The trees towered around me, their black silhouettes standing tall under the pitch-dark night sky. Snowflakes drifted slowly, floating gently like feathers in the empty air.
The biting cold nipped at my skin, while the crisp scent of winter mingled with the damp earth rising from beneath the thick snow covering the ground. My breath was visible in the air, forming white mist that quickly dissipated.
"Where is this?" I murmured, trying to make sense of the place I had been teleported to. Closing my eyes, I concentrated. If I was lucky, I might be able to reconnect with my master. "Master? Can you hear me?"
There was no response. Even after calling out several times, the silence persisted. Our connection had been severed entirely.
I let out a long sigh of frustration, my warm breath forming a cloud in the frigid air. "Annoying."
"Grrr."
Suddenly, a low growl broke the stillness of the night. I froze, my ears twitching as I tried to locate the source of the sound. Turning around, I realized the noise was coming from just behind me.
My body stiffened, and I unconsciously held my breath. From behind a massive ice-covered tree, a large shadow emerged, its golden eyes gleaming with a bloodthirsty intensity.
A towering figure, six meters tall, with a long snout and razor-sharp teeth glinting in the dim light. A broad sail stretched from its back to the base of its tail. Powerful forelimbs and a massive, muscular tail completed the terrifying image.
Instinctively, I stepped back, my eyes wide, my body trembling uncontrollably. Just a glimpse of its silhouette was enough to tell me what kind of monster I was facing.
"No way… it's…" my whisper was nearly drowned out by the howling winter wind.
Moonlight illuminated the creature, revealing its horrifying form in stark detail. A beast born from nightmares, the monster of every child's terror, a prehistoric king without a crown. A relentless carnivore often portrayed as a cold, ruthless villain.
"Spinosaurus…"
"Graaaaaah!"
The monster let out a deafening roar, its cry splitting the air and nearly bursting my eardrums. I clamped my hands over my ears just in time.
"Damn it! Why do I have to run into this thing here?"
As its roar subsided, the creature began to advance. The ground trembled slightly with each heavy step. Drool dripped from its massive jaws, glistening in the moonlight.
Its golden eyes locked onto mine. I recognized that look all too well, the predatory gaze that sent shivers down the spines of smaller creatures. It was the look of a hunter who had found its prey.
"I need to run!" my instincts screamed as the monster raised a clawed hand, its sharp talons glinting dangerously under the moonlight.
Slash.
Its movements were swift. Without warning, it swung its massive claws, attempting to tear me in half. I leapt to the side at the last second, narrowly avoiding the deadly strike.
Its jaws snapped shut with a loud clack, mere inches from where I had stood moments ago. The ground bore a deep gash from the Spinosaurus's claws, snow and dirt scattering into the air.
Rolling across the cold, snow-covered ground, I quickly scrambled to my feet. Snow clung to my clothes and skin. The Spinosaurus turned, its golden eyes glowing fiercely as it let out a low growl. Its tail swiped through the underbrush and branches behind it, sending debris flying.
I transformed Muramasa into a bow, pulling back its string and channeling mana to create a blazing arrow. As the Spinosaurus charged toward me, I aimed for its head and released the arrow.
Whoosh.
The arrow shot through the air, splitting the drifting snowflakes in its fiery path. The arrow created a fiery tornado as it flew, melting the snow in its wake.
The Spinosaurus planted one massive foot firmly on the ground, halting its charge, and swiftly swung its tail to deflect the arrow.
Boom.
The arrow exploded on impact, scattering embers across the snowy landscape. A thick mist rose as the fire met the cold air.
Through the haze, I could see the Spinosaurus's silhouette standing firm, seemingly unfazed by the explosion. As the mist cleared, I saw its body was unscathed, save for a slight burn on the tip of its tail.
I bit my lower lip hard enough to almost draw blood, realizing my strongest mid-level magic had failed to penetrate its hide, which was even tougher than that of a Stegosaurus I had faced before. "Damn it… that's the best mid-tier spell I have."
There was no time to think. My instincts screamed that I couldn't defeat it. My only option was to run as far away as possible.
"Henshin!"
I transformed into a horse. With my powerful legs, I galloped as fast as I could to escape the massive beast.
Spinosaurus's lower anatomy was similar to that of a T-Rex. According to the journals I had read, their running speed was approximately 20-30 km/h, while a horse could reach speeds of 60-70 km/h.
However, given my unfamiliarity with a horse's body and the thick snow hindering my movement, I estimated I could only manage 30-40 km/h. Still, that was enough to put some distance between us.
"Dodge!"
Just as I started to feel a sliver of hope, unease washed over me. My instincts were screaming again, warning me of a threat from behind.
Glancing back as I ran, I was horrified to see a fiery tornado erupting from the Spinosaurus's open maw, aimed directly at me. There was no time to evade. In this form, I couldn't dodge quickly enough.
"Henshin!"
I reverted to my human form and spun around to face the incoming blaze. Without hesitation, I grabbed Muramasa and transformed it into a massive shield that could cover my entire body.
The searing heat radiated through the air, making my skin feel as though it were burning. The force of the blast pushed me back several meters, my legs trembling as I struggled to maintain my balance.
"Hyaaaah!"
I pressed the shield forward, holding it with all my might. The intense heat from the Spinosaurus's fiery breath scorched my palms, but I refused to give in.
I dug my feet deeper into the thick snow beneath me. My body trembled and my stamina waned, yet I forced myself to take one step forward, then another, inching closer to the monster with every ounce of strength I had left.
"Gaaaaah!"
