Chapter 4

Rika faced the terrifying creature in front of her. The pig-faced man growled loudly, revealing his sharp tusks while staring at Rika with glowing red eyes. She knew this was no longer about survival—this was a fight she had to win, or her life would end here and now. Her right hand, glowing blue, was ready at her side, and she could feel Greed's presence beside her, providing a surge of energy flowing through her body.

The pig-faced man lunged forward with surprising speed, far more agile than Rika had anticipated. Suddenly, the creature was right in front of her, swinging its claw at Rika with terrifying velocity. Rika jumped sideways, narrowly avoiding the strike, but the claw still grazed her cheek, leaving a thin scar.

"Don't be reckless, Rika! Focus on the movements and don't get fixated on its size!" Greed's voice rang in her mind. However, that advice was easier said than done. Rika was not accustomed to using this new power, and the pressure of this life-and-death battle only made her more nervous.

The creature attacked again, this time with more brutality. Its massive claw smashed into the ground, creating large craters everywhere and sending dust and debris flying. Rika attempted to counter with her punch, but her movement was too slow and predictable. The punch narrowly missed the creature's head, not enough to inflict any damage.

Greed sighed in frustration. "Rika, you don't even know how to fight properly! Aim your strikes at its weak points, like the eyes or the neck!" he shouted. Rika could only bite her lip, feeling frustrated with herself for not being skilled enough in a situation like this.

However, despite her difficulties, Rika refused to give up. With burning determination, she tried to close the distance to the creature again, this time targeting its side. She swung her glowing blue fist, and this time she successfully hit the creature's back. A crack echoed, making the pig-faced man grunt in pain.

The creature staggered back, but it didn't take long for it to recover. It lunged at Rika with ferocity again, forcing her to dodge once more. This time, the creature's claw nearly shattered her shoulder, and Rika had to roll on the ground to avoid the next attack. Her body was dusty and dirty, but she stood tall, even though her breath was becoming ragged.

Greed sounded angry in her mind. "What are you doing?! Don't just defend; you need to strike back more decisively! Do you want to die like this?!"

Rika huffed in frustration. "If you want me to fight better, why don't you just do it yourself, huh?!" she shouted in her mind, unconsciously replying to Greed with anger. Greed simply sighed deeply, then resumed giving her directions. Their argument continued even in the midst of the tense situation.

The creature seized the opening to attack again, this time slamming Rika against the alley wall. Her body hit the hard wall, causing her to cough from the pain. But before she could think about the pain, the pig-faced creature charged again, forcing Rika to roll to the side to avoid its claw, which smashed into the wall behind her.

"Seriously, Greed! You can only criticize from the sidelines! Why don't you fight this monster?!"

Greed laughed cynically. "You know, this isn't a fight where I can reveal myself at all times. This is training for you, Rika! And besides, if I keep stepping in, when will you learn?!"

Rika rolled her eyes, but deep down she knew Greed was right. Still, hearing Greed's voice in the midst of such a situation made her want to scream in frustration. She tried to refocus on the fight and look for an opening to strike the creature again. With her glowing right hand, she aimed for the creature's neck.

The punch landed successfully, pushing the pig-faced man back with a cracking sound. Rika felt a small victory seeing the creature groaning in pain, but her recklessness made her complacent again. The creature extended its large arms, capturing Rika in the middle of her attack and throwing her roughly toward the street.

Rika's body hit the ground hard, dragging her several meters. She tried to rise again, despite the pain coursing through her body. Greed sounded anxious this time, though his voice still tried to remain calm. "Rika, you must not give up. Focus, use my power correctly. Don't let your fear overwhelm you."

With renewed determination, Rika stood again, her body trembling. She lifted her glowing blue hand, trying to calm her racing heartbeat. "I will not give up... I will not let this creature defeat me!" she said with a trembling voice.

However, the pig-faced man now seemed even angrier. His massive body moved faster than before, and this time he charged at Rika with full force. The giant claw nearly tore through her body, but Rika managed to deflect the attack with her right hand, empowered by Greed's strength.

Unfortunately, Rika's counterattack wasn't strong enough to match the creature's full power. The creature continued its assault with a series of brutal strikes, forcing Rika further into the corner of the alley. Dust flew everywhere, and the ground around them cracked from the force of the creature's attacks.

Rika tried to find an opening to escape or retaliate, but the creature didn't give her a chance. It relentlessly pressured Rika, making her feel increasingly overwhelmed. Greed sounded frustrated in her mind, but also worried. "Rika, if you don't get up soon, you really will die here!"

Rika clenched her teeth, trying to hold back the fear creeping into her mind again. She knew Greed was right, but her body was too exhausted to move faster. Her breath was ragged, and cold sweat drenched her face. With each attack from the creature, Rika could only deflect with the remnants of her strength.

The pig-faced creature laughed hoarsely, enjoying the moments when Rika found herself cornered and helpless. Its massive claws were ready to lunge at Rika again, and this time she wasn't sure if she could dodge it in time.

Greed shouted in her mind, trying to rally Rika's spirit. "You can't give up, Rika! Fight back or we'll die together!" But the voice began to feel distant, as if it were sinking beneath the fear and exhaustion overwhelming Rika's thoughts.

Before she could come up with another plan, the creature's claw shot toward her with terrifying speed. Its pig-like face wore an evil grin, relishing the fear radiating from Rika's eyes.

Rika was backed into a corner of the alley, her breath ragged, as the shadow of the large claw closed in. Would this be the end of her struggle? Amidst the overwhelming fear, she could only hope for one last miracle... or perhaps, something darker than that.

