The two monsters stood still.

  The layer rippled slowly beneath them.

  Kaelion kept his sword raised.

  The Second Order pulsed within him.

  The smaller creature moved half a step forward,

  as if it were about to attack again.

  But something changed.

  The larger creature was no longer looking at Kaelion.

  It was looking at the smaller one.

  A moment passed.

  The smaller creature seemed to realize.

  Too late.

  The larger creature moved.

  Not against Kaelion.

  Against its own ally.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Dark mass engulfed the smaller creature.

  Its structure twisted violently.

  No scream.

  Only distortion.

  The larger one held it.

  And devoured it.

  Not flesh.

  Not bone.

  Essence.

  The layer trembled violently.

  Kaelion stepped back.

  The fusion was not clean.

  It was brutal.

  The smaller creature tried to resist.

  But in the abyss…

  The stronger rules.

  The smaller one was absorbed.

  Forms began to deform.

  Two structures overlapping.

  One head.

  Then two.

  The body expanded.

  Denser.

  Faster.

  Heavier.

  The presence became crushing.

  The new creature opened two sets of eyes.

  Now larger than before.

  And unstable.

  Kaelion felt it.

  This was different.

  Not addition.

  Multiplication.

  The creature moved.

  Faster than the smaller one.

  Stronger than the larger one.

  The first strike came without warning.

  Kaelion tried to block—

  Too late.

  He was launched across the layer.

  The creature was already above him.

  Second strike.

  His essence fractured.

  Third.

  He barely raised the sword.

  The Second Order worked.

  But the gap had become enormous.

  He tried to stand.

  The creature appeared behind him.

  A strike to his side.

  He rolled.

  Stood up again.

  Breathing heavily.

  The creature no longer smiled.

  Now there was something else.

  Absolute predation.

  It advanced again.

  Kaelion tried to follow.

  Failed.

  He was smashed against the layer.

  Deep fractures opened around him.

  His essence began to oscillate dangerously.

  If this continues…

  He will be erased.

  The Second Order vibrated.

  But he had not yet reached the new level.

  The creature rose above him.

  Both heads tilted.

  Watching.

  Calculating.

  Preparing the final blow.

  And for the first time…

  Kaelion felt real fear.