The dark clearing trembled with the Mantícora de Sombras' deep, deafening roar as it emerged from the shadows. Its presence was terrifying: a muscular body covered in fur as black as the night, torn wings extending like blades, and a tail that lashed the air, its stinger glinting with deadly venom.
Kael clenched his jaw and adjusted his stance. He knew Manticores were lethal creatures, designed to exploit the weaknesses of their prey. This wouldn't be a simple fight but a test of both strength and wit.
"Stay calm," he reminded himself, drawing from his prior gaming experience.
The golden floating circle reappeared briefly, projecting a message in ethereal letters:
Objective: Defeat the Shadow Manticore. Use your surroundings and abilities to overcome its advantages.
The beast let out a snarl, baring its yellowed fangs before charging at Kael with devastating speed.
Kael reacted just in time, rolling to the side as the Manticore's claws tore into the ground, shredding the earth with ease. Regaining his balance, Kael studied the creature.
"It's fast, but its brute strength makes it a bit predictable," he thought.
The Manticore didn't grant him any reprieve. With a powerful beat of its wings, it leapt into the air, lashing its tail at him. Kael raised his sword, narrowly deflecting the strike, but the impact sent him skidding back several meters.
Kael panted, his arms vibrating from the force. "That tail... If it hits me, it's over."
Even in the intensity of the moment, Kael began analyzing. He knew Manticores followed attack patterns: alternating between frontal charges, aerial assaults, and venom strikes. But they were also cunning, adapting quickly to an opponent's predictable moves.
Scanning his surroundings, Kael noted the tall trees surrounding the clearing, their roots stretching out like an intricate web. An idea began forming in his mind.
Seizing a moment when the Manticore lunged at him again, Kael darted toward one of the thicker trees, positioning himself to use it as cover. The beast pursued him, but its massive size made movement in tighter spaces difficult.
"Perfect," Kael murmured, slicing low-hanging branches as he moved, letting them fall as improvised obstacles.
The Manticore roared in frustration, stepping back and flapping its wings to clear the debris. At that moment, Kael activated his shadow affinity, enveloping his blade in a faint dark mist.
As the Manticore charged again, Kael sidestepped gracefully, maneuvering to the creature's left flank. Its venomous tail whipped through the air, but Kael was ready this time. Using an exposed root as leverage, he leapt and delivered a precise slash to the base of its tail.
The Manticore let out a pained roar, spinning furiously to retaliate. However, the injury weakened its precision, giving Kael a slight advantage.
Kael took a shaky breath, knowing this was only the beginning.
With venom dripping from its wounded tail and its glowing yellow eyes filled with rage, the Manticore circled him, its movements deliberate and calculating. Kael stepped back into a more advantageous position, his mind racing.
"This is just a small victory," he murmured. "If I want to win, I need to do more than just endure."
The beast watched him, pacing in a predatory arc as Kael tightened his grip on his sword, his determination hardening.
The real battle was about to begin.
What do you think? Does the tension and pacing feel right to you?