He charges forth with such speed that it catches me off guard. However, I am faster.

A side step and I avoid the edge of his blade by an inch. My hand moves swiftly, but he twists mid-air and stops my attack. He moves his sword so fast that multiple strikes are exchanged in seconds. And he is pushing me back.

But this is not enough.

My daggers met each one of his attacks with ferocity and might. The surprise of his assault is gone, so I regain my footing and can use my full might. Whatever momentum he had shattered as my attacks become impossible to dodge, forcing him to always be on the defensive. I can see the pain in his face each time his body trembles against the force of my swings.

His face has no fear, no haughty superiority, no confusion or apparent shock. Not like the other humans, this kid watches me with only one expression. Hate.

And this way of fighting, the way his arms move, semi-gracefully, limited by his anger, having trained with Dandrie and seen her fight, I know for certain that this is similar to her style, identical even...how?

His blade slashes my shoulder, it was stupid of me not to bring armor, even if I had to act fast, knowing the enemy was so close I should have slept with it on if needed. At least I am swifter without mail than with it on. I try to stab him through his chest plate but the dagger simply slides off the side, forcing me to jump away to avoid getting my head cut off.

"I will kill you, cut off your head, and take it with me back home!" He shouts charging me head-on.

"Is that so?" I reply throwing my already chipped and dull daggers away. My claw grew a whole centimeter in anticipation.

There is technique in his movements. The faint visage of a plan, or strategy he was probably taught. But then his swings become relentless, violent, and easy to see. Soon this is no longer a fight, but rather a way to see just how much has my body improved.

I can dodge his attacks with no trouble. And occasionally I cut at his exposed limbs after a failed attempt at cutting me down. He is strong and has the spirit, but this child is far from a real threat.

Then, why did I feel like I should have jumped at him the first time I saw him, back when I scouted their camp? Something screamed at me, telling me to kill him right then and there.

Perhaps I should listen.

"Enough games," I say making a bit of distance to prepare for an all-out assault.

He bares his teeth at me like a rabid dog, making a loud war cry as he once again charges forth. I meet his charge head-on.

His blade fails to cut me as I duck and kick his leg, breaking it as it twists in a way it isn't supposed to. He begins to fall, but his blade is still moving, even now he only thinks of cutting me down. I turn around and catch the blade with my mouth, biting down and keeping it in place, my left-hand keeps the momentum going and crushes his elbow.

A pained scream finally escapes his mouth as he collapses on the ground face-first. Grabbing the handle of his sword I swing it around, noticing just how heavy it is, even with my new strength I'm left in awe at how fast was he moving it, as well as how precise his attacks were. What metal is this sword made of? I also see that it's sharp as if it was newly made, with not a single dent or dull spot.

I hear the sound of a twig breaking and snap my attention at the boy. I see his leg twist back into place, as well as his arm. Of course, he has a vial of healing.

Rising the blade with both hands I bring it down as hard as possible. And it hits his mechanic hand, sending sparks flying. Our eyes meet as he jumps to his feet and punches me in the face. With enough strength to weaken my grip on the blade, followed by a quick kick on the torso I'm shoved away.

Too careless...no, I'm thinking too much.

Stop thinking.

Do.

The bloodlust returns, and I feel it invade my body once more. Is it the anger of getting fooled by a child? It doesn't matter, the entire world shrinks and it's only the two of us. We charge again and exchange blows, my claws hard like iron, and they manage to meet his swings without breaking for a bit.

Once the first few break apart I tackle him. My body smashed against him hard enough to force all air out of his lungs. But I won't stop here. My claws tear at him like a merciless butcher playing with his knife. Anywhere they strike, blood flies and scatter on the muddy ground, mixing with that of all other humans.

Yes, this is all he is. No matter how unique they think they are, or how strong they believe themselves to be. They are all the same, puddles of blood beneath my feet, the fate that awaits anyone who thinks they can get in the way of my ambition!

