Milas didn't hesitate as he shot up from his position to where the group was. The sound got even louder and more desperate as whatever it was broke branches when it moved. Everyone became alert when they heard the loud rustling of leaves and snapping of branches.
The large man put the blood covered crystal in a pouch hanging on a waist strap. He then picked up his axes and took a defensive stance, ready for anything that came his way. Adrian also took a stance with his sword facing the direction of the sound. Jill's outstretched bow had an arrow that was ready to shoot whatever was coming the second it appeared.
Milas quickly hid behind the group, not caring if he looked like a coward. At least cowards live longer than those who try to be heroes. The rustling got louder before it suddenly stopped. The silence that enveloped the area was unnatural. Even the constant sound of waving branches blown by the wind had stopped.
The group held their weapons even tighter. Milas drew his short sword and held it in a reverse grip with his right hand.
"Grrraaahhh!"
A human like creature dashed out of the dense vegetation while producing an inhuman growl. Milas trembled as a strange fear gripped his heart. This fear was unlike anything he ever felt. It came from the depths of his soul. It was like an inbuilt reaction that drained his body of energy and his mind of the will to live. It was the fear of his natural predator.
Milas felt all this dread when he stared at the creature's black eyes. Those eyes were all black lacking any traces of white. They seemed unfocused but looking into them was like peering into a bottomless pit of despair.
The creature looked exactly like a human except for its eyes and the large fangs that rivalled the ones of the leopard that had tried to kill him.
The creature looked at them for a few seconds before closing the distance between them in seconds. Milas realized that it was faster than the leopard. Much, much faster.
The large man swung one of his axes downwards, aiming to split the creature's head open. The creature lifted its bare hand up and held the axe by its handle just below the blade. The second axe approached the creature's torso at a tricky angle. The creature caught this axe too but it had held it at the blade. The sharp axe was supposed to cut its hand off but was stopped by the bone.
The creature snarled, revealing its deadly fangs. The next thing that happened shocked the group. The creature that looked starved, malnourished and generally weak suddenly pushed the large man away. Two deep groves were left on the ground by the man's feet. A testament to the overwhelming strength of the creature.
An arrow shot at the creature's head but its head seemed to blur as it dodged with impossible speed. It focused its black eyes at Jill who was already drawing the taut string of her bow. Adrian's sword seemed to have teleported and appeared inches from the creature's face.
A confident grin was plastered on Adrian's face as he imagined his sword slicing through the creature's head.
"Ding."
The loud ring brought all of Adrian's thoughts to a halt. His eyes widened in disbelief which soon turned into fear. The blade that was meant to end the fight was stuck and his efforts to dislodge it were futile. The creature had bit down on the sword.
Seeing the creature being preoccupied by the group's attacks, Milas saw his chance and took it. He ducked under the creature's right hand and left a deep slash on the creature's side with his short sword. He then regained his balance and planted the 12 inch blade into the creature's back right where the heart was located.
A pained growl was heard and the creature spun on its bare feet. The sudden move caused Adrian and the large man to be thrown off like rag dolls. A backhanded slap to the chest sent Milas flying before roughly landing several meters away. An arrow hit its forearm only for it to get ripped out. The barbs shredded the creature's flesh leaving a bloody wound.
Milas gave the creature a smug smile as he waited for the blade in the creature's heart to kill it. The creature pulled the short sword from its back and dropped it on the ground. Milas knew that the creature would succumb to blood loss so he confidently stood his ground.
Jill, who was standing behind the creature, let out a stifled cry. She slowly backed away, turned around and fled at an unbelievable speed. Milas saw her run away and was confused by her actions. His confusion didn't last long as the creature was upon him, its mouth wide open. The large fangs were rapidly closing in on his face.
'Why is every creature we meet trying to gnaw my face off? Can't they target someone else?' Milas thought as he bent his body backwards straining his spine and opening the shallow wounds on his chest. The wounds left by the leopard's claws might have been shallow but they were enough to make him flinch. This may not have been much movement but it slowed his dodge just enough for the creature to bite him.
The large fangs pierced his leather armour and dug into the flesh of his shoulder. Pain coursed through his body as blood flowed from the gaps between the creature's mouth. It shook its head and Milas was thrown away leaving a bloody trail.
"Aaahhh!"
Milas screamed as his vision darkened from pain. The creature gulped down the flesh it had torn from Milas' shoulder and a satisfied grin formed on its bloodied lips. It didn't last long as the look of a starved beast came back with an unstoppable force.
It pounced again at the figure that lay on the ground, a pool of dark red blood forming beneath it. An axe brought its attack to a halt. The large man was back with a renewed vigor. His axe was swift yet smooth, almost ladylike. The creature let the axe dig into its ribs so as to get close enough to reach the large man. Its clawed hand grabbed the large man's head and its blade like claws pierced his temples easily. It pulled its arm back rapidly. Amidst ghoulish wails of pain and terror, the large man's face was separated from his head. Blood, brain matter and other bodily fluids mixed together and bathed the creature in a gory mess.
Milas saw it all. He even felt the warmth when some of it poured on his body. One thought managed to cross his mind before terror took over.
"W...we are a.... all dead!"