The monster swung its claw, to which Kael stepped back dodging it. The monster sensed out of the two remaining humans, Kael was far more threatening that Irene so his attention was locked onto him. Kael tried aiming, but the monster was too close for a shot.
One of his arms got grabbed, but Kael headbutted the monster, in an attempt for it to let go from the pain.
The monster simply looks at him pissed, gripping his hand tighter.
"Seriously! What are you!?"
Just when the situation was thought to not get any worse. A new sound emerged from nearby.
"KEHEKEHKEKEKEK!" another similar giggling sound was echoing, this time from behind Kael.
Irene looked behind him, and covered her mouth, in utter shock.
"Another one?"
Another monster with a spider face appeared, this time it was one four legs, and had two giant tusks at the front, preparing to charge to Kael from the back.
"No! Kael run!" Irene's shout was in vain, for the other monster still kept a solid grip on Kael.
The monster in front of Kael raised its claw, also preparing to deliver a lethal strike. Irene watched in horror, never feeling more useless than she had right now.
Even if she summoned a blade for Kael, he could not wield it. Not to mention Kael was never great with melee weapons to begin with.
Her lack of versality and usefulness pained her heart greatly.
"This isn't it! Not the end!" she screamed out of desperation, charging towards the monster gripping Kael.
"Don't bother!" Kael yelled at her, halting her progress before getting hurt.
"Like I said earlier, utter not one word of this to anyone..."
The tusked beast snarled, its patience snapping like a brittle twig. With a guttural roar, it lunged forward, its massive tusk aimed squarely at Kael's back, charging at full speed.
At the same moment, the clawed creature gripping Kael raised its arm high, claws gleaming in the faint light, before bringing them down with blinding speed.
BOOM!
The tusk drove through Kael-or so it seemed. The monster's momentum carried it forward, its weapon impaling the other beast instead. A sickening crunch echoed as the tusk pierced the clawed creature's abdomen, spilling dark, viscous blood.
"Ke...kehe?" The clawed monster gurgled in disbelief, its glowing eyes darting down to the protruding tusk embedded in its stomach.
Confusion twisted on its grotesque face, the realization dawning too late.
Even Irene, who saw it all played out stood there confused and astonished.
"How'd you? Is that magic?"
Kael had stepped away from the attack unscathed. Yes, the grip on Kael's hand was too tighten for him to simply break free from. In a split second, before the tusk pierced his back. The clawed monster lost grip of Kael, while getting pierced itself.
Kael was no longer tangible.
A faint shimmer trailed his movements as he walked away.
The tusked monster wrenched its weapon free, but the damage was done. Dark blood splattered across the ground as the clawed creature stumbled, its strength quickly fading.
Kael was already in motion. He fluidly dropped into his stance, his bow nocked with an arrow in a single, practiced motion.
Irene looked at Kael even more confused, "You know that's not gonna work! Their skins are too tough for arrows."
Kael smirked, shooting the arrow anyway.
The arrow struck true, piercing the tusked monster's skull without making even a trace of a sound.
The arrow smoothly went into the monster's head, without any trouble at all.
It was only one shot, but it killed the tusked monster instantly.
Kael turned, loosing two more arrows in rapid succession.
THUNK. THUNK.
The clawed creature barely had time to stagger before both arrows buried themselves deep into its chest, pinning it in place like a macabre trophy. Its gurgling snarl faded into a chilling silence as its massive body crumpled to the ground.
Irene watched closely but still could not put her finger on what exactly Kael did. "You just bypass their skins like butter, what did you do?"
"You never told us you could use magic."
Kael placed the bow on his back, then replied.
"It's not magic. Have you ever heard of gifts?"
Irene nodded, "No, I haven't"
"It's a power that does not require mana to wield. It's magic ability in a sense, since it's supernatural but it's treated more like how a person could walk or eat or even see."
"And you have one of those gifts?"
"Yes, it's passed down from my mother. And before you start judging, I can't use it at will but when I know my life's at stake, it activates."
Irene became more invested in the story, leaning closer to Kael. "What else?"
"What exactly does your gift do?"
"You saw it just now. I can control when myself or the things I've touched are intangible or not."
"So, when you shot at that monster on four legs, the arrow was intangible?"
Kael confirmed, "Yes, it was untouchable straight to the point it passed through the area where the brain was."
"Because of its intangibility, I could bypass any form of substance and undo it's effect to being normal. By then, it could be devastating as you saw."
"The moment I feel safe, my body reverts back to normal, unable to use the gift until I'm in grave danger again."
Kael then reached out to Irene's left pinky finger, "A promise, I just laid it all out to you. Promise me you won't tell anyone."
Irene gulped, "I promise. I just have one last question for you though"
"Why do you want to keep something so cool a secret?"
"Think about it, if everyone knows of my trump card. It loses its effectiveness for my survival. I know it's selfish but...that's the main reason. I also, rather keep it a secret from the public, there are people I wish to not find out about my gift."
Irene sighed in relief, "You're too good Kael."
"Always the first to spot those silent spiders creeping, always the one supporting Fugo and Renjiro. And now this, you saved our lives."
"What the heck have I been doing this week?" Irene asked herself.
Kael leaned closer, clutching her hands tightly.
"Forget what I said Irene. As long as you're frustrated about your current self, I have faith that you will prove to be an even better supporter."
"Firstly, I suggest you should start crafting weapons that suit Renjiro and I....They don't have to be magic weapons. I am well aware of your restrictions."
"Oh, and be sure to give Fugo a proper knife, okay?"
"Swords are fine, but there is a remarkable difference between fighting a weapon someone is comfortable with and not." he added.
Kael then reminded, "Remember not to tell anyone about my ability. Its effects work best when forgotten."
Irene nodded, wiping the unshed tears from her eyes. The two of them rose to their feet and started scanning their surroundings.
Fugo and Renjiro's unconscious form should have been just ahead, but upon inspection, no body could be found.
"Wait a minute, where are they?" Irene wondered.
Kael sighed, "This isn't funny you two."
Suddenly the two began shouting Fugo and Renjiro's name, panicking to where they could have gone while distracted. The chaos was not over yet.