Lux's body screamed in pain, his vision blurred for a moment as he struggled to suck in a breath. The impact had rattled him but he couldn't afford to stay down.
The Thrall was still coming with its milky eyes locked onto him and bloodstained grin widening.
Lux's fingers twitched against the damp ground. Fear clawed at his throat but he gritted his teeth and forced it down.
"No. I am not weak anymore!"
He had power now. The Abyss System had given him the power to fight back. He wasn't the helpless boy watching his family die in a pool of blood. He wasn't the broken child cowering in the shadows. He had survived the Tutorial and had already killed once there.
And he would keep killing until every last monster like this was dead!
Lux sucked in a sharp breath and clenching his fists around his spear. His fear faded and replaced by something sharper. It was his rage.
Strangely, the anger was grounding him and clearing his mind. The pain became unimportant. All that mattered was the enemy in front of him.
The Thrall took another step forward, its clawed fingers twitching.
Lux's lips curled into a snarl.
He pushed himself up in one swift motion and rose to his feet. His hand shot out, grabbing the shaft of his makeshift spear.
Lux exhaled slowly. His grip tightened.
Then he lifted his head and his eyes met the Thrall's glowing gaze.
The fear was gone. All that remained was cold focused determination because of the rage.
The Lesser Thrall hesitated for the first time as if sensing the danger in front of it.
Lux smirked and he moved to attack again.
Lux's spear shot forward, the rusted tip slashing across the Thrall's face. The jagged edge tore through its cheek and peeling away pale flesh. The creature let out a snarl.
But Lux wasn't frozen anymore.
His mind was clear. He could feel his body responding — his muscles moving with precision.
"Basic Combat Skill."
The Abyss System had given him that skill. He wasn't just some desperate survivor swinging a weapon wildly anymore. He knew how to fight now after his mind cleared.
The Thrall lashed out, its clawed hand swiping toward his throat.
Lux twisted his body to the side. He could feel the rush of air as the claws barely missed him.
He countered immediately, stepping forward and driving his spear downward. The tip plunged into the creature's thigh, cutting deep into muscle.
The Thrall shrieked, its leg buckling slightly from the force of the attack.
Lux didn't stay in place. He jumped back just as another clawed hand slashed toward him, narrowly avoiding being torn apart.
His breath came fast but he was grinning now because he had the advantage.
The Thrall was fast and strong but it was also reckless. It wasn't thinking, it was just attacking blindly, driven by hunger and rage.
Lux could use that.
But then, the creature's movements changed.
With a guttural roar, the Thrall lunged forward, moving faster than before. It was desperate now, its hunger overcoming pain and logic.
Lux thrust his spear forward, aiming for its chest.
"Shit!"
He missed. The tip of his weapon stabbed into its ribs just a few centimeters off from landing a fatal hit in its heart.
And the Thrall didn't stop.
It pushed through the pain, its claws reaching for him.
Lux's eyes widened.
Even with its wounds, even with blood leaking from its body the monster was still far too strong sespite his 12 Strength and his skill.
The Thrall was still overpowering him.
Lux gritted his teeth, his grip tightening around the spear as the creature bore down on him.
The spear sank deeper into the Thrall's flesh as it shoved forward and move closer to him, completely ignoring the wound.
Lux gritted his teeth and braced his legs against the ground trying to push back, but it was so hard.
A pain exploded in his hands when the Thrall's claws slashed at his fingers, tearing his flesh.
"AARGH!"
Lux screamed as blood spilled from the deep gashes. His grip on the spear faltered because of the pain. His flesh was peeling and the jagged claws dug deeper, ripping into muscle.
With a snarl, Lux released the spear.
The sudden lack of resistance made the Thrall lurch forward slightly, and Lux seized the moment.
His right fist clenched tight, blood dripping from his wounded hand as he threw a desperate punch straight at the creature's face.
"CRACK!"
His knuckles connected with the Thrall's temple, snapping its head backward. The force wasn't enough to knock it down, but it staggered.
Lux didn't stop.
Fueled by pain and rage, he stepped forward and kept punching.
"BAGGHH!"
His fist crashed into the Thrall's cheek, splitting the skin open.
"BAGGHH!"
"BAGGHH!"
"BAGGHH!"
...
Each strike sent jolts of pain up his arm, but he did not stop.
Both his and the Thrall's Blood splattered onto the damp alley ground.
Lux's vision blurred with fury as he drove his fists again and again into the creature's face until his hands were slick with blood. The Thrall was stumbling now.
It was working.
Then, something caught Lux's eye — a brick on the ground.
Without thinking, he lunged for it and grab it.
With a roar, he swung the brick with all the strength he had left.
"CRACK!"
The Thrall's skull caved in slightly from the impact, but it still twitched, its glowing eyes flickering.
Lux snarled. He raised the brick higher and slammed it down again.
"CRACK!"
The second blow sent his skull bone fragments flying. Lux then keep hitting until he reach the creature's brain and smashing it until the grey flesh dropped to the ground.
The Thrall let out a final gurgling sound then collapsed.
Its body twitched once. Then it stopped moving.
Lux stood over the corpse. His hands shaking, blood dripping from his fingers.
He stared down at the Thrall's ruined skull and brain. His breath came in quick gasps. His arms felt heavy and his vision swayed with tears.
But he was alive and he had won.
[You have slain the Lesser Thrall.]
[Main Quest Updated: Hunt the Lesser Thrall.]
[Progress: Completed.]
[Level Up!]
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