Chapter 8: Becoming one
This story may depict graphic or violent scenes. Reader discretion is advised.
“That was too close.” Stride says as he yet again narrowly escapes death. His heightened senses allowed him to react adequately to his attacker’s unfiltered killing intent.
But where did it come from? He thinks to himself.
A massive circular slab of metal sits in front of him. The force of the throw carved through the ground underneath it. It would require the strength of three grown men just to lift this thing.
“What kind of monster could wield such a weapon and remain unseen in these forests?”
“You were quite troublesome to my children, especially for a mere Frayling.”
“Hahahahahaha,” The being’s sudden laughter echoes through the forest. Stride tries to search for a heartbeat, but the pressure of its killing intent overwhelms his senses.
“We can smell your kind from afar, yet it is dangerous for us to hunt you out in the open. I am pleased that you decided to make it easy for me by coming this far on your journey.”
*Thud!*
Something landed on the ground. Where is it coming from?
“Rest well my children, you have all done enough.”
“Frayling, you have made a grave mistake coming here.”
A tall, horned being reveals itself. It is clothed unlike most creatures Stride had met before. It carries two circular blades, heavy sharp slabs of metal. They are almost equal to him in size.
“It will be my pleasure in taking you in as my own. Living together as we hunt eternal-”
Stride wastes no time.
I will finish this quickly. I have no time to listen to the ramblings of this monster. There are people who need saving.
The monster outmatches Stride’s speed with ease.
“I was not done talking yet,” it says mockingly.
“AAARGHH”
Effortlessly the monster moves around Stride as a swift counterattack severs Stride’s hand. The creature brings its other cleaver forward to attack, which Stride notices. Stride jumps of his front foot to dodge it.
But the monster is fast. Stride‘s attempt to evade fails as the cleaver tears through his face. Blood comes gushing out.
“How delicious you are.”
“This is why you are to die for, Frayling. Your blood is highly addictive.”
I cannot get close to that monster, such lightning speed. Even when I saw its attack coming, I could only escape with my face cut open.
“I killed your offspring, and my blood is all that you can think about. Are you not angered?” Stride asks.
“Angered? No-no-no, I am thrilled, thrilled for the opportunity to consume you. So that we can become one.” She says, as she reveals the eyes of countless of people imprisoned on her chest.
“Those are… people..?”
They stare back at Stride in agony as they have become one with this horrifying creature.
“You are completely insane,” he says.
“It is just that I perform better with an audience,” she answers mockingly.
“You should realise by now that you are far too green to face me, Frayling. I am The Huntress, and as you have entered my woods, your fate belongs to me. So let us become one, and hunt in this world together.”
Talking to this monster serves no purpose. I have to kill it if I want to get out of here.
Their battle continues, a terrifying dance of guts and steel. Stride is outmatched in speed as The Huntress effortlessly dodges his attacks. Every blow of his misses its target, and is met with an almost devastating counter attack. His recovery ability becomes less and less as the battle continues. Stride sacrifices too many lives in the process of trying to land a hit on her.
I will have to lure her in using her own attacks. He thinks as he throws a jab with his left hand.
Just in time, he reaches his hand back as The Huntress counters with one of her cleavers. She cuts deep into his arm.
Stride had predicted this. He baits her with this fresh injury to his arm. And now that she is in range..
I got you now!
His right-hand flies forward, his fist only at hair’s length from the monster’s face. He can almost feel her breath on his fist.
“AAAAARGGHHH”
“As I said. You are far too green to face me.” The Huntress says grinning from ear to ear as she carves his arm in three. As Stride was strategizing, so was she. The Huntress waited for him to commit to his attacks, and gave him hope by letting him get this close to her. Then she made him pay for his ignorance.
She blitzes past him as blood gushes from Stride’s back. She carves him to pieces with her massive cleavers.
“We are so close, Frayling.” She says with absolute glee.
“It burns,” as he clamps his hand down on his chest.
His heart pumps furiously to bring his body back to normal. His healing has deteriorated, allowing him to only heal what parts of his body he deems necessary. He now has to consciously focus on restoring his limbs and his injuries.
“I cannot lose… not here, not now…,” he mumbles.
Overwhelmed with anger, pure hatred fills his blood boiling with rage. His heart soars heavy as a voice enters his mind.
“Risk it all. We live or die by the gambit of death!” The voice commands.
But instead…
He waits.
If I give in to anger now, I will die.
He sits through the gruelling pain as he slowly rises. The anger inside him wants to rush at the creature and tear it apart from limb to limb. But Stride fights this urge for hatred, by staying completely still.
To defeat such a monster, I need to fight it not as a monster, but as a man utilizing the power of a monster. He thinks to himself as he studies The Huntress.
Stride charges at The Huntress, preparing to give it his all.
“A new strategy?”, “How sweet!” The Huntress says. She stands still until the last moment…
“I am going to cave your head in!” Stride shouts at the top of his lungs as he reaches his right arm back to throw a big swing. Simultaneously, he tries to grab The Huntress with his left.
She cuts off both of his hands.
Mine is what you are, Frayling! My children were a worthy sacrifice for someone of your stature. Let us unite onto my body. The Huntress thinks to herself.
Yet her eyes realised something before she could. At the last moment before impact, they noticed their mistake.
“AAAARRRRGGGHHH,” She screams.
Sacrificing both arms to deliver a kick that would split her in half. In a single blow, the battle is over. His strongest weapon of all, the offensive power to destroy all that he touches.
The Huntress is no more.
End of chapter 8.