It’s standing there, in the center of the lake. 5 meters tall, red fur with twin-black wings that can even block the dim light around when it spread. A majestic lion’s head  full of pride and confident, with a long scorpion’s tail always ready to strike any unfortunate man it come around.

The lord of Dungeon, the bringer of death, a Manticore.

A scholar once came up with a theory that each rings in a manticore’s tail equals to 10 years of it’s age. No one can prove that but if it’s true, I’m fucked.

“Lina! Run”

This is an opponent that we can’t run from. I have to buy enough time for her to call reinforcement.

No response.

I turn to her. Her face is as pale as a ghost and her body trembling like crazy.

Damn, she’s been paralyzed by fear.

“LINA!! LINA!!!” Still no response.

Desperate situation calling for desperate method.

I push my mouth to her mouth, my tongue try to find hers while my hands pinching her nipples.  

“mmm”

*Slap*

“Reus, what are you doing”

Finally.

“Lina! Run back to town and call for reinforcement! Quick”

“But …”

“There is no time. Just … trust me”

She look at me one last time, before turning her back and run.

“Well then, sorry to keep you waiting” I turn to the manticore.

It’s still hasn’t moved an inch since it appeared out of nowhere. His eyes has been following me like a lion looking at a rabbit. Why do I get a funny feeling that it came here just for me?

Now, how should I deal with this?

Manticore is famous for its ferocious and high speed. It doesn’t have any long-range attack though, maybe I should keep my distance. First of all,

My hand reach out to the hip where I keep my magi…

Huh?

It’s empty?

Oh crap. This morning, I forgot to bring it out when hurried to the meeting.

Calm down me! Calm down!

You don’t need that stupid sword to kill a beast.

Maybe this manticore is not that tough. That’s why it’s not attack yet.

“Fire ball”

I threw a ball made of flame that’s even bigger than my head to him. This is an intermediate spell that I can’t silently cast yet and require both my hands to create. Now, let’s see how he deal with this.

The ball coming closer. Still,the manticore doesn’t seem interested in it as his eyes still keep aiming at me.

Fool, your arrogance will be your downfall. Even my old man had a hard time dealing with this. 

“Pffft”

No way!

He just snorted out and the fire distinguish?

What kind of power is this?

Kuh, I mustn’t give up now.

“Ice lance! Ice lance! Ice lance! Ice lance!...”

Countless of arrow-shaped ice raised from the lake, aim at the beast.

“Die! Monster!”

All of them fly straight to the manticore.

*Swoach*

With just one swing from the tail, all of the arrows were broken, they dropped to the lake like falling leaves.

Damn, I can’t even see the movement of the tail. It’s too fast. And the beast didn’t move an inch from the beginning. He didn’t …

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Bastard!

This monster’s been toying with me the whole time.

This thing,it’s not an opponent I can defeat normally. I have to take a risk.

“Prepare yourself, foul beast. This is my strongest spell” I shouted at him.

*Graooooogh*

Did he accept the challenge? Good.

“O’ searing flame, hear my wish …”

……………………………

…………………..

……….

3 minutes later.

“Adabla alakazam bumuletu….”

*Graooooogh*

Losing patience, he roared at me.

“Not yet. One more minute”

*ROARRR*

With a face look like he just realize something, he charge at me furiously.

Shit! I forgot you can’t be interrupted while chanting. It seem my farce has been exposed.

Oh well, I think this should be enough.

He is closing distance between us.

20 meters. 10 meters. 5 meters. Now

I throw a small fire ember at him. He doesn’t even seem to notice it.

*BOOOM*

Big explosion burst out right where he stand, followed by a ravenous flame that wrap around everything.

Not yet. Still not enough.

*Boom**Boom**Boom**Boom**Boom*

I quickly fire off countless of magic arrows to the ceiling. The explosion already made the top become unstable, with a bit of force, numerous boulders fall off to where the manticore stand.

*Huff* *Huff*

The entire area is covered by dust from the explosion.

My body is worn-out, I never have to push myself this hard before.

The whole time that I cast my “most powerful” spell, it was not entirely a bluff. It was my dad’s latest invention, an explosion created by compressing air in a space and give it a little fire. It’s power is enormous but it has a big downside too.

Compressing air require more time and mana the longer distance between you and the space you want to compress.

It’s power is too great, to the point that It can harm the user too.

Oh well, at least it played out nicely. Hopefully the skin of that manticore was not damaged badly. I need something to show off to the town.

As I let my guard down, a black thing fly to me.

*Swoach*

In my disbelief eye, my body was sent flying and crash to the shore of lake.

The manticore is alive. It just shake off the boulder and standing straight again, unscathed.

I’m trying to stand up but …

“Argh!”

It hurt.

Shit! My rib is broken.

The manticore move slowly toward me. It’s tail aiming at me, ready to strike any second. He doesn’t say anything but his eyes clearly tell me, he is very angry.

Damn. This is it, huh.

Sorry, sis Tia. I can’t keep my promise.

Lina …. I’m sorry.

Dad. Just get your disappointed face out of my mind. I don’t want to get scolded at the last minute of my life.

I, lying on the ground, in tatter, awaiting my demise.