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Chapter 5 - Crystal Sprint
The insect lunged forward, its claws flashing through the air. Kyrios ducked, narrowly avoiding the blow, and began running toward the crystals. As he leaped off the ground, the mantis creature screeched, its bloodshot eyes gleaming with rage. It followed after him with wings buzzing a shrill hum.
The mantis' claws glinted in the light, emitting a surreal gleam. Kyrios turned to face it, sweat dripping down his forehead as the creature rushed toward him again. He steeled himself, hopping back as its deadly blades swept through the air, grazing a shallow wound into his forearm.
"Agh!"
Standing facing his opponent, he began to wonder if this was what it meant to fight. Despite the cut, he didn't feel any immediate pain but rather a sensation he had never experienced before. It was like his body was registering the injury without the usual accompanying discomfort.
He inhaled deeply, focusing his mind on the task at hand. He had to get close to the crystals and make his move before the mantis did. It had already displayed a tendency to repeat the same sequence of movements. He would be able to evade the same moves if it didn't have other tricks.
As the mantis lunged forward again, its claws poising for a devastating blow, Kyrios ducked backward. He supported his weight on his hand but still landed on his back due to inexperience. Quickly, he got up, barely evading another deadly strike with an amateurish tumble. Instantly, the mantis hopped in the air, performing a downward slash with both arms. Kyrios rolled to his right as the insect dug its blades into the glossy floor. With the mantis momentarily stunned, Kyrios seized the opportunity to sprint toward the crystals. He didn't dare to look back.
One claw at a time, the creature pulled its limbs out, leaving the ground ruptured. It screeched a deafening battle cry and launched itself toward him. And although it wasn't flying, its wings were whizzing at full power, overtaking its earlier velocity.
"Shit, it's coming!"
Kyrios was nearly there. All he needed was a few more steps to make it to the crystals. He was so close now. Just a little farther, and he could make this work.
The mantis creature closed in. Its frenzied assault intensified with each passing moment. The ground shook beneath its weight as it bounded toward him, claws slashing through the air.
And, in a cruel twist of fate, Kyrios's lack of control over his legs backstabbed him. As he stepped forward, his ankle twisted, causing him to stumble and lose his balance. Panic gripped him as he felt his body falling backward.
He tried to regain his footing, but the ground beneath his feet gave way. His heart lurched in his chest as he fell backward, struggling to regain his balance.
"Gahh! My foot!"
The mantis creature sensed an opportunity to unleash a final strike. Its blades aimed at Kyrios' vulnerable form, but his instincts kicked in amid his fall. With a burst of strength, he twisted his body forward, both hands pressing against the ground. He narrowly evaded the death sentence, though the insect had landed a terrible scar on his upper back.
Kyrios hit the ground with a thud. Pain finally coursed through him. His adrenaline wasn't quite enough to muffle a wound of that magnitude, and the agony of a fresh cut burned through his body.
He scrambled to his feet with a huff and turned to face the mantis. It was closing in, ready to cut him into ribbons. He had to get closer to the deadly crystals, but his injuries had slowed him down too much. Even if he could manage to dodge another of the creature's blows, he knew he could evade them indefinitely.
The insect lunged toward him with a terrifying roar, attacking him again. Kyrios barely dodged by a hair's breadth. He knew that this would be his only chance. Dashing toward the crystals, he evaded another assault, but his back eventually gave out, forcing him to his knees. His injuries flared as his face contorted in distress.
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"This is bad. This is really, really bad," he stressed. "I'm not going to make it..."
His muscles screamed as he struggled to remain on his feet. He touched the wound on his back, feeling the cold sweat coating his fingers being enveloped by the warm gushing of blood.
"Shit, I've never seen so much blood before," he mumbled, trying to suppress the rising panic. But like a divine calling, a thought sparked in his mind.
"Drakewood's disease! It was the doing of bloodborne pathogens, to begin with, so what if..."
He exhaled deeply and closed his eyes, drawing in his concentration. The sound of the insect's wings buzzing filled his ears as his mind focused on the issue at hand. He gritted his teeth and prepared to leap out of the way.
