Cale’s breath quickened as he faced the Eldritch Horror, their earlier skirmish having left both combatants wounded but neither willing to yield. The air crackled with tension, and he could feel the dark energy radiating from the creature as it paced around him, its spindly legs moving with unnatural grace.

“Come on, you overgrown spider,” Cale sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “I expected a little more fight from you.” He brandished his scythe, the blade gleaming ominously in the dim light, as if echoing his bravado.

The Eldritch paused, its hollow eyes narrowing in what felt like a moment of understanding—or perhaps disdain. It lunged forward again, its long limbs moving in a fluid, almost animalistic manner, like a grotesque deer on the hunt. Cale barely had time to react as he ducked under a sweeping claw aimed at his head, feeling the rush of air as it passed above him.

“Too slow!” he taunted, rolling to the side and bringing his scythe around in a powerful arc. He connected with the creature’s leg, severing one of its spindly appendages. Dark, viscous blood splattered across the floor, pooling in an ominous puddle. The Eldritch let out a deafening screech, stumbling and thrashing wildly in response to the pain.

“Is that all you’ve got?” Cale grinned, his confidence surging. “I’ve fought mailmen with more bite!”

But the Eldritch wasn’t finished. Fueled by rage, it retaliated, lunging at Cale once more. This time, Cale anticipated the movement, sidestepping as it charged. He swung his scythe again, this time aiming for the creature’s skull-like mask. The blade connected, but instead of cutting through, it became lodged in the bony structure, sending shockwaves up Cale's arm.

“Damn it!” he grunted, yanking the scythe free as the creature reeled back. It wasn’t just powerful; it was resilient. The mask was marred with scratches, but it remained intact.

The Eldritch staggered, but its fury only grew. Cale could see more wounds now—gaping holes where black blood oozed, staining the ground beneath them. Each drop seemed to hiss as it hit the ground, disappearing into the shadows.

“I’ll give you credit,” Cale said, panting slightly but refusing to show weakness. “You take a beating like a champ.”

The creature responded with a guttural roar, its remaining limbs propelling it forward with a speed that caught Cale off guard. He barely had time to raise his scythe in defense before it slammed into him, knocking him back. Cale hit the ground hard, the air escaping his lungs in a painful gasp.

“Ugh, great, just what I needed,” he groaned, pushing himself back to his feet. He could feel a sharp pain on his side where the creature had struck him, a fresh wound that would likely become a bruise. But he couldn’t afford to dwell on it. Not now.

The Eldritch lurched forward again, its eyes burning with malevolence. Cale met its charge head-on, spinning the scythe and slashing downward. The blade caught the creature in the chest, carving a deep gash. Black blood sprayed into the air, painting the walls of the barracks as the Eldritch shrieked, but it didn’t relent. Instead, it twisted its body, its claws reaching for him once more.

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“Why do you have to make this so complicated?” Cale muttered, dodging to the side. He felt the claws graze his shoulder, a sharp sting that reminded him how close he was to losing everything.Anger flared in him. He was tired of playing games.

“Let’s end this!” he shouted, channeling his energy into a final blow. He surged forward, using every ounce of strength he had left. Cale swung the scythe in a powerful overhead strike, aiming for the creature’s skull mask again.

The Eldritch attempted to block, raising a twisted limb to deflect the blow. Their strikes collided with a resounding crack, and Cale felt a jolt run through him, but he pushed harder, his muscles straining with effort.

With a final roar, he drove the scythe downward, breaking through the creature’s defenses. The blade sliced cleanly through the mask, sending it crashing to the ground in pieces, exposing the creature’s grotesque visage.

Cale staggered back, breathing heavily as he took in the sight before him. The Eldritch, now visibly weakened, stumbled but did not fall. It let out a haunting, pained cry, its form flickering with dark energy.

“You’ve had your fun,” Cale said, his voice low and taunting. “But it’s time for you to go back to the dark little corner you crawled out of.”

But the creature wasn't finished. It lunged at him one last time, its maw opening wide, revealing rows of jagged teeth. Cale reacted instinctively, raising his scythe just in time to intercept the attack, their forces colliding in a chaotic display of strength and will.

Cale’s heart raced as he struggled to hold back the creature’s attack, both of them locked in a fierce struggle. He could feel the weight of exhaustion bearing down on him, but he wouldn’t back down.

“Just… stay down already!” he shouted through gritted teeth.

In that moment, he pushed with everything he had left. The scythe glowed with energy, fueled by his sheer willpower, and with one final heave, he pushed the creature back, creating enough distance to breathe.

The Eldritch stumbled, its form flickering as wounds continued to ooze black blood, staining the ground beneath it. Cale watched as its strength began to wane, but it was still there, eyes locked onto him with a mixture of rage and something almost like… respect?

“Is that all you’ve got?” he sneered, his breath heavy as he realized they were equally matched, both scarred and battered. “I expected more from the big bad boss.”

The Eldritch let out a low growl, eyes narrowing dangerously as it began to retreat. Cale felt a rush of triumph, but something deep within him whispered caution. This wasn’t over yet.

“Are you running away?” he called out, almost mockingly. “What happened to the big, bad monster? You’re starting to bore me.”

But just as he spoke, the Eldritch paused, its hollow eyes locking onto him with a renewed ferocity. Cale’s heart raced as he realized the creature wasn’t done; it was merely regrouping.

“Come on, bring it on!” Cale shouted defiantly, raising his scythe once more.

But just as he prepared for the next round, the Eldritch let out a final, guttural growl and vanished into the shadows, leaving Cale alone in the dimly lit barracks, blood dripping from his wounds.

“Great,” he muttered, frustration bubbling within him. “Now it’s playing hide and seek.”

As he took a moment to gather himself, Cale could only wonder what the creature was plotting. The fight may have been equal, but he knew the battle was far from over.

He glanced at his wounds, the fresh cuts stinging but also igniting a fire within him. If that creature wanted a rematch, he would be ready.

“I’ll find you,” Cale promised, his voice, cold, steady and filled with determination. “And next time, I won’t let you get away.”