The next morning, Arthur set out into the forest as usual, determined to avoid the direction where he had encountered the beast the previous day. Yet, as he ventured deeper, an ominous commotion interrupted his thoughts. Flocks of birds burst into the sky from the direction he had just come, their panicked flight filling the air with frenzied flapping.
Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!
The faint vibrations beneath his feet grew stronger with each passing second. Startled, Arthur climbed up a nearby tree, seeking a better vantage point. Moments later, the ground below erupted into chaos as hordes of animals stampeded through the forest, their frantic movements shaking the earth. The sheer terror in their retreat made Arthur's skin crawl. It was as if they were fleeing from an unstoppable force.
As the forest gradually fell silent again, Arthur climbed down, his unease mounting. A prickling sensation crawled up the back of his neck. Something wasn't right. He decided to head back to the treehouse, a deep sense of urgency spurring his steps.
Thump!
The ground shook violently, causing Arthur to stumble. He regained his balance, but the tremors continued, each one heavier than the last.
Thump!
Arthur froze mid-step as the vibrations became almost unbearable. The dread he had been suppressing now gripped him completely.
Sniff! Sniff!
A familiar scent reached his nose, but it was far stronger than before. His stomach sank as realization struck him like a blow.
"This can't be good," he muttered under his breath, before breaking into a full sprint toward the treehouse.
Roaaar!
The guttural roar that followed sent shivers down Arthur's spine. It was loud, primal, and brimming with fury. The sound echoed through the forest, shaking the very trees around him. Arthur's instincts screamed at him to flee, but he pushed forward, his mother's safety his only concern.
As he approached the treehouse, Arthur's throat went dry. A massive 10-foot-long beast loomed before the sturdy tree. It was a gigantic version of the creature he had fought the day before. Towering over 8 feet tall, its ferocious eyes burned with intelligence and rage. Its horn gleamed with a radiant brown hue, sharp as a blade, while a bright, viscous liquid—liquefied Earth element—flowed between the gaps of its dark-brown armor plates. The liquid not only protected the beast but also gave it unparalleled regenerative abilities, making it nearly invincible.
Arthur's stomach twisted in dread. The truth hit him hard.
"I attacked its cub yesterday. What shit luck!" he cursed under his breath.
Compared to this towering mother, the cub was nothing more than a helpless infant. If Arthur had barely escaped from the cub, what chance did he stand against this monstrous creature?
Bang!
The beast rammed its horn into the tree with incredible force, causing it to tilt dangerously. The roots strained under the impact, groaning in protest.
"Aaaaah!"
Arthur's mother's scream pierced the air. She clung desperately to the branches above, her knuckles white as she struggled to hold on. The treehouse shook violently with each blow, threatening to collapse.
The beast, indifferent to her cries, stepped back and lowered its head, preparing for another strike. Its movements were deliberate, its massive frame exuding a terrifying aura of raw power. The tree, chosen for its thickness and deep roots, had already survived two blows. But Arthur could see it wouldn't survive a third.
Arthur's mind spiraled as memories flashed before him. Kian's attack on his mother. Their escape from the village. The helplessness he felt during their first nights in the forest. And now, his mother's life was once again on the line—all because of his arrogance.
"It's all because of me," Arthur whispered, his fists trembling with frustration. The thought of losing his mother because of his own mistakes clawed at his chest like a dagger. He couldn't let it happen. Not again.
The beast began its charge, its horn gleaming ominously in the sunlight. Arthur was still a dozen feet away, too far to intervene.
"Noooo!" he shouted, taking his first step forward.
In the blink of an eye, Arthur found himself directly in front of the beast. He didn't know how he had covered the distance so quickly, but there was no time to ponder the mystery. The beast froze momentarily, startled by the sudden appearance of another human.
Arthur's emotions boiled over. The fear, guilt, and frustration he had bottled up erupted like a volcano. He funneled all his rage into his fists, his voice echoing with raw intensity.
"Rock Shattering Fist! Barrage!" he roared, unleashing a relentless flurry of punches at the beast's nose. Each strike was filled with the full force of his body, his fists moving in a blur as hundreds of punches landed on the same spot in rapid succession.
The forest seemed to tremble under the ferocity of his assault. A thick dust cloud swirled around the collision, obscuring the scene. The ground beneath them cracked, and nearby plants were uprooted, torn apart by the shockwaves.
Arthur's muscles screamed in protest, but he refused to stop. His vision blurred, his knuckles split open, blood dripping onto the forest floor. After what felt like an eternity, his body finally gave out. He collapsed to the ground, gasping for air, his fists trembling uncontrollably.
Gulp!
Arthur swallowed hard, his heart hammering in his chest. If his attack hadn't worked, he knew there would be no escape.
As the dust began to settle, Arthur's eyes widened in horror. The beast stood firm. A shallow dent and minor bruises marred its nose where his punches had landed. The damage, though visible, was insignificant. Worse still, the liquefied Earth element had already begun to repair the wounds, the bruises fading as if they had never been there.
The beast's eyes narrowed, its rage intensifying. Being struck by a human had only fueled its fury.
Roaaar!
The beast let out a deafening roar, a sound of pure wrath and power that reverberated through the forest. Arthur felt despair wash over him like a tidal wave. He had given everything he had, pushed himself beyond his limits, and yet it wasn't enough. Before this colossal beast, he was nothing more than an insect.
He glanced at his mother one last time. She had stopped screaming, her face pale with worry. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she forced a weak smile, as if to say, "It's okay. Let go now."
Arthur turned back to the beast, his body trembling with exhaustion and fear. Above its horn, a massive rock began to form, swirling with concentrated elemental energy. The rock grew larger and larger, its surface jagged and deadly. Arthur's knees buckled as the beast prepared to unleash its attack.
As the massive rock hurtled toward him, Arthur closed his eyes, bracing for the end.