"Shit—!"
In a desperate attempt to dodge the stygian claws, I kicked off the ground just at the last moment. However, the set of claws still found their way to my neck, sharply grazing against its surface.
Drip—! Drip—!
A wet, crimson liquid dripped onto the ground beneath me as I,
Thud!
Collapsed on my butt, breath hitching, as a pair of dark claws snapped shut— just inches from where I'd stood.
The sheer speed of the attack left me rattled, but I forced myself to move.
Crack—!
I rolled left, just in time for the claws to spear through the ground, cracking it like brittle stone.
Scrambling to my feet, I put distance between myself and the creature.
"What a bastard!" I cursed under my breath, heart hammering. "...It almost had me there."
My breath came in sharp, ragged bursts, as I tried to maintain my calm.
Yet, something was off.
A frown tugged at the corner of my lips. Why hadn't the supernatural detector detected this creature?
That certainly didn't leave me with a good impression of the creature before me. Not like I had any "good" impression of any supernatural creature in this cursed land.
But nevertheless, the fact that it could elude my detection was unsettling and unnerving to say the least. However, as my gaze lingered on the creature, a bone-chilling realization soon settled within me.
"No wonder," I muttered under my breath.
The creature. It was a Negéth.
A dark creature known for its "cunning"— an ability to coil beneath corpses while assuming a perfect death-like state— and waiting in ambush for unsuspecting prey.
With its amber-like slits, a stygian, dark-crimson claws, its stygian tail, and most disturbing of them all— a grotesque, misshapen form covered in countless impenetrable scales.
Added to its cunning ability, all that contributed to the hardness, if not the impossibility of detecting these cunning bastards. At least, not until they had made their killing move.
"Just perfect!"
I exhaled sharply. I really need to find a way to get stronger. And very fast at that.
Before the thought could settle within me, the Negéth lunged again, its stygian claws slicing through the air at an absurd speed.
'Shit!'
Only now did I grasp just how dangerous my current situation was.
I had no weapon and I didn't doubt for a second that one wrong move and those claws would shatter my bones like twigs.
Rolling to the left, I narrowly avoided another strike— just as a sharp sting bloomed across my cheeks.
"...!!"
Touching it, my fingers came away slick with warm, red liquid.
The Negéth, however, pressed on with its relentless assault. With each strike, its aggression intensified, frustration seeping into its movements. Yet—
"Hiss…"
I held my ground.
As a result of all this, even if only barely, I was able to put up a decent fight.
'Which was keeping my life!'
I ducked, weaved and rolled, doing everything I could to avoid getting hit.
Crack—!
I distanced myself from the Negéth, eyes scanning the surroundings, desperate for something! Anything that could be used as some sort of weapon.
'Come on... With how crazy this cursed land is, don't tell me I can't find a single durable weapon!'
Cursing under my breath, I side-stepped, two dark-crimson claws stabbing deep into the ground beside me.
I rolled to the left, and pushed off the ground, retreating from the supernatural creature.
"Huh... Huh..."
I gasped for air, my breath coming in short, ragged gasps.
In that moment, I scanned my surroundings, trying to find any sort of weapon.
'Come on!'
And just as I began to lose hope. Just as anger and frustration began to ripple through every fiber of his being.
Click—!
"...."
I saw it.
An Antraizel Tree.
Renowned for its durable property. Its tip was exceptionally strong, even if the body was a little brittle.
But for now, it was all I had got.
...It was more than enough!
Without wasting a second, I bolted toward the Antraizel tree. I leapt into the air just as another pair of claws slammed into the ground I'd stood moments prior.
Thump… Thump…
Scrambling to my feet, heart hammering against my chest, I started running once again.
"Huh... Huh..."
I gasped for breath as my mind raced with a torrent of thoughts.
With my level of strength, I knew trying to cut off a branch of the Antraizel tree was rather impossible. Nevertheless, a faint, dark smile crept up my face.
Since I couldn't do it myself, I would just have to let someone else do the dirty work for me.
So… I waited.
Thump... Thump...
I calmly watched the Negéth speed towards me, its hulking body trembling the ground with every step.
Just then—
It lunged, its stygian claws cleaving down with unstoppable momentum.
At the last second, I pivoted, ducking left. The pair of claws whistled past me, slamming into the Antraizel tree.
BAANG!
The impact shattered the tree's trunk. Three branches snapped clean off, splinters and shards of wood hurtling through the air.
"Perfect!"
However—
Even after piercing through the tree, it still went deeper, cutting it into half as shards and splinters of wood tore through the air at a terrifying pace.
'Not so perfect!'
