In an instant, I kicked off the ground, and twirled the spear into a rapid, rotating parry.
BAANG! BAANG!
The relentless blows rattled my arms, my hands trembling beneath the force. Most of the attacks were deflected, however, two managed to slip through my crossed arm— slamming straight into my chest.
"Kgha!"
A sharp pain erupted from within as I spat out a mouthful of blood.
Careening across the floor, each impact sent a jarring pain through . Nevertheless, I gritted my teeth and dug the spear into the ground— finally skidding to a stop.
"Kgha!"
I spat another mouthful of blood, my knees buckling. In that instant, I felt it—
A tremor in the ground.
For a second there, I froze. The creature was moving!
Twitch!
My grip on the Antraizel spear tightened, vision blurring as the crimson-armoured beast hurtled towards .
'Focus Dean! Focus!'
I bit on my lower lips, forcing myself into a concentrated state. But, by then, the creature was already before .
Backed by its inhuman montum, it smashed into , launching backward in a violent arc.
Crack! Kaa!
I struck the ground hard, skidding and rolling, each impact jarring my senses.
"Ukh!"
Blood trickled down my lips as I staggered to my feet. My chest rose and fell in an uneven rhythm as my hardened gaze locked onto the monstrosity before .
"Hu... hu..."
I knew ti wasn't on my side. And I had to end this battle as fast as possible. Yet—
A grim expression darkened my features.
With the inhuman strength of the ant-like creature, I doubted I stood a chance against it, not to talk of defeating it. And at that— as fast as humanly possible.
"Ugh!"
I groaned, anger and frustration bubbling up within .
But the creature could care less about my thoughts. It was relentless in its attacks, its limbs a blur as I struggled to parry its strikes.
BOOM!
A collision rocked the space, pushing us in opposite directions. I thought to make use of the mont to catch my breath. But before I could even do so—
Crack—!
It lunged towards once again.
"Curses!"
With a groan, I charged towards it, shards of stones hurtling into the space behind .
Arriving before it, I swung the Antraizel spear into a vertical arc. In its lethal arc, the spear's tip pierced through the creature's arm. A violent tremor wracked its grotesque form, and for the first ti since the battle began—
I saw sothing.
"..."
Hesitation. It flickered within its hollow eyes. In that mont, a dark smirk curled at my lips.
I needn't be told to know what I had to do.
...Ididn't stop. I continued with my relentless assault and gave it no breathing space.
'I couldn't afford to...'
As it stumbled back, I caught the flaw in its nightmarish form: Its limbs were too bulky for its body. Arms too enormous. Hence...
'Any powerful strike sent to its leg would deal to it— the most significant damage.'
I chased after the retreating supernatural creature and like a seasoned warrior, I ducked and weaved through its punches.
As I lunged the spear forward, a dark grin spread across my face.
After lunging forth and feinting high, the creature's breath suddenly hitched, and the spear's trajectory then shifted mid-air. Spiraling downwards, the spear plunged into its jointed legs, snapping bones and carapace with a sickening crunch.
"AARGH—!"
A deafening, blood-curdling shriek rocked the entire space- rattling my skull and dulling my senses.
For a second there, I lost my footing. But—
"Hah... Aah..."
I was quick to regain it. Side-stepping right after, I rolled clear of its flailing strikes, its movents now fueled by desperation.
Distancing myself from the supernatural creature, I focused my gaze on it, studying every visible part of its body.
And there—
I saw it!
Just what I was looking for!
With one of its legs now broken, its movent was nothing short of erratic. And, for a second there, it staggered, its balance now shattered.
'Of course, I perfectly caught the mont. How wouldn't I? It was such a perfect opportunity!'
With a dark smile and a burst of speed, I slid across the ground, avoiding a strike of the creature before pushing myself off the ground.
Thud!
Landing on its thick crimson carapace, I grinned for a second before driving the spear down with every ounce of strength I could muster.
Puchi!
A final, guttural growl marked its end as the spear tore through its impenetrable carapace. For a second there— as the creature crashed onto the ground, ti seed to co to a stop as a soothing relief washed over .
The relief that I didn't end up dead!
At that mont, I wanted nothing more than to rest and lie down... If only for a few seconds. But, I knew ti was ticking, and the longer I stood here, the lesser ti I had to make it to the nearest dune structure.
"Ugh!"
Groaning in annoyance, my chest rose and fell, heart pounding in an uneven rhythm.
I staggered to my feet, supporting myself with the spear before walking towards the dead carcass.
Staring at it, I felt a mixture of emotions.
From happiness to joy. Joy to—
'Euphoria.'
Yet, the most apparent of them all would be the slight tinge of jubilation swelling within .
"So much for thinking it could win."
Almost with a mocking look, I added:
"In the end... It was nothing more than the ant it was."
And then, as though I had just said the funniest thing.
A jagged laugh slipped past my lips. Then another. And another.
Before long, it grew into a loud, unsettling laugh.
In the suffocating silence, I laughed to no one but myself. The facade I had worn to mask the slipping away of my sanity.
______________________
A minute later, or so it felt, I regained my calm.
"Hu... Hu..."
Breathing heavily, my gaze was drawn to the "heavenly" fruit- the crimson fruits glistening ahead. Their allure— strangely hypnotic and srizing. And, for a second there, I could swear they looked no different from fresh blood.
'Paranoia Dean. Paranoia.'
I told myself. Even if sowhere within — I knew that wasn't the case.
Shaking my head, I walked towards the self-infliction fruit.
Step. Step.
Arriving before it, I removed the fruits I could find. As many as possible.
And hid every single one of them.
'...Humans or not... I still had to hide the fruits. I couldn't afford getting into a desperate situation.'
Nodding —mostly to myself— I gave the plant one final glance.
...Due to my battle with the god-damned creatures, I only had three hours at most to make it to the next dune structure. Else—
Step!
I could say goodbye to staying away from the cold, inhuman grasp of death.
Thinking about dying. Again.
I felt a cold chill run down my spine. Gritting my teeth, I made way to leave. But, just as I turned, unnatural movents caught my eyes.
From the depths of the darkness—
"...."
Three silhouettes erged, their steps growing sharper with each step.
My breath hitched, heart pounding as I considered the thought of taking to my heels.
Yet, no matter what I did, I-I couldn't move.
"Hu... hu..."
As though an invisible force was crushing against my chest, immobilizing , I could do nothing but watch them creep closer.
Just then,
"..."
I heard it.
The spell. It resounded in my mind.
[You have slain an awakened aemon, Antrím]
[...Your darkness grows stronger.]
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