The monstrous brute thundered toward Zara, each of its steps shaking the ground like distant cannon fire. She tightened her grip on her twin blades, her breath steadying as adrenaline coursed through her veins. The team disappeared into the depot behind her, and for a moment, the world fell silent except for the guttural growl of the creature.
"Let's dance," Zara muttered under her breath.
The brute lunged, swinging a massive arm that could easily crush her. Zara dove to the side, her reflexes razor-sharp. She rolled back to her feet and slashed at its flank, her blades carving deep into the creature's rotting flesh. The brute howled in fury, its oversized hand swiping inches from her face.
Its sheer size made it a challenge to predict, but Zara knew brute strength was nothing without strategy. She darted around the creature, slicing at its legs in an effort to slow it down. The tactic worked for a moment—the beast stumbled, its movements becoming more erratic. Yet, even wounded, it was a terrifying opponent.
The comms crackled in her ear. "Zara, what are you doing?" Callum's voice was strained. "You can't take that thing on alone!"
"Just keep the others safe and get those supplies," Zara replied. "I've got this."
But the truth was, she wasn't sure how long she could hold it off. The creature roared again, charging at her with terrifying speed. Zara ducked under its swinging arm and drove one of her blades into its side, twisting it hard before pulling free. Black ichor sprayed from the wound, and the brute staggered but didn't fall.
Suddenly, the brute slammed its fist into the ground, creating a shockwave that knocked Zara off her feet. She hit the pavement hard, her vision blurring for a moment. Pain radiated through her body, but she forced herself to get up, teeth clenched.
The beast loomed over her, its milky eyes burning with rage. Zara scrambled for her second blade, which had skittered out of reach. The brute raised both arms, ready to bring them down like a sledgehammer.
A gunshot rang out, followed by another, and the brute jerked backward, roaring in anger. Zara turned to see Callum standing on a nearby rooftop, rifle in hand. "Didn't think I'd let you have all the fun, did you?" he called out.
Zara grinned despite herself. "About time."
Callum's shots distracted the brute long enough for Zara to regain her footing. With a burst of speed, she charged forward, scaling the beast's back and driving her remaining blade into the base of its skull. The creature thrashed violently, but Zara held on, twisting the blade deeper.
With one final, guttural growl, the brute collapsed, its massive form crashing to the ground. Zara jumped clear, landing in a crouch as the beast lay still.
Callum climbed down from his perch, his expression a mix of relief and exasperation. "You're insane, you know that?"
"Maybe," Zara replied, wiping the ichor from her face. "But it worked."
Inside the depot, the team cheered as they emerged with supplies in tow. Zara sheathed her blade and turned to Callum. "Let's get back. We've still got a long fight ahead."