Fear.
Skylar hadn't truly felt fear since her parents died and she realized she was all alone in the world. She had overcome that somehow, and she hadn't been truly afraid since. Not until today, as she fled blindly through the night, barely dodging trees and the snapping bites of the wolves on her heels.
As Skylar dodged around another tree, her mangled hand burning, she reviewed what Flow of Battle had told her. If she had stayed around the fire, she would have died—she wasn't built for prolonged battles against multiple stronger opponents. She was a dexterity and speed-based fighter who excelled in one-on-one battles. Facing multiple opponents as fast and agile as she was would guarantee a loss. So Skylar decided to flee. She ducked under branches, leaped over boulders, her stamina slowly flagging from the lack of rest or sleep over the past day. Determined, she pressed on - pushing past the burning in her legs and fire in her lungs.
I can’t get stronger dead, that's for sure, Skylar thought, grimacing as the Junior Alpha Nyx slashed at her leg. She stumbled, rolled over, and got back to her feet in one smooth motion, continuing her forward momentum. Almost there, she thought, recalling the cliff face she had seen earlier in the day as she dodged around another trunk. Climbing up would be difficult, but it might be the only way to survive.
As she burst out of the forest, the dark cliff in sight, the wolves emerged behind her, barking and snarling at her heels. The Junior Alpha leaped at her back, but Skylar activated Overdrive - and dived to the side. Rolling to a stop, she leaped at the cliff wall and grabbed the nearest handhold. The four wolves scrambled towards her as she climbed, screaming internally at the use of her ruined hand. The pain was all-encompassing, but with an iron grip on her will, Skylar continued to climb towards the ridge above her.
Just before she reached the ridge, however, Skylar felt a powerful jaw lock onto her ankle, shattering the bone within. Agonizing pain ripped through her as the Nyx, dangling in the air, pulled downward with all its strength. Her grip slipping, Skylar kicked out with her other leg, her heel impacting the Nyx with a crack. As it fell back, keening, Skylar pulled herself up on the ridge, her bloody hand feeling like a foreign appendage with its growing numbness. She knelt, cradling her ruined hand, her mangled foot hanging limply from her broken ankle. Hair cascaded around her face, her eyes boring into the wolves growling and snapping at her from below. The Alpha growled, and they stalked back into the forest, but not before the Junior Alpha looked back at Skylar, its intelligent eyes promising future violence.
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"Yeah, buddy, this definitely isn't over," Skylar growled, murder in her gaze. "I’m gonna make this forest my bitch."
Level Up!
Level Up!
You are now Level 10.
Class Arsenal
Level 8
Health 200/200
Mana 0/0
Dexterity 44
Strength 29
Speed 28
Mind 32
Trench Knife
Spartan Sword 15/100 Essence
Cyclone Knife
Push Knife 5/100
Tactical Kama
Axe Essence
Karambit
Guess the System knows when a battle is over? Good to know… Skylar thought, flexing her now healed hand and foot.
My speed is lagging a bit—I need to be the fastest moving to avoid getting jumped like that again. Maybe I can buff it somehow? Skylar ruminated as she pushed herself to her feet. She looked around and noticed for the first time a path leading to a crack in the cliff. "That’s not ominous at all, Skylar thought, deciding to investigate first thing in the morning. As she leaned back against the cliff, sliding to a seat, she reflected on the craziness that had been her life over the past 48 hours. It's only been two days, huh? It's been wild. But this feels…complete, somehow? I’ve never felt so at peace as when I’ve been fighting for my life. Maybe this is who I was always meant to be.
With that thought, Skylar drifted off to sleep.