While Rick was thinking about what to do, the Dread got closer and closer to him. The time came when he got in range to attack.
The man carrying the slave on his shoulder didn't look behind until that point. He wasn't willing to see the terrifying figure of that Dread. After all, it would just be a psychological handicap for him. That's why he couldn't tell how or when it happened, but suddenly the ground under his feet began to crack and strong pressure on the air sent him flying together with Dean.
He lost grip on Dean while in middle-air, and the slave's body fell near a tree, still unconscious.
Rick smacked a tree with his shoulder, nearly dislocating it. He screamed in pain, holding his shoulder with all his strength. He knew that hold it wouldn't lessen the damage or make him feel less hurt, but he acted by instinct.
'This freaking Dread, have this much of power!? Damn! I am sure that he missed the attack by inches, but just the impact on the ground could make my body turn almost into an arrow!'
Rick's chain let go of his right arm, spreading on the ground. He prepared himself for the upcoming clash.
He couldn't run away at all. Not now, when the Dread could catch up with them already. Even if he tried so, he would be caught in another blow.
'I want to look at this thing while it attacks me. If I get targeted from behind, then I won't be able to dodge, nor do anything to protect myself. And, you know what? Damn that bastard slave. I will run away and let him take care of himself in the first opportunity I get.'
Rick watched in terror while the threes around him began to swing back and forth. Something was moving up there. However, in that dark forest, it was impossible to see what was moving above. There was no source of light to help to see its silhouettes, even.
'Bad thing that even the moon doesn't appear much. Its pale light would be enough to help here... The sun will last a long time to appear as well. I don't have hours to spend here. To be honest, not even minutes. I can die in a second!'
His eyes were darting around as he was concentrating on each tree at a time, following the movements and position of the Dread above him. He couldn't see it, but its position was showed through the trees' swings.
'North... Jumped to south. It is on west now. That tree... No, that other moved. It stopped to move behind me! It's damn close!'
Rick didn't lose any time and used his spell Iron serpent, attaching tightly his chain on a tree in front and using it to pull his body forward with all his strength.
The man did that maneuver just in time.
Afterward, the Dread fell to the ground, cracking it as if it was a demolition ball. The impact again sent waves of shock that would send Rick flying away if not for his chain.
Rick finally could see the Dread, now it was in front of him.
'Yes, just as I thought... Stone Gorilla of the 5th generation. An example of strength and stamina, let alone its crazy resistance.'
His heart throbbed as he frowned hard and untied his chain from the three. The shock wave lasted for some seconds, but now it was completely gone.
The Stone Gorilla in front of him had about the same aspects as the others that Dean faced before. The difference is the other two extra hands attached to his body. His bloodshot eyes seemed more cunning than the mindless stone Gorillas of the 6th generation. Also, it was half a meter taller than the others.
'Its constitution was enough to overcome the effects of four Screamers yelling at the same time. Is it possible to beat such a strong beast with my current strength? I really don't think so, and I can't find any other outs in this situation. Fight to the death now.'
Rick wasn't satisfied to die like that.
'I think I won't get to my fifties. What a pity.'
The Gorilla hit his chest with his four stone fists while roaring, then rushed toward him.
...
Dean's consciousness was returning bit by bit as he heard loud sounds coming from a near place. The ground was shaking as if an earthquake was happening.
He couldn't know what kind of thing was happening, but once he remembered that he was being chased for Dreads, he figured that it should be a battle.
He raised his achy body from the ground. His hands and legs were the most hurt over all the other parts. Dean was sure that their bones were thoroughly cracked, but at least not broken yet. He received a full blow of one of those Stone Gorillas, after all.
'Did the plan succeeded? Could I make it in time? I believe so, since I remember to have fainted when I was in the glade.'
He stood up while supporting himself in a near three. He took deep breathes before he could finally stand on his feet, despite the pain he was feeling.
Dean walked through the dark forest while limping. That bit of effort was enough to make him start to pant. His body was too exhausted to do anything whatsoever.
He finally could approach enough the source of those loud sounds after some seconds of walking.
In front, he could see Rick using his spell to move his chain all over the place. He was attaching it to the threes and pulling his body at a high speed to dodge the blows of a giant Stone Gorilla that was trying to take his life.
That sort of movement was working well. He could move around the battlefield much more swiftly than when running and leaping normally.
Nonetheless, the pressure that the Dread applied was too overbearing. It was clear that, soon, Rick would be struck.
Dean needed to watch that battle for one more minute until he could realize something.
'That's it! This battle isn't lost. Not yet!' He thought, seeing an opportunity in that helpless fight.