Alex barely had time to react. He threw himself to the side, narrowly avoiding the ape's massive fist as it smashed into the ground where he had just been standing. The impact sent a shockwave through the cave, and Alex could feel the earth tremble beneath his feet.
"Stay light on your feet, Alex!" Eamon's voice echoed through the cave, sharp and clear. "Don't let it pin you down. Use your speed!"
Alex darted to the side again as the ape swung at him with a powerful backhand, the force of the blow creating a gust of wind that ruffled his hair. He knew that a single hit from the beast would be enough to end the fight. He needed to keep moving, to stay one step ahead.
He focused on his breathing, steadying himself as he began to channel his mana. He needed to be precise, to conserve his energy while still dealing enough damage to wear the creature down. He activated Elemental Infusion, his blade glowing with a faint red light as fire mana flowed into it.
The ape turned towards him, its eyes narrowing as it sensed the shift in power. With a roar, it lunged again, its massive fists swinging down in a crushing blow. Alex ducked under the attack, rolling to the side and slashing at the ape's leg as he passed.
The blade connected, leaving a searing gash in the creature's thick fur. The ape howled in pain and fury, its movements becoming more erratic as it lashed out blindly. Alex kept his distance, striking quickly and retreating before the ape could retaliate.
But the beast was fast, faster than Alex had anticipated. It adapted to his tactics, predicting his movements and countering with terrifying precision. Alex felt his stamina waning, the constant movement and mana expenditure taking its toll. His strikes became slower, less effective, and the ape began to press the advantage.
"Don't lose focus, Alex!" Eamon's voice cut through the haze of exhaustion. "Remember your training. You need to combine your magic and your swordsmanship. One without the other won't be enough!"
Alex knew Eamon was right. He had been relying too much on his physical abilities, treating his magic as an afterthought. He needed to blend them, to make them one. But how? The ape was relentless, giving him no time to think, no time to plan.
The beast lunged again, and Alex barely managed to parry the blow, the force of the impact sending him stumbling back. He felt a surge of panic—he couldn't keep this up. He was running out of options, out of time.
Then, as the ape charged once more, something clicked. Alex let go of the fear, the doubt, and allowed his instincts to take over. He felt the mana within him surge, not in a controlled, steady flow, but in a powerful torrent. He channeled it into his blade, but this time, he didn't stop there. He let the mana flood his body, enhancing his speed, his strength, his reflexes.
The world around him seemed to slow as his senses heightened, his mind clear and focused. The ape's movements became predictable, its attacks telegraphed in advance. Alex sidestepped the creature's charge with ease, spinning around and delivering a powerful slash to its back. Flames erupted from the blade, searing the ape's flesh and sending it crashing to the ground.
But Alex didn't stop. He followed up with a series of rapid strikes, each one infused with fire mana, each one aimed at a vital point. The ape roared in pain and fury, but it was too slow, too wounded to retaliate effectively.
"Keep it up, Alex!" Eamon's voice was filled with encouragement. "You're doing it! You're fusing your skills! Now finish it!"
Alex gathered his remaining mana, pouring it into a final, devastating attack. He leapt into the air, his sword blazing with fire as he brought it down in a powerful arc. The blade struck true, piercing the ape's chest and unleashing a torrent of flames that engulfed the creature.
The ape let out one last, earth-shaking roar before collapsing to the ground, its body consumed by fire. Alex landed lightly on his feet, his breath coming in ragged gasps, his body trembling with exhaustion.