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

Chapter 13 : From One Battle To Another

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.

"What could have transformed it to this point?" I wonder as I look at this ferocious beast that weighs several hundred kilograms.

"You have lost your light... But I see that you have met an old acquaintance... '' Says the beast which is approaching very slowly.

''You have lost your darkness and...'' I say before I realize that this is not the time for chatting.

The next moment, I feel a cold that I know all too well. The beast disappears as usual. However, unlike our last meeting, I no longer have the capacity of the torch. It is therefore impossible for me to use the same combat strategy. However, these two blades that my previous opponent gave me greatly increase my abilities. In fact, I no longer feel the distress I felt when we first met to the point of trying to run away, let alone the despair I felt during my last fight.

I grab the blade by the handle as it points to the ground. I throw my blade into the air by spinning it on itself. As it returns to an upright position with the blade pointing towards the ground, I use the blade's ability to pull me towards it and appear above the blade, stopping its movement with my foot. The inertia of the blade gives the impression that I am floating in the air, placed on the pommel of the blade. At the same time, the beast reappears in the air below where I was when it disappeared. It looks for me but can't find me. Not giving it a chance to reposition itself, I raise my foot and violently stomp on the blade which tears through the air in the direction of the beast. The beast sees me just in time and with a flick of its paw it deflects the trajectory of the blade, which pushes it back to the other side of the underground chamber. I throw the second blade in the direction where the beast is going to land and use the ability of the blade that plants itself on the ground to pull my body towards it. Immediately, I set off to sandwich the beast. The beast, noticing the imminent shock that could cause it real injuries, disappears again. To avoid any ambush, I slice through the air with my blade and release it. I activate the blade's ability again, pulling me toward it. I grab the blade and stop. The second blade, which no longer has a target, crosses the air and sticks itself in the ground.

A few moments later, the beast reappears where it disappeared and makes a violent tail stroke around it. Unfortunately for it, I anticipated this counter-attack. With a smile, I look at this scene with satisfaction. I open my hand and draw the blade that is planted in the ground towards me. The beast frustrated at having failed its counterattack releases a wave of darkness charged with a coercive aura. However, I have already become accustomed to this coercion and the effect is greatly diminished. A few moments later, the beast looks at me and finally calms down.

"I see that it has shown you how to use it." Says the beast who is obviously not happy to no longer have the upper hand. "But, if you want to defeat me, you'll need more than that."

With these words spoken, the beast puts on its cloak of darkness and launches a violent barrage of swift and heavy attacks. It lays aside it usual tricks and attacks with its brute force. I block the paws and tail strikes with my blades and I constantly stay on the move to avoid being touched by this darkness. After a few exchanges of blows, I throw one blade towards the beast and the other behind me to create distance between us. I get drawn to my blade and I concentrate. Deep inside me, I feel a spark.

"I know you're resting, but once again, lend me your strength." I say addressing the torch that rests within me.

I amplify this spark and it turns into an inferno. I grab the blade with two hands and lift it above my head. I channel the blaze onto the blade which ignites.

On the other side of the subterranean chamber, the beast thickens its cloak of darkness and leap towards me. I propel myself forward with all my strength. In a split second, the beast and I cover the space between us and my flaming blade strikes the beast covered in its cloak of darkness with a deafening crash. The impact of the shock creates waves of energy that spread darkness and flames in all directions. I gather all my strength and I scream.

''Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh''

The beast also howls with all its might.

''Roooaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh''

The clash continues for a few seconds then, little by little, the flames burn the mantle of darkness that covers the beast and spread over the beast, depriving it of its darkness completely. Finally having the upper hand, I push one last time and push the beast away, tearing off scales and spikes in the process. The beast flies away and crashes into statues that adorn this room and destroys them then it crashes into the rock wall of the underground chamber.

I lower my blade and open my hand, drawing the second one. I look up and look at the huge luminous crystal inlaid on the ceiling that illuminates this underground chamber. I look down and see the beast trying to get up. It staggers and shakes her head. After a few attempts, it finally got up and said a few words.

''Well done.''

I look at the beast and realize that no more hostility emanates from it.

"The darkness that controlled this beast has finally dissipated." I say to myself.

At that moment, a fatigue invaded my body.

"Would you like to take me home? "I managed to say before I collapsed and lost consciousness.