I kicked off the ground, twirling my spear in a rapid, rotating parry.
BAANG! BAANG!
The relentless blows rattled my arms, my hands trembling under the force. Most were deflected, but two slipped through my crossed arm— slamming straight into my chest.
"Kgha—!"
A sharp pain erupted within me as I spat out a mouthful of blood, my body hurtling through the air.
Careening across the floor, each impact sent a jarring pain through me.
Nevertheless, I gritted my teeth and dug the spear into the ground— finally coming to a stop.
"Kgha—!"
I spat another mouthful of blood, my knees buckling.
In that instant, I felt it—
A tremor in the ground.
For a second there, I froze. The creature was moving!
My grip on the Antraizel spear tightened, vision blurring as the crimson-armoured beast hurtled towards me.
'Focus Dean! Focus!'
I bit on my lower lips, forcing myself into a concentrated state.
But by then, the creature was already before me. Backed by its inhuman momentum, it smashed into me, launching me backward in a violent arc.
Crack—! Kaa!
I struck the ground hard, skidding and rolling, each impact jarring my senses.
"Ukh—!"
Blood trickled down my lips as I staggered to my feet.
Thump... Thump...
My chest rose and fell in an uneven rhythm, gaze locked onto the monstrosity before me.
"Hu… hu…"
I knew time wasn't on my side. And I had to end this battle as fast as possible. Yet—
A grim expression darkened my features.
With the inhuman strength of this ant-like creature, I doubted I stood a chance against it, not to talk of defeating it. And at that—As fast as humanly possible.
"Ugh—!"
I groaned, anger and frustration bubbling up within me.
But the creature could care less about my thoughts. It was relentless in its attacks, its limbs a blur as I struggled to parry its strikes.
BOOM!
A collision rocked the space, pushing us in opposite directions.
I thought to make use of the moment to catch my breath. But before I could even do so—
Crack—!
It lunged towards me once again.
"Curses!"
With a groan, I charged towards it, shards of stones hurtling into the space behind me.
Arriving before it, I swung the Antraizel spear into a vertical arc. In its lethal arc, the spear's tip pierced through the creature's arm. A violent tremor wracked its grotesque form, and for the first time since the battle began—
I saw something.
"..."
Hesitation. It flickered within its hollow eyes.
In that moment, a dark smirk curled at my lips. I needn't be told to know what I had to do.
Hence... I didn't stop. I continued with my relentless assault and gave it no breathing space. I couldn't afford to…
My eyes sharp as a predator's, caught the flaw in its nightmarish form.
Its limbs were too bulky for its body. Arms too enormous.
Hence...
'Any powerful strike sent to its leg would deal to it— the most significant damage.'
I chased after the retreating supernatural creature and like a seasoned warrior, I ducked and weaved through its punches.
As I lunged the spear forward, a calculated grin spread across my face.
'Wait for it...'
After lunging forth and feinting high, the creature's breath suddenly hitched, and the spear's trajectory shifted mid-air. Spiraling downwards, the spear plunged into its jointed legs, snapping bones and carapace with a sickening crunch.
"AARGH—!"
A deafening blood-curdling shriek rocked the entire space- rattling my skull and dulling my senses.
For a second there, I lost my footing.
But—
"Huff... Ah..."
I was quick to regain my bearing.
Side-stepping right after, I rolled clear of its flailing strikes. Its movements now fueled by desperation.
Distancing myself from the supernatural creature. I focused my gaze on it, studying every visible part of its body.
And there—
I saw it!
Just what I was looking for!
With one of its legs now broken, its movements were nothing short of erratic. And for a second there, it staggered, its balance now shattered.
Of course, I perfectly caught the moment. How wouldn't I? It was such a perfect opportunity!
With a dark smile and a burst of speed, I slid across the ground, avoiding a strike of the creature, before pushing myself off the ground.
Thud—!
Landing on its thick crimson carapace, I grinned for a second before driving the spear down with every ounce of strength I could muster.
Puchi!
A final, guttural growl marked its end as the spear finally tore through its impenetrable carapace.
For a second there—As the creature crashed onto the ground, time seemed to come to a stop as a soothing relief washed over me.
The relief that I didn't end up dead!
And at that moment, I wanted nothing more than to rest and lie down... If only for a few seconds. But I knew time was ticking, and the longer I stood here, the lesser time I had to make it to the nearest dune structure.
"Ugh—!"
Groaning in annoyance, my chest rose and fell, heart pounding in an uneven rhythm.
I staggered to my feet, supporting myself with the spear before walking towards the dead carcass.
Staring at it, I felt a mixture of emotions.
From happiness to joy. Joy to—
'Euphoria.'
Yet, the most apparent of them all would be the tinge of jubilation swelling within me.
"So much for thinking it could win."
Almost with a mocking look, I added, "In the end... It was nothing more than the ant it was."
And then, as though I had just said the funniest thing.
A jagged laugh slipped past my lips. Then another. And another.
Before long, it grew into a loud, unsettling laugh.
In the suffocating silence, I laughed to no one but myself. The facade I had worn to mask the slipping away of my sanity.
______________________
A minute later, I regained my calm.
"Hu... Hu..."
Breathing heavily, my gaze was drawn to the "heavenly" fruit- the crimson fruit glistening ahead. Its allure— strangely hypnotic and mesmerizing.
And for a second there, I could swear it looked no different from fresh blood.
'Paranoia Dean. Paranoia.'
I told myself. Even if somewhere within me— I knew that wasn't the case.
Shaking my head, I walked towards the self-infliction fruit.
Step. Step.
Arriving before it, I removed the fruits I could find. As many as possible.
And hid every single one of them.
Humans or not... I still had to hide the fruits. I couldn't afford getting into a desperate situation.
Nodding —mostly to myself— I gave the plant one final glance.
Due to my battle with the god-damned creature, I only had three hours at most to make it to the hill. Else—
Step!
I could say goodbye to staying away from the cold, inhuman grasp of death.
Thinking about dying. Again.
I felt a cold chill run down my spine.
Gritting my teeth, I made way to leave. But just as I turned, unnatural movements caught my eyes.
From the depths of the darkness—
"...."
Three silhouettes emerged. Their steps growing sharper with each step.
My breath hitched, my heart pounding as I considered the thought of taking to my heels.
Yet no matter what I did, I-I couldn't move.
"Hu… hu…"
As though an invisible force was crushing against my chest, immobilizing me, I could do nothing but watch them creep closer.
Just then,
"..."
I heard it.
The spell. It resounded in my mind.
[You have slain an awakened aemon, Antrím]
[...Your darkness grows stronger.]