A deep, inhuman growl reverberated from beneath the collapsed overpass, shaking the survivors to their cores. Dust plumed into the air, masking the shifting debris. Evelyn's breath hitched as she saw something—a claw, massive and jagged, pushing through the ruins.
"It's not dead," Lucas muttered, voice barely above a whisper.
"No shit," Reaper growled, reloading his shotgun.
The Titan emerged, slow at first—then suddenly, violently bursting free. Concrete and steel exploded outward, sending Mia tumbling back. The beast rose, its skin shredded, black ichor oozing from deep wounds. Bones jutted out from one of its forearms, but that didn't stop it.
"Scatter!" Leon yelled.
The Titan moved with terrifying speed. Its elongated tongue lashed out, slicing through an abandoned car like butter. It wasn't just a weapon—it was hunting.
Lucas pulled out another charge, but before he could prime it, the Titan lunged, slamming its claws into the ground. The impact sent a shockwave rippling outward, throwing the survivors off balance.
Mia scrambled back, gripping her pistol with shaking hands. "How the hell do we stop this thing?"
"We don't," Evelyn said, backing toward the ruined street. "We lure it away."
The Titan's hollow, lifeless eyes locked onto them.
It came low to the ground, like a predator ready to pounce, its long, sinewy limbs bending unnaturally. The tongue snapped toward Evelyn, but she dove aside, barely dodging as it sliced through a streetlight.
Leon sprinted forward, swinging his machete into the Titan's exposed ribcage. The blade sank deep, but the monster didn't even flinch. It snarled, backhanding Leon with brutal force. He flew backward, crashing into a rusted-out truck.
"Leon!" Mia screamed.
The Titan turned toward her.
Before it could strike, Reaper fired, slug rounds tearing into its skull. The beast staggered, momentarily dazed—but not for long. It snapped its head toward him, eyes flaring with a hunger beyond rage.
Lucas seized the moment. He hurled a grenade beneath the Titan's legs, aiming for a weak spot in the ruined pavement.
The ground caved in. The Titan's left leg sank deep into a crater, causing it to stumble. Its massive form crashed sideways, sending a shockwave through the street.
"Go! Go!" Evelyn shouted.
The survivors ran, weaving through the wreckage, knowing damn well they hadn't won—but they'd bought themselves time.
Behind them, the Titan roared, its voice an unholy symphony of rage. It was wounded. It was trapped.