The ground beneath us was nothing more than a battlefield. The air was thick with the scent of earth, sweat, and blood, the tension between us palpable as each of our movements sent tremors through the earth. The gorilla roared in defiance, its massive fists clenching as it prepared for another strike, but I was ready. This time, I wasn't going to make the same mistake.
The rocky terrain was both a blessing and a curse. It gave the gorilla its protection, its armor, but it also limited its mobility. Every move I made had to be calculated, every step in my Flowing Style an attempt to exploit a weakness. The Rock Armor would not give way easily, but I had patience. I could wear it down.
The gorilla's Earth Sense was sharp, and it anticipated my every movement. I had to be careful not to fall into a predictable pattern. As I slid back, barely evading its crushing blow, I kept my focus on its body. Every movement was fluid, each step a shift in the air, a fleeting moment where I could make my mark.
I darted forward, my spear held low as I aimed for the gap between its massive forearm and chest. The spear struck the ground beside the gorilla's foot, my attack purposefully aimed to misdirect it. As the gorilla reared back to crush me, I slid under its raised arm and unleashed a stream of water from my hand, forcing it to slip.
Flowing Style, fourth movement—Water Tendril.
The water snaked around its legs, pushing against its weight, and for a moment, the gorilla faltered. It roared in fury, its foot sliding a little, but not enough to cause it to fall. But it was a start.
It wasn't enough. My spear couldn't pierce its armor, and my water manipulation was doing little to weaken it. But the damage was starting to accumulate—scrapes, dents, and small cracks were beginning to form in the rocky surface of its body. The armor was not as invulnerable as it appeared.
I ducked and weaved, keeping just out of the gorilla's reach as I continued my assault. Each attack was a calculated strike, aiming not for the kill but to wear down its defenses. With every fluid motion, I made my body flow like water, evading its attacks while slowly wearing it down.
Flowing Style, second movement—Ice Glide.
I slid across the ground like a sheet of ice, narrowly evading a punch that could have crushed my skull. I could feel the air shift as the gorilla's fist passed through the space where my head had been a second before. My spear thrust forward, stabbing at its exposed side. A crack echoed through the air as the spear drove into the stone-like armor, but only for a brief moment. The damage was superficial, just enough to confirm that I was making progress.
I circled, watching for its next move. The gorilla's fury was palpable, its roars filling the air. Its Earth Sense was still tracking me, but I could see it—its movements were beginning to slow. The cracks in its armor were becoming more prominent, lines of fractured stone weaving down its arms and legs. It was weakening.
But the gorilla wasn't finished. It was smart—more intelligent than I had first thought—and it quickly adapted. As I continued my evasive maneuvers, the gorilla turned defensive. It crossed its arms, and with a mighty roar, it slammed its fists into the ground.
Earth Tremor.
The shockwave erupted from beneath us, sending ripples through the ground. I staggered, barely managing to keep my balance, but I knew this was part of its plan. The tremor had caused the ground to become unstable, and I found myself stumbling, losing my footing.
The gorilla's growl echoed through the air as it moved in, taking advantage of my momentary disorientation. It charged, its enormous fists swinging with terrifying speed. I barely managed to evade the first strike, but the second one connected, grazing my side. The pain was sharp, but I pushed it down, ignoring the sting of torn flesh.
Flowing Style, second movement—ice glide
I flowed to the side, my body twisting to avoid another strike. The gorilla's speed was surprising for its size, but it was predictable. Every time it swung, I slid out of the way, my water manipulation keeping me agile. Still, I couldn't keep dodging forever. The cracks in its armor were deepening, but I had to be careful.
The gorilla began to slow its attacks, I had the advantage.
I saw the gorilla's eyes narrow as I dodged yet another strike. Its breathing was heavy, its movements more deliberate, as if it was calculating something. My momentary hesitation was all it needed. Without warning, the gorilla unleashed its full ferocity.
It slammed its fists into the ground once more, but this time it was different. The earth beneath us cracked, and the shockwave was more intense than ever. I lost my footing completely this time, my knees buckling under the pressure as I fell to the ground. The gorilla was upon me in an instant, its massive foot pinning me to the earth. It lured me into a false sense of security, it was smart. It played me.
I struggled beneath it, gasping for air as the pressure from its foot crushed down on my chest. Its fists rose high above its head, and I knew—this was the end.
At that moment, my mind flashed back to the pain I had endured before, to the torment I had suffered when the chains of my past were broken. I activated Hell Viewing.