Our first line braced for impact. They may as well have been twigs.
The beast slammed into them, tossing two knights aside like straw dolls.
Armor split—bones shattered—screams tore the air.
We attacked its legs. Slashing, stabbing, hacking. But its exoskeleton was nearly impenetrable.
Its mandibles clamped down on Sir Rhys. One second he stood beside me—the next he was torn clean in half.
Vice Captain Jin roared, swinging his greatsword, cleaving into the beast's exposed joint.
Black blood sprayed—boiling, corrosive. It hissed and ate through his visor, burning his left eye.
He fell with a cry so guttural it shook me.
"JIN!"
But there was no time—two more knights were crushed as the beast reared up and slammed its body down. The force cracked the ground, sending dust exploding upward.