I screamed internally, a solemn expression creeping up my face.
Although I hadn't expected such a situation, I was still able to react. Barely dodging the numerous shards hurtling towards me.
But just then,
I felt it—
A cold, unnatural wind rose behind me.
A pair of claws radiating a powerful murderous intent flashed through the air from behind, cleaving right towards me.
Ba- thump! Ba- thump!
In that instant, panic along with terror surged through me. However, I managed to calm my rapidly beating heart, just in time to make a light back-flip, as the pair of claws barely scraped past my face.
Thud—!
Landing on the dark floor, I immediately made a short run for a broken branch.
Step—! Step—!
The Negéth seemed to have understood my intent, as it wasted no time in chasing after me.
Thud! Thud!
The ground trembled under the beast's charge. And before I knew what was going on, I felt a powerful force slam onto me with such powerful force, it hurled me into the distance.
Crack!
Pain exploded through my ribs as I crashed across the ground, coughing out a mouthful of blood.
Gritting my teeth, I rolled forward, reaching out—
'Yes!'
My fingers wrapped around the broken branch. The Antraizel spear.
It wasn't much, but now— now, I at least had a fighting chance.
A dark grin spread across my face as I rose to my feet, bones cracking.
The snake-like creature came at me once again, its claws poised to strike.
"Go to hell!"
I swept my spear forward, veins bulging as I met the incoming blow.
BAAAANG!
The impact sent me skidding backward, but I kept my footing.
Just then—
I felt a cold chill run down my spine.
'Behind me!'
My hair suddenly stood on end, dread pooling around my chest like an iron vice.
Notwithstanding, I was able to regain my bearing. Grimacing, I twisted, just in time to see two more claws slicing toward me.
'Too fast!'
I barely managed to raise the spear, bracing myself as the attack struck.
BAANG!
The force rocked my body, pain tearing through my muscles.
In that moment, I coiled my body, trying desperately to disperse the force into my surroundings and the ground beneath me.
And I did succeed, but at the risk of a terrible pain shooting through every fiber of my being.
"Ukh—!"
I groaned, gritting my teeth from the pain, as bloodshot veins traced their way across my sclera.
"Akh—!"
I was hurting all over. Yet I refused to fall. I couldn't afford to...
Making use of the opportunity, I raised my spear and thrusted forward with everything I had.
"AARGH!"
Veins wriggled across my arms as the spear slammed into the creature's scales, the ground beneath it shattered into pieces and fragments.
The force from the strike left the creature in an unbalanced pose.
My eyes flashed. 'Now!'
I leapt into the air, landing behind the Negéth.
Thud—!
A cold glint flashed across my eyes as I thrusted the spear towards its tail- the part of its body where its scales impenetrable trait were at its weakest.
'Take this bastard!'
Crack—! Kaa!
I struck out two times consecutively, and within the blink of an eye, the tail of the Negéth shattered.
"AAAAARGH!"
The snake-like creature let out a loud blood-curdling shriek. One so powerful and deafening, I felt a throbbing feeling tug at the walls of my mind.
"Kgha—!"
I coughed out a mouthful of blood and staggered, and for a second there, almost lost my footing. But I was quick to regain my grip on the ground beneath me.
"Akh—!"
I held myself firmly, and without wasting a breath nor a moment's thought, I was already before the supernatural creature still tumbling in a world of pain.
Upon seeing me, an all-consuming hatred ignited in its pupils as it slashed forward, aiming to cleave me into two. I ducked and took two steps forward, pushing myself off the ground.
I landed atop its massive shell. And for once, twice, perhaps thrice, I was grateful I knew old man Garren.
"Anything that's made up of any sort of exoskeleton, all have a weakness. Usually between the small gap, just at the back of their necks."
A dark grin crept up my face, and with a sharp exhale, I drove the spear down.
'Finally…'
For a second there, time seemed to slow down as the spear pierced through the opening.
The Negéth let out a loud shriek, its nightmarish frame convulsing violently before finally collapsing.
Thud—!
Dust billowed as its lifeless body crashed into the ground.
As it slumped onto the ground, I jumped off its shell, rolling to my feet while panting heavily.
"Hu… hu…"
My chest rose and fell as I stared at the dead carcass before me.
"That was quite a hell of a battle." I muttered, gasping for air. "But on the bright side of it all, I got myself a delicious meal."
A light smile crept up my face and for a second there, I wanted nothing more than to lie down and rest for a while.
But just then,
I heard it.
"...."
A voice.
It whispered:
[You have slain an awakened beast, Negéth.]
[...Your darkness grows stronger.]