The yeti's roar tore through the storm, a deep, guttural sound that seemed to vibrate in Kael's bones. The creature stood tall, its massive frame towering over him, its fur matted with ice and snow. Its glowing eyes burned like twin embers in the blizzard, locked onto Kael with predatory focus. Claws as long as daggers flexed, ready to rend him apart.
Kael's breath came in sharp, visible puffs as he backed away, his mechanical arm the Engine - pulsing with a faint, erratic light. The storm swirled around them, snowflakes hissing as they whipped through the air.
"You couldn't have warned me about this sooner?" Kael snapped, his voice tight with panic.
"I did warn you," the Engine replied, its cold, mechanical tone cutting through the chaos. "You chose to ignore me."
"I was a little busy trying not to freeze to death!" Kael shot back, his eyes never leaving the yeti.
The yeti lunged, its massive form moving faster than something that size had any right to. Kael barely had time to react. He dove to the side, the crunch of snow beneath him muffled by the yeti's thunderous footsteps. The creature's claws tore through the air with a sharp whoosh, missing Kael by inches. The ground shook as the yeti landed, its roar of frustration echoing across the frozen wasteland.
"GROOOOAAARRR."
Kael scrambled to his feet, his heart pounding. "Okay, new plan. How do I kill this thing?"
"You don't," the Engine replied. "You survive. Let me handle the rest."
"Oh, great. Because you've been so helpful so far," Kael muttered, his sarcasm barely masking his fear.
The yeti turned, its glowing eyes narrowing as it spotted Kael again. It charged, its massive feet pounding against the snow, sending tremors through the ground. Kael clenched his mechanical fist, the Engine's light flaring brighter.
"Fine. Do your thing," he said through gritted teeth.
"Focus," the Engine commanded. "Feel the connection. Let my power flow through you."
Kael closed his eyes for a split second, focusing on the cold, metallic thread that linked him to the Engine.
Tzzt Tzzt.
It was like tapping into a river of energy, raw and untamed. He grabbed onto it, and the world seemed to slow.
The yeti's claws came down in a sweeping arc, but Kael raised his mechanical arm. A surge of energy erupted from the Engine with a low hum, and the yeti's attack froze mid-air, its momentum halted as if caught in an invisible grip. Kael's eyes widened as he realized what was happening - the Engine was absorbing the kinetic energy of the yeti's strike.
"Now," the Engine said. "Release it."
Kael didn't hesitate. He focused on the stored energy, feeling it surge through his arm, and with a roar of his own, he unleashed it.
BOOOOM!
The yeti was thrown backward, its massive body crashing into the snow with a thunderous impact.
For a moment, there was silence. Kael stood there, his chest heaving, the Engine's light dimming slightly. He felt a deep, gnawing emptiness in his chest, as if a part of him had been drained away.
"What the hell was that?" he muttered, staring at his mechanical hand.
"A fraction of my power," the Engine replied. "But every use comes at a cost. Your life force fuels me."
"Great," Kael said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "So I'm just a battery to you?"
"A partner," the Engine corrected. "If you learn to control me, we can survive this."
The yeti stirred, its growl rumbling through the ground like distant thunder. Kael's eyes snapped to the creature as it pushed itself to its feet, its glowing eyes filled with rage.
"It's not dead," Kael said, his voice tense.
"It will take more than one strike to defeat a creature of this size," the Engine replied. "Prepare yourself."
The yeti charged again, this time more cautiously. Kael gritted his teeth, his mind racing. He couldn't keep relying on the Engine's power it was draining him too quickly. He needed a plan.
As the yeti closed in, Kael darted to the side, his boots crunching against the icy ground. The yeti's claws missed him by inches, tearing through the snow with a sharp hiss. Kael rolled to his feet, his eyes scanning the area for anything he could use to his advantage.
"Any bright ideas?" he asked, his voice strained.
"Use the environment," the Engine replied. "The ice formations are unstable. Lure it toward them."
Kael glanced at the jagged ice formations nearby, their surfaces glistening in the dim light. It was a risky move, but he didn't have many options.
"Fine," he muttered. "But if this gets me killed, I'm taking you with me."
The yeti roared again, its massive form turning toward him. Kael raised his mechanical arm, the Engine's light flaring to life with a low, resonant hum.
He focused on the yeti, channeling the Engine's power once more. A burst of kinetic energy shot from his hand, striking the yeti in the chest and forcing it back a few steps.
"Over here, you overgrown snowball!" Kael shouted, his voice taunting.
The yeti snarled, its eyes narrowing as it charged again. Kael turned and ran, his boots slipping on the icy ground as he headed toward the ice formations. The yeti followed, its massive feet pounding against the snow with a rhythmic thud.
Kael reached the base of the ice formation and turned, his back pressed against the cold surface. The yeti was almost upon him, its claws raised, ready to strike.
"Now," the Engine said.
Tzzt Tzzzt.
Kael slammed his mechanical fist into the ice, the Engine's power surging through him with a crackling hum. The ice cracked and splintered, the force of the impact reverberating through the formation with a deep, groaning creak. The yeti hesitated, its eyes widening as the ice began to collapse.
Kael dove to the side as the ice formation came crashing down, burying the yeti beneath tons of frozen debris.
The ground shook, and a cloud of snow erupted into the air with a muffled boom, obscuring everything in a white haze.
Kael lay on the ground, his chest heaving, the Engine's light flickering weakly. He felt drained, his limbs heavy, his mind foggy.
"You did well," the Engine said, its voice softer now. "But you must learn to conserve your energy. Every use of my power weakens you."
"No kidding," Kael muttered, pushing himself to his feet. He glanced at the pile of ice and snow where the yeti lay buried. "Is it dead?"
"Unlikely. But it will take time for it to free itself. We should move."
Kael nodded, his eyes scanning the horizon. The storm was beginning to ease, the snow falling more lightly now. In the distance, he could see the faint outline of mountains, their peaks shrouded in mist.
"Where are we going?" he asked, his voice weary.
"North," the Engine replied. "There are answers there. And more dangers."
Kael sighed, his breath visible in the cold air. "Of course there are."
He took a step forward, his boots crunching against the snow. The Engine's light pulsed faintly, casting an eerie glow on the ground ahead. Kael didn't know what awaited him in the north, but one thing was certain he couldn't go back.
As he walked, the yeti's roar echoed behind him, a reminder that the dangers of this frozen wasteland were far from over.
"Don't look back, keep moving forward." Said the engine.