The beast didn't slow down.
It charged.
THUMP—THUMP—THUMP—!!
Each step shook the ground beneath Eli's feet, sending small vibrations up through his legs.
"…It's not hesitating…"
Eli narrowed his eyes.
"…Good…"
He tightened his grip on the sword.
"…Then neither will I."
The distance between them closed fast.
Too fast.
"…Timing…!"
The beast raised its massive claw—
SWIPE—!!!
Eli moved—
STEP—!
But this time—
He didn't retreat fully.
"…Not backing off…"
The claw grazed past him—
WHOOSH—!
Wind pressure hitting his face—
"…Now—!"
He stepped in—
Close.
Dangerously close.
SLASH—!!
His blade struck the same leg—
The injured one—
ROOOARRR—!!!
The beast roared in pain—
Its body staggering slightly—
"…That's it…"
"…That's the spot…"
But the beast didn't fall.
Didn't slow enough.
Its tail whipped around—
WHIP—!!!
"…!"
Eli's eyes widened—
Too fast.
THUD—!!!
The impact slammed into his side—
"…AGH—!"
He was thrown—
Rolling across the ground—
THUD—THUD—THUD—!
"…Tch…!"
Eli gritted his teeth as he pushed himself up—
Breathing heavier now.
More uneven.
"…That one hurt…"
His side throbbed.
His arm trembled slightly.
"…Can't take too many of those…"
The beast turned again—
Already coming back—
"…No break…"
"…No pause…"
It charged again—
Eli steadied himself.
"…Focus…"
The ground shook—
Closer—
"…If I keep hitting the same spot…"
He lowered his stance.
"…I can bring it down…"
The beast lunged—
THUMP—!!!
Eli moved—
STEP—!
But this time—
He didn't dodge wide.
He slipped inside—
"…Too close for you…"
SLASH—!!!
Another hit to the same leg—
ROOOARRR—!!!
The beast staggered harder this time—
"…Yes—!"
But—
Its other claw came down—
SMASH—!!!
"…!"
Eli barely rolled out—
THUD—!
The ground where he stood—
Cracked.
"…That would've crushed me…"
He got back to his feet—
Breathing heavier now.
Sweat forming.
"…This thing…"
"…Isn't going down easy…"
The beast limped slightly now.
But its eyes—
Still locked on him.
Still aggressive.
"…Even injured…"
"…It's not slowing enough…"
Eli exhaled slowly.
"…Then I'll force it…"
The beast charged again—
Eli stepped forward.
"…Come on…"
Closer—
"…Closer…"
At the last second—
Eli dropped low—
STEP—!
Sliding under again—
"…This is it—!"
SLASH—!!!
A deeper strike this time—
ROOOOARRRR—!!!
The beast stumbled—
Its leg buckling—
"…Now!"
Eli didn't stop.
He turned—
STEP—!
And swung again—
SLASH—!!!
Same spot.
The leg gave out.
THUD—!!!
The beast collapsed to one side—
"…Got you…!"
But even then—
It swung wildly—
SWIPE—!!!
"…!"
Eli jumped back—
STEP—!
Barely avoiding it—
"…Still fighting…"
The beast struggled—
Trying to stand—
"…Not letting it…"
Eli moved in—
Fast—
"…End it…"
He raised his sword—
The beast roared—
Desperate—
ROOOARRR—!!!
It lunged again—
Even from the ground—
"…Now—!"
Eli stepped in—
CLANG—!!!
He deflected the strike—
Then—
SLASH—!!!!
A clean strike—
Across its neck—
Silence.
The beast froze.
Then—
Collapsed.
THUD—!!!
Everything went still.
Eli stood there.
Breathing heavily.
"…That…"
"…Wasn't easy…"
He lowered his sword slowly.
"…Strong…"
"…Fast…"
"…Durable…"
He looked down at it.
"…Way stronger than the others…"
He exhaled.
"…If I ran into that earlier…"
He didn't finish the sentence.
He didn't need to.
He turned slightly—
Looking deeper into the forest.
"…There's more…"
He tightened his grip again.
"…Good…"
Not fear.
Not hesitation.
Only resolve.
"…I need this…"
He started walking again.
CRUNCH…
CRUNCH…
His body hurt.
His breathing heavier.
But he didn't stop.
"…Keep going…"
Minutes passed.
The forest grew quieter again.
"…Too quiet…"
Eli slowed.
"…Something's wrong…"
Then—
SKREEE—!!
"…!"
From the left—
Another creature—
But—
Not one.
Two.
"…Two…?"
They circled him.
Faster than before.
Smaller than the big beast—
But quicker.
"…Great…"
One lunged—
WHOOSH—!
Eli blocked—
CLANG—!
The second came from behind—
"…!"
He turned—
STEP—!
Barely dodging—
"…They're working together…"
One attacked high—
The other low—
"…Tch—!"
Eli jumped back—
STEP—!
"…This is bad…"
They didn't stop.
Again—
WHOOSH—!
"…Too fast—!"
Eli blocked one—
CLANG—!
But the second—
SLASH—!
"…!"
A shallow cut across his arm—
"…Damn—!"
He stepped back—
Breathing heavier.
"…Can't focus on one…"
"…Have to track both…"
They circled again.
Eli's eyes moved constantly—
"…Left…"
"…Right…"
"…Don't lose either…"
One lunged—
Eli stepped in—
"…Got you—!"
SLASH—!!
It screeched—
But—
The second attacked—
"…!"
Eli twisted—
CLANG—!
Barely blocking—
"…Too close…"
He pushed forward—
STEP—!
Separating them slightly—
"…Split them…"
One came again—
WHOOSH—!
Eli sidestepped—
"…Now—!"
SLASH—!!!
A clean hit—
The creature dropped.
"…One down…"
He turned—
The second already coming—
"…Not giving me time…"
It lunged—
Eli stepped in—
CLANG—!
Then—
SLASH—!!!
Another clean strike—
Silence.
Both down.
Eli stood there.
Breathing hard now.
"…Two at once…"
"…That's different…"
He wiped a bit of blood from his arm.
"…Can't get careless…"
He looked around.
The forest—
Still watching.
"…I'm not done…"
He took a step forward.
Then another.