For weeks, I fought everything that moved.
Abyss Hounds. Lizards. Jaguars. Bears.
But this one... this one was different.
The ground shook before I even saw it.
Trees snapped like twigs. Birds fled into the dark sky.
And then it appeared — the almost same beast that nearly killed me before.
---
[Abyssal Ape – Elite Variant]
Level: 55
Type: Beast / King-Class
---
My body froze for a moment.
I remembered that face — the same monster that threw me off the cliff.
Even now, it looked like it remembered me too. Its glowing eyes locked on me with a mix of rage and hunger.
I tightened my grip on the bone sword, every part of me trembling.
> "Not again… I won't die here."
I activated every skill I had left.
[Flash Step – B Rank]
[ Crimson Blade – A Rank]
[ Mana Reinforce – C Rank]
[ Barrier of Barrack - ARank]
I dashed forward, vanishing from its sight. My blade struck its arm, cutting through the thick fur — blood splattered, but it wasn't deep enough.
The Ape roared, swinging its massive fist.
I blocked with the bone sword — crack! — the blade shattered in half. The force threw me back into a boulder, pain exploding in my chest.
"Damn it!" I coughed blood, forcing myself to stand.
The Ape pounded its chest. The air itself seemed to shake — then dark energy gathered around its arms.
[Skill: Abyss Smash]
"Shit—!"
I leapt aside just as the ground where I stood exploded. Rocks flew like arrows, slicing my arm open.
My mana was draining fast.
Every muscle burned.
I could barely breathe.
I used Flash Step again, appearing behind it, slashing with what was left of my blade — but it turned, catching me midair.
Its hand crushed around my ribs.
I screamed.
Then it threw me like a rag doll. I rolled through the dirt, the world spinning.
The Ape stomped toward me slowly, knowing I was done.
For a moment, I thought — this is it.
But my body moved again, not from will… from survival.
I jammed the broken bone blade into the ground, forced myself up. Blood dripped from my chin.
> "I can't… lose again…"
I swung one last time — a desperate strike — hitting its leg.
The Ape howled in fury and slammed its hand down.
Boom!
The world went black.
---
When I opened my eyes, I was lying near a riverbank, body broken, armor shattered.
The Ape was gone. Only deep footprints and crushed trees remained.
I survived… but I lost again.