After a long struggle, the fiery spray finally ceased. I exhaled briefly, my lungs feeling like they might explode. But before I could catch a deeper breath, a massive shadow of the Spinosaurus's tail appeared in the corner of my eye.
"Tch—!"
Bam!
The tail struck me hard. My body was flung through the air like a ragdoll, crashing into a large tree that splintered and fell backward. Blood trickled from the corner of my mouth.
"Cough... cough..."
I coughed violently, spitting out thick, dark red liquid that splattered onto the pristine white snow beneath me. The metallic tang lingered in my mouth. I spat out the remnants of blood clinging to my tongue and throat.
The Spinosaurus approached slowly, saliva dripping between its jagged teeth. Its glowing eyes pierced through the pitch-black night, glaring at me with feral intensity.
I flexed my hand, only to realize the weapon I should have been holding was no longer there. "Damn it… where did my Muramasa fly off to?"
My eyes darted frantically, scanning the darkness. Finally, I spotted it, nearly swallowed by the night's shadows, embedded in the ground near the tip of the Spinosaurus's tail.
"Grrrr."
Meanwhile, the Spinosaurus drew closer, its growls rumbling in the frigid air. Its golden eyes gleamed with a predatory hunger, locking onto me as if I were the main course for tonight's feast.
"No! I can't die here."
Swallowing hard, I forced my mind into overdrive. As the massive creature loomed nearer, I transformed into a small snake, slithering quickly between its colossal feet. My long, slender body weaved nimbly through its legs.
"Good, I made it past."
With my diminutive form, I slipped behind the Spinosaurus and approached Muramasa, now reverted to its original state: a small dagger gifted by Loki, still imbued with a sliver of his magic.
Once I was close enough, I shifted back into my human form, grabbing Muramasa from the ground and tucking it safely into my coat pocket.
This time, I couldn't risk using another animal form. The Spinosaurus was too swift and ferocious, and its fiery attacks dealt devastating area damage that rendered most forms useless. I needed full acceleration, and my human body was the most practical choice in these conditions.
I ran with all my might, the icy snow stinging my face as my boots pounded against the frosted ground. I could feel the earth trembling with every step the Spinosaurus took to chase me. Its growls grew louder, reverberating in the tense, freezing air.
"Come on, come on, come on!" I muttered, pushing my body to its limits. My breath came in ragged gasps, my footsteps racing against the thunderous stomps of the Spinosaurus, which sounded like the relentless drums of death.
Glancing back, I saw the beast gaining on me. I knew without a doubt that one swing of its claws or tail would end my journey here if I didn't find an opening soon.
"Please, I still have promises to keep… to Fenrir."
I cast a frost spike spell beneath the snow, creating hundreds of sharp, crystalline spikes that erupted from the ground to block the Spinosaurus's path. The spikes broke through the thick snow with a sharp crackling sound, forming a deadly barrier.
But, as expected, the creature's massive strides easily shattered the spikes. They splintered and crumbled beneath its weight like brittle twigs underfoot.
"Tch…" I clicked my tongue in frustration. My mana reserves were depleting, and this monster remained unstoppable.
Just as I prepared to activate another spell, misfortune struck. My foot caught on a tree root hidden beneath the thick snow. I fell hard, crashing into the cold, unforgiving ground.
The untimely fall drained what little strength I had left. My legs trembled violently; I could no longer stand, no matter how much I willed them to. In this state, I had no choice but to brace myself with the last vestiges of my power.
The Spinosaurus advanced, its golden eyes gleaming with predatory satisfaction. It lifted one of its massive, razor-sharp claws, ready to end my life.
With every ounce of energy remaining, I condensed the remnants of my mana into a protective barrier around myself. When the claw struck, the shield shattered into countless shards, sending me hurtling through the air once again.
Bam!
Once more, my body collided with a large tree, snapping its trunk, before I crashed to the snowy ground. I let out a hoarse scream, pain coursing through every fiber of my being. My vision blurred as I struggled to move. My muscles refused to obey, and my chest heaved, desperate for air. Warm blood flowed from my wounds, staining the pristine snow beneath me.
The Spinosaurus moved closer, its pace unhurried now, fully aware that its prey was helpless. Saliva dripped from its elongated snout, its golden eyes fixated solely on me.
"Is this the end?" Resignation washed over me. I had no strength left, no escape routes remaining.
In my mind, Fenrir's face suddenly appeared—her radiant smile, her laughter, her gentle voice. I recalled the times we shared, the joyous days, the painful moments, and the promises I had yet to fulfill.
"I'm sorry… Fenrir…"
The Spinosaurus's massive snout loomed mere inches from me. Its warm, foul breath hit my face as it prepared to deliver the final blow. I closed my eyes, awaiting the inevitable end.
But just as I felt all hope slipping away, a distant roar echoed through the night. It was deep, guttural, and insistent, like a summons meant for someone specific.
The Spinosaurus froze. Its head lifted, blocking the moonlight above. Its golden eyes narrowed, scanning the darkness for the source of the sound. After a tense moment, it turned, casting one last glance at me before lumbering away, drawn by the call.
"What… just… happened?" I croaked, coughing weakly. I didn't understand, but I was grateful. At least, for now, I was still alive.
My body grew weaker, my vision dimmer. I lay on the cold snow, staring up at the night sky, glittering with stars and illuminated by the breathtaking full moon.
My limbs were heavy. The pain coursing through me was relentless, yet I lacked the strength to express it. Slowly, my eyes began to close, leaving me in utter darkness.