Kael darted between the trees, his boots pounding against the uneven forest floor.
Behind him—
BOOM!
The beast crashed through a fallen log as though it were nothing more than dry twigs.
Kael didn't dare look back.
The heavy footsteps alone told him everything.
It was still coming.
Fast.
A sharp pain shot through his ribs with every breath.
The blow he had taken in the clearing had done more damage than he wanted to admit.
I can't outrun it...
His eyes swept across the forest.
Tall trees.
Loose rocks.
Exposed roots.
Anything he could use.
A low growl echoed behind him.
Closer.
Kael suddenly veered left.
The beast lunged a heartbeat later.
Its claws tore through the tree he had been running toward, sending splinters flying past his face.
Kael stumbled but caught himself before falling.
He slashed instinctively.
Clang!
His blade scraped across the beast's foreleg, leaving another shallow wound.
Again...
Too shallow.
The beast barely reacted.
Instead, it swung a massive paw.
Kael ducked.
The claws passed inches above his head, close enough for him to feel the wind from the strike.
He rolled away just as the ground exploded where he had been.
Dirt showered into the air.
Kael forced himself back to his feet.
His breathing had become ragged.
"This thing..."
"...doesn't get tired."
The beast prowled in a slow circle around him.
Its amber eyes never left him.
It wasn't charging anymore.
It was waiting.
Watching.
Looking for an opening.
Kael steadied his breathing.
It's learning.
Every reckless attack he'd made had taught the beast how he moved.
That meant he had to start learning too.
The beast favored its right foreleg ever so slightly.
Not enough to slow it.
But enough to notice.
That cut...
It wasn't useless after all.
The beast growled and lunged again.
This time Kael didn't run immediately.
He waited.
One heartbeat.
Two.
Three—
At the last possible instant, he sidestepped.
The beast's claws slammed into the trunk behind him.
For a brief moment...
Its right foreleg bore almost all of its weight.
Kael struck.
Slash!
His sword bit deeper than before.
The beast roared in pain and jerked backward.
Blood splattered across the forest floor.
Kael didn't celebrate.
He retreated immediately.
The beast was hurt.
But far from defeated.
Its breathing grew heavier.
Its gaze...
Colder.
It no longer saw him as prey struggling to survive.
Now...
It saw him as a threat.
The beast lowered its head.
Every muscle in its body tightened.
Kael slowly raised his sword.
His arms trembled from exhaustion.
His legs felt heavy.
He had managed to wound it.
But he was running out of strength.
The next exchange...
Would decide whether he lived long enough to see another sunrise.
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Use arrow keys (or A / D) to PREV/NEXT chapter