Richter’s eyes widened in horror as he looked at the creature before him. It sniffed the air cautiously while rising to its full height, which was only up to Richter's hips. Despite its smaller stature, the beast looked as if it came straight from a horror movie. Swollen, misshapen muscles covered its entire body, all oozing a thick black, blood like substance from its pores. The disgusting sight left a repugnant sheen of foul smelling wetness that glistened and outlined its overly large muscles.

To describe this creature as humanoid would be a stretch. Though it occasionally balanced on its hind legs like a person, it more closely resembled a monstrous, mutated dog. With each pounding step, it returned to all fours, clawing fervently at the earth while its eyes remained fixed on him. Its limbs twisted grotesquely, bending at unnatural angles much like those of a spider stalking its next meal. The creature's jaw dangled loose from its dislocated hinge, oozing a thick river of blood from the gaping abyss of its maw. At the end of each malformed limb were four razor-sharp claws and an eerily human-like thumb. Richter flinched as the creature suddenly pounded at the dirt. It almost appeared agitated as it looked back and forth towards the sky as if it were awaiting something.

"THE F-," Richter caught himself, his voice stifled mid-exclamation when the creature whipped its head back towards him. Richter cautiously retreated without turning his back, darting his eyes around erratically trying to get a lay of the land.

He was in the worst possible environment for a fight. He was still in the middle of the large clearing he arrived in, with the safety of the dense forest hundreds of yards away. Other than the few trees dotting the clearing, there was absolutely nothing to stop this abomination from shredding through him. To make matters worse, the creature observed Richter with a peculiar intensity, as if truly seeing him for the first time.

Ritcher finally braved standing up knowing that he was more likely to be overpowered if he stayed on the ground. The beast twitched erratically, analyzing his every movement like a predator honing in on its prey, entirely unbothered by the stark difference in size between them. It slowly sauntered toward him, making gurgling clicking sounds with its mouth while matching Ritcher’s backward steps. Every nuance of the creature's behavior suggested it was toying with him like a cat with its prey, biding its time before striking.

"I'm dead. I'm dead. I'm so fucking dead," Richter muttered under his breath, the desperate mantra ringing in his ears. However, right on cue, a luminescent blue screen materialized before him. His eyes darted across the display, scouring it for any semblance of help.

[Anomaly [3]: A soulless and lithe, fast-moving creature deemed unfit for being initiated into the multiverse. Do not underestimate.

Richter barely had enough time to finish reading the screen before the creature pounced. The beast shot at him at inhuman speed, eliminating the distance separating them instantly. Richter didn’t even process the information before the wind was violently knocked out of him. The force of their collision sent them both crashing to the ground, tangled in a mess of limbs, claws, and snapping teeth as Richter gasped for breaths.

Pain ripped through Richters shoulder like a blistering inferno as the creature embedded its razor-sharp claws deep into his flesh. The pain of the wound threatened to incapacitate him as bursts of red washed away his vision for a moment. Any thoughts of trying to overpower the creature immediately fled his mind as he witnessed firsthand the devastating strength of the monster.

The beast reared its misshapen head back, screeching once again before ripping its claws out of Richter’s skin. Bits of his flesh dangled from the creature’s razor-sharp talons as drops of his own blood fell onto his face, the warm and wet liquid cascading down into his eyes, blurring his vision. Richters eyes burned as he blinked rapidly, trying to clear the grime and bits of his muscle from his vision as the beast reared its front arms, digging its twisted rear appendages into the soil for leverage and reading for a second attack. It screeched, and Richter stared in horror as the creature's talons dove for his face this time.

*THUMP*

Fight.

A sudden surge of heat erupted within Richter, emanating from the very core of his being. It coursed through him like a blazing sonic wave, demanding him to react. Instinctively, he whipped his head aside just as the talon descended. Pain exploded in Richters ear as the creature's talon sliced through the air, severing his ear before sinking into the earth with a resounding crunch.

Pain vanished into insignificance as an inner voice screamed at Richter to move. The pounding of his heart thundered in his ears, echoing like the relentless rhythm of a war drum as the creature snarled, tearing its talon from the earth and moving overhead once more.

Richter propelled his body into action, swinging his fist in wild desperation to break free from the abomination's vice-like grip that clamped around him with its hind legs. He barely registered the pain as his clenched hand collided with the descending talon, its sharp edge sinking deep into his knuckles. The momentum of his fist continued, and it made contact with the soft and squishy mass of the creature.

The pressure on his chest eased as the creature staggered backwards, finally giving Richter a brief moment of respite and he was able to take a full breath. Richter took the opportunity to scramble backwards to get to his feet, wiping the blood from his eyes as he scanned the area for his assailant.

Before Richter could locate the creature and form a plan, it lunged at him once more. This time, however, Richter was able to counter the attack. Shifting his weight onto his left foot, he spun out of the way, barely avoiding a grisly attack to his thigh.

The beast was unfazed by the miss and flipped into the air, limbs and head turning unnaturally as if its back could easily become its front. Unfortunately, the creature proved to be a fast learner, and it too, adjusted its angle right into the direction as Richter jumped to become the aggressor. Richter instinctively raised his arm to shield his face and throat from the beast’s claws when he realized his mistake. Richters eyes shot open as he felt the talons dig into his forearm yet again, scraping his bone.

