ELEKTRA (BOOK 1 fanfic)

Chapter 7: Adrenaline Instinct Rush (A.I.R.)

Victor's battle with his father was in ruins, their battle reaching a critical point. The machete had found its mark, plunging into Victor's side and leaving a deep wound. Kraven's savage grin split his face as he twisted the blade. The detective gasped in pain, blood pooling around the wound as the machete jutted out, stained with blood.

"You dare go against everything I have spent my life grooming you for greatness?" Kraven snarled, staring down at his son. "Squandered every chance I gave you, to make you a successor of my legacy, only for you to throw it all away on this futile rebellion, and this is how you repay me?"

"What you wanted was another version of you to take over once you're too old to behead a lion," Victor replied, his voice weak but defiant. "You would harm your flesh and blood?"

"You are no longer my son. And now, you will pay the price. Your head will make a decent trophy for my collection. Have you not been so selfish, your little girlfriend's death would have been quick and painless, but now that you've really pissed me off... I'm gonna finish her nice and slow."

Kraven's eyes burned with fury, his grip on the machete tightening. He saw in his son's defiance a rejection, and it stung him deeply. The disappointment and anger were etched across his face as he prepared to strike again. When Kraven raised his machete, poised to strike the final blow against Victor, Elektra stepped between him and Victor.

Her eyes glowed with a soft blue hue, and she felt a newfound strength surging through her. To Victor's amazement, the Twin Sai lifted into the air and flew to Elektra's hand as if guided by her will. And she felt an inexplicable connection to it as she faced Kraven with renewed vigour and resolve hardened into steel.

Fuelled by her dwindling life force, Elektra tapped into a hidden reservoir of power within her, an extraordinary ability that was said to amplify her physical and mental faculties to their peak, granting her strength to defy the odds.

A skill only known as Adrenaline Instinct Rush.

"You're right," Elektra said, her voice calm and steady. "I'm not worthy of your strength. I have my own."

Kraven roared in fury and attacked, but Elektra met him blow for blow. In an instant, her senses sharpened, her reflexes quickened, and her strength magnified. With a swift motion, Elektra commanded her Twin Sai with telekinetic precision, deflecting Kraven's machete with remarkable speed and agility. The air crackled with energy as the two formidable adversaries engaged in a battle of wills and strength. From the look of the fight, Victor fell under the impression that his partner fought with grace and power that seemed almost supernatural.

The room became a blur of swift movements and clashing weapons. Every strike, every parry, was executed with flawless technique and unwavering determination. Elektra anticipated his every move, countering with a ferocity that left Kraven reeling as he struggled to maintain his composure. The tides had turned, and he was now at the mercy of the very woman he had underestimated. His attacks became increasingly frantic as Elektra unleashed her fury upon him, leaving no room for hesitation.

Summoning every ounce of her willpower with a final, powerful swing, Elektra disarmed Kraven, his machete clattering to the ground. She knocked him to his knees, the point of her Twin Sai at his throat.

"Well... played, Elektra," Kraven said, his voice filled with a grudging respect. "You are... as cunning as I have heard. Here is the antidote... as I promised."

With those words, he reached into his pocket and produced a small vial containing the antidote for the poison that threatened Elektra's life. Without hesitation, she accepted it and drank the contents, feeling its healing effects coursing through her body. She turned her attention to Victor, who was slumped against the wall, wounded but conscious. Rushing to his side, Elektra tore strips from her outfit to staunch the bleeding.

"Stay with me, Creed," she urged, her voice filled with concern. "You're gonna be okay. I had Captain Stacy make a call to the precinct back at the hospital."

Victor managed a weak smile.

"This hurts like a bitch," he joked as he steadied his breathing.

♌

The sound of sirens filled the air, and moments later, police officers swarmed the zoo. With Kraven subdued and defeated, Elektra seized the final opportunity to extract information, desperate to uncover the truth behind her parents' murder. She locked eyes with the hunter.

"Who put you up to this?" Elektra demanded, her voice unwavering.

Kraven, his body weakened and his spirit broken, looked at Elektra with a mix of resignation and defiance. He knew that his time as the hunter had come to an end, and the thrill of the hunt was no longer enough to shield him from the consequences.

"I did what I did for the challenge of it," Kraven sneered. "That is all I will say."

Elektra's brows furrowed in frustration, knowing that Kraven was withholding vital information regarding the person responsible for the death of her parents. She realised that his loyalty to the hunt and the whole situation ran deep, and he was willing to protect the identity of those involved.

But before Kraven could be taken into custody, he whispered a name to Elektra, his voice barely audible amidst the chaos.

"Hammerhead," he uttered, his eyes meeting hers. "There's another name involved in your parents' murder."

Elektra watched as Kraven was taken away, her mind reeling with the new information. She turned back to Victor, who was being loaded into an ambulance. She climbed in beside him, holding his hand as they sped towards the hospital.

♌