PRESENT TIME....
AS he went back to sleep he laid down on his bed today he wanted to go back and fight the beast again. HE slowly closed his eyes and immersed himself in the imaginary world.
SAME as always he was laying in the bush with the beast sleeping in front of him Vayu scanned the beast from its tail to head, he froze. His dagger was still buried deep in its eyelid, the flesh torn and swollen around the hilt. But when his eyes shifted lower, his breath caught the long gash he had carved into its stomach last time was gone. Not even a scar remained.
It healed… already? What fast regeneration ability.
The realization sent a chill down his spine. He had returned from death, but the beast… it had just recovered from the injuries. Then he started to look around the broken branches, the tree he had climbed last time , the blood-stained soil where he had died every time remained. The world was the same after the fight but he came back alive every time he died that made him confused, but before he could think anymore the beast snarled aware of his presence.
He got startled, the beast got up moving his had in irritation probably from the pain in his eye.
Vayu steadied his breath, watching the beast could not open his right eye he darted right, circling fast to use the blind side as a advantage against it. The beast circled his head frantically searching for him but Vayu had already rubbed his body in mud to mask his scent, watching the beast confused he rushed towards the beast and lunged at it aiming for its ribs this time happy with his judgement but the beast twisted at the last instant. His blade slammed into the dagger already stuck in its eyelid. With a tearing sound, the eyelid ripped away completely, and the dagger fell down.
The beast reeled back, yelping in pain.
Then it lifted its head.
The relief that flickered on its face was worse than fury. Then its lips curled into a grin, revealing jagged fangs glistening in the moonlight. Now it opened both of his red eyes, the beast had played him from start he had been dancing in his palms from the start "scary" he thought.
This wasn't a mindless beast, It was a predator.
Vayu's chest tightened, but he didn't retreat. Not anymore, he had trained, endured, survived he will not back down without a fight.
The beast crouched low, preparing to strike. Vayu mirrored it.
Two predators eye to eye, Vayu had come to some realizations First he cant run from it , second he cant fight it head on , third sharp weapons are somewhat useless, so as this was his imaginary world he had bought his iron cuffs and had attached them with iron chains like nunchakus they were hanging on both of his side where he usually kept his daggers .
The night held its breath, as both lunged forward.
Vayu knew the beast would reach him first. In a heartbeat, he took one step forward, taking out a pair of iron cuffs linked by chain. Twisting his body in a full circle, he swung with every ounce of momentum he could gather with full speed.
BAM!
The cuffs smashed into the beast's face. If it had been human, its skull would have shattered dying instantly, but this beast was inhuman, the beast staggered its first two three steps felling wobbly, before shaking its head with a guttural snarl. Its skin was ripped from its left temple, but it still stood tall, almost unfazed.
Vayu's eyes widened full of shock "holy molly what kind of sturdiness is this" he said out loud.
The beast threw back its head and howled for the first time. The sound split the air .
The beast charged again, Vayu prepared himself for a second strike gaining the same momentum, swinging the cuffs once more time with full force but the beast halted, the beast knew he would do the same attack. Vayu's strike cut only air. Off-balance, Vayu stumbled as he regained his balance the beast slammed into him with full force.
His body flew like a cannon ball, smashing against the ground, the cuffs fell from his grip as he body slowed down and he grabbed a tree trunk and got up again instantly.
Gasping, bleeding, half-dazed, he staggered to his feet but didn't ran this time, he started climbing, his fingers dug into bark, pulling himself up the tree higher and higher without caring about his skin getting ripped . His chest heaved, blood dripping down the trunk. For a moment he envied the beast, its durability, its raw power. "and how fragile I am in comparison" he thought.
The beast only watched, its face turning into a smirk , letting him climb it circled the tree slowly enjoying the last efforts of its prey ,playing with him then without warning it backed up several paces and sprinted its body coiling for a leap.
At the last instant, Vayu jumped down with his second pair of cuffs, swinging as the beast rose midair. The iron smashed into its skull. The impact threw it off course and it rammed head first into the tree, bark splitting with a crack.
Vayu didn't waste a second. He lunged, mounting its back, chain wrapping tight around its throat. He pulled with all his strength, iron biting into flesh. For a moment, confusion flickered in the eyes of the beast then its survival instinct kicked in it roared then sprinted again Vayu kept his hold firm.
It slammed itself against the tree again. Pain exploded through Vayu's ribs as he fall down and hurled to the ground.
"You dumb beast" he shouted.
When he blinked, the beast was already towering over him.
He knew It's over.
But still… he wanted to make it feel the same pain he was feeling or something the can be used as his advantage for next time.
But the beast slammed him into the tree again, his vision spun. But Vayu held onto his last bit of consciousness, his dagger hidden in his grip. When it lowered its head, trying to bite his thigh, he snapped awake and thrust—
he missed again, he hit its eyelid again "how thick are those eyelids" he thought.
The beast's patience snapped.
With a thunderous roar, it struck his skull. Everything spun. Vayu fell down, unable to move. Then the cruelty began.
It didn't kill him. It skinned him, claws after claws, tearing his skin, shredding flesh, Vayu cried from pain, every moment felt like eternity, minutes felt like hours but no on was there to help him or hear his screams, his screams swallowed by the night ,unanswered.
As blood pooled beneath him, he forced out a ragged whisper, lips curling into a broken smile:
"It will be you… next time…" he died.
And as always woke up again.