"In that case…"
I deliberately overcommitted.
I threw out a wide, reckless swing, too wide, too slow, letting the momentum carry me just a fraction off balance.
And the alpha ape took the bait.
The moment it sensed the opening, its eyes flared, and it lunged, claws arcing forward with murderous intent, aiming to rip straight through my torso and end the fight in one decisive blow.
I grinned using [Swap], and reality folded for an instant.
The second ape, the one still staggering from the earlier concussive blast, suddenly occupied my position, barely having time to register the change before the alpha's claws tore through him.
There was no resistance as the rage-fueled talons ripped clean through flesh and bone, splitting the unfortunate creature in half from shoulder to hip.
Blood sprayed across the forest floor in a violent arc, steaming faintly as the two halves collapsed in opposite directions.
The alpha froze.
