But just as their claws were about to strike, a voice rang out, "Come here, boy. Dying by my hands is a mercy compared to what these devilish gargoyles will do to you."
Thorgar's intimidating silhouette materialized from the obscurity, his gaze riveted on the stony figures of gargoyles.
Just the simple act of meeting their petrified gazes seemed to hold them in a trance, barring them from launching an assault.
Thorgar gestured towards Aerovind, his smug grin back in place. "Come, Aerovind," he drawled, his voice echoing off the stone walls, "let's end this game."
Aerovind looked between Thorgar and the statues, trapped in a nightmare of his own making.
His voice was a mere whisper in the echoing silence, "I'm not ready for death... I'm still just a boy, and my mother... she's ill. I can't leave her alone."
"That won't work on me, boy," Thorgar sneered. "I've heard far more touching stories than yours, and they all end the same way."
Aerovind turned back towards the gargoyles.
"Damn... damn all of you to hell. I refuse to die this way. I will find a cure for my mother's illness and bring honor back to our family name. I'll step on anyone if it means reaching my goal."
Aerovind spun with lightning speed and leaped onto Thorgar's face, blinding him and earning a swift retaliation from the gargoyles.
Their sharp talons struck both of them in a flurry of blows that shattered the walls of the cave, sending chunks of rock flying in all directions.
A crimson pool seeped into the earth as Thorgar's arm was violently pierced, creating a grotesque excavation in flesh and bone.
"Escape is a fantasy you won't live to see," Thorgar's voice rumbled like distant thunder, but Aerovind was already darting toward the cave's mouth.
The remnants of his shattered limb dragged along the ground, leaving a gruesome trail of crimson blood and shredded sinew. Each footprint he left behind was a painful reminder to Aerovind.
Thorgar's thunderous footsteps shook the ground beneath him, his deep growls blending with the piercing screeches of gargoyles' wings beating against the stone walls.
Desperately stumbling through the darkness, Aerovind's trembling hands brushed against something cold and unforgiving.
It was a pickaxe, wedged between two jagged mounds of ore, a potential weapon in this fight for survival.
With shaking hands, he pulled the rusty tool free from its resting place and swung it wildly behind him.
The metal crunched against the mud wall as he desperately tried to carve a path out of the relentless pursuit.
The cave floor sloped sharply downward, and Aerovind found himself sliding uncontrollably, the cold sweat on his skin adding to the friction.
With a loud thud, he collided headfirst into the rough stone wall, causing intense pain to course through his body.
But he paid it no mind as he struggled to stand back up, using his one good arm to push himself forward.
His eyes focused on the faint light at the end of the cave, and he dragged his battered body with his remaining strength.
His heart raced with a mix of adrenaline and fear, propelling him towards the exit.
Bloodied and tired, Aerovind burst out of the cave into the blinding sunlight.
He stumbled and fell onto the soft grass, gasping for air and trying to make sense of the world around him.
The sky was a brilliant blue, with fluffy white clouds dotting the horizon. Birds sang in the trees, their melodies filling the air with sweet music.
It was hard to believe that only moments ago, he had been fighting for his life in a nightmarish underground cavern.
Aerovind's frenzied thoughts were shattered by a deafening roar that sent shivers down his spine.
He whipped around to see Thorgar emerge from the cave, his body riddled with gaping holes from his battle with the gargoyles.
Despite his grievous injuries, Thorgar wielded a sword in one hand and struggled to stay upright as he limped towards them.
Blood dripped from his wounds, leaving a trail of crimson behind him.
Thorgar, despite his state, let out a low, rumbling laugh that echoed across the serene landscape. "Fancy meeting you here, eh boy," he rasped, his voice like gravel against the stone.
"Stay back," Aerovind warned, his voice trembling but resolute. He tightened his grip on the pickaxe.
There was a pause as Thorgar glared at Aerovind, his eyes filled with rage.
He took a step forward, and Aerovind dug his heels into the ground, preparing himself for the inevitable confrontation.
Thorgar's muscles bulged as he sprinted towards Aerovind, the metal of his sword gleaming in the sunlight.
He swung with all his might, but Aerovind skillfully dodged the attack by ducking and sidestepping, sending Thorgar's weapon slicing through empty air.
In a quick counterattack, Aerovind scooped up a handful of dirt and flung it into Thorgar's face, temporarily blinding him.
With precise aim, Aerovind struck Thorgar's feet with a powerful blow, causing him to drop his sword and fall to the ground with a thud.
Breathless and exhausted, Aerovind watched as Thorgar struggled to regain his footing. But the time had come to end this once and for all.
With a steady hand, he raised the pickaxe high above his head and brought it down with all his strength onto Thorgar's exposed neck.
The blow was forceful enough to cleave through muscle and bone, separating Thorgar's head from his body in a gruesome display of violence.
The headless corpse twitched for a few moments before going still, blood pooling around the lifeless form.
"It's over," Aerovind gasped, his voice a raspy whisper laced with triumph.
His gaze fell heavily on the lifeless body sprawled before him, a silent testament to his deed.
A moment passed in stunned silence before he fully comprehended his actions. "You did it, you sick bastard... he's no more, I won this time," he murmured to himself.
Aerovind turned away from the gruesome sight and lay on the grass.