The beast lunged first. All its jaws opened wide, snapping shut with a sound like stone breaking. The ground shook as its claws dug deep into the cavern floor, each step smashing the stone. It came at him like a wall of flesh, bone, and chains.
Asher didn't wait. His scythe rose in one smooth arc, cutting through one of its massive arms in a single strike. The limb fell away with a splash of blood, but the beast didn't stop. It shrieked through its many throats and swung the other arms, claws raking through the air toward him.
He shifted back, cloak snapping behind him as he moved. The claws slammed into the stone where he had been, breaking the floor apart and sending shards flying. Before the beast could pull back, Asher darted in close. His scythe carved a deep cut across its chest, the crimson edge glowing brighter as it drank from the wound.
