Now.
Ethan disengaged from the Panther with a backward leap that seemed to indicate retreat. The generals, not privy to his strategy, pressed their advantage against the momentarily confused beast.
In that instant of manufactured chaos, Ethan reversed direction, Enhanced Speed carrying him directly toward the evolving monster.
The creature, caught in mid-transformation, sensed his approach too late. Its newfound power remained unmastered, reactions still calibrating to his new power.
Ethan's daggers struck the beast's hide with precision.
Silver energy flashed where steel met mutating flesh. The blow drove deep, blood fountaining from what should have been a fatal wound.
But the timing was off by milliseconds.
The hyena-beast twisted at the last possible instant, survival instinct overriding its vulnerable transformation state. Instead of severing its spine, Ethan's blades carved through muscle and sinew, missing the critical point by mere centimeters.