Then, as it came within range, Kyrios swung his bloodied arm, splattering the blood onto the insect's face. The monster shrieked and reared its head back in shock. It stumbled backward, wings stopping as it raised its forelimbs to cover its face.
He wasn't sure how effective it was, but he couldn't question it now. It worked, and he had no time to hesitate. Wasting no time, he bolted toward the crystal formation, knowing its sharp edges could eviscerate the beast if it dashed directly into them. And as he eventually reached his destination, adrenaline intensified his shallow, rapid breaths. The weight of his ideas pressed upon him, urging him to act swiftly. Time was running out, and his body could no longer keep pace with the rapid whirlwind of his thoughts. He had to end this quickly.
Kyrios gulped and glanced at the monster. The effect of his blood seemed to have worn off as it glared at him with its terrifying red eyes. However, the damage had been done; he could see a viscous liquid flowing from its pores, covering its face. The insect appeared to be losing its focus. Its movements were disoriented, as if its brain wasn't working properly anymore.
It let out a distressed groan. Limbs were shaking, and skin grew pale as it struggled to maintain its balance. Even though its movements had become more erratic, it still posed a grave threat. Kyrios knew it would continue its assault if he let his guard down for even a second.
And as expected, it rushed toward him once more despite the injuries. Its claws were slashing through the air, and Kyrios abruptly veered to the side to avoid the deadly strikes. The mantis, caught off guard by the sudden change in direction, crashed headlong into the crystal with a resounding crash. A shower of ethereal sparks erupted from the impact, and Kyrios watched with hitching breath as a fragment of the crystal broke loose, landing before his feet. Without hesitation, he reached out and snatched it from the chaotic scene.
"Did I get him?" he muttered, tightening his grip on the crystalline shard like a knife.
Cold sweat cascaded down Kyrios' injured back, mingling with the maroon stain of blood. His nostrils flared, jaw thrust forward. He was fixated on the creature's ominous movements.
Fear gripped him, threatening to imprison his thoughts, as he witnessed the destructive power of the insect's blade-like claws shattering the once pristine crystal. Fortunately, the impact had an effect on the mantis as well. It was still staggering, trying to get back on its feet. Seizing the opportunity, Kyrios surged forward to attack. He closed the gap between them, letting his body function on the sliver of its remaining strength. The seconds blurred as he readied himself to stab, his muscles coiled with uncertainty. His focus sharpened, and he drew out the clamor of his roaring heartbeat.
Unleashing his pent-up defiance, he lunged forward and stabbed his shard into the mantis' right eye. Nasty fluids splattered over his hands as his enemy stumbled back, letting out an enraged screech. The creature thrashed about, and Kyrios took the chance to dodge downward. Again, he thrust the crystal fragment, this time upward at its left eye. The impact made a sickening crunch as the creature ignored the pain, slashing in a cross pattern against him. Kyrios' body shuddered under the weight of the blow, his chest tanking most of the damage. But it wasn't over; the insect was still brimming with energy. With an angry roar, it swung its arms restlessly, aiming for no particular target. Kyrios stayed still, making as little noise as possible. He was hoping that it would exhaust itself and give him time to escape.
And so it did. After what felt like an eternity of relentless strikes, the monster shifted its behavior. The once ferocious movements began to slow, its attacks growing more sluggish and erratic. It had grown tired, and its energy waned as its strength depleted.
Sqwelp!
The sudden sound of squelching blood filled the chamber as Kyrios looked at the insect. His heart skipped half a beat, watching its abrupt action. Without a target to stab, the insect dug its claws into its own legs, tearing them off entirely.
Rooted by his injured body, he could only watch in numbed horror as a red luster emitted from the wound. More aura formed around its shattered eyes, regenerating them within seconds. Healed up, the insect immediately scouted the surroundings with rapid eye movements. The regeneration wasn't perfect, as it showed clear signs of impaired eyesight, but that didn't matter now. Its claws seemed to steal the life essence out of whatever it cut, even itself.
This was now the worst scenario possible.