I won't make the same mistake twice. My brutality is much more than what he can handle, now, unleashed, I see the anger in his face mixed with fear. The reality of the situation must be sitting in now, this will not be a heroic fight where he can win and return home like a hero. No! I am not getting killed! I am unstoppable.

He makes a mistake, his last. Having put too much strength behind his swing I crush his leg once more. Not like before, this time I really destroyed it, forcing his entire body to be thrown back on the ground. And he screams in pain. Having lost his sword from the shock he grabs the closest thing on this battlefield littered with weapons, a mace, and tries to strike me with it.

Foolish.

I grab it before it hits and quickly I move my hand down to his wrist. Before he can react I smash his elbow once more in a single punch. The loud snap it makes is music to my ears. The bloodlust makes me want to tear it off his body, and his screams are now annoyingly painful to my enhanced sense of hearing.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

But we are not done yet. If breaking one arm is not enough, may as well do both! I let go of him and grab his good arm, the left. I lift him and bite down on his shoulder, my teeth tearing into his flesh quickly. He yells in agony swinging his broken arm in desperation. Feeling the bone I move my face away and like pulling the head off a chicken, I tear his arm off his body.

He falls limp on the ground as if I had cut off his head instead.

All rush of the fight is gone as soon as the taste sinks in.

The taste of human flesh.

Images come to my head once more, and I want to resist them, to tell myself I am past that one thing, that one monstrous act. But I can't. All bloodlust is expelled from my body as I have to force myself not to throw up. I frantically look around and find one of the death horses. I rush and begin tearing into its flesh, anything to wash off the taste of human meat.

Now that my head has cooled off I begin to feel my horns grow smaller. I need to get Dandrie out of her cocoon and get back to the woods...where the fuck is Jorr? Is it possible the warg ran so fast that we left them so behind? Or could have they found another group of humans to fight?

No time to waste, getting on my feet-

Horses.

I can't let myself lose my strength, not right now. Reinforcements are coming. I grab the sword of the kid and swing it around. Will my techniques work with such a heavy blade? I need to use my trance and-

My head turns to the limp body of the kid. I remember what happened when tried to use it before...what was that thing I saw? Did he have anything to do with it?... Is he like me?

The sound of hooves grows louder and I can see many shapes atop horses, wearing armor and blue cloaks. I need to risk it, any advantage right now is welcome...and if it happens again, if he is like me...

Closing my eyes, I let the trance take over...and nothing out of the ordinary happens. I feel all my life's events pass through my eyes, waiting for me to swim through them. I must focus, I can only choose two things to learn, and I have saved my trance for this.

I go over my training with Dandrie and look at every motion of her body. Like last time we fought, but now after training so much, and having seen her fight without holding back...It's so much clearer. I can learn it now, I will move like her.

A dance of death. Graceful and precise.

Next, go over your fight against so many people. Yes, I see where I slipped up. How people try to hit something close to them without striking their allies. I will fight much better in such crowded battles, I have the feeling this will come in handy soon.

The trance begins to let me go, and my memories vanish...but as they go I see the hateful face of Gotz and...I have seen it before. But soon another memory takes priority, my fight with Dandrie, the first time I met the trio. She did something that I need now.

I return to the present. Immediately turning to the cocoon I hit its roots as if I was knocking on a door.

"You summoned creatures to aid you when we first fought. If you are alive in there then summon them again!"

"...No" I hear her faintly whisper.

"What?!" This woman, I swear! My claws try to tear open the cocoon with little success "You bitch! Summon them!"

"THERE! CHARGE!"

I turn and see the large group of horsemen have reached us. Lead by a knight wearing full armor. All others were similarly dressed, with helmets of different kinds and shapes. I can tell with a single glance they are all children, like Gotz. I will deal with this elf after this fight.

Wasting no time I grab the blade with both hands and charge at the horses. I must move like Dandrie...like water. A dance among the swords and bolts.

