The Breacher charged with heavy, deliberate swings, each blow aimed to overwhelm through sheer force rather than precision. Its massive forearms came down in wide arcs, designed to crush anything in their path. There was no finesse in the creature's movements, no technique—just raw, devastating power backed by tremendous strength.

Jelo activated Skilled Guard, his skin hardening as the first impact landed. Even with the defensive ability active, the force was incredible. The blow connected with his shoulder, and despite the hardened skin absorbing most of the damage, the sheer momentum still drove him back several feet. His boots scraped against the metal floor as he struggled to maintain his footing, his muscles straining against the pressure.

He answered immediately with Dragon Claw, not giving the Breacher time to press its advantage. A quick swipe of his hand sent the energy projection cutting across the Breacher's advance, slicing into its thick gray skin. The attack opened a gash along the creature's chest, dark blood welling up and dripping down its torso. The strike slowed the Breacher's momentum but didn't stop it. The creature barely seemed to register the pain, its tiny beady eyes still locked onto Jelo with unwavering focus.

The Breacher pressed forward relentlessly, absorbing the damage like it meant nothing. It struck again, its massive fist swinging in from the side. Jelo braced himself, Skilled Guard still active, and took the hit. The impact rattled through his entire body, jarring his bones and making his teeth clench. He was forced to burn through his defensive energy reserves just to stay standing, and he could feel the ability starting to strain under the repeated punishment.

Skilled Guard began to falter under the repeated hits. The hardened skin started to crack and flicker, the protective layer weakening with each successive blow. Jelo's body couldn't maintain the defense indefinitely, and the Breacher seemed to sense this, increasing the frequency and intensity of its attacks.

Jelo used Wing Burst to slip past a grab, the Breacher's thick fingers closing on empty air as Jelo propelled himself backward and to the side in a blur of motion. He reappeared behind the Breacher, his body moving on pure instinct, and thrust another Dragon Claw into its back. The energy projection punched through the creature's skin, driving deep into muscle and scraping against bone. The Breacher let out a low, pained grunt and stumbled forward.

But the delay and effort left Jelo breathing hard. His chest heaved as he sucked in air, his lungs burning from the exertion. His energy reserves were draining faster than he'd anticipated, and his body was starting to feel the cumulative effects of the fight. His arms felt heavy. His legs trembled slightly. Sweat dripped down his face, stinging his eyes.

The Breacher adapted faster than Jelo expected. The creature turned with a brutal counter that caught Jelo mid-motion, just as he was recovering from the Wing Burst. The Breacher's forearm swung around in a wide backhand that connected solidly with Jelo's torso. The blow was devastating. Jelo was lifted off his feet and sent flying backward, his body crashing into a stack of equipment with a loud, metallic clang.

Metal instruments, glass containers, and pieces of machinery scattered across the floor. Jelo hit the ground hard, pain exploding through his back and ribs. He barely managed to push himself up to his knees, gasping for air. His vision swam for a moment, dark spots dancing at the edges of his sight.

His guard flickered and failed completely. Skilled Guard deactivated, the defensive energy finally exhausted. Jelo felt exposed, vulnerable, and he knew he couldn't take another hit like that. Not without going down for good.

Desperation set in, sharp and immediate. His mind raced through his options, searching for anything that could give him an edge. He couldn't overpower the Breacher in a straight fight. He couldn't outlast it. He had to be smarter. He had to think.

Jelo feinted a retreat, stumbling backward as if he was too hurt to continue fighting. He let his legs shake more than they actually were, let his breathing sound more ragged and desperate than it needed to be. He made himself look defeated, broken, on the verge of collapse.

The Breacher took the bait. The creature charged forward with renewed aggression, convinced that victory was within reach. Its massive frame barreled toward Jelo, forearms raised to deliver the finishing blow. It overcommitted completely, putting all its weight and momentum into the attack.

At the last second, Jelo used Wing Burst despite the strain it would put on his already depleted energy reserves. His body blurred into motion, moving faster than the eye could follow. He appeared inches away from the Breacher's exposed side, so close he could smell the creature's foul breath and see the individual cracks in its mottled gray skin.

Jelo focused everything he had into Dragon Claw, channeling every last bit of fire energy he could muster. He extended the energy projection farther than he'd ever done before, pushing past his limits. The claw grew longer, sharper, more solid, glowing with intense heat. He drove it forward with all his remaining strength, aiming for the gap between the Breacher's ribs where the skin was thinnest.

The strike tore through the Breacher's defenses like they weren't even there. The energy projection punched through skin, muscle, and bone, driving deep into the creature's chest cavity. Jelo felt the resistance give way as the attack reached vital organs. The Breacher's eyes widened in shock, its mouth opening in a silent scream.

The creature staggered, its legs buckling. It took one faltering step forward, then another, before finally collapsing to its knees. Dark blood poured from the massive wound in its chest, pooling on the floor beneath it. The Breacher swayed for a moment longer, then toppled forward and crashed to the ground with a thunderous impact that shook the entire bunker.

It didn't move again.

A system notification appeared in Jelo's vision, the translucent panel materializing with a soft chime.

**[Opponent Defeated: +40 XP]**

Jelo moved back, panting heavily. His entire body screamed in protest. Every muscle ached. Every breath hurt. He glanced at his health bar, and what he saw made his stomach drop.

His health was now at 30 out of 100. Very, very low.

His energy was getting depleted rapidly as well. The repeated use of Dragon Claw and Wing Burst had drained his fire energy reserves to critical levels. He could feel the emptiness inside him, the lack of power that usually flowed through his veins. He was running on fumes.

But he still had one more monster to fight. The Bonewarden. And after that, he still had the scientist to deal with. The thought was almost overwhelming.

The Bonewarden, seeing that it was the only monster remaining, suddenly let out a huge roar that reverberated through the entire room. The sound was deafening, shaking the walls and rattling the equipment. Dust fell from the ceiling. Glass containers vibrated on their shelves.

Then the creature's body began to change.

Jelo watched in horror as the bony structures covering the Bonewarden started to protrude outward, extending into sharp spikes that jutted from its torso, shoulders, and limbs. The transformation was rapid and violent. The creature's body, which had been covered by relatively flat bony armor plates, was now bristling with dozens of spiked projections, each one jagged and lethal-looking.

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