The ground shook beneath the thunderous blows Sareth landed against the lizard-like Vorm. Each strike echoed through the ruined plain like a deep drumroll. Wielding his massive steel axe, Sareth unleashed a relentless series of precise, devastating attacks, aiming to pierce the creature's scale-covered, impenetrable hide. But the Vorm retaliated with startling speed, its long, razor-sharp claws cutting through the air, whipping up dust and debris all around them.
The clash between the two adversaries was a spectacle of raw energy. Their auras collided in bursts of spectral fire, bathing the battlefield in an otherworldly glow. Sareth felt every blow drain a portion of his strength, but his resolve never wavered. There was no room for error—each second of this duel carried the weight of life or death.
This lizard Vorm was no mere beast. There was a chilling intelligence in its glowing yellow eyes. It read Sareth's movements, dodging or countering with alarming precision. Sareth quickly realized this creature was unlike any Vorm he'd ever fought. It was something more—faster, smarter, deadlier.
The axe cleaved through the air again and again, sometimes bouncing off the creature's hardened hide. Each impact sent shockwaves into the earth beneath their feet. Drawing deeper on his aura, Sareth forced energy through every muscle fiber in his body. With gritted teeth and blazing determination, he struck with a fury that roared louder than any war cry.
The Vorm staggered slightly under the onslaught but held its ground. With a guttural roar—deep and primeval—it shook the very air around them. In a blink, its massive tail whipped out and slammed Sareth with bone-crushing force, hurling him into the ground. A crater formed beneath his body. But he stood again, groaning, his will as solid as ever.
Pain surged through his limbs. He steadied his breath, slowing his racing heart, letting his aura pulse in rhythm. In his mind, he pictured a secret technique—one he had held in reserve, waiting for the right moment. A final card for desperate times.
They began circling one another, like predators. The Vorm opened its jaws and spat a stream of burning acid. Sareth rolled aside just in time, the corrosive liquid melting stone and steel, releasing a thick cloud of toxic vapor.
He plunged into the mist, trusting his battle instincts. Channeling his aura into a slicing wave, he launched it through the smoke. It struck the Vorm's flank, tearing flesh and drawing a howl of pain. Sareth didn't hesitate—he pressed forward, raining down blow after blow in a ruthless barrage.
The Vorm attempted to anchor itself by coiling its tail around a stone pillar. Its scales darkened to crimson, its internal energy surging. Sareth knew the battle was far from over. The beast still had power to spare.
In a surge of focus, Sareth gathered all his aura into one arm and lifted his axe high. Spinning it in a storm of energy, he brought it crashing down like a tempest. The impact sent the Vorm flying, shards of scale scattering in all directions.
But just when he thought the end was near, spikes erupted from the creature's back, glowing with dark, corrupted energy. A malevolent aura radiated from the beast, warping the air itself. Sareth's breath caught. This wasn't over. Not yet.
With blinding speed, the Vorm lunged and struck Sareth in the side. The force was brutal. He stumbled, his vision dimming, life slipping through his grasp. Still, he didn't fall. His feet held. His grip tightened.
He leaned against a rock, panting. His eyes, full of fury and respect, met those of the beast. This battle was unlike any before. He would need more than strength. He would need a weakness—a way in.
Their deadly dance resumed, blades and claws flashing in a blur of motion. Every strike opened new wounds. Every dodge barely avoided death. The Vorm's power grew more monstrous, but Sareth's will burned hotter with every blow.
Fatigue crept in, but rage and purpose kept him upright. He thought of his comrades. Of their hope. He couldn't fall—not here. Not now.
The Vorm opened its maw and released a breath of shadowy flame. The searing heat rushed toward him. Sareth threw himself to the ground, skin blistering, but he rose at once, eyes blazing with defiance.
One last time, he channeled all his energy into his weapon, spinning it into a vortex of pure aura. He hurled it like a comet straight into the beast's chest. The explosion was deafening. The Vorm screamed as energy tore through its body, smoke and fire engulfing it.
It staggered, battered, burned, its scales shattered in places. Sareth felt it—victory was within reach.
And then… the Vorm rose.
Darkness swelled around it. Its aura deepened into something vile and ancient. It stared at Sareth with burning hatred and an unyielding will.
Sareth took a step back. A chill twisted his stomach. The fight was not over. The monster still had a secret, one last devastating move left to play.
The creature growled, a sound more laughter than rage. The ground trembled beneath its claws. Then, in a flash, it surged toward him again, aiming for a strike that could change everything.
Sareth tightened his grip around his axe, planting his feet. His lungs burned, his body screamed, but his spirit stood firm.