sigh— 'Cause… I promised another human.”

Leonard blinked. “Who?”

There was no reply. The creature could barely breathe, but he managed to get up quickly.

The human stepped back, weapon still raised. Something inside him had just awakened.