Broken World - Part I - Awakening of the Beastmaster - #8CCMay24

Capter 10 : A Figth To The Death Part I

On our way we encounter some beasts. Those who have the courage to oppose us are quickly defeated by our duo. However, a beast similar to the one I encountered in the castle comes out of a dark corridor and attacks me. It is much larger and more ferocious. Unfortunately for her, after a few exchanges of blows it gives up and moves away from us. I pick up the beast that still hasn't woken up and I hit the road again.

I make my way through the various tunnels of this vast underground network in search of another beast capable of bringing me back to the human plane. The one I am holding does not seem to want to wake up. I certainly shouldn't have hit it so hard. However, I recognize deep down that I would have hit even harder if I had had more strength.

As I move forward with no real goal in mind, I get lost in my thoughts.

"The torch has helped me a lot since the beginning of this quest but I feel that it is subject to certain restrictions. It cannot deploy very high power and when it attacks it is for a very short time. It seems to be more effective against the darkness but not so effective against the creature below. An ally like this torch can give me a chance to take on Enama and his army. I don't know what he's doing with my family's belongings, but I have to stop him as soon as possible."

Looking back, I realize that I am the last member of my family still alive and that saddens me greatly.

"Dad, mom. If it is Enama who is behind your disappearance, he will pay for it." I declare with conviction.

This place, which is anything but a tourist site, does not leave me the opportunity to lament and prepare my revenge. While I'm lost in my thoughts, a group of beasts appear. Coming to myself, I look at my new assailants carefully.

"Six, I'd say more like a dozen of what look like deformed primates. What strange creatures! "I exclaim when I see them.

What these creatures have in common are these scythe-shaped arms. They looked like praying mantises. Using the learned jerky movement of the torch and a moderate version of the punching force amplification of the fists and feet, I can quickly cover the distance between me and land some serious blows to them. Realizing that they could do nothing, those who were still standing soon fled. At the same time, I hear a voice coming from the direction where my attackers have just fled.

"You have managed to scare away my servants. I should not have underestimated you knowing that you valiantly faced the traveling reptilian tiger of darkness."

''Who is he?'' I ask by getting directly into a fighting position.

''A human finally?'' I wonder. "This bad luck that accompanies me may have just turned. So far almost nothing good has happened to me. Also, meeting a human here wouldn't necessarily be to my advantage. He could well be one of Enama's close guards."

As usual, I get lost in my thoughts. The sudden appearance of this creature a few meters from me takes me out of my thoughts. It almost looks human if I put aside its face which looks like that of an insect.

"So far, you've done well thanks to all the help you've received." Said the creature who did not seem to be in a hurry to fight.

I look at the torch hanging in the air near me and see that its flames are getting weaker and weaker after all these clashes.

"I'm starting to falter too. Not to mention all the unanswered questions that weigh on my mind. Just a few hours ago, I was still attending my parents' funeral. Now, those memories seem so far away. Did my parents really die? I have to question everything I know about Enama. He only lied to me and used me." I tell myself while looking at the new opponent who is much more relaxed than me.

The idea that my parents could still be alive gives me the strength to focus on this new confrontation. I'm about to make the first attack when this beast opens its mouth and talks to me.

"So, what was it like to face the traveling reptilian tiger of darkness?" The creature asks.

"You mean the creepy version of that beast? I ask, pointing to the creature lying on the ground.

"Yes, we call it a traveling reptilian cat or mvass. The few specimens that stop hiding behind other beasts become rather strong as they keep fighting. Plus, this one is a bit special. It was corrupted by the darkness like many other beasts." Says the beast in front of me.

At that moment, I remember this beast that I met in the throne room.

"It too was covered in darkness. Was it the origin?" I wonder.

"I would prefer not to have to deal with all these beasts. I just want to go home." I say hoping to dissuade this beast who certainly also wants to fight me.

"I'm really tired. The torch can heal my wounds but it can't go on indefinitely." I say to myself.

Unfortunately, I was right. Unexpectedly, I see a blade pass in front of me, just inches from my face and not because I saw the attack coming or managed to dodge it, but because the torch has just saved my life.

The torch that saw the surprise attack long before I did, literally exploded. The blast of this explosion pushes me back in time, creating just enough distance to avoid being killed instantly.

"A fight to the death." I say to myself. "One second of inattention and I can get killed."

Since the beginning of this adventure, I have risked my life more than once. I have even thought about giving up several times but, at this moment, the feeling of imminent death that this beast makes me feel is very real. One wrong step and I lose my life.

I take a few steps back and eventually stabilize myself. Once perfectly stable, I feel something warm on my face. I raise my hand and touch my face and then I look at my fingers.

"Blood. It looks like it got me anyway." I say to myself looking at my hand.

I look up and look at the beast that hasn't moved since its last attack. Despite the fact that its face is not human, I can clearly see that it is looking satisfied. Right after, I look down and I see that it is holding in its hands what seem to be blades or rather T-shaped double scythes.

"This beast is extremely fast. I have to stay focused." I say to myself as I observe him carefully.

The beast points its blade at me before speaking once more.

"You have made yourself a great ally... Very few survived this attack." Said the beast who did not seem to repent after this treacherous attack.

"Hmm... Getting my attention in useless conversations is part of your fighting technique.... I wouldn't let myself be fooled anymore." I declare, resolved not to be fooled a second time.

I take a few steps back to create distance between this beast and me. However, without responding to my comment, it lets go of the blade that it was pointing at me. the time to understand its intention, I was lying against the rock wall on the other side of the tunnel. At that moment, I see it catch her blade before it even hits the ground. The beast used no artifice, just speed and moderate strength. A creature capable of deploying such speed by the sheer force of its muscles must have very high resistance and considerable striking force.

"It is obvious that it held back. I don't dare to imagine the strength of its blows if this beast really goes on a rampage." I say to myself. "This creature wants to prove to me that I am far from having the advantage against it. I can still counter its speed with the jerky movements of the torch."

As I try to get up, it grabs its blade and throws it at me. Thanks to the jerky movements learned from the torch, I move and appear right next to his blade which is always in flight. Wanting to take this weapon, I grab its handle but the strength with which this beast has propelled it is too great for me to stop it in mid-flight. However, there is another reason I don't know why I can't stop it.

As I am carried away by the blade, the creature appears and holds the handle of the blade and then asks me a question.

"Do you want that blade? I can give it to you." Said the beast after stopping the movement of the blade that I was unable to stop.

The creature absorbed all the speed, abruptly immobilizing us. Without even waiting for an answer from me, it releases the handle it is holding. At that moment, I finally see the second reason why I was unable to stop this blade.