Chapter 6

Larkin executed a swift twist of his body, channeling all his strength into a powerful punch aimed at The Fiend. However, The Fiend's heightened senses allowed him to anticipate the attack, and he smoothly evaded by lowering his body. The punch whizzed past his head with incredible speed, reminiscent of a bullet in flight.

In a seamless response, The Fiend launched a counterattack, his serrated claws ascending sharply with the intent to carve into Larkin's chest. But as his claws made contact, an unexpected resistance greeted him. Instead of drawing blood, the claws merely scraped against what felt like metal.

Seizing the advantage, Larkin swiftly swung his foot in a powerful arc, aiming a kick directly at The Fiend's head. With a triumphant shout, Larkin taunted, "Didn't see that coming, did ya!?" The Fiend attempted to raise his arm to block the incoming kick, but time was against him. Unable to fully evade or defend, The Fiend was caught by the brunt of Larkin's kick, propelling him forcefully upward. The impact sent him crashing into the ceiling with a resounding thud.

Undeterred, Larkin continued his assault. Crouching low, he gathered his strength and propelled himself upward with explosive force, hurtling toward The Fiend like a projectile. His arm coiled back, muscles taut, Larkin delivered a forceful punch aimed squarely at The Fiend's armored chest. The Fiend, still reeling from the previous strike and disoriented by the sudden turn of events, was caught off-guard. He couldn't muster a proper defense or evade in time.

The impact of Larkin's punch reverberated through the room as his fist collided with The Fiend's armored chest. The armored plating absorbed some of the force, but the sheer power of the blow still sent tremors through The Fiend's body. Despite his seemingly impervious armor, The Fiend felt the impact penetrate, the force threatening to disrupt his equilibrium.

With The Fiend temporarily off-balance, Larkin seized the opportunity. He reached out, his hand wrapping around The Fiend's featureless mask. In a display of strength, he slammed The Fiend's helmeted head into the ground with a forceful thud. The clash of metal against the floor echoed through the room, and a hairline fracture appeared on The Fiend's mask from the impact.

Larkin's confidence held steadfast as he confronted his formidable opponent, his words laced with a mix of bravado and fatigue. "Do ya still wanna continue?" he huffed, his outward demeanor resolute. Internally, *How is this guy's armor so damn tough?* he mused with frustration, his earlier assault barely leaving a dent.

With a deep breath, Larkin drew upon his reserves of mana, channeling them into another powerful punch aimed at The Fiend's head. However, his blow was met with an unexpected show of strength from his adversary. The Fiend's swift reaction saw him catch Larkin's fist with his right hand, and The Fiend's other hand reached for Larkin's second hand, prying it away with apparent ease.

The contest of strength left Larkin grappling to maintain his stance. He could feel the strain in his muscles as he pushed against The Fiend's resistance. The sheer strength of The Fiend was evident as Larkin found himself trapped, immobilized by the armored foe.

Larkin's unyielding spirit fueled his actions as he gave his all, a resolute shout echoing his firm commitment. "It ain't gonna be that easy!" he roared, his efforts straining every fiber of his being. Drawing from his dwindling well of mana, he granted a brief surge to his body, a temporary boost.

With newfound strength, Larkin seized the opportunity. He pulled his head back, then thrust it forward in a powerful headbutt aimed squarely at The Fiend. The unexpected maneuver caught his adversary off-guard, causing his grip to falter. Larkin's headbutt landed true, sending shockwaves through their clash.

The Fiend's hold on Larkin loosened, and he stumbled back, freeing Larkin from his grip. Breathing heavily, Larkin took a moment to regain his balance, his chest heaving with each labored breath. *I'm completely spent,* Larkin realized with a pang of concern. The intense struggle, combined with the earlier battle with Amara, had drained him of his magical reserves.

Despite the fatigue and the waning of his strength, Larkin stood firm, his gaze unyielding upon The Fiend. The atmosphere crackled with tension, a silent standoff between the two.

Closing the distance with unsettling swiftness, The Fiend's movement prompted Larkin's urgent command, "NOW!" A sharp, metallic clang resonated through the air, drawing The Fiend's attention to the unexpected threat. A searing sensation pierced his armor from behind, prompting an instinctive reaction. He lashed out with a back kick, aiming to repel the assailant.

However, his attack struck nothing but empty space. Zee's agile form evaded The Fiend's retaliatory strike with a nimble grace, utilizing The Fiend's own shoulder as a springboard, Zee launched herself out of harm's way.

In a stunning display of precision and audacity, she directed her momentum toward the fracture in The Fiend's mask. Swift and focused, she aimed her strike with precision. Her blade found its mark, piercing the fracture of The Fiend's mask.

With The Fiend temporarily thrown off balance by Zee's daring strike, he instinctively retreated from Larkin. Zee promptly positioned herself as a protective barrier between Larkin and their adversary, her daggers poised for action. Larkin expressed his astonishment, his voice tinged with a mix of relief and incredulity. "Goddess damn, I nearly died!" Taking cover behind Zee, he subtly urged Tores to do the same.

However, to everyone's bewilderment, The Fiend exhibited an unexpected behavior. He remained still, his previous aggression seemingly quelled. His gaze was locked onto Zee, an intensity emanating from behind his mask. A tense silence hung in the air, the sudden shift in the confrontation leaving both Zee and the others on edge.

Amid the charged atmosphere, a voice rang out from the front door, instantly recognizable to all present. "Officer Tores, are you there!?" The urgent exclamation came from none other than Malvin, accompanied by a contingent of guards who streamed into the room. Each guard was armed and ready for combat, with Malvin himself sporting his electric gauntlets.

In response to the influx of armed reinforcements, The Fiend shifted back into his combat stance, prepared to face this new threat. However, the tension was broken once more as another voice resounded, this time echoing familiarity and relief. "Zee! Larkin! Are you okay?" Xain's voice reverberated through the room, his entrance capturing a snapshot of the chaotic scene unfolding.

The Fiend, seemingly ready for another round of combat, sprang into action with astonishing speed. He crashed through a wall, shattering it in his escape, leaving everyone present momentarily stunned and unable to react in time.*That's interesting,* Ercale's voice resonated in Xain's thoughts, but he pushed aside the remark, focusing on the immediate situation. He hurried over to Zee and Larkin, genuine relief etched across his features.

"Thank goddess, I'm so glad you two are okay!" Xain's voice carried a genuine sense of relief as he addressed them. Larkin's response was laced with his usual gruffness, as he shot Xain a sharp look and retorted, "Do I look fine to you, you damn brat!" his words reflecting his battered state. Meanwhile, Zee's response was wordless but poignant as she enveloped them both in a hug.

Meanwhile, Malvin approached Tores, his stance expectant as he requested, "Tell me everything that happened."