Chapter 03: A Hero's Collapse
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The crater echoed with hisses and shrill cries as the swarm of Skitherclaws closed in on Lucian.
His breaths came in ragged gasps, his body screaming in protest with every move he made. Yet, his eyes burned with a fire that refused to be extinguished.
"I'm not going down without a fight!" he roared, his voice trembling but defiant.
The Skitherclaws surged toward him, their claws scraping against the rocks with a piercing skrr-ch!
The sound grated against his ears, adding to the tension of the life-or-death battle.
Lucian clenched his fists, shifting his stance. Every muscle in his body ached, but he couldn't afford to falter. He eyed the remaining creatures; there were still more than ten, and they seemed angrier than ever.
One Skitherclaw lunged at him, its tail whipping through the air with a sharp whoosh!
Lucian ducked, barely avoiding the jagged tip, and retaliated with a swift kick. His foot connected with the creature's body, sending it flying into the jagged edge of the crater.
Thud! Crack!
The creature twitched once before going still.
"One down," Lucian muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. "Again."
But the reprieve was short-lived. Two more Skitherclaws darted toward him from opposite sides, their claws slashing in perfect unison.
Swish! Slash!
Lucian threw himself backward, narrowly avoiding the attack. One of the claws grazed his arm, leaving a shallow but painful cut. He gritted his teeth, ignoring the sting, and snatched up a nearby rock.
With a grunt, he hurled the stone at the closest creature.
Wham!
The Skitherclaw crumpled to the ground, dazed. Lucian didn't hesitate. He lunged forward, stomping down with all his might.
Crunch!
The creature let out a final, pitiful hiss before falling silent.
The remaining Skitherclaws didn't retreat. If anything, they grew bolder, their movements becoming faster and more coordinated. Lucian's chest tightened.
"They're learning," he realized, dread pooling in his stomach.
Before he could recover, one of the creatures leapt onto his back, its claws digging into his shirt.
"Get off me!" he shouted, stumbling forward.
He twisted violently, slamming his back into the ground.
Thwack!
The Skitherclaw screeched in pain, releasing its grip. Lucian spun around and delivered a punch, sending it sprawling to the ground.
In this dumb move he also got injured. The creature claws stab deep in his back by the drop force/ gravity.
His knuckles throbbed from the impact, but he didn't stop. He couldn't afford to. He pulls out the creature from his back.
Then he wrapped his shirt around the wound making a knot. Hoping to stop the bleeding.
Before he could finish, Another Skitherclaw lunged at his leg, its claws aimed for his thigh.
Rip!
The creature's claws tore through his pants, leaving a shallow gash on his leg. Lucian cried out in pain, kicking wildly to dislodge it. The Skitherclaw flew off, but the damage was done.
Blood trickled down his leg, staining the rocky ground.
"I can't keep this up," he thought, his vision swimming. "But if I stop now, I'm dead."
He sought out loud. Dam it system. Where the hell did you send me? If I die here I will never let you go.
Lucian forced himself to focus. The creatures were relentless, but so was he. He reached down, grabbing two rocks and clutching them tightly.
"Come on!" he shouted, his voice hoarse. "Let's end this!"
The Skitherclaws hissed in unison, their tails whipping the air. They charged as one, their tiny bodies moving in a deadly wave.
Lucian swung wildly, holding two dead creatures in his hand. Making them as a weapon for himself.
Thwack! Crunch! Wham!
The sounds of battle echoed across the crater. For every creature he struck down, another took its place. His arms ached, his legs burned, and his wounds bled freely.
One of the creatures managed to leap onto his shoulder, its claws digging into his flesh. Lucian howled in pain, slamming himself into a rock to dislodge it.
Crash!
The Skitherclaw fell, dazed, and he stomped on it without hesitation.
"I won't die here!" he shouted, his voice raw.
At last, only one Skitherclaw remained. It hissed at him, its body crouched low and ready to pounce.
Lucian stood his ground, his chest heaving. His vision blurred, but he refused to fall not yet.
"Come on," he muttered, tightening his grip on the claws in his hand. "Let's finish this."
The creature lunged, its claws flashing in the dim light.
Whoosh!
Lucian sidestepped, bringing the claws down with all his strength.
Crunch!
The Skitherclaw collapsed, its body twitching once before going still.
For a moment, there was silence. Lucian stood in the center of the crater, his body trembling and covered in blood and sweat.
He glanced at the bodies of the Skitherclaws scattered around him.
"It's... it's over," he murmured, dropping the rock.
His legs gave out beneath him, and he collapsed to the ground.
Unbeknownst to Lucian, someone had been watching the battle unfold.
High on a nearby hill, a lone figure stood cloaked in shadows. The figure's silhouette was lean and tall, with sharp features obscured by a hood.
The figure watched intently, their eyes narrowing as Lucian collapsed.
"So, the rumors are true," the figure murmured, their voice low and thoughtful. " indeen someone fell from the sky last night. How intriguing."
Another group leader was also watching him, They turned slightly, gesturing to someone behind them.
"Go. Bring him in," they ordered.
Two scouts stepped forward from the shadows, their movements swift and silent.
Lucian lay unconscious in the crater, his body battered and broken. The battle had been won, but at a heavy cost.
As the scouts descended the hill, their intentions unknown, the alien sun was covered by lower clouds in the sky, casting long shadows over the battlefield.
The story of Lucian was far from over. It had only just begun.
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