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

Chapter 12 : A Gift

Its statement, which is quite surprising, takes me by surprise. However, as usual, it does not deprive herself of any freedom and tramples on all my actions and my determination.

"In its weakened state, it is unpredictable and does not have much willpower. It needs a host to develop and reach its full potential." Adds the beast.

"It means that now the torch is somewhere deep inside me recovering." I say to myself. I concentrate and I feel something different inside me. A presence. A gentle and reassuring presence like a companion that I have always had by my side. "I have only just met it, but I feel like I have always had it by my side. All the more reason to get out of here alive. I don't know what will happen to it if I die here."

"I think all these explanations deserve a reward. Let me have a little more fun." Says the beast for whom this fight to the death turns out to be nothing more than a distraction. "Masters like you, we rarely see them here... If you can distract me, I can even help you get out of this plane."

Instinctively, I take a step back after the beast's declaration. Without the help of the torch, I would have died by now. Moreover, I have no desire to live through this unbearable pain once again. However, I have no say. I can only submit to the will of this creature who is stronger than me. The strongest always has the last word. At that moment, I hated being weak, I hated not knowing anything about my lineage and the world I live in, but the damage was done. The only thing I could do was give my best to survive.

"It's not like I have a say." I respond by taking the trouble to show my displeasure.

"To be fair, I'm going to lend you this one." Says the beast who throws the blade it holds in his right hand towards me.

Knowing his cunning nature, I leap back and avoid the blade. The blade is planted on the ground. The beast who doesn't expect this reaction from me is irritated.

"If you don't take it immediately, I'll behead you on the spot." Said the beast pointing his other blade at me.

For the first time since the beginning of this fight, it releases an oppressive aura that sends shivers down my spine. This aura that rushes through the tunnel is charged with a bloodlust even more terrifying than the one emanating from the beast of darkness. Realizing that I have no other way out, I move hesitantly towards the blade. I reach out my right hand and grab the handle of the blade. Unlike previously, this time, the blade is very light. I raise it above my head and I cut through the air with a sudden and violent movement. I feel the strength rising in me. It is only then that I start to think that it may not be another ruse but a real opportunity.

Without taking my eyes off the beast, I point my blade at it, ready to start the next round.

Without giving the slightest signal to start, the beast throws its blade towards me and I block with the one I am holding. It appears in front of me holding its blade and pushes violently which makes me back away. Still in the air, I throw my blade at the creature and imagine myself holding the handle of the blade. Immediately, I find myself holding the blade I had just thrown. The beast who knows how these blades work better than I do, easily dodges my attack and counterattacks. I block his attack and I am pushed to the side by the weight of its blade. I manage to stabilize myself and repel its attack, thus throwing him off balance. It flaps its wing and stabilizes itself then flaps its two wings and propels itself violently towards me. At that moment, I throw my blade towards the ceiling and I am drawn towards it. The beast misses its shot and crosses the corridor at full speed. Driven by the momentum of the blade, I turn around in the air and land on the ceiling of the cave. I calculate the position of the beast at the moment I hit the ground and I propel myself towards the beast. As I am about to hit the beast, it closes its forewings which form a shell on its back and receives the impact of the blow. The violent shock repelled the beast. The beast, which has a lot of experience, plants its blade on the ground and then slides for a few meters and finally stabilizes. It glances behind it and realizes that I am getting dangerously close. In an effort to push me away, it opens its wings and flaps them explosively, pushing everything behind it. I jump and cross the blast generated by its flapping wings just in time to avoid getting hit. I turn in the air and land in front of the beast. I violently pull the blade towards me hoping to decapitate it with a blow but the beast raises its blade slightly and deflects my blow. However, the curved ends of the two scythes hook onto each other. I pull violently and tear the blade from the animal's hands. Having missed my shot, I take a few steps back to analyze the situation before starting again.

The beast raises its head and looks at me with satisfaction. It puts away its wings and closes its shell.

"They really suit you. You can also take the other one." Said the beast.

I hesitate for a moment before picking up the blade lying on the ground. After a few moments, I make up my mind. I open my left hand and the blade moves towards my hand. I expect it to weigh as much as the first time I tried to pick it up, but to my surprise, it turns out to be as light as the one I'm holding in my right hand.

Like its fellow creatures that I had beaten just before, the beast transforms its hands into and attacks me directly. Its blows are precise and heavy, but I manage to parry them thanks to its blades, which are much more useful than the beast said. I can freely change the weight, maximizing it at the moment of impact and reducing it when I move.

After a few exchanges, the beast takes a few steps back and transforms its hands, which now look like scythes, into hands.

"I had a lot of fun. I have to go. Your transport awaits you a little further away... I'll leave the scythes to you." Says the creature who does exactly what it wants.

Finishing his sentence, the creature immediately vanishes.

"What just happened? A fight to the death? A training session? A distraction? I even received gifts. This place is definitely weird." I say while picking up the beast which is still unconscious.

I sink even deeper into this underground network that looks more and more infinite. After a few minutes of walking, I see a glow in the distance. Having lost my only source of light, the bioluminescent plants and crystals that populate these caves are my only source of light. As I walk, a bright light that appears in the distance quickly catches my attention. I rush towards the light and find myself in a large, well-lit underground chamber.

Unlike all the naturally formed chambers I've been through so far, this one look like it was handmade. It is possible to see engravings on the walls of the room. It is difficult to discern their contents because of the vegetation that covers most of the walls. The architecture and vegetation of this large room make me think back to the place in which I woke up. However, if the former could be described as peaceful, this one looks sinister. The statues there represent ferocious, misshapen beasts in dark colors covered with thorny plants.

"There is nothing warm or welcoming about this place." I say to myself as I pass a panoramic look.

While I am still inspecting the premises, I hear a voice calling out to me.

"You obviously didn't follow my advice. you're still on this plane. Says a voice lurking in the darkness.

I have only heard this voice a few times and it does not bode well. It is accompanied by the appearance of this creature that I meet for the third time since the beginning of this adventure. However, this time it no longer wears its cloak of darkness. It is finally possible for me to see this scaly skin covered with spikes giving it a ferocious look. I look at the creature I am holding in my hand and I look at the one in front of me. This huge scaled feline does indeed have some resemblance to this little beast.