Panic set in as he realized he wasn’t strong enough to stop further attacks, and he felt the tip of the talon dip into his chest from the opposite talon. Richter grabbed the appendage as they fell back into the grass, gripping it tightly to prevent it from sinking further into his chest. Richter grit his teeth as it started to slip through his bloodied hand, and he maneuvered his feet to press against the soft underbelly of the beast, throwing it off of him and across the field.

The abomination hit the ground, spinning like a top to soften its impact with the ground, and with a loud click and screech it was back on all fours and closing the gap between them in less than a second. Fatigue overtook Richter as he tried to dodge the charge, but he proved too slow as the anomaly slammed into him and he flew back, his back finding one of the only trees in the clearing.

The impact knocked the wind out of him, and he heard the horrifying sounds of his body crumbling under the impact. He cried out, but it was nothing more than a gurgle as blood filled his mouth. Richters eyes glazed over as he fell forward from the splintered tree truck, barely catching himself on one knee before toppling over onto the ground.

Richter stared at the soil beneath him, watching his own blood pool and seep into the dirt around him. Blood oozed from his missing ear and it coated his vision, he could hardly see and hear a thing.

The world threatened to fade away, leaving Richter trapped in his own blood-stained nightmare. The edges of his vision darkened as his body trembled, weakened and broken. He tried to pick himself up, but his wounded limbs refused to obey any command. It was over… the abomination would finish him off, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

*THUMP*

FIGHT!

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The words jarred Richter. He blinked away the darkness and stared at the descending claw of the beast. Something stirred inside him. It was small at first; a small spark that licked at his soul. But slowly, it expanded outwards as it danced in his veins, and it pushed back further at the darkness eating at his vision.

A faint, white light began to seep out of Richters pores as the growing flame burned brighter. With every pump of Richters heart, the light seemed to only grow in intensity and thickness, casting a ghostly white shimmer across every wound and bead of sweat on his battered form. The beast's clicks stopped as it tilted its head in confusion and watched the glow dance around Richter like celsital flames.

The beast in front of him hesitated. There was something about the faint white light radiating from Richter's battered body that spoke to the deepest parts of the creature's essence. The light itself seemed alive, pulsing and growing stronger with every beat of Richter's heart. It was a force that seemed to defy the natural order of things, something the creature couldn’t comprehend. Despite that though, in that fleeting moment, the creature recognized something it instinctively understood:

Power.

The glow intensified, and as it did, the creature's instincts screamed at it to flee. But its thirst for blood was insatiable, chaining it to the fight.

Richter pushed up from the ground and stood steady on his feet feeling the power rushing through him. His height shadowed the beast as he stepped forward, fixing a steely gaze upon the abomination as it scurried back several steps, sensing the shift in power. The white flames enveloping him blocked out all pain of his mortal wounds - it was just him, and the beast in front of him. The ground splintered under the weight of his first step, and Richter clenched his fist as he took another step towards the anomaly.

There was no fear, only a burning resolve to survive. There was no option to run anymore - it was either fight, or die.

As if responding to Richters newfound determination, the white aura's intensity increased around Richter. It flowed from his wounds like liquid fire, and extended to reach out towards the monstrous retreating creature. In that moment, their eyes locked onto each other - two forces intertwining in a primal battle for survival.

The creature stopped its retreat and snarled, straightening to its full height, clearly not liking Richter’s acceptance of the challenge. The abomination charged, and in a flash it stood before Richter again, raising it’s talon with the intent to cleave him in two.

But this time... Richter was ready.

Richter raised his arm, taking the brunt of the attack as he blocked it with his forearm. He watched the talon sink into his skin until he heard a crack, but Richter simply ignored it. With a roar, he kicked out with every ounce of strength he possessed and made solid contact. He heard an unmistakable snap as he felt his foot bury itself in the beast’s gut. The monster flew backward into the distance as it tumbled and turned into the ground.

For the briefest moment, his surprise from the kicks power overtook Richter as he looked at the crumbled mass laying in the field in front of him. At that moment of distraction though, the white flames enveloping visibly reduced in intensity, and Richter felt a twinge of pain in his multiple wounds. Richter groaned and clutched at his arm, kneeling to the dirt as the abomination rose back to its feet.

Richter shook his head to clear his thoughts and carefully looked at the situation before him. The abomination was deadly in his offensive attacks; however, defensively, it was nothing more than a repulsive pile of easily damaged flesh. He could deal devastating damage in a single attack if he could get a clear shot.

As if the creature sensed the turning tides and realized it no longer held the upper hand, it snarled and reared its ugly head again, hissing loudly and locking eyes with Richter. It was determined to end this as it clawed at the dirt, kicking up a dust cloud around it like a bull preparing to charge. Despite the overwhelming pain in his shoulder and leg as the flames seemed to have weakened, Richter braced himself for round 3, his heart pounding in his chest.

