The night cloaked the forest in thick darkness, while a thin mist crept between the towering trees, casting shifting shadows in the silence. At the edge of the ominous woodland, Alcard stood motionless, his breath steady but laced with vigilance. The heavy stillness in the air was only occasionally broken by the soft rustling of falling leaves, as if the forest itself was whispering a warning about something lurking in the abyss.
With measured steps, Alcard began following a hidden path beneath the thick foliage. The damp earth beneath his boots absorbed every footfall with the soft squelch of mud mixed with decaying leaves. The small torch in his hand cast a faint glow, barely illuminating a few steps ahead, but enough to reveal a set of large footprints freshly imprinted in the sludge. Alcard crouched down, examining the tracks with sharp eyes that gleamed under the dim light.
"Cyclops..." he murmured, almost emotionlessly, but his gaze was filled with heightened awareness.
Not far from where he stood, he found the rotting carcass of a deer, sprawled on the ground with deep, gaping wounds across its body, as if it had been mauled by enormous claws. The stench of decay was overwhelming, blending with the thick humidity that clung to the forest air. Alcard studied the wounds more closely, quickly realizing that this was no ordinary monster's doing.
"This wasn't done by a typical Cyclops…" he muttered suspiciously, his fingers brushing over the deep slashes marking the deer's corpse.
Suddenly, the ground beneath his feet trembled. The vibrations started faintly but grew stronger with each passing second, as if something massive was drawing near. A low, guttural growl that had been distant now morphed into a thunderous roar, echoing through the forest, sending ripples through the dense foliage.
Alcard immediately assumed a defensive stance, his body tensing in full readiness. His sword gleamed in his right hand, while his left raised the torch to extend his field of vision. His crimson eyes flickered under the moonlight peeking through the tree branches, scanning his surroundings for any movement.
From behind the thick undergrowth, a colossal figure emerged with heavy, earth-shaking steps. A mutated Cyclops, standing over three meters tall, loomed over the clearing, its single eye blazing with raw fury. Its heavy, ragged breaths came in loud snarls, revealing rows of jagged teeth beneath the dim glow of the night. In its massive hands, it wielded a thick tree trunk like a club, ready to demolish anything in its path.
— GRRAAAHHHH!!!
A deafening roar erupted from the creature's throat, shattering the eerie stillness of the night. Without hesitation, the Cyclops lifted its wooden club and hurled it toward Alcard with monstrous strength.
In mere seconds, Alcard leaped sideways, narrowly dodging the attack. The impact of the club sent shockwaves through the earth, obliterating the spot where he had just been standing. Chunks of wood and wet soil exploded into the air, leaving a deep crater in the damp ground.
"Damn it…" Alcard hissed, his breath quickening. "A mutated Cyclops."
Before he could fully regain his footing, the Cyclops lunged forward, swinging its club in a wide arc with devastating force. Alcard raised his sword, meeting the blow with precision, but the sheer power behind the attack sent him skidding backward several meters. His boots dragged deep trenches into the mud before he managed to steady himself again.
"Inhuman strength…" he muttered under his breath, though his expression remained unreadable. He showed no sign of fear—only sharp focus, as if carefully analyzing his opponent's every move.
The Cyclops growled once more, its enormous eye fixated on Alcard with pure hatred. With earth-shaking steps, it prepared to strike again, bringing its club down in a crushing swing. But this time, Alcard was ready.
With exceptional agility, he sidestepped the attack, and in one swift motion, he countered—aiming his blade at the monster's vulnerable knee.
The battle had now truly begun. Under the darkened sky, deep within the silent forest, Alcard and the mutated Cyclops faced off in a deadly duel—one that would determine which of them would walk away alive.
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