Rika forced herself to rise, despite the pain coursing through her body. She steadied her breath, trying to comprehend the instructions Greed had given her in her mind. The pig-faced creature prepared to strike again, but this time Rika was more ready. With her right hand glowing blue, which was now starting to feel more familiar, Rika concentrated energy into her punch.

"Our energies are merging, Rika. Feel that flow of power, and use it as if it were part of your own body," Greed's voice sounded firm yet calm in her mind. Rika nodded, even though she knew Greed couldn't see her, and began to feel the energy flowing from Greed strengthening her body. The sensation was strange, but it gradually began to feel natural.

The creature attacked again with its massive claw, but this time Rika moved more skillfully, dodging the strike with a quick leap. She spun in the air and struck the side of the creature's head with her glowing blue fist, sending it staggering back a few meters. The wicked laughter that had come from the creature turned into a roar of pain.

Greed sounded pleased in Rika's mind. "Yes, that's it! Use your speed to overcome this creature's brute strength! Don't give it a chance to retaliate!"

Rika began to understand the rhythm of her fighting. She realized that her attacks became much stronger when she followed Greed's instructions. With each punch she threw, the blue glowing energy from her hand struck the creature with increasing force. Rika followed up with a series of rapid attacks, pounding the creature's body until sickening cracking sounds filled the air.

The pig-faced creature was increasingly cornered. It tried to fight back by swinging its massive claws, but Rika successfully dodged every attack with surprising agility. She now felt much more confident, even though exhaustion began to creep into her body. Each attack felt more precise and powerful, as if she had been fighting with this strength her entire life.

However, the creature did not give up easily. It rampaged more wildly, slamming the ground around Rika and creating shockwaves that nearly knocked her off her feet. Rika felt the earth beneath her crack, but Greed gave quick instructions. "Use your power to reinforce your footing, Rika! Focus your energy on your legs!"

Rika leaped into the air, dodging the next strike, and channeled the blue energy into her legs as instructed. When she landed back on the ground, her energy exploded, creating a wave that pushed the creature back. This was the moment. Rika concentrated all her remaining strength into her fist and leaped toward the creature.

"Feel this!" Rika shouted with renewed vigor. She slammed her fist right into the creature's face, creating a blinding explosion of blue light. The creature's roar echoed down the alley before its body began to crack and shatter like a broken mirror.

As the creature collapsed into fragments, Rika realized something strange. The black shards from the creature's body floated in the air, then absorbed into Rika. She felt a chilling sensation pierce her, as if something foreign was invading her. Greed sounded calm in her mind, providing an explanation. "The energy of the defeated eternal will be absorbed by the spirit beast, Rika. This is part of our contract. Their power now belongs to us."

Rika didn't know whether to feel relieved or frightened. But before she could think further, her body began to weaken. The energy that had been radiating from her hand slowly faded away, and the glowing blue right hand returned to being just a normal human hand. A wave of exhaustion washed over her entire body, making her slump against the wall behind her, struggling to catch her breath.

She sat there in silence, feeling her entire body ache and grow weary after the draining battle. She rested her head against the cold wall behind her, trying to comprehend what had just happened. However, the calm didn't last long.

A shadow moved closer to her through the darkness of the night. Rika opened her eyes weakly and found a man in a black suit standing in front of her. He stared at her with a blank expression, as if he already knew what had transpired. He approached without hesitation, and Rika immediately sensed danger from his cold gaze.

"You're the one who defeated that creature, aren't you?" the man's voice was calm, but there was an undertone of threat within it. He glanced at the black shards still littering the ground before turning his gaze back to Rika.

Rika tried to rise, but her body was too fatigued. She could only watch the man warily, while Greed sounded anxious in her mind. "Rika, be careful. This man is not an ordinary person."

The man in the black suit stepped closer, slipping his hand into his pocket. "You need to come with me. We have many questions about the power you possess... and who the spirit beast inside you really is."

Rika furrowed her brow, trying to process the man's words. But before she could respond, he reached out, attempting to grasp Rika's wrist. Panic surged through her again, prompting her to try to break free despite her exhaustion.

"I won't go with you!" Rika shouted, breathless as she attempted to pull her hand away from his grip. However, the man in the black suit merely sighed, appearing unfazed by Rika's weak resistance.

"Don't make this harder than it needs to be. You're not in a position to refuse," the man said in a cold tone, pulling Rika with a strength that was unmatched. Rika gritted her teeth, trying to suppress the fear that began to invade her mind again.

Greed sounded furious in her head. "Don't let him capture you, Rika! You don't know what he'll do to you!"

Rika felt despair wash over her. Her body was too weary to fight any longer, and she didn't know if Greed's strength could help her in this situation. The man easily pulled her along, as if Rika were nothing more than a rag doll in his hands.

But just before the man could take Rika any further, Greed provided one last energy push, enough for Rika to hold herself back for a moment. She looked at the man with a fierce determination in her eyes, despite her body still feeling weak.

"I... won't give up that easily," Rika murmured with a trembling voice, trying to dig deep for any remaining strength she had. The man raised an eyebrow, appearing slightly surprised by Rika's resistance, but a thin smile crept onto his face, as if he enjoyed the situation.

The battle that had just ended seemed to be only the beginning of a much larger problem. And this time, Rika knew that the enemy before her was not just another eternal—she might be facing a greater and more mysterious threat.

---

To Be Continued..