Fratley took a deep breath, his hand clenched on the spear, pulling it backward, preparing to stab once more.
Right now his strategy is simple, keep attacking while dodging, with enough wounds and time, the alpha will fall down because of blood loss. Of course, even if it's simple, executing it is another matter.
It's a huge gamble, he will need to hold longer than this alpha monster. Thankfully, it's already spent a lot of its energy as it fought.
The makeshift spear pierced through the air, stabbing another wound at the alpha's white fur, creating another patch of crimson. Fratley pulled it back, then prepared to jump to the side and roll. He knew better than to try the third stab.
As he expected, the alpha roared, "Hraaahhnk!" then moved its feet sideways to knock Fratley out.
Based on the timing, Fratley should have dodged the attack, but unfortunately, his body was not cooperating. His insides throbbed with sharp pain, forcing him to freeze momentarily.
BAM!
He was knocked out, thrown three meters away, rolling on the ground.
"Hraaahhnk!" The alpha moved its other hoof, now already on top of Fratley, preparing to squish him to death.
"Not yet!" Fratley threw the makeshift spear in his hand. It flew through the air, stabbing the creature in the neck.
It didn't stab deep, but enough to make it flinch, giving Fratley the time to dodge out of the way.
BAM!
The ground he had just lain on cracked like a spiderweb as the hoof dropped to the ground. Fratley looked at the creature, his breath ragged, his vision blurry.
There's nothing he wanted more now than to close his eyes and rest, but he knew better, doing that would mean he'd rest on the creature's stomach forever, becoming its dinner. 'Come on, there's gotta be something more I can do…'
He began to run, grasping a sharp rock from the surface of the road and throwing it toward the Alpha, hoping to hit its eyes. But the Alpha merely tilted its head a bit, dodging the attack. Its eyes were filled with contempt as it leaped forward, its tail sweeping toward Fratley.
Thankfully, he had already rolled away from the attack. Despite the creature being faster than Fratley, catching him wasn't easy. Fratley used their size difference to his advantage, just like a human trying to crush an ant, it wasn't as easy as it looked.
The High Mage, watching from the side, smiled at the scene. "What do you both think? Will he survive, or die?" she asked the two bodyguards standing behind her.
"He's doomed for sure. He seems to have some Hussar gene, but compared to us real Hussar warriors, he's nothing," one of the guards replied, his tone filled with pride.
"Really? What about you?" she asked the second.
"I feel the same, High Mage. But I'm sure you have your own reason for letting him challenge the Alpha."
The first Hussar sneered at that answer. 'What reason? High Mage Seraphina is famous for her cruelty. She probably just wants some entertainment.' But he didn't say it out loud, he had no desire to see that cruelty directed at him.
Despite being bodyguards, the High Mage was still far stronger than either of them. The only reason they accompanied her was to help if she found herself needing time to cast a complex spell. In that case, they would buy her that time.
Seraphina glanced at the other mages still struggling to fight the herd. Her expression turned sour. "You know, mages have existed long before the Arkon Empire was even founded.
Back then, the Psychalite drug didn't exist. So tell me, Dax, how do you think people awakened back then?"
"I don't know, High Mage. I've never heard of it. But probably a rush of adrenaline and survival instinct," Dax replied.
"Come on, Dax, you still believe that? The Empire already established adrenaline only gives a small boost in strength.
Even survival instinct can't perform the impossible. They probably found some device from an ancient ruin. You know how strong that lost tech is."
Dax didn't respond. He had no desire to debate with his coworker in front of a client. Still, he didn't change his stance, after all, he had experienced it himself, though he kept it hidden as his trump card.
"That's true…" Seraphina replied, sipping her tea.
'But that only applies to those without talent. I can clearly see it, that boy has the potential to be a mage. I wonder if he's the one who joined the Wild Card?'
Meanwhile, back on the field, Fratley's movements became more agile. Despite his body worsening, his focus sharpened to a razor's edge. In his world now, there was only him and the Alpha.
Every motion the Alpha made was instantly registered in his brain, allowing him to dodge before the beast even committed. It was almost like he was possessed.
He grabbed another sharp stone, like flint, using it as a makeshift weapon.
SLASH! STAB!!! BAM!
Each strike left a new patch of crimson blooming on the Alpha's white fur. Even the ground beneath their feet was already painted red.
If the Alpha could talk, it'd probably snort and say, "Stop dodging and die already, you fleshy cockroach!"
But Fratley kept moving with precision, not a single misstep for the Alpha to exploit.
"Hraaahhnk!" The Alpha's horns began to glow again.
Fratley's face turned grim. He couldn't survive another terror scream. If that roar hit, he was done. Thankfully, as the Alpha prepared to unleash it, the beast stood still giving him an opening.
Fratley leapt forward, using a nearby tree branch to spring toward the Alpha's head. But then, the Alpha's eyes gleamed with sneer. The glow vanished from its horns.
It was a trap.
Fratley realized it too late, he was mid-air and couldn't change direction. The Alpha reared back, then swung its head, horns cleaving through the air, aimed straight at him.