Luke lay hidden beneath the rubble, his body pressed against the cold, jagged stones as he listened to the monstrous Enraged Aerdeich above. The beast's relentless growls and gnashing teeth filled the air, a constant reminder of the imminent danger. Luke knew he was running out of time. The creature was inches away from tearing through the debris and reaching him.
Above, the knights of Purewood had regrouped and surrounded the Enraged Aerdeich once more. Desperation drove them as they hurled spears and attempted to stab and slice the beast. Their efforts, however, proved futile. The monster's thick, impenetrable hide deflected their attacks easily, rendering their weapons useless. The knights' determination was unwavering, but they fought a losing battle.
The Enraged Aerdeich, realizing it was under attack, shifted its focus from Luke to the knights. With a mighty roar, it lashed out with its antlers, sending several knights flying through the air. Their armour clanged and weapons clattered as they hit the ground, some struggling to rise while others lay motionless. The monster's sheer strength and ferocity were unmatched.
Despite the knights' brave efforts, the Enraged Aerdeich knew it had no time to waste on them. It had a singular goal: to devour the last trace of magic, which resided on Luke's cursed hand. With a determined growl, it turned back to the rubble, its eyes glowing with malevolent intent.
Underneath the debris, Luke found himself at a dead end. The tight confines of the rubble had provided temporary shelter, but now there was nowhere else to go. The monster's growls grew louder, its breath hot and rancid as it sniffed the air, closing in on him. Luke's mind raced, calculating his next move. He couldn't stay hidden any longer. The beast was almost upon him, tearing away the opening, making it wide enough for its snout to reach.
His heart pounded as he considered his options. He needed to buy more time, to create a distraction that would allow him to escape. But what could he do? His thoughts flashed to the moments before when he had used his phone's light and sound to confuse the beast. It had worked then, but this was an Enraged Aerdeich. Would the same trick work again, even for a moment?
Taking a deep breath, Luke made a decision. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, fingers trembling as he unlocked it. He quickly navigated to the flashlight and sound settings, hoping to create a distraction. With a final, determined glance at the glowing screen, he activated both, the light flickering wildly and the hissing snake sound blaring at full volume.
The sudden burst of light and sound startled the Enraged Aerdeich, causing it to pause. Its glowing eyes narrowed, and it let out a confused growl, momentarily distracted from its prey. Seizing the opportunity, Luke scrambled out from his hiding place, crawling through the narrow gaps in the rubble as quickly as he could.
The knights, seeing the beast hesitate, redoubled their efforts. They knew they couldn't harm it, but they could try to buy Luke more time. They charged at the monster, shouting and waving their weapons, trying to draw its attention away from the fleeing figure. The Enraged Aerdeich, now fully aware of the distraction, turned its furious gaze back to the knights.
With a bellowing roar, it charged at them, antlers lowered. Knights were knocked aside like ragdolls, their bodies hitting the ground with bone-crunching force. The scene was chaotic, filled with the sounds of clashing metal and the beast's enraged growls.
Meanwhile, Luke pushed himself to his limits, crawling and scrambling through the rubble. His hands were scraped and bleeding, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He could hear the monster's roars and the knights' shouts behind him, a constant reminder of the danger he was trying to escape. He knew he had to keep moving, had to find a way to stay ahead of the Enraged Aerdeich.
As he reached a more open space, he pulled himself to his feet, glancing back at the chaos he had left behind. The beast was still distracted by the knights, but he knew it wouldn't be for long. He had to come up with a new plan, something that would allow him to survive and keep the people of Purewood safe.
With a determined look, Luke clenched his fists, the faint markings of the curse still visible on his hand. He wouldn't give up. Not now. Not ever. He would find a way to defeat the Enraged Aerdeich, to protect the city and its people. And with that resolve, he took off running, his mind racing with possibilities and strategies for the battle ahead.