My body is swift and agile. They shoot their crossbows but I either dodge or protect myself with the blade. Their lances try to impale me but my speed is too much. I cut the legs off their horses or their heads. I jump and get rid of one or two individuals. They are nothing compared to the fire Gotz had. They are terrified, confused, and uncertain.

I will be done with this-

My body is forced onto the ground as a magic spear goes right through my chest. What? Where did it come from? I look at Dandrie's cocoon but it's still closed. The spear vanishes, I know another one is coming soon.

I need to move-

My leg is smashed by a mace, and one of the humans sneaks up on me. I swing my blade but they are fast, a sword cuts my torso and I jump away, the magic spear smashing against my horn, breaking it in half. There are too many of them.

My arm is grabbed by a long chain, what type of weapon is this? My body is forced to fall in the middle of them, whoever is at the end of the chain drags my body through the ground, several bolts strike my body, and I raise my arm to cover my head, the head of the bolt goes through it and almost pierces my eye. I need to free myself!

Still holding on to the sword I slash at the chain but it's no use, they must be made of the same material. I will get to something I CAN cut then! Struggling to my feet as new bolts hit my body I run to the kid on the horse. But another one slams my body with a hammer so big and hard I can feel my bones vibrate after the hit.

"Ahh!"

Whoever, the strike also forced whoever was at the end of the chain off their horse! I take a deep breath and concentrate. Use what you just learned, don't let them overwhelm you!

More of them come, some on horses, most on foot. I need to avoid their blades, I begin my dance, dodging and-

A magic spear impales once more, this time my neck is pierced, nailing me down onto the ground in such an awkward position I can do nothing to defend myself as the humans slash, pierce, and strike at my body.

I yell in anger, managing to scare them off for long enough to breathe as the magic spear vanishes once more. That spear thrower is not letting me concentrate! My senses are in overdrive!

"Keep attacking! Dendrie is coming!" The knight shouts...who is coming?

The humans resume their attack, I cut down two before the one with the chain grabs a hold of my leg, then someone with scythes for weapons fools me and almost cuts my arm off. I try to free my leg but a lengthy spear with the end not pointy, but blunt like a mace hits on the face, I feel my jaw crack and teeth fly.

What type of weapons are these?! They are too large, or too short, and definitely too many! No matter what I have learned, I can't win this fight! I need to-

Yet another magic spear, this time going right through my heart, nailing me in place once more, the kids grab the long spears on the ground and impale my limbs, locking me into place for the moment the magic spear vanishes. Now it hurts, everything hurts. I have lost too much blood...no, not like this!

"Die! Monster!" One of the kids shouts, I recognize him, the one I spoke with.

He raises his sword, one decorated with jewels and a fancy handle. And brings it down.

I will not die here.

I bite into it and use whatever energy I have left to free myself from the spears. He doesn't even try to fight back, as soon as he sees I'm not done fighting he screams and runs away. I stop someone else from cutting me down and after opening their neck I grab their sword.

No, I won't die like a trapped prey. I will fight until my last breath! I charge into the thick of it. Picking yet another sword from the ground. I slash and thrust. A sword in each hand, and if they get too close I use the one on my mouth to defend myself, come! COME ALL OF YOU!

"Monster"

The one named Dendrie, another elf, with a long, flowing purple cape, quickly disarms me. I'm too wounded to defend myself from such a powerful and skilled enemy. Her magic spear breaks my wrist, then pierces my elbow and twists, forcing me to drop both blades. Finally, she throws her spear once more. I'm once again impaled onto the ground, and feeling the last of my strength leave my body I can no longer hold on to the sword.

"Finally," She says, kneeling closer to my face "I will make your death slow, and make you pay for what you have done" Then, she pulls the spear off the ground with me still in it and throws me aside. I can barely breathe with all the blood in my throat and this rod through my chest.

Everybody cheers in celebration as Dendrie puts her foot on my stomach, and I'm too weak to do anything about it. I feel my body lose its power, my claws getting smaller...I'm losing consciousness.

Then cheering is cut short as I hear the grave sound of dozens of men yelling...my men have arrived.