Surprised, Maung Nyo quickly looked towards the cave entrance where the voice came from. He saw a burly man with defined features, wearing a sinister smile and radiating intense killing intent.
"Who are you?" Maung Nyo demanded, trying to sound tough while hiding his anxiety behind a poker face.
The man chuckled, clenching his fist tightly before slowly pointing his finger at Maung Nyo. "It doesn't matter. What you should understand is that I am your demise," he sneered.
Maung Nyo stood up, drew his dagger, and prepared for combat. He couldn't die now, not before he fulfilled his grandfather's wish. Assuming that the man was stronger than him, he searched for gaps in the man's defense. I need to find a weakness. Maung Nyo thought, realizing he couldn't face the man head-on.
"That's more like it. Try not to die too fast" the burly man taunted with overconfidence, charging at Maung Nyo. His cloak fluttered violently in the wind.
He lunged at Maung Nyo, his fist tightly warped in crimson linen. Maung Nyo raised his dagger to block the blow but the impact was too powerful. He only managed to deflect some of the force, but the punch still sent him flying into the cave wall with a bone-jarring thud. That hurt a lot. Stand Maung Nyo. Stand.
Suppressing his pain and struggling to regain his breath and posture, Maung Nyo knew he had to act fast. The man's strength was overwhelming. he couldn't block the man's strike. Even when Maung Nyo used his sharp side of the dagger, it didn't leave a mark on the linen that warped the man's fist. He strengthened his linen with paṭhavī (Earth). I need a different approach, Maung Nyo thought.
Exhaling deeply, Maung Nyo decided he needed to attack rather than defend. He couldn't handle another strong strike from the man. Maung Nyo rushed at him, barely avoiding the man's blow, and struck the man's back with his dagger.
"Ouch, that stings." said the man. Although the wound was only a weak scratch, it answered everything Maung Nyo needed to know. The man had made his entire body tough, albeit he could only strengthen some areas of the body tougher than metal. He is slower than me and can't harden his entire body at once. I need to exploit that.
Sensing his survival chances improving, Maung Nyo felt a wave of relief. He kept attacking the foe with quick successions slowly chipping away the opponent's body. "Damn this insect," The burly man growled, frustrated and unable to keep up with Maung Nyo's relentless pace.
Nevertheless, the attacks were also tiring Maung Nyo, whose breaths were becoming unsteady. His adversary might be hurting but none of his vital areas were injured. Maung Nyo needed to do something decisive soon. I can't keep this going any longer. I need to end this before my stamina runs out.
"Pathetic, getting hurt from such a young child.
Maung Nyo held his scream. I can't show any weakness.
"Shut up,
Maung Nyo tried to shake away from Black Cat but he couldn't move very fast with his injured legs Black Cat was incredibly agile, forcing Maung Nyo to focus all his attention on blocking her attacks. "Die, Bug!" Red Dog screamed. Black Cat's relentless attacks kept Maung Nyo off balance, giving Red Dog the perfect opportunity to flank him. With a swift, powerful motion, Red Dog landed a crushing blow to Maung Nyo's ribs.
Red Dog's sheer strength hurled Maung Nyo into the deeper parts of the caves, He bounced off the ground three times before landing flat, gasping for breath.
"Urrg!" Maung Nyo squealed, too pained to even scream. I can't die yet. Maung Nyo urging himself to stand up. Move, Stand, Do anything, body. Don't give up before I give up. His eyes teared up.
Red Dog and Black Cat were slowly approaching him, their footsteps echoing ominously in the cave. Confident that Maung Nyo was done for, they moved with a relaxed menace.
Maung Nyo clenched his fist, the cold, rocky ground, trying to crawl away. Every movement sent sharp, stabbing pains through his ribs and leg. His breaths came in weak gasps. He can taste the metallic taste of the blood in his mouth.
"Black Cat, let me take care of him. I need to pay him back." Red Dog demanded, slapping his palm and fist together, making a loud clapping noise that echoed through the cave.
Black Cat paused, polishing her metal nails against the cave's walls as she considered. "Fine, don't make me wait too long," she replied with a sly smile.
Red Dog kicked Maung Nyo, flipping him onto his back with a vicious smile. "Trying to run?" he sneered stepping on Maung Nyo's wounded right leg. "Arrg!" Maung Nyo coughed blood. Shockwaves of pain made Maung Nyo twist his body. He ground his teeth tightly as he tried to break away from Red Dog's step.
"Still, won't give up?" Red Dog commented, noticing the unwavering determination in Maung Nyo's piercing eyes. He grabbed Maung Nyo by the neck and dragged him towards the cliff leading towards the deeper parts of the cave. With a sinister smile, he kicked a nearby pebble into the hole. Maung Nyo saw a pebble falling out of a riff, filling him with dread as he couldn't hear it hit the bottom. No. Not like this.
Red Dog's eyes burned with sadistic pleasures as he snarled, " Beg, Beg for mercy to give you painless death. You worthless rat." Maung Nyo didn't respond, locking his piercing eyes towards Red Dog.
"You! You infuriating little..," Red Dog raged, hitting Maung Nyo with his other fist. "Beg for mercy!!"
"Red Dog, we still need to bring his body as proof!" Black Cat warned sharply.
"Shut up, I know." Red Dog snapped, turning to face towards Black Cat. Opportunity. Sensing the opportunity, Maung Nyo gathered strength to kick Red Dog's leg, causing him to lose balance and fall with him.
"Aah!" Red Dog's sharp piercing scream echoed through the cave.
Maung Nyo managed to grab the rock protruding from the cave wall, desperately trying to hold on with his left hand. His strength waning and his palm slick with sweat, his hand slipped. The grandfather's ring scratched against the rock and slipped off his sweaty finger into the abyss below. No, Grandpa. I am sorry. I tried but this is the end of the road.
Maung Nyo fell into the depths.