-GRRRR-
The creature growled as it launched its body toward Renji, he dodged the attack by jumping backward. As the creature missed its first attack, the creature didn't launch a second attack instantly. Instead of attacking Renji again the creature rather started growling and pacing back and forth, it was as if the creature was waiting for Renji to give him an opening so that it could strike him.
'If I was hit by that attack, I would have surely lost one of my arms. Just what is this creature?' Renji questioned himself as the night was dark Renji could barely see anything let alone the creature itself.
Both Renji and the creature were in a standstill situation as both of them didn't take any chances. Just as the creature Renji too was waiting for a perfect opportunity to strike. After waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike, Renji didn't find a single opportunity so he decided to make it himself.
With a swift movement, he kicked the ground making sure that the dirt on the ground flew towards the creature. Luckily with his kick, a lot of dirt flew toward the creature along with dirt some stones. The creature was surprised by the sudden turn of events so it had no time to prepare itself, rather than dodging the creature moved back and closed its eyes. This was the perfect opportunity Renji was waiting for all along, as soon as he saw the glowing eyes close he launched his body towards the creature.
-WOOO-
The creature cried in pain as if it was going to die, Renji had attacked the creature right in the eye. The branch that Renji was holding was now sticking out of the creature's eye. With a single blow, he had successfully blinded one eye of the creature, but that wasn't the end. Renji pulled the branch out of the eye socket and tried to attack the other but this time he failed miserably.
"AHHH" Cried Renji in pain as he crashed onto a tree, before he had managed to land the second attack the creature swung its claw towards him. This attack made Renji fly for a second and he came to a stop by hitting a tree. Renji had unfortunately suffered a very hard blow to his torso as well as his back.
Even though Renji felt pain, he didn't even lay on the ground for a second. With all the energy he had left in his body, Renji stood up, he didn't even hesitate for a second. He knew if the beast saw him lying on the ground, it would launch another attack possibly powerful enough to kill him instantly. So, after he got up and stood in his fighting stance only then did he check the injuries he had suffered.
'luckily the attack didn't pierce through my skin, but I think the attack must have cracked one of my rib bones. From the looks of it, this seems like a 2nd shard monster Hound.' Renji thought as he examined his injuries. When he attacked the creature he was able to see some of its features so he was relieved a little that it was only a 2nd shard monster.
Renji slowly started walking back, he was trying to see if the creature would just run away after receiving such a threatening injury. All of that was just hope at the end of the day as the hound kept following Renji, just keeping a little distance between them the distance was enough for the hound to still reach Renji.
Renji tried to use the same tactic once again to see if it would work again, he swung his leg towards the ground once more but to his surprise, the hound jumped back even before Ren's feet landed on the ground.
'How can a hound dodge so swiftly?' Renji questioned himself as he felt chills running down his spine. He got spooked after seeing the hound dodge so swiftly even after receiving a potentially life-ending injury. Without a second thought, Renji started to walk back faster.
"Fuck" Renji cursed out loud as the hound used the same trick he used earlier. Hound swung its paws and dirt flew toward Reni's eyes, because of the dark Renji failed to realize that some dirt flew into his eyes.
Without wasting a single second, the hound leaped towards Renji with all of its power. Renji was taken aback by the attack but unlike the hound, he didn't close his eyes. As the hound's paw came swinging at him Renji dodged towards the, even though his eyes were hurting like hell he didn't dare close them for a second.
Luckily enough Renji lived because he didn't close his eyes and if he had closed his eyes his head would have been rolling on the ground even if he had managed to dodge the first attack. From the paws of the hound suddenly something bright flew towards Renji, he was sure what that was as soon as he saw something glowing.
'Elemental attack….' Was the only word that was circling in Renji's head at the moment as the attack came closer and closer to him. Instinctively he tried to dodge it by moving to the side.
Renji tried to dodge the attack but he was unable to completely avoid the attack at the end as the attack was just too sudden. The energy blade that attacked him had managed to slice through parts of his left arm. After the attack injured Renji, the attack hit a tree behind him, as soon as the tree was hit it started to lean on one side and ultimately crashed to the ground separating both parties.
'I need to get close or else I might die.' Renji had studied about this creature, he had basic knowledge about its attack patterns. He knew that if he wanted to survive this ordeal he must get close to the hound as it won't be able to use its elemental skill to attack him that way. If the hound used elemental skill at a close range, it might even suffer from the same attack so when hunting they usually liked to keep their distance from their prey.
The close range was one of the main weaknesses of the elemental hound as they didn't even have any sharp nails on their claws. They solely relied on their explosive powers when it came to close-range combat. Everything sounded easy enough in his head but the main problem was its speed and power, with the first attack it had managed to damage his rib bones and if he were to get closer to the hound he would have to avoid every single attack which was nearly impossible because of its agility.
"Die bitch" cried Renji as he used the fallen tree to use as a cover to launch his attack. Renji threw the branch he was holding in his hand toward the hound.
"AOOOOWWWWW" cried the hound in pain as he was hit by Renji's attack on the other eye. This was the perfect opportunity Renji was waiting for, as the hound cried and jumped frantically Renji managed to sneak beside the hound.
With how much pain the hound was experiencing it didn't even notice Renji's presence.