The battlefield quivered with tension as the Hairstalker, once writhing in pain from Felix's daring attack, underwent a chilling transformation. The beast's agonized screams gave way to an unnerving silence, broken only by the unsettling sound of its breaths. As Felix maintained his grip on the dagger, a glimmer of hope flickered in his eyes, only to be snuffed out by a foreboding sensation creeping up his spine.
The air turned icy as the creature, its sinewy form towering above Felix, revealed a malevolent smile that twisted its features into a grotesque expression of sinister delight. The sight sent shivers cascading down Felix's spine, a primal instinct warning him of imminent danger.
Before he could react, the Hairstalker lunged forward with lightning speed, its massive arms enveloping Felix in a bone-crushing bear hug. The sheer force of the beast's embrace elicited a sickening sound, the horrific symphony of bones snapping under immense pressure.
Agony seared through Felix's body, an excruciating pain that rendered him momentarily breathless. A guttural cry escaped his lips, saliva mingling with the strain etched upon his face. Despite his desperate efforts, his hands involuntarily relinquished their hold on the dagger, the weapon slipping from his grasp, and falling into the chaos below.
The Hairstalker's sinister smile widened, a haunting display of triumph as it held Felix captive in its unforgiving embrace. Helplessness washed over him as the excruciating pain intensified, his world narrowing to the overwhelming torment coursing through his shattered body.
The battlefield crackled with tension, the air thick with the scent of blood and sweat. Felix, on his knees, eyes wide with a mix of pain and shock, watched as the Hairstalker raised its claws in a menacing arc, poised to deliver the final, devastating blow. The impending strike loomed over him, a grim certainty etched in the creature's intent.
But just as the monstrous claws descended with lethal intent, an arrow sliced through the air, finding its mark in the exposed wound of the beast. The Hairstalker staggered back, a tortured cry escaping its maw as pain coursed through its form.
Xavier emerged from the chaos, a whirlwind of determination and grit, dust and dirt coating his bruised body. With a fluid and skilled motion, Xavier's blade sliced a deep, gaping wound across the creature's waist. The Hairstalker roared in rage, its claws swinging towards Xavier with blinding speed.
Sol cursed himself for not acting sooner as he raised his short swords defensively, attempting to intercept the blow. Despite his efforts, the impact was relentless, striking Xavier with a force that sent him hurtling backward. A question escaped Xavier's lips, a desperate plea for understanding, wondering why the beast remained so overpowering even after sustaining such injuries.
His body slammed against a tree several meters away, and a gasp of pain caught in his throat. Before he could recover, the Hairstalker, relentless and undeterred, charged forward like a tempest, its claw driving into Xavier's abdomen with brutal force. Agony tore through Xavier's being as the claws tore into his flesh, stabbing deep until he felt the cruel touch against his spine.
Speechless with pain, Xavier's eyes widened in a silent scream, the agony rendering him unable to vocalize the torment ripping through him. The Hairstalker, unrelenting in its assault, drove Xavier to the brink of despair with its merciless attack, a chilling testament to its unyielding ferocity.
Aria's voice, laden with desperation and anguish, pierced through the chaos, calling out Xavier's name with tears streaming down her cheeks. Xavier's vision swam in a blur, the world around him a hazy whirlwind of pain and turmoil. Through the fog, he could discern Aria's figure, her distress echoing in his ears.
Her cries seemed to reignite the dwindling embers of determination within him. With a furious cry that echoed in the battleground, Xavier summoned every ounce of strength left in his battered body. He raised his short swords with a desperate, upward slash aimed at the looming form of the Hairstalker.
But the beast, a creature honed by battle and experience, anticipated Xavier's move. With lightning reflexes, it pulled its claw from Xavier's body, narrowly evading the retaliatory strike. As Xavier's blades slashed upward, he realized his grave error too late—the lower half of his body, exposed and vulnerable, lay defenseless against the onslaught.
In a heart-wrenching moment of realization, Xavier understood the fatal mistake he had made. The Hairstalker, seizing the opportunity with ruthless precision, struck with a single, swift motion. Its claw sliced through Xavier's exposed lower half, a brutal and devastating swoop that cleaved through him with unforgiving force.
Agony surged through Xavier's being, his scream stifled by the unbearable pain ripping through him. A visceral cry escaped his lips, a mixture of shock, agony, and despair. The battlefield fell momentarily silent, save for the haunting echoes of Xavier's pain as his body was rent asunder by the beast's merciless strike.
The battlefield fell into a haunting silence, broken only by Aria's heart-wrenching sobs as tears streaked down her face. The sight of Xavier's lifeless form and Felix's weakened state tore at her soul. However, amidst the anguish, a weak voice caught her attention—Felix, struggling with the agony of his damaged spine, urged her to flee.
Bloodshot eyes filled with tears met Aria's, his voice barely a whisper as he implored her to escape, to carry the harrowing news of the formidable grade two beast back to their guild. Aria hesitated briefly, torn between the urge to stay and the urgency of the task at hand. With a heavy heart, she nodded in understanding, her gaze shifting from Felix to where Xavier's fallen body lay.
But as her eyes scanned the surroundings, a chilling realization washed over her. The monstrous presence of the Hairstalker had vanished, leaving behind an eerie void on the battlefield. Aria's blood ran cold as fear coiled in the pit of her stomach. Instinctively, she turned to flee, her mind racing with the urgency of escape.
Yet, in a cruel twist of fate, terror struck her to the core. The sudden presence of the beast, standing ominously behind her, shattered any hope of fleeing unscathed. Before Aria could even register the impending danger, the Hairstalker lunged forward with astonishing speed, its massive jaws snapping shut with ruthless precision.
In a horrifying and swift motion, the beast bit down, severing Aria's head cleanly from her body. Silence enveloped the battlefield once more, save for the haunting echo of Aria's final gasp of disbelief. Her body crumpled to the ground, lifeless and betrayed by the cruel twist of fate, a stark testament to the relentless brutality of the formidable adversary that had claimed the lives of her companions.