The beast lunged with a blood-curdling scream, its arms swinging out as it advanced. But at the last moment, Richter managed to pivot out of the monster’s attack, sending it hurtling past him with another kick to its side. The beast didn’t go as far this time as it dug its talons into the ground to stop its momentum, and at that exact moment, Richter ran toward it, his fist raised, and angled for downward strike.

The beast was fast though, and it rolled away, evading Richter’s powerful blow and causing him to slam his fist into the Earth. The beast went for an immediate counterattack and delivered a nasty gash onto Richter’s leg, causing him to curse loudly.

Richter gripped his injured thigh tightly, feeling the white flame flickering around it soothing it instantly, urging him to continue the fight. An idea sparked in his head – a dangerous gamble, but it was all he had left. As if reading his intentions, the white flames began to intensify around his fractured forearm.

The abomination, back on its feet, snarled and stomped the ground, preparing to charge again. Richter closed his eyes, focusing every part of his being on the white flames engulfing him. With each passing second, the energy centered around his injuries, growing hotter and brighter like a protective shield.

Richter opened his eyes just as the creature charged with blinding speed. He screamed out as he launched himself forward, meeting the beast head-on. The ambonation screeched, opening its maw to rip Richters throat out, but Richter raised his arm to defend his neck. The beast latched down on his arm instead, and Richter slammed his arm down into the dirt using his weight to choke the beast.

The creature retaliated by swinging its talons wildly, but Richter was already a step ahead. Richter deflected a devastating strike with his free arm, the blood oozing from the open wound. Richter ignored it as he stomped on the creature's arm, locking the talon down. The abomination hissed as Richter raised his arm into the air, the white flames engulfing his fist like a blazing inferno.

Richter roared as his fist connected with the abomination’s flesh, and he committed his total weight, channeling every ounce of power he could muster. The impact crack was so loud he thought it echoed throughout the forest. Not letting the only chance he had to end this slip away, he raised his fist again and delivered another crushing blow.

He kept swinging repeatedly, not letting up for a second, even when his arm began to burn and his knuckles cracked open from hitting the exposed, broken skull as bits of slimy flesh flew through the air with every drawback. Richter let out all his frustration and anger into the creature, pummeling it into the ground even though it had been dead many blows ago. With a final cry, he swung into the beast’s body one last time with a sickening thud.

Richter slid off the body and slumped to the ground. He rolled onto his back, his chest heaving uncontrollably, unsure if he should vomit, scream, or even cry at his victory. His hand shook as he held them up to assess his bloodied hands; he didn’t even recognize them.

Richter lay beside the corpse for a long time, his glassy eyes remained fixed on nothingness as he softly whispered to himself: "Why?"

As the adrenaline began to subside, the aura around him began receding, until finally it flickered and dispersed completely. He winced as the searing pain in his injured leg reemerged. After laying still for so long, he couldn’t even move it anymore. He was positive he had multiple broken bones, and nothing but a dirty hole was left where his right ear had been. Richter scoffed as he looked at the corpse next to him as he willed himself to sit up. Did he even win in the end? His wounds felt too great for him to survive for very long.

Richter's world rocked sideways as his head swam with the pain of being upright and he laid back in the blood stained grass, ignoring the multiple notifications that had suddenly popped into his vision. He pushed them aside, his eyes took to the night sky and marveled at the heavens. The stars shimmered like a million tiny diamonds, casting a dim glow onto the twisted remains of the tall grass of the meadow around him that had been battered and ripped to shred during the fight. For a brief moment, he found a semblance of solace in their silent beauty, the perfect and untouched sea above.

Richter couldn't help but feel an overwhelming emptiness, even though he should be happy he was still alive after such a close date with death. His life had been upended, thrust into a realm of chaos and danger he could never have anticipated. His friends and family now seemed infinitely far away, lost along with his old life. Were they still out there somewhere, searching for a way to reunite with him or had they given up on him entirely? Did they even know what happened to him? His heart ached at the thought that they might think he was dead or that he had abandoned them somehow.

The stars seemed to mock him with their distant twinkling as they formed constellations that were now alien to him. His memories from before seemed like dreams from another lifetime; all jumbled into a hazy montage of birthdays, work, and late-night conversations with Mindy and Joseph that felt like they belonged to someone else entirely now.

Richter felt like a ghost of his former self, wandering alone in this unwelcoming world. He couldn’t help but wonder if there would ever be a point where things would feel normal again or if this was what life truly meant for him now. For the first time since it all began, doubt crept into Richter's heart – doubt about whether survival was truly worth it.

But deep within him, a fire still burned; a fire that told him to keep going, to endure until his last breath, if only for retribution. At that moment, Richter knew that no matter how lonely or broken he felt, he had to keep pushing forward.

So, with a deep breath and an inward prayer for strength he sat up and removed what was left of his tattered shirt and used it to bind up his wounds as best as he could. He tore large enough pieces to make a small sling to rest his fractured arm, knowing he’d have to later use it to clean and redress the rest of his wounds. One handed, he managed to slowly stand up, his legs shaking, but refusing to give in. Looking back at the creature’s lifeless body one last time, he grimaced at the reminder of where he was and what he had accomplished.