Chapter 6: Into the Abyss

The ground trembled beneath Cruz's feet as the Stonehide Rhino stormed toward him, its massive bulk filling the cave with the sound of grinding stone and fury. The beast's eyes gleamed with a vengeance born from the loss of its calf, and Cruz could feel the intensity of its rage pressing down on him like a physical weight. The cave walls shook with each step the rhino took, the narrow passageway amplifying the force of its approach.

Cruz's breath hitched as the beast lowered its head, preparing for its devastating charge.

[Horn of the Mountain: A devastating charge attack that can break through barriers and enemies alike.]

The words flashed in his mind, causing a shiver of fear to race down his spine. He knew that if the rhino hit him with that charge, it would be over. The confined space left little room for maneuvering, but Cruz had to use that to his advantage. He was smaller, faster, and more agile than the enraged beast.

As the rhino charged, Cruz ducked and rolled to the side, his body pressing against the cold stone walls of the cave. The air whistled past him as the massive creature thundered forward, its horn narrowly missing his head by inches. The force of the charge shook the walls, causing rocks to tumble from the ceiling. Cruz scrambled to his feet, sweat slicking his palms as he gripped his makeshift dagger. He knew his weapon wasn't strong enough to pierce the rhino's thick hide, but he had to try.

The beast snorted in fury, skidding to a stop and turning its massive head to face him once more. Cruz backed away, his heart racing as he tried to lure it deeper into the cave. He needed to find a way to exploit its size, to use the tight confines of the cave against it. His mind raced with options, but nothing seemed to work. The rhino was too powerful, too relentless.

"This thing won't go down easy…" Cruz muttered to himself.

He darted further into the cave, his eyes scanning the rocky terrain for any advantage. The passage was getting narrower, just as he hoped. If he could maneuver the rhino into a tighter space, it might limit its movements, giving him a chance to strike. But that hope was dashed as the ground beneath him trembled again.

[Terra Surge: Summons spikes of rock from the ground to trap or impale foes.]

Without warning, sharp spikes of stone erupted from the ground beneath Cruz's feet. He barely had time to react, his instincts kicking in as he dived to the side. A jagged spear of rock shot up from the cave floor, narrowly missing him by inches. The air crackled with the force of the attack, the rhino's control over the earth reshaping the battlefield in an instant.

Cruz rolled to his feet, his heart hammering in his chest. He was out of breath, his stamina draining rapidly, but he couldn't afford to stop. The spikes had formed a barrier between him and the rhino, but he knew it wouldn't last long. The beast would charge again, and this time it would be even more furious.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

His mind raced. He had one option left—[Descent of Primus]. It was dangerous, draining, and risky, but if he timed it right, it might give him the edge he needed. He felt the pull of the skill, the subtle threads of causality shifting around him, but he hesitated. Using it again would sap what little energy he had left.

The ground trembled again, and Cruz had no time to think. He activated the skill, feeling the strange sensation of time bending around him. His vision blurred slightly, and everything seemed to slow down as the rhino began its next attack. The beast charged, its massive body moving in slow motion as it barreled toward him.

Cruz darted forward, slipping past the spikes of rock as he sprinted toward the rhino. The world around him felt muted, the sounds of the cave distant as he focused on his target. He knew he had only seconds before his stamina ran out, and he had to make this count. With a swift roll, he maneuvered beneath the beast, positioning himself directly under its exposed underbelly.

The moment time snapped back into place, Cruz plunged his dagger into the rhino's vulnerable stomach. The blade sank deep, tearing through muscle and flesh, and a spray of hot blood splattered across Cruz's face. The rhino let out a deafening howl, its massive body convulsing in pain as the gash in its underbelly bled profusely.

But the battle wasn't over yet.

[Earthquake Stomp: Creates powerful tremors that knock enemies off their feet.]

In a final act of desperation, the rhino reared up on its hind legs and slammed its front hooves down onto the cave floor. The impact sent shockwaves through the ground, and Cruz barely had time to react as the entire cave shook violently. He was thrown off his feet, tumbling to the ground as the floor beneath him crumbled.

With a horrifying crack, the ceiling began to collapse.

Rocks rained down from above, crashing onto the ground with thunderous force. Cruz scrambled to his feet, his eyes wide as the cave began to cave in around him. The rhino, still howling in pain, was losing blood fast, but it was far from defeated. It staggered toward Cruz, its steps unsteady, but each one caused the ground to shake even more.

Suddenly, the floor beneath Cruz gave way completely. He felt the ground drop out from under him, and for a moment, he was weightless, falling into the darkness below. The rhino, too, let out a bellowing roar as it plunged into the abyss with him, its massive body crashing through the collapsing cave floor.

Cruz's mind raced as he fell, the darkness swallowing him whole. His arms flailed as he tried to grab onto something—anything—but the walls of the cave were too far away. The sound of crumbling rock and the roar of the rhino filled his ears, but he couldn't focus. His body was exhausted, his stamina nearly gone, and the world spun around him as he descended deeper into the unknown.

And then, with a bone-jarring impact, he hit the ground.

Pain shot through his body as he rolled across the rocky floor, gasping for air. The cave around him was silent now, the only sound the faint drip of water from somewhere in the distance. Cruz lay there, his vision swimming as he fought to stay conscious. His body ached, his health dangerously low, but he had survived. For now.

He glanced over at the fallen rhino, its massive body lying still a few feet away. Blood pooled around it, its breathing shallow and labored. The beast was dying, but Cruz didn't feel triumphant. He felt empty, drained.

With a shaky breath, Cruz closed his eyes. He had survived the fall, but the battle was far from over. And somewhere, deep in the darkness, he knew more dangers awaited.