Silver dodged instantly as the ape ripped a massive slab of earth from the ground as though it were a band-aid before hurling it towards them.

The projectile shattered midair.

Shawn’s telekinetic force crushed it before it could impact. But the distraction didn’t last long enough.

The ape closed the distance again. Its massive fist collided against Shawn’s sword with overwhelming force.

CRACK.

Silver heard the sound clearly and it wasn’t from the blade but bones. He didn’t know whose.

Silver staggered after the impact. The ape pressed forward immediately afterwards with terrifying aggression, every movement carrying raw killing intent.

This was clearly not hunting anymore, it was pure vengeance and the ape couldn’t care less about the injuries.

Silver gritted his teeth before rushing in again from the side. The sword cut across the ape’s exposed ribs and this time, blood spluttered as his blade sliced through flesh.

But the joy didn’t last, the wound was too shallow. Despite that, it was enough to anger the creature further.

Its red eyes snapped towards Silver instantly. He instantly knew it had been a wrong choice. The pressure hit him immediately then the ape moved.

Silver barely raised the sword in time. Impact exploded through his arm as sword and fist met.

The force launched him off his feet completely. Pain tore through his body as he crushed across the plains, tumbling through dirt and shattered stones before finally stopping hard enough to lose his breath entirely.

The sword nearby flew from his hand in the process. His arm felt completely numb and heavy.

The beast started towards him at that moment. Silvers insticts screamed but his body wasn’t reminding itself fast enough. He was left to watch this monstrosity approach while powerless.

Then the ape jerked sideways, invisible forces twisting its upper body off balance.

He knew immediately that Shawn had interfered.

Blood dripped slowly from the corner of his mouth now while his outstretched hand visibly trembled from strain.

"Get up!"

Silver forced himself upright again breathing heavily. The ape roared furiously while fighting against the telekinetic restraint.

Shawn’s voice sounded restrained now.

"I can’t hold it long!"

Silver sprinted forward immediately. He was trying his best not because he believed they could easily win anymore but because if Shawn died, he would be next.

The sword flashed towards the ape’s exposed throat while Shawn restrained its movement. The beast twisted at the last second and the sword cut deep into its shoulder instead.

Blood sprayed everywhere.

The ape roared, a gut-reaching sound then broke free. The telekinetic force shattered apart visibly like invisible glass.

Shawn staggered backward immediately afterward, breathing harder now.

Soul strain.

Silver remembered their earlier conversation. Mind-type abilities consumed enormous soul energy and Shawn had been using telekinesis almost constantly.

The ape noticed it too. Predators recognise weakness instinctively.

It charged to Shawn directly. Silver moved again without thinking. It was an emotional and impulsive move but his training as a soldier kicked in before he could think.

Shawn noticed it immediately.

"Don’t...!"

Too late.

Silver lunged between them while slashing towards the ape’s face. The beast barely acknowledged the attack. Its massive arm struck sideways and Silver’s world exploded.

The impact felt like getting hit by a truck.

His ribs cracked instantly. This time, his sword flew from his grip. The ape grabbed him immediately afterwards.

One massive hand wrapped around his torso before slamming him downward into the earth hard enough to crater the ground beneath him.

Pain exploded. It became everything and he couldn’t even place himself. Silver couldn’t breathe or think.

The beast lifted him again.

Its red eyes stared directly at his face now. It was filled with pure animal hate.

Before it could do anything else Shawn appeared beside it instantly. His sword carved deep across the ape’s forearm.

Blood exploded outwards.

The beast roared and released Silver. He crashed across the plains again, barely conscious now.

His vision blurred and everything hurt. From afar he heard fighting. Steel colliding against bone with explosions accompanying each impact. The ground shook repeatedly but focusing became difficult.

Silver forced himself upwards again anyway. From experience, he knew if he stayed down he would die there. His body would automatically shut down.

The realisation settled into him coldly. This wasn’t Earth. They were in the middle of nowhere. Even with their modules bipping consistently no one would be able to rescue them in time while in the wastelands. There was also no safety net and he didn’t have that protagonist protection quite the opposite actually. He had a third-rate villain aura around him.

A single mistake could erase him.

Silver staggered towards the battle again. Shawn and the ape moved almost too fast to follow.

Telekinetic bursts distorted the air repeatedly while Shawn’s sword strikes carved deep wounds across the beast’s body. Even with that, it was clear that Shawn was losing. Blood covered his clothes now and his breathing was ragged.

The ape looked wounded too but it wasn’t slow enough. Silver was left helplessly watching by the side as he tried to come up with a way to reduce the burden on Shawn without becoming a burden himself.

He couldn’t let him die in vain. He was partially to blame for what was happening and Shawn had been kind enough to help him adapt to this apocalyptic world. He would have probably died or suffered a lot more.

Then, Silver noticed something on the ape’s bone armour. One section near the ape’s chest had cracked partially during the earlier clashes.

An opening. A small one but a real one nonetheless.

Silver grabbed the fallen sword nearby with trembling hands. He knew he only had that one chance that may or may not work.

Shawn blocked another devastating strike before shouting suddenly:

"Silver! Stay back!"

He ignored it.

The ape roared while raising both massive arms towards Shawn, opening its chest fully.

Silver moved.

Every injury screamed immediately and his almost failed him but still, he forced himself forward anyway.

The sword tightened in his grip.

The ape’s attention remained entirely on Shawn making sneaking towards it much easier.

’Here goes nothing’