"Woah!!"

     Oliver yelped as he felt his quivering feet lose balance. The once-solid dirt pillar he had conjured began to splinter with cracks propagating through its form like fractures in glass. The structure finally succumbed to the forces acting upon it, crumbling into a heap of scattered earth.

     From a disorienting height, Oliver plummets headlong towards the ground. Gravity seizes him as a rush of wind buffets his face. A quick, piercing gasp escapes his lips as he falls through the clouds.

     The monster on the ground lists its brawny head in the sky, glaring at the falling man. It then opens its broad jaw, exposing its hundreds of sharp, glinting teeth. Its mouth gapes as wide as a carriage, ready to catch the Remaining Podeshire with its slithering tongue.

"Aaargh!"

     Sophia's courage blazed in her emerald eyes as she fearlessly charged at the beast. With her sword held in a horizontal position, she sprinted towards the creature with her eyes locked on her target. As Sophia closed in on her opponent, she leapt from the ground and slashed through the monster's throat.

     The monster's thick veins yielded, spewing a forceful gush of violet blood across Sophia's green dress. As Sophia met the concrete path in the lawn, she felt a cold wave of ripples hastening down her spine. She huffed and wiped her sweat off.

     Despite having its throat slit, the monster only lashes out an ear-piercing roar. The damage isn't enough to kill the creature, although it is beginning to shake its head and wail in pain. It then opens its jaws and launches towards Sophia. Suddenly, a silver blade drops from the sky like a guillotine, slicing through its neck and beheading it as its head flies across the yard.

     Sophia's body trembled as she watched blood splatter across the green yard. As her mind began to settle, a faint scream pierced the air, barely audible. With each passing moment, the agonized cry grew louder. Sophia's gaze snapped upward, and her eyes widened as she gasped loudly.

     It is Oliver, falling from the sky. With a swift motion, he lashes out his shoulder and extends his palm towards the ground. Oliver harnesses his command over the elements and summons a voluminous pillar made of water. As the liquid pole materializes beneath him, defying gravity, Oliver lands safely, and the water's undulating embrace cradles him.

     As the watery pole fell to the forces of nature, the moment of defiance against physics ended. With a resounding splash, a jaw-dropping wave erupted from the point of impact. In a fraction of a second, the once-solid pillar of water shattered into droplets and showered the ground.

     The fragile plants and meticulously crafted gardens stood no chance against the sheer might of the water's assault as the wave erupted. The droplets flew across the air, destroying the shrubs and bushes in the yard. Some drops arced through the air before landing on Sophia and washing off the bloodstains from her face.

"You alright!?" Oliver stood up and hurried towards Sophia, extending his hands towards her.

"...I'm alright," Sophia replied, her eyes locked on the decapitated beast. She then glanced at Oliver. "...You?"

"...There is yet another lurking within the mansion!" Oliver whispered as he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Sophia.

"What...!?" Sophia shook her head, gasping in disbelief.

     Suddenly, a ferocious growl echoes inside the mansion. It catches both Oliver's and Sophia's attention. As their eyes widen, Oliver and Sophia face their heads towards the mansion's entrance.

     Oliver and Sophia feel like dropping to the floor as their hearts pump rapidly. The pair stare at the wrecked doorway, their gazes fixed on the darkened abyss that lay beyond. Without illumination from within, eerie and foreboding darkness envelops the interior, casting shadows that stir fear in their hearts.

     Slowly, Oliver and Sophia pace towards the mansion. Oliver lifts his arms at shoulder level and summons two fireballs above his palms. Meanwhile, Sophia, advancing slower than Oliver, raises her sword.

     Oliver and Sophia march towards the mansion with cautious and deliberate steps. Anticipating an incoming attack, they prepare themselves, sharpening their eyes. Taking gradual, faint paces, they tiptoe towards the havocked porch.

     Ascending the wooden steps of the porch, Oliver and Sophia approach cautiously. Each footstep resonates with a haunting creak as the planks groan. As they reach the summit of the porch, standing before the wrecked entrance, an unsettling growl echoes inside the mansion.

     Knowing he must halt, Oliver ceases, firmly planting his feet on the ground. He extends his left arm to the side, making himself a barrier between Sophia and the path ahead and blocking her from venturing further. Oliver then hears murmurs behind him. Glancing over his shoulders, he spots numerous men and women gathering on the street, watching through the gateway as they close the tall iron gate.

     After a slight pause, Oliver and Sophia nodded at each other. Then, they resumed walking in caution towards the wrecked entrance. Suddenly, two glowing violet dots appeared inside the vague interior, charging towards them. As it stepped out, outdoor light revealed the creature.

     Oliver and Sophia hurriedly jumped to their sides as the monster hastened between them. Sophia dropped to the left side while Oliver fell the other way. The two groaned as they watched the creature run past them.

     The monster may have noticed that it went between the two humans. However, it didn't cease to turn back and kill them. It's because, as it sprints towards the gate, its eyes lock on the crowds on the street instead.

     The crowds scream in fear and terror upon realizing the monster is hurrying towards them. Everyone scatters around the street. Women and children wail as men shout. Stampede occurs as people begin to run over each other.

     Meanwhile, the creature growls as it leaps from the ground. Its massive paws then grab onto the metallic gate. Then, it begins climbing above the gateway.