Ice was violently thrown aside. Nothing seemed able to stop him as his body tumbled across the ground before crashing hard into a tree, barely avoiding unconsciousness.
Meanwhile, Ray quickly tried to draw his sword and put some distance between himself and the creature. He managed to unsheathe it and jumped backward without checking where he would land. With a thunderous roar, the beast lunged, claws carving the air as it slammed into Ray's ribs. in the side before his feet could even touch the ground.
The blow sent him flying into another tree, which didn't budge an inch despite the impact. Groaning, he forced himself back to his feet, trying to regain his composure just as the beast charged at him in a frenzy.
All he could see was the monster's long arm stretching toward his chest, aiming to pierce his heart.
At the last second, he managed to twist his body just enough so the strike hit his shoulder instead of a blow that would have been fatal otherwise.
The impact hurled him across the ground once more, this time with no vegetation to break his fall. It took several seconds before his battered body came to a stop. He lay there, bloodied, breath ragged, his eyes vacant. He tried to rise as the beast approached, but as soon as he found his footing, he collapsed to his knees.
Helpless, he watched in despair as the creature closed in to deliver the final blow. He shut his eyes.
"Claire… is this the end?" he whispered.
But the blow never came. Instead, he heard only the beast's howls of pain.
After losing consciousness for a few seconds, Ice awoke. His entire body ached unbearably, but he hadn't broken any bones; at least none that would incapacitate him. Perhaps it was just the adrenaline.
He saw the beast looming over Ray, ready to impale his shoulder. Without hesitation, he ran toward it. On the way, he scooped up his sword from the ground without breaking stride. The beast seemed slower now, its movements sluggish.
Even if they couldn't kill it outright, their attacks were clearly taking a toll.
"How do I finish it?" Ice thought.
Ray had already stabbed it in the center of the chest with no effect; so its heart clearly wasn't there. Still, it had to be somewhere in that region. Ice was fairly sure it would be on the chest, just not directly in the center.
So this time, he aimed for the beast's right side.
If its anatomy wasn't too different from a human's, it had to be close.
He finally reached the monster, which still had its attention fixed on Ray. He lifted off the ground in a leap and plunged his blade just to the right of the mark Ray had made earlier.
Without wasting a second, he pulled out the sword and jumped back. He didn't want to make the same mistake Ray had; lingering too long, confident the fight was over.
Holding his breath, Ice watched the beast.
A few seconds passed.
Still, it didn't fall.
Still not dead.
The creature ceased its screaming and turned toward the source of its pain, abandoning Ray.
It lunged at Ice, mouth wide open, ready to devour him. He dodged to the side just in time, watching it rush past. Quickly, he turned to face it again.
The beast was furious, emitting deafening roars. Ice, already used to the ringing of the border bell, was somewhat able to resist the painful sound.
Now, when they clashed, the beast's attacks no longer sent him flying with a single swipe.
She's really weakened, he thought.
Their blows were working. He still couldn't overpower the creature, but now he could withstand its flurry of attacks. He managed to deflect most of its strikes, even though his arms throbbed from the shock.
His resistance was largely thanks to the monster's declining strength. It was much slower now. But Ice was also improving. Each injury seemed to fuel his resolve. His will to survive, to kill the beast, kept him on his feet. For the first time, he began to feel a spark of hope.
But reality was cruel.
He was starving, parched, and every part of his body screamed in agony.
He couldn't hold out much longer. Though he now had the speed advantage and could hold his ground, time was running out. He had to end this.
Ray had already stabbed the center. Ice had tried the right side. Only one option remained the left side of its chest.
Just as he was preparing his final strike, he heard a crack.
His sword.
It was beginning to fracture.
Seriously?
Ray had warned him it was only a backup weapon not very sturdy. In the heat of everything, Ice had completely forgotten.
The next blow from the beast shattered the sword into pieces.
He leapt backward, his gaze darkening. He looked behind him. He had already made up his mind he had to run.
There was nothing more he could do.
He just hoped the creature would go after him instead of Ray. At its current speed, he was fairly confident he could lose it in the forest.
But before he could turn to flee, a roar echoed again.
An arrow had pierced the beast's back.
It turned around to locate the source.
Ray stood there, bow in hand, staring the monster down.
Ice didn't understand.
The arrow had barely scratched its scales. It was just a distraction. Was Ray trying to sacrifice himself?
Then another voice called out.
"Here!" Celestia shouted, breathless, tossing Ray's sword toward him.
The situation was getting harder to follow.
She had given Ray the bow and now she was giving him the sword, just as he was about to retreat?
Still stunned, he caught the weapon and turned his attention back to the monster.
It had already lost interest in Ray and was advancing toward him again.
"The right flank!" Celestia shouted, hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath.
Ice's eyes sharpened instantly. He now knew where to strike.
The beast swung at his head with a speed born of desperation one final blow meant to kill. Ice ducked beneath it and lunged forward, using all the strength he had left to drive the sword deep into its right flank.
The beast let out a final, pitiful howl and then slowly collapsed.
Ice watched it fall.
The monster was dead.
And they had killed it.