Getting back up, I quickly twist, refusing to turn my back to the monster.
I can hear my hearbeat over the sound of rain pour and flaming embers.
I try to control my fast paced breathing by breathing through my nose and out my mouth, yet the scent is unbearable.
The beast turns back to face me once again, yet this time, it releases a heart piercing screech.
My face scrunches as I raise my weapon. I would be lying if I said that I wasn't scared. Yet being scared is a feeling that makes me human. For bravery isn't the absence of fear, but the ability to push forward despite that.
I take a deep breathe.
The screech fades into the distance, echoing off the wet mud and broken stalks like some banshee's war cry.
Steam rolls around the ground in thick waves, swallowing the mud and ground in ghostly white.
The wet earth splits beneath the creature's bulk as it charges at me like a bull.
I jump back, dodging its large swipe before bringing my blade down on. The creatures arm.
I expected to see some blood, or for it to pierce into the creature's body, yet its skin is to slippery. My blade merely slides off.
Seeing this, the creature pulls back its left arm, preparing to swing at me as I'm caught off guard.
There's no reason to move right or left, nor can I move backward due to my momentum.
There is only one left to go. Down.
I can hear my knees pop as I crouch down, evading the blow, and jumping between the creature's legs, using my weapon to cut at the creatures knees.
This time, something different happens
There's resistance.
Not the slippery, rubbery slide from before, but give.
I hear a sickening, wet crunch as my blade sinks just below the surface. Not deep, but enough.
The creature stumbles a little as I quickly scramble back to my feet.
The legs, of course!
Its upper body may be protected by sheer mass and movement, but its legs which also must of been wet and slippery probably took an extreme amount of damage while walking through the flames.
Peering through the mist, I can see it now. The blistering joints, half cooked flesh, and scorched tendons reaching up past his knees.
Even now, the fire seems to continue burning on the back of the creature. I have no idea whether he is just ignoring the flames, or if the nerves on his back have already died.
I quickly twist, swinging my curved sword like an axe to a tree, cutting deep into the creatures right gastrocnemius.
The creature howls as it starts wildly throwing around its arms, attempting to smack me away from itself.
Unable to do much, I jump back, trying to get out of the creature's attack radius.
"You seem to have a little sliver of intelligence, yet your still stupid as fuck."
The creature merely roars back.
As I prepare myself for another clash, I spot Jenny in the corner of my eye behind the creature, crouched just above the brume of steam.
She's using me as fucking bait.
I don't have enough time to be angry.
The creature swipes at me, forcing me to jump back once again.
That creature is way to huge for me to stand my ground, it's honestly quite annoying.
I pivot at the next swipe, thinking about striking but ultimately choosing not to. One hit from this creature would probably kill me.
With every swip, slam, and screech, I can't help but feel more and more confident. He's just a goddamn brute.
I barely register it before its massive form launches upward, steam hissing off its burning back like a geyser.
Its arms raise above its head, hands clasped together like a sledgehammer.
It's trying to crush me.
Instinct takes over.
I throw myself sideways, hitting the mud shoulder-first just as the creature slams down.
Even through the adrenaline, my injured arm cries out in pain.
The ground quakes, mud splattering in every direction.
A shockwave ripples outward, shoving my body like a ragdoll even from the edge of the impact.
I roll to my feet, coughing, trying to regain my bearings.
A crater steams where I just stood.
I can't help but release a chuckle at the hopelessness of it all.
If that creature was not harmed by that fire, I'd stand no chance against it.
My luck today must know no bounds.
"Get up you fucker!" I call out, voice hoarse. "You jump like a drunk elephant."
It roars, trying to get back to its feet. Yet as it tries to push itself upright-its arms sinking into the mud, a large two handed cleaver finds itself plunged into the aflamed creature's back, sinking through the fire and skin, deep into the creatures flesh.
The creature jerks violently, a strangled bellow ripping from its throat as its weight collapses back into the mire.
It thrashes, claws digging into the mire as it tries once more to rise, rage bubbling in its guttural breaths. Steam hisses from its burning back as the rain continues to fall, the cleaver jutting out like a broken spine. I don't hesitate. I sprint forward, slipping slightly in the mud, then lunge—swinging my curvedblade sideways into the creature's neck. It slides at first, skimming that slick hide, until I angle the edge just right, finding burnt skin and torn muscle at the lowest part of the neck. I pull my blade back once again, lining up the killing blow.
I grit my teeth, steadying my grip, then swing with everything I have.
The blade carves in, biting through charred flesh and ruined sinew.
The creature thrashes slightly-a final futile act of resistance, but after a moment, it goes silent.
The corpse's muscles relax and a golden panel appears before me.
Congratulations on defeating an evolved brute and almost all of its minions.
The chancellor has decided to reward you.