Kai had more blood at his disposal than he could ever hope to wield effectively. Gallons of it sprayed from the juggernaut's open wounds - deep, vicious slashes from Takeshi's blade, punctures from Sven's daggers, explosions tearing chunks out of its flesh.

But the blood was only as useful as the one commanding it.

And Kai instinctively knew he couldn't use it all. Not yet.

The way the blood responded to him, clung to him, he could feel its weight in his mind. A tether. A strain. Just like looking at a massive boulder and knowing you wouldn't be able to lift it, he understood his limits without needing to test them.

His power was growing fast, but it wasn't bottomless, as much as it felt that it was.

And even if he had infinite endurance, he simply didn't have the pure output to damage such a durable monster significantly.

So, for now, he played a more passive role.

Off to the side, Kai's red eyes tracked every movement - every twitch of its monstrous limbs, every flash of light, every strike. Tendrils of blood curled around his arms, coiling and slithering in the air like serpents waiting for a signal.

But he wasn't idle.

Not for a second, as he fired blood attacks at any opening while observing everything and everyone around him.

Nadya tore through the battlefield like a human rocket, orange explosions bursting from her palms to launch her from rooftop to rubble. Each detonation doubled as a weapon and a boost, sending her hurtling through the air and blasting the monster with fiery force.

Her movements were wild, erratic - fuelled by a mix of rage, grief, and desperation.

Sven blurred across the field in sharp, unpredictable bursts. One moment he was beside Kai, the next he was behind the monster, daggers gleaming as he carved more wounds into its legs. He darted between its steps like a shadow, slipping just out of reach each time the beast tried to crush him.

And then there was Takeshi - silent, blindfolded, deadly.

He didn't move like a man. He glided across the battlefield, katana slicing clean arcs into tendon and muscle. Every slash was calculated. Clean. Precise. His feet barely touched the cracked earth before he vanished again, appearing on the other side in a blur of motion.

Then it happened.

Takeshi's katana carved into the creature's heel, and for the first time... it buckled.

The monster dropped to one knee, snarling in pain.

Nadya didn't waste the chance. She hurled a glowing orb of pure energy into its face. It exploded on impact, snapping the monster's head sideways with a thunderous bang.

Kai clenched his fist. The surrounding blood quivered.

He acted.

A crimson spear shot from beneath the rubble, tearing through the monster's already-wounded ankle. It screamed, a guttural, violent sound that cracked the air, and kicked wildly, nearly toppling backwards.

But it didn't fall.

Instead, it snapped.

The juggernaut exploded with fury.

A pulse of energy erupted from its chest as it roared, its entire body lurching into a frenzy. It thrashed violently, sonic cries bursting from its throat - pure, unfiltered noise that turned the ground into rubble and sent shockwaves through the air.

Kai flinched. His ears rang. Warm blood trickled down his neck.

The monster spun, swung, and stomped.

Mindless destruction. Blind rage. It lashed out at anything that moved.

Nadya, mid-air, barely had time to react before the monster turned on her. One massive foot lifted, ready to crush her mid-dive.

Kai didn't hesitate.

With a flick of his wrist, a tendril of blood lashed out like a whip and wrapped around her waist.

"Got you," he muttered.

He yanked.

Nadya was ripped backwards mid-fall, her breath catching as she tumbled through the air. The monster's foot slammed down where she'd been a heartbeat before, cracking the earth.

No time for thanks.

She gave him a sharp nod and launched herself back into the fray, unleashing another volley of explosive bursts into its shoulder.

Kai's eyes narrowed. He adjusted his grip and called more blood to him.

His control was improving. He could feel it. The reach, the precision, the speed - every second in combat honed it sharper.

But it still wasn't enough.

The others were giving everything they had, but the monster's endurance was obscene. Its hide was thick, its stamina unmatched. Every cut, burn, and rupture was met with more rage.

Meanwhile, Kai wasn't just fighting - he was analysing.

Despite the intense heat of the moment, he couldn't help but be captivated by the mutants he fought alongside.

And if he had to rank them…

'Takeshi, he's definitely A-Rank. An Elite-tier Mutant. No question about it. His movements are flawless. Every strike has weight, intent.'

'But I can see it now. The slight dip in his stance between swings. The way his breath clings too long in his chest...'

'He's burning through energy fast. Whatever ability he's using - it's draining him.'

'But what is his mutant ability?'

'He moves like wind itself. Untouchable. Unpredictable. And that blindfold? Doesn't slow him down one bit.'

'It's like he sees everything without needing eyes. Has to be something to do with the air… wind manipulation? Or maybe he's sensing atmospheric pressure?'

Kai planned to ask about it later on, if they all made it out alive.

'As for Sven? He's probably B-Rank. A High-tier Mutant. Not as powerful, but sharp. Finesse over force. Reflexes like lightning - and those daggers of his always hit weak points. Joints, tendons, pressure spots.'

'He's the slow burn type. Death by a thousand cuts.'

'Then there's Nadya… I'd say she's also B-Rank. But with that explosive power, she's got a different kind of edge. Not as refined as Sven or Takeshi, but she doesn't need to be.'

'That raw output is insane.'

'As her control and mastery over it increases, she could probably be considered an A-Rank.'

The ranking was subjective, and differences in rank didn't always equate to being more or less effective in combat. However, the Association's Classification System was still useful.

And as much as it irked Kai, he was still only C-rank.

'A Mid-tier Mutant.'

But only for now...

He could feel the difference already. His power wasn't stagnant. The blood bent to his will with more clarity. It wasn't just a tool - it was an extension of him now.

He could shape it. Harden it. Control it with ease. Form weapons. Shields. Traps.

And more importantly… he was learning and adapting.

It was only a matter of time.

But putting those thoughts aside for now, another screech suddenly erupted from the monster's throat - a concussive blast of sound.

Kai's knees buckled.

His vision blurred. Blood poured from his ears. Nadya crumpled to one knee. Sven stumbled, barely avoiding a wild swing. Takeshi grimaced and surged forward, his blade cutting through the very air in front of him, splitting a second sonic wave in half.

The monster was relentless.

But it was bleeding.

A lot.

And Kai could feel it all.

He stretched out his hands, and the battlefield responded.

Dozens of tendrils lifted from the pools of blood around them, each one twisting in the air like a living weapon, coiling with deadly intent.

The monster's movements slowed.

Its fury faltered.

Its wounds were catching up to it.

And for the first time since the fight began, something shifted in the air.

Hope.

They could win this...

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