For the first time since Edward began playing Avalon Online, he felt genuine fear. Sweat dripped from his brow as his shoulders shook in terror. As the giant gorilla began to step forward, Edward felt his entire body shudder in response. He knew that the monster before him had a very real chance of killing him. Despite knowing that his death wouldn't be permanent, Edward felt like he was in genuine danger. Was it perhaps some intimidation skill? Edward didn't care as he focused on the gorilla.
As the gorilla slowly grew closer, the smile on its face grew even wider— as if the beast was experiencing pure ecstasy as it gazed at Edward's reaction. The monster made sure to walk slowly, but Edward didn't feel like the monster was going easy on him. An image of the monster's first attack piercing through his body with ease appeared in his mind, causing him to nearly puke. However, a thought appeared in his mind only a moment later.
'I wonder how strong he is, now that he's been upgraded?' A small part of Edward's mind wondered. As if given the cure to fear itself, Edward's thought process took a complete turn. Edward's body was shaking and his mind was rattled in confusion. Yet even now, Edward had a massive smile on his face.
The gorilla froze, confused as Edward's body slowly adjusted to resist the gorilla's intimidation. A smile as wide as the Avalonian continent itself spread from one side of Edward's face to the other as a red ember appeared in his draconic eyes. The effects of the gorilla's intimation lessened as if cured by the heavens themselves.
Edward's body shook once more, but not out of fear. Edward's fists clenched in anticipation. Seeing this, the gorilla roared in pure rage and hunched forward. No longer did the gorilla take the time to experience Edward's fear. Now, it was truly angry.
"Bring it on!" Edward shouted as two thrusters appeared beneath his feet. He was lifted in the air, but the gorilla didn't wait until he was out of range. It quickly charged forward, its enraged roar shaking the room's foundation like an earthquake. The monster struck forward with each fist, attacking twice in quick succession. Its hands moved faster than Edward could track, but his body moved faster than his mind did. Two quick bursts of flames appeared out of his palms, each helping Edward dodge in time to avoid the monster's attacks.
Then, just as the beast retracted each fist to strike again, Edward roared. A powerful column of flames erupted from Edward's mouth before spreading all over the gorilla's body. The gorilla roared once more before quickly stepping to the left— dodging the later half of Edward's attack in the process.
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The Ice around the Frozen Skeleton Gorilla's body has partially negated your attack!
82 Damage Dealt!
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Edward's smile widened even more as he gazed upon the damage dealt by his attack. His heart began pumping blood through his body like a powerful engine, causing a sharp rise in excitement once more.
"Good!" Edward smiled. He dodged another attack, then boosted himself high in the air. As his body rotated in the air, he looked at the gorilla below him and smiled, "Very good! Show me a good fight!"
Edward shot his fist forward and summoned an arrow of flames, but his position in the air made the attack slower than he preferred. The large gorilla dodged it easily, but Edward wasn't done just yet. He rotated himself once more, then used all of his momentum to attack once more.
A column of flames shot from his knuckles to the gorilla below. His attack took advantage of the gorilla's brief distraction and landed on its shoulders. The gorilla screamed in rage and pain, then turned to look up at Edward before leaping into the air. The gorilla's massive frame was like a jet as it rose to Edward's position. Edward tried to dodge by summoning a thruster underneath his feet, but the gorilla seemed to consider that. As Edward's body moved, the gorilla's fist quickly changed course. Edward only had enough time to throw his hands in front of his chest as he saw the gorilla's eyes turn to Edward. The gorilla's fist swung down as if it were trying to hammer in a nail.
A moment later, Edward watched as the gorilla's fist slammed into his body. Edward immediately choked as if an entire dinner was stuck in his throat. A wave of pain passed through his body as his arms and legs were forced forward with the change in momentum. The pain from the impact felt like a truck and broke several of his bones in the process. Edward felt several of his ribs crack, as well as some of his fingers— complimentary of his weak effort to protect himself. His hastened defense didn't succeed, however, as the gorilla's fist was able to reach Edward just fine.
All of the air in his lungs was forced out of his body as he was thrown to the ground with enough force to triple the earth's gravity. Edward felt like a meteor crashing into the earth, though the moment was brief. As his frame slammed into the ground, Edward gasped once again and watched as his HP quickly ticked down.
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-206 HP
HP: 369/575
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-10 HP (Impact Damage)
HP: 359/575
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'Holy shit!' Edward thought to himself as he quickly gathered his composure. His chest hurt from the cracked ribs, but he didn't let that distract him. He quickly summoned another set of boosters and shot himself away from the ground. He moved just in time, too, as the gorilla immediately landed on the ground just where Edward was only a moment before. As he centered himself in the air, Edward looked back at the gorilla with gaping eyes, 'I'll be dead if it hits me two more times— not to mention the injuries I'll sustain with even a single hit!'
Edward's body shook, but the smile on his face stayed as strong as ever.
'How exciting!'