Chapter 8: Monster (2/2)

The sound of metal striking each other echoed throughout the forest, Rain had turned around instinctively and was able to deflect the claw strike with her remaining dagger, albiet barely, the ground under her feet cracked and she was pushed back a few feet, her knees trembling.

Still the Rykir was visibly surprised, not by the fact that she had blocked it's attack or reacted in time. It had seen her speed before and knew she was only a little slower than it, even with the flames of Hell's enhancement, but was more surprised over the fact that she was able to withstand it's strength.

The skill it used was a more strength based skill, it compensated for its weakness. After a momentary confusion it had finally notice her knees and hands were trembling. It snared and proceeded to repeat his previous attack, it disappeared from view, she could barely block it's strike once she wouldn't be able to do it again, or so it thought.

Appearing above her head it immediately swung it's claws at her head with all it's might.

Boom! Clang!...

The ground shattered like glass but again the sound of metal striking metal was echoed in the forest. 'What's this? How is this possible?' The Rykir was shocked beyond belief by what it had just witness, the wounded prey it had thought would make an easy snack was fighting on par with it, this was ridiculously an insult, it was on the verge of an evolution to the realm of the gods yet a mere mortal was standing toe to toe with it, even while injured, unacceptable, this was an outrage, no longer daring to hold back it let it's emotions take control and went all out.

'Again!' Clang!... 'Again!' Clang!... 'Again!'....

The battle intensified as the Ryrik was repeatedly parried that it forgot it had other attacks and skills, what the beast did not know was his opponent was on the verge of collapsing.

After receiving the full blunt of the Rykir's attack Rein could no longer feel her arm. She only had one blade remaining and was only able to keep up with the Rykir's speed, she was basically reacting on instinct by relying on the blessings of the wind and redirecting the attack as much as she could but she was almost at her limit, the beast was getting faster and more random and she was now making little mistakes.

The chance for a counter she was hoping for to come never came, with no Mana and no abilities she was only delaying the inevitable. ”Sorry Liz, it seems like i can't keep my promise anymore.” She whispered under her breath as she continued the fight to the bitter end, she was sure her bones were almost all shattered she could barely raise her arm but she had no intentions of giving up.

Seeing it's opponent slowing down slowly, the Ryrik was finally regaining it's dying confidence. 'This was more trouble than it's worth, I'll make sure to eat every single part of your body to honor your strength.'

The Rykir finally regained it's sanity as it remembered it had other skills than the flames of hell and could attack in a variety of ways than it basic claw strike.

Seeing it's opponent on death's door it decided to keep up its current attack pattern as a tribute to a Worthy opponent.

Clang!... BOOM!

The fight had gone on for a few more minutes but in the end Rain was unable to withstand the strength of the Ancient Rykir and was sent flying, slamming in to a giant tree

Gasp! Ack... She gasp in pain as she spat out blood. Still she struggled to stand with the intention of fighting till her last breath. ”Sorry Liz... cough... cough...it was my idea to head into the forest... i should have been more aware.” being in such a state it was strange how the only thing she could think of was her friend but it seems to be giving her the strength to keep on fighting in the hopes her friend would be able to escape when she wakes up.

The Rykir seeing it opponent struggle to stay on her feet felt relieved, it really did not expect such an intense battle. Without trying to be careless it quickly shot out one of it's blade like horns at it's prey.

Zing... Bang!

Although the horn did not explode this time it impaled Rain in the shoulder to the tree.

The Rykir snare as it had gotten revenge for the blade still stuck to his shoulder. It walk slowly to it's wounded prey as it prepared it finishing blow.

°Body of the Reaper.°

The flames around its body intensified as it's eyes glowed brightly with a red hue. It's claw was covered in reddish yellow flame which was in contrast with the greyish black flames around its body, the Ryrik looked like an hound from hell ready to drag it's opponent back with it.

It bent it's legs as it prepared to pounced on his prey, however, at that moment the temperature around him drop dramatically, the air was almost visible to the naked eye, space around it became incredibly dense, it was like time had stopped, but no, the air around was still moving, albiet barely, it could visibly see the flames around him dying out slowly, the sudden change in temperature cause it to lose his train of thought, as it noticed the ground around him was already frozen, the air was thin like it was standing on the peak of the tallest mountain.

”Ice Domain!”