The blow connected, slamming into her side and sending her flying like a ragdoll. She crashed into the ground with bone-jarring force, tumbling end over end before finally skidding to a stop. Smoke and debris surrounded her, but she forced herself to her feet, pain radiating through her body.
Her glowing wings flickered for a moment before stabilizing as she steadied herself, coughing slightly. She turned her gaze back toward the creature, her eyes narrowing.
It was regenerating...
The massive stump where its head once was began to reform, sinew and muscle weaving together at an alarming speed.
The process was grotesque, unnatural, and impossibly fast. Within moments, a new head, if it could even be called that, had grown in place of the old one, its grotesque features snarling with primal rage.
Cleo stared at the creature in silence for a moment, her expression unreadable.
