Chapter 77: 77: A Sweet Revenge
"Rina, you\'re doing a good job. We need to bring this Apokalip down to its knee." Fushigiro side-step to dodge the blade-like arm of the monster, splitting a tree in half as it misses its mark.
Fushigiro leaped on top of the arm of the Apokalip and used Deka Step, kicking the ground ten times in a second... His silhouette vanished, only to appear face to face of the faceless Apokalip. Seeing its dumbstruck red-molten eyes, Fushigiro fingered gun it on its eye, blinding it.
*ROAR!*
A deafening growl reverberated in the area. Dunn took this chance, he one of the blood vessels, and gave it a random barrage of punches. "You killed Miles. Although I hate the guts of that guy. I consider him my rival."
The combination of Fushigiro\'s attack and Dunn\'s attack brought a great deal of pain to the monster. Green blood spurted in its eye, and the blood enveloped Fushigiro\'s body, which directly fell on the ground, drained of energy.
Fortunately, the monster was already on its knee, although it didn\'t have a mouth or anything of the like. Dunn and others could still see it grunting.
Dunn sighed in relief. He had already done his best. The death of two of their members began to sink in as the adrenaline and the pressure from the fight wore off. It brought immense pain upon him; it was an emotional pain... Greater than even any physical pain he has experienced. He gave the monster a glance, which was currently throwing a rain of blow to the ground. He shook his head and said in a low voice.
"Johan, it\'s up to you now."
...
Caleb engaged the muscles on his back. The lats and the upper back... Along with his biceps and shoulders. Then, aimed at the blade on its forehead and performed various calculations on his head in just a second. In one swift motion, he threw the rock that contained 100% of his taboo energy. It was the most powerful attack that he used as of now. \'Let\'s see if you can still survive with this.
The stone turned into a beam of violet light and accurately hit the hilt of Miles\' sword. Then it pushed the sword deep to the Apokalip\'s forehead it eased.
A powerful gust of wind appeared, making Rina, Fushigiro, and Dunn\'s hair fly in a mess. Fushigiro, then a resounding thud, and the loud shriek echoed.
"How is that possible?" Rina, Andre, Clifford, and Fatty, who witnessed the scene, felt their cognition get subverted.
Caleb stared at the dead Apokalip in the distance with a complicated expression. \'Did I really kill it? Damn! I managed to kill one of them!\'
He was well aware of the fact that he wouldn\'t be able to do it without the hard work and sacrifice of his team, though. As he thought of this, a wary smile filled with bitterness appeared on his face. \'We won, but at what cost?\'
...
Just like that, the Hunting Party took a moment of rest. Jin had already woken, but he could barely move his body, which was nothing sort of a miracle, given how frightening his condition was from before. Just like everyone, he turned silent when he learned of what happened.
Jin stared at Miles\'s burnt corpse and Athena\'s severed body with remorseful eyes. Then he gave Tamasai a deep look. "Why didn\'t you make a move?"
Tamasai was unfazed. "When I just joined this team. I already made clear that I don\'t like to risk my life."
"You could\'ve done something..." Jin whispered.
Caleb looked at Athena and Miles\' corpses blankly. After a few seconds, he looked at the sky with a heavy sigh. "Life is really fragile. Just like what Yasuo always said. Death is like a wind, always by our side."
Firstly, consider the human body a miraculous vessel that sustains life. It is a complex network of bones, muscles, organs, and tissues, working in perfect harmony. Yet, even the slightest disruption can lead to its demise. A simple infection, a sudden accident, or a tiny irregularity in the heartbeat can tip the balance from life to death. Our bodies, intricate and resilient as they are, stand as a testament to the fragility of our existence.
Furthermore, the cycles of nature underscore the transience of life. Seasons change, flowers bloom and wither, and the sun rises and sets. These natural rhythms remind us that life is in constant motion, and each moment is a precious and fleeting gift. Just as a single gust of wind can scatter a fragile dandelion seed, life can be whisked away in an instant, leaving behind memories and echoes of existence.
Moreover, the experiences of love and loss demonstrate life\'s fragility with poignant clarity. We form deep connections with others, sharing moments of joy and sorrow. Yet, as we cherish these bonds, we are also reminded that they are as delicate as gossamer threads. The loss of a loved one, a breakup, or a drifting friendship exposes the raw vulnerability of the human heart, emphasizing that life\'s most cherished relationships are fragile and can be severed by the hand of fate.
In the grand scheme of the cosmos, our existence is but a brief flicker, like a candle in the darkness. The universe has witnessed the rise and fall of countless civilizations, and it will continue to do so long after we are gone. This cosmic perspective underscores the ephemeral nature of our lives, reminding us that we are but temporary inhabitants of this vast and ancient universe.