The vile spawn let out a low, bubbling hiss before sprinting straight at Aldric.
Its long, lanky arms swung in a disturbing rhythm, claws dragging along the rocky ground and leaving thin marks wherever they passed. Each step it took splattered the wet ground with blackened fluid that mixed with the pools of blood around them.
Aldric's body tensed. His instincts screamed.
He forced himself to move—his muscles still sore from the fall.
He pushed off the ground and ran.
One step.
Two steps.
But on the third, his foot slipped on the blood-soaked surface.
Aldric's balance vanished in an instant. He crashed face-first onto the slick floor, his palms scraping against the cold, wet stone. The smell of iron filled his nose. There was no time to think. The creature's footsteps were already closing in.
Without hesitation, Aldric twisted his body to the side. His hand flicked, and a katana flashed into existence with a faint metallic ring. The blade's reflection was warped by the dim red light around them.
A heartbeat later, the vile spawn leaped forward.
Its mouth opened wide—too wide for anything human.
Rows upon rows of needle-like fangs glistened with saliva.
It lunged down, aiming to crush Aldric's head between those teeth.
But instead of flesh, it met cold steel.
Clang!
Aldric's blade held firm against its bite, the sound echoing across the rocky walls. The creature's saliva dripped onto his arm, burning slightly where it touched his skin. He gritted his teeth, pushing back as the creature pressed harder, its head trembling with effort. The stench of its breath filled the air, thick and foul.
Aldric's arms trembled under the pressure. His boots slipped slightly, his back scraping against the ground as the creature bore down on him.
He twisted his wrist and kicked at its midsection. The impact sent a shudder through its body, enough for him to roll out from under it.
He didn't stop moving.
He rolled again, then scrambled to his feet, the katana raised.
The vile spawn staggered back, its faceless head turning toward him. Thick strings of drool dripped from its maw. The creature made a sound—something between a growl and a wet gargle—and then charged again.
Aldric steadied his breathing.
He swung his blade the moment it came close, sparks flashing as the edge met claws.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
Each strike echoed sharply, filling the air with metallic noise. The creature's claws were long and hard like sharpened bone, and every collision sent vibrations through Aldric's arms. He tried to counter, slashing at its limbs whenever he found an opening, but the spawn's movements were erratic—unpredictable. It seemed to move with both rage and hunger, swiping and snapping without pattern.
Step by step, Aldric found himself being pushed backward.
The terrain wasn't in his favor.
The ground slanted slightly, leading toward a steep slope that dropped into mist. He couldn't see the bottom, only hear the faint whisper of wind rising from below. One wrong step would send him sliding down, and there would be no climbing back.
He gritted his teeth and blocked another claw swipe, his katana ringing under the pressure. The creature's strength was unnatural for its size. Its arms swung with enough force to send a shock through his wrists. Still, Aldric refused to retreat further. He shifted his stance and slashed diagonally, managing to nick one of its limbs.
A short hiss escaped the spawn's throat as dark fluid spilled from the shallow cut. But instead of weakening, it only grew more aggressive.
It lunged again, faster this time. Aldric barely had time to raise his sword before another impact sent him stumbling. Sparks burst between steel and claw as the creature hammered down blow after blow, its movements relentless.
"Damn it—" Aldric muttered through clenched teeth, blocking another strike.
His arms felt heavy. His breathing turned ragged. Every muscle burned.
The vile spawn swung its right claw with a wild arc. Aldric blocked—but the impact was heavier than before. The blade shook violently in his hands. The second claw followed almost instantly, and this time, his stance broke.
He staggered back a few steps, boots skidding dangerously close to the slope's edge. Loose stones rolled down into the fog below, disappearing into silence.
The creature crouched low, its long arms dragging along the ground. Then it sprinted again, closing the distance in an instant. Aldric raised his sword to meet it head-on.
Clang!
The katana met its claws once more—but this time, the sound was wrong.
A high, strained ring echoed… followed by a sharp crack.
Aldric's eyes widened.
The blade split down the middle.
Time seemed to slow. Half of the sword spun through the air, landing somewhere behind him. The remaining half trembled in his grip, the edge now jagged and uneven.
The vile spawn didn't stop. It lifted its claws again, dark fluid dripping from their tips. Its faceless head tilted slightly, as if sensing victory. The corners of its wide mouth twitched—almost like a grin.
Aldric took a step back. There was nowhere to run. Behind him was only the slope and the endless drop below.
He gripped the broken weapon tighter, his knuckles pale. His heartbeat pounded in his ears. His breath came in shallow bursts. He could see the reflection of his own silhouette in the creature's wet, slimy skin—small, cornered, and desperate.
The creature raised its claws high, ready to bring them down.
The tips gleamed under the dim red light.
Aldric moved on instinct. He swung the broken blade upward to parry, though he knew it wouldn't hold.
The creature's claws descended.
The sound that followed was deafening—a single metallic shriek that split the air.
Sparks burst, lighting up their faces for a brief instant.
And then—
The katana shattered completely.
Aldric's grip went numb as fragments scattered across the ground. The claws were now just inches from his chest.
There was no time to think, no room to dodge.
The vile spawn's shadow loomed over him, mouth opening once more, strings of saliva dripping onto the shattered ground.
At that moment, Aldric realized—if he didn't act now, this would be the end.
The claws kept falling.
And then—
The world went silent.
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