The Enraged Aerdeich, relentless in its pursuit, continued gnawing at the rubble, determined to reach Luke. The beast's powerful jaws crunched through debris, inching ever closer to its prey. Luke, trapped at a dead end, watched helplessly as the monstrous snout drew nearer. Panic clawed at his mind, but amidst the chaos, he noticed something peculiar. Inside the creature's mouth, its throat seemed to glow faintly, a soft luminescence that swayed with every movement.
Luke's mind raced. The exterior of the Enraged Aerdeich was impenetrable, but perhaps its insides were more vulnerable. Scanning his surroundings frantically, he spotted a broken wooden beam, roughly the size of a spear. Desperation fueled his actions as he examined both ends, selecting the sharper one. If he could strike the glowing spot in the creature's throat, he might have a chance.
The Enraged Aerdeich, oblivious to Luke's plan, continued to gnaw. Luke waited, his heart pounding. Timing was crucial; one wrong move, and he would lose his arm—or worse. The moment the beast sank its fangs into the rubble with a powerful crunch, Luke lunged forward, thrusting the beam into its open mouth.
A guttural howl of pain erupted from the Enraged Aerdeich as it recoiled, pulling back from the hole. The knights outside, witnessing this sudden turn, were stunned. The beast thrashed about, a wooden beam lodged in its mouth, black blood gushing from the wound. The Aerdeich's frantic attempts to dislodge the beam only caused the blood to spray more violently.
Seizing the opportunity, Luke crawled out from his hiding place. The pungent smell of the monster's blood hit him—a distinct, oily scent, reminiscent of lighter fluid. His eyes darted around, spotting a nearby torch. An idea formed in his mind, desperate but potentially effective. He grabbed the torch and rushed towards the spraying blood.
With a swift motion, Luke brought the torch's flame into contact with the black blood. The fire caught instantly, a trail of flame racing along the stream of blood towards the beast's mouth. The Enraged Aerdeich roared in agony as the fire reached its maw, flames engulfing its head.
The beast's attempts to extinguish the fire were futile. It's thrashing only spread the flames further, feeding on the continuous spray of its blood. The knights and remaining civilians watched in awe and horror as the Enraged Aerdeich, a creature of legend, succumbed to the flames.
The fire spread rapidly, the oily blood fueling the blaze. The Enraged Aerdeich's roars grew weaker, its movements more frantic and uncoordinated. It swung its head wildly, trying in vain to shake off the burning agony. The flames continued to consume it, turning the once fearsome beast into a writhing inferno.
Gradually, the Enraged Aerdeich's struggles lessened. The fire had taken its toll, and the creature's movements slowed. With a final, pitiful roar, it collapsed, its body engulfed in flames. The knights watched in silence as the beast burned, a mix of relief and disbelief washing over them.
Luke, panting and covered in soot and blood, stood a safe distance away. He had done it. The Enraged Aerdeich was defeated, not by traditional means, but through a combination of quick thinking and sheer desperation. As the flames continued to burn, the knights began to approach cautiously, ensuring the beast was truly dead.
Luke's gaze remained fixed on the burning carcass. He had survived, but the ordeal had taken its toll. His body ached, and his mind was a whirlwind of emotions. Yet, amidst the exhaustion, a sense of accomplishment settled in. They had won, against all odds. The Enraged Aerdeich was no more, and Purewood, though scarred and battered, was safe once again.
The flames finally began to die down, leaving the charred remains of the Enraged Aerdeich smouldering in the ruins. The knights, bruised and battered, gathered around Luke, their expressions a mix of awe and gratitude. Mayor Kingsley approached, his eyes reflecting the exhaustion and relief of their victory.
"You did it, Luke," he said, voice heavy with emotion.
The crowd of onlookers, injured but alive, began to murmur in astonishment. One of the older knights, a veteran of many battles, stepped forward and placed a hand on Luke's shoulder.
"A mage, the Godsend," he declared, his voice ringing clear in the night.
The words echoed through the remnants of Purewood, filling the survivors with a newfound hope. Luke, weary and still processing the chaos, managed a weak smile. He had saved them, against all odds, and in that moment, the weight of his destiny felt just a little lighter.