Bones sat piled twenty people high in the room ahead as I pulled myself upright. Here, I felt closer to the source of my fear, but whatever created this was not it. I crept forward, trying not to disturb whatever resided here.
Snap. My foot fell on someone’s ulna, cracking it in two. I shot my gaze up and nearly pissed myself as one gigantic worm-like creature rose up from behind the bones, towering at almost twice the hill’s height.
The Agronak, Kain’s essence spoke in my mind, The source of all the earthquakes. This might beast has existed ever since the Third Realm was born.
“How did you defeat it?” I asked, panic arising as the Agronak stared me down.
I didn’t. I used blood magic and temporarily stopped its blood flow. Then, when it was unconscious, I snuck through.
“But I can’t control my blood magic!” I shouted as the creature dove down and struck at me, opening its mouth as wide as a cavern and twice as deep.
Then you’ll have to do it the hard way, he told me.
“Fuck you!” I screamed as I flew high, adjusting my grip on the sword and falling; driving the blade into its spine.
I think the horrible noise that billowed from its throat was some sort of pained cry. Suddenly, I was stunned; my body unmoving. As the Agronak twisted and reared, I somehow held on. Suddenly, the muscles on the left side of its body tensed, probably preparing to roll over onto its back. In response, I propped my feet against the Agronak’s back and pushed as my hands slipped on the worn ebony grip.
Panic shot through me as the worm began turning over. Instinctively, I called my shadow magic to me and pulled out the blade in seconds, safely hovering ten feet away as the Agronak flipped onto its back.
I yelled, swooping down over the worm’s belly and digging the sword in. Green blood oozed from its stomach as it cried out again, writhing on the floor of the cave. Bones flew in every direction as the Agronak leapt back into its hole, screaming.
It’s not over yet, Kain warned me. Suddenly, the worm crashed through the ceiling, headed directly for me. I screamed, unable to move. The shock had frozen me in place as the Agronak fell closer. Fearful, I cringed and shut my eyes, waiting for the cold darkness of my own death.
