Auren was wrecked—blood streaming from head wounds, dripping down his pale face. His body screamed, yet his eyes burned wild. Mid-air, above the temple of Mother Snake, he gasped for breath, and behind him the catastrophe shot upward like a beast unchained.
Pain tightened his chest, but Auren roared back, forcing his body to move. He whipped around, foot smashing into the monster's chest. BOOM! The sound echoed like a mountain breaking. The figure reeled, twisting midair, but returned instantly—jaws wide, claws ready to tear him in half.
Auren tilted, grabbed its waist, spun like a storm, and hurled the creature into the snow ridge. Spphhhhhh! Ice cracked, the beast buried deep. Auren, falling, raised his sword, voice tearing his throat—"Tremor Hunt!"
