I see Prax locked in hand-to-hand combat with a Ninasarvik. Right beside him, a man with pale hair tied in a long braid wields a double-bladed weapon, facing off against two of the reptilian beasts in a hypnotic, almost dance-like rhythm.
Prax moves with terrifying speed and precision, disarming his opponent and disabling him. He uses his claws, now fully extended and dripping with thick black blood.
But more Ninasarvik suddenly burst from their ship, charging in to support their comrades. Ares help us, we’re hopelessly outnumbered!
A brunette woman who bears a slight resemblance to me shoots one of General Nivek’s men. Her weapon—a different model from Prax’s—blows a chunk of the man’s skull clean off. I have no doubt she’s the famous Ileana I’ve heard so much about.
But a Penubian who witnessed the shot turns on her, fury etched across his face. I raise my own pistoblaster and pull the trigger.
“Nice shot!”praises Wingo, who must still be nearby, watching the fight unfold.
And somehow—miraculously—I hit my target. The Penubian drops like a rock.
I see Nikos, who just missed a shot at another reptilian, moving in for a second attempt. But the creature kicks the weapon out of his hands and lunges at him, fangs bared. He sinks his teeth into Nikos’s neck, and my neighbor collapses, convulsing and moaning in agony.
Prax told me the Penubians inject a powerful venom through their bites. But what can I do? I have no medical supplies, no antivenom—not even a clue what’s in it.
From the corner of my eye, I catch sight of Wingo, belly skimming the ground as he barrels toward the Penubian who’s about to bite my brother. Kiran, pinned beneath the creature’s body, can’t stop the deadly jaws. But now, with one arm finally free, I watch him drive a screwdriver straight into the monster’s eye, killing it instantly.
There are too many enemies, and far too few of us.
Viktor is wrestling a Ninasarvik with his bare hands. My stomach turns as I see the creaturetear his head off.
Rage boiling inside me, I steady myself and fire at the remaining Penubians.
When only Bully is left standing, his eyes lock on mine. A cruel grin twists his face. I aim and shoot—but miss. His smile widens.
He lunges and pins me down before I can fire again.
“You’re going to die screaming,” he snarls, baring his fangs. Poison glistens at their tips.
“Hey, Kaa!” a voice snaps. “Don’t you ever get tired of attacking defenseless women? Enough is enough!”
Ileana. She’s standing a few yards away, weapon in hand.
“You!!” he snarls when he sees her.
If his glare toward me was full of fury, the one he gives her is pure, unfiltered hatred—the kind born of long-standing vengeance.
“Yeah, me,” she says coolly.
Without another word, she raises her weapon and shoots. Bully collapses on top of me, spewing a foul greenish blood from a gaping hole in his chest.
“Sorry!” she says as she rushes over to help me push his disgusting body off.
“Thank you,” I gasp in return.
“My Human is strong!”Wingo crows proudly.
In the clearing, now littered with bodies, not a single Penubian is left standing. The fight between Pherebos and Prax—each of them battling two enemies at once—is brutal and endless. A fifth one slams into Kiran, sending him flying into the side of the Penubian building. He doesn’t get back up.
I rush to him, while Ileana steps in to face the attacker.
From inside Bully’s ship, the prisoners have figured out something is happening. Their cries for help rise up, adding to the chaotic noise all around us.
I kneel beside my brother and check his pulse. It’s a little weak, but nothing alarming. I lift one of his eyelids to check his pupil reaction. His pupils contract naturally in response to the light—thank goodness.
“Kiran!” I call, touching his shoulder. “Kiran!”
