Kallus stood firm, his breath coming in ragged bursts as he tightened his grip on his one-handed axe. His body ached from the relentless exchange with the grotesque monster before him. The creature's twisted form seemed to contort with each movement, shifting unpredictably as if mocking his attempts to keep up. The beast was disturbingly agile despite its hulking, disfigured frame, each swing of its elongated limbs infused with dark mana. Kallus dodged and parried, gritting his teeth as he tried to adapt to the creature's erratic, almost taunting style.
The beast lunged again, its tendrils shooting toward him with a horrifying speed that belied its size. Kallus narrowly dodged, feeling the rush of the creature's dark mana brush against his skin. Every impact of its strikes against the ground sent tremors that rattled his bones, forcing him to grit his teeth and remain grounded. The creature's unpredictability had been overwhelming, but Kallus was finally beginning to recognize its pattern—or rather, its lack of one. This monster was smart, far smarter than he'd ever encountered in a magic beast. It was almost as if it anticipated his moves, redirecting its attacks mid-strike to counter him.
He adjusted his stance, the muscles in his arms burning from the effort of wielding his heavy axe against the creature's overwhelming force. Just as he thought he had gained an upper hand, the creature reared back, unleashing a sudden, unexpected strike. Its tendril slammed into him with the power of a thunderbolt, launching him backward through several thick trees. He crashed into a boulder, the impact sending a wave of pain through his spine and leaving him momentarily dazed.
Gasping, Kallus looked up, just in time to see a dark mana-infused tendril descending upon him, ready to impale. His reflexes were too slow—until, with a sharp twang, a mana arrow pierced through the air, striking the tendril and diverting its path just enough to miss him.
Seraphina stood at the edge of the clearing, her bow drawn and a second arrow nocked, her eyes glinting with a cold determination. She approached Kallus, her gaze quickly assessing him for injuries.
"Are you unharmed?" she asked, her tone as composed as ever, though a flicker of concern betrayed her usually stoic demeanor.
Kallus gave a lopsided grin, hiding the exhaustion that weighed on him. "Just catching my second wind."
She rolled her eyes but quickly refocused on the grotesque creature, her gaze narrowing as she observed it with a mix of curiosity and revulsion. Its dark, oozing mana spilled from every pore, casting a nauseating aura that tainted the very air around them. She noted its asymmetrical limbs, each one bristling with pulsating, thickened veins filled with foul energy. It was unlike any magic beast she'd ever encountered, and its appearance was nothing short of an abomination.
As she analyzed the creature's body, Seraphina connected the dots. "This… this thing is the source of the dark mist, isn't it?" Her voice was low, laced with disgust and disbelief.
Kallus nodded, lifting his arm to show her. "Look here. It touched me before you arrived, and now—" He turned his arm to reveal a grotesque sight: his skin had shriveled, and his flesh appeared malnourished, on the verge of decay.
"Don't let it touch you. This dark mana isn't just a weapon. It's poison," he warned, his voice uncharacteristically serious.
Seraphina's expression hardened as she took in the creature's form, now looming over them with what appeared to be gleeful malice in its twisted features. But before she could respond, three massive tendrils shot toward them, cutting through the air with a sharp whistle.
Reacting instinctively, Seraphina augmented her body with mana, pushing her agility to its limits. She leapt backward, narrowly evading the tendril as it struck the ground where she had just stood, sending chunks of earth flying. Kallus, less nimble but equally fierce, brought his axe down in a sweeping arc, parrying one of the tendrils with a forceful blow. The remaining two tendrils, however, moved too swiftly. They pierced through his left leg, sinking deep into muscle and sinew.
A guttural growl tore from Kallus's throat as he bit through the pain, his axe slicing through the tendrils impaling him. But the damage was done. Blood soaked through his pant leg, and his mobility was severely hindered.
Seraphina wasted no time. She conjured an arrow of concentrated mana, drawing it back as the air hummed with energy. Releasing it, she sent the arrow hurtling toward the creature, aiming for the creature's exposed, pulsing core. The mana arrow struck true, eliciting an ear-splitting scream from the beast as dark mana sprayed from the wound, the ooze sizzling as it hit the ground.
But the creature was far from defeated. It roared in fury, retaliating with a flurry of wild, unpredictable strikes. Its tendrils lashed out in every direction, forcing Seraphina and Kallus to split their focus as they dodged and countered.
Kallus, gritting his teeth through the pain in his leg, adapted his approach. He began to anticipate the creature's feints and deceptive movements, learning to read its attacks as he might a skilled opponent's. Each time it lunged, he timed his counters, using his axe to parry and deflect the strikes with brutal efficiency.
Seraphina, in turn, worked in harmony with his movements. She stayed at a distance, using her bow to release a rapid succession of mana-infused arrows, each one piercing the beast's vulnerable points. Her precision was unmatched, and with each successful strike, she wore down the creature's defenses.
But the creature seemed to grow more desperate with each injury. It let out a frenzied scream, its tendrils thickening and hardening as it summoned an even darker, more oppressive aura. The air became suffocating, thick with the sickly-sweet stench of decay.
Just as they thought they might be gaining the upper hand, the creature lashed out with a newfound ferocity. Its tendrils whipped through the air like scythes, and each strike carried enough force to crack stone. Kallus barely managed to block a blow aimed at his head, his axe vibrating under the impact. He staggered, trying to regain his balance as the beast advanced on him.
Seraphina saw her chance. She channeled a massive amount of mana into her bow, the air crackling with energy as she drew back the string. Her blue eyes glowed with determination, her focus entirely on the creature's core. With a breath, she released the arrow, sending it flying at a blistering speed. The arrow pierced the beast's chest, embedding itself deep within its body.
The creature's eyes widened in shock as the mana arrow exploded from within, sending fragments of dark energy scattering in all directions. It let out a final, agonized scream, its tendrils thrashing wildly as it crumbled to the ground.
Breathing heavily, Seraphina lowered her bow, her gaze fixed on the creature's twisted, lifeless form. Kallus limped forward, his expression a mix of relief and exhaustion.
"That… was disgusting," he muttered, his voice laced with disdain. "And too damn close."
Seraphina glanced at him, a faint smirk playing at her lips. "Consider yourself lucky I was here to save your sorry hide."
He chuckled, despite the pain, wiping sweat from his brow. "I'll owe you one. Or maybe two after this."
Seraphina's gaze shifted back to the creature, a lingering sense of dread washing over her. This monster was unlike anything she'd seen before—a grotesque, intelligent being with a horrifyingly powerful aura. And the dark mist it had spread seemed to hang in the air, ominous and persistent.
As the two caught their breath, a faint rustling in the distance made them freeze. Seraphina's hand instinctively tightened around her bow, and Kallus raised his axe, prepared for another fight.
But the sound faded, leaving only silence in its wake.
In the stillness, they exchanged a wary glance. Whatever was happening in the forest, they were only scratching the surface.