- SEABED, ABANDONED ORCHARD -
Hielgan's passive ability [Presence Reminder] is always active, it acts as a ping, and subconsciously reminds him of a certain number of lifeforms within his sensing vicinity. The Suspine had not been within his range, but when he got to the area with the puddle of blood, something had registered in [Presence Reminders] range.
His pursuit of that 'thing' had led him here and he could clearly sense the creature by the large tree.
'Alright, before I dispatch those Suspine, I outta get rid of whatever is lurking here first.'
Hielgan held his greatsword in both hands and slowly approached the tree, spots of blood littered the area and he could smell the lingering smell of a fresh hunt.
'Looks like it loves to kill.'
His eyes remained glued to the tree, wary of any slight movement that could be made by the creature. Hielgan knew that the predator would be busy feeding on its kill, so he had to make the first move and take it down before it reacted to his presence.
"[Conceal Clamour]."
Hielgan whispered the activation of his ability as he drew closer to the tree, this ability allowed him to muffle most of the sound he made as he moved. This would help him surreptitiously approach the creature.
"[Iron Sha-]"
A bulky figure suddenly slammed into Hielgan and he felt several prickly sensations on his body as the weight of the creature that had hit him wrestled him to the ground.
"Impossible...!"
Hielgan shifted his weight to his back and pushed the creature with his feet sending it hurdling behind him, then he quickly turned to face his attacker.
Two yellow eyes glared at him and beneath those eyes were two fangs the size of short swords.
"A Saber...?"
The large feline stood opposite Hielgan, its eyes gave off a yellow glow and stared daggers at him. When he tried to tighten his grip on the greatsword, Hielgan winced with pain when he noticed that his right arm hand had been scrapped by the saber's previous attack.
Immediately after noticing this, the saber launched itself from where it was standing and swiped at Hielgan once more, Hielgan reacted in time and parried each swipe as sparks lit the dim light with every collision.
The saber was relentless and before long it started to push Hielgan back, with the occasional chomp of its jaw that held its fatal fangs.
Hielgan found himself pushing back on the saber's jaw with fangs aimed for his throat, the saber had clamped down on his greatsword with its powerful jaws and would not release it.
Ping*
'Too close!'
The clash of steel and fang rang in the air as Hielgan jumped away from the saber, he quickly regained his composure before the Saber pursued him once more.
Hielgan rolled away and the saber pounced at empty space, but immediately chased him down.
'What happened? I thought I had it!'
The saber had ambushed Hielgan, this was the first time he had ever been snuck up on. [Presence Reminder] was supposed to be a flawless ability that prevented him from falling in these situations.
'How did that saber sneak passed it?'
When Hielgan looked back, he saw that the saber had vanished from sight. He immediately stopped in his tracks and proceeded to sense his surroundings with the help of [Presence Reminder].
'Father had always said, it wasn't the large and strong creatures that get you in the wild.' Hielgan sighed, he could not sense anything within his surroundings anymore.
The saber was as elusive a beast as it was strong, and it was rare to find such a dangerous combination of monsters out in the wild.
Suddenly, Hielgan sensed malicious intent drawing near him, he could tell it was the saber launching another ambush. Unfortunately, his ability [Presence Reminder] could not pinpoint where it was coming from. As a matter of fact, [Presence Reminder] was warning him of an imminent attack from all directions.
"Gah! [Dracolgan - Draconian Howl]"
Hielgan's body took a crimson glow, and then he slammed his greatsword to the ground and let out a roar. Immediately a gust of gale burst forth from his mouth and the crimson aura covering him swirled the gust around Hielgan.
The saber appeared from the shadows and collided with the crimson gale swirling around Hielgan, and with an angry snarl, the saber is repelled back.
Hielgan swiftly took this opportunity and launched a counterattack on the beast, with a speed boost from [Draconian Howl] he closes the distance between them and slashes at the saber. The saber notices this, and using its cat-like reflexes it quickly prone and evaded Hielgan's swing.
'What the...'
The saber watches Hielgan as he swings his greatsword above its head, and without warning, it launches itself into him and tackles him to the ground. The two roll into the trees and Hielgan loses his greatsword, the saber tries to bite him with its large canines, but Hielgan clutches them with both his hands.
A stalemate ensues.
Hielgan tries to push the saber away, but his strength can not match the large feline and he begins to feel his body start to give out.
'This is bad, this beast is frighteningly powerful.'
This was not what he had expected to encounter in this small town, he recalled how he had wanted to run from the inn when old man Hersey had talked about the old requests. Hielgan wondered if this was him speaking, he had made an oath to himself and to his father that he would accomplish what his father could not.
Seeing his resilience the saber pushed harder against Hielgan slowly drawing its fangs toward his neck, he then noticed the scars on the saber's fur, he had not been able to see them earlier because of its quick movements and the low light.
"So you are already used to fighting mortals..." Hielgan grinned at the saber. "Here I thought you were just an ordinary beast."
A red glow appeared again around Hielgan's body, his late father had always warned him of using the Dracolgan arts in battle, because of how stamina draining they were. However, if he were to continue holding back in the situation he was in, then this may be the end of him.
"[Dracolgan - Draconian Rage]!"
Hielgan's body heats up from the ability, his body is coated in a membrane of red aura that burns to the touch, the saber feels the heat and begins to pull away from him, but he only grips its fangs tighter.
"Stay right where you are-"
The saber dips its head and then thrusts it against Hielgan's abdomen, this launches him over the saber and he falls on his back. As Hielgan looks up, he sees a large paw aiming for his head and he quickly rolls out of the way in time.
As he rolled away, Hielgan comes upon his greatsword he then picks it up and points it at the saber.
"I said, stay right where you are!"