Two large, black arms tipped with black claws slammed down in front of Bliss. The light-blue, red-speckled rock fractured under the strike. From the depths of the shadow, a black, cone-shaped monster pulled itself up. A pair of red eyes glowed on its face, its mouth possessing that same red glow. The monster had no teeth to speak of, just that red light spilling out from within it.
Bliss gulped, her golden eyes on the thing that had climbed out of the shadow. What the hell is that thing?
[Shadow Stalker: A creature that can hide in and move through shadows.]
Shadow stalker? Bliss gulped, a sweatdrop rolling down her temple. That exhilaration she felt earlier had dissipated. This thing … seems dangerous. She watched the shadow stalker, readying her claws. The shadow stalker’s glowing eyes were upon her. Its lipless mouth formed a smile, and it lunged forward, its claws coming down.
Bliss jumped back, and the cone-shaped monster split the stone floor again. This thing seems strong. Another strike from the thing forced her further bad, her bunny ears twitching. She glanced to the side, glanced to Lati. Lati was watching from the distance, the snake woman’s eyes showing interest. I guess she is just watching for now.
Bliss turned her attention back to the shadow stalker. The monster came at her again, sending its right claws down towards her. She sidestepped this time. Now. She slashed its outstretched arm, flecks of dark-red blood splattering. The creature pulled its arm back. That did not seem to do all that much actually. Another claw attack came at her, this time from the shadow stalker’s left arm. After a quick sidestep of the attack, she dashed forward and released a Shadow Claw into the monster’s face. The shadow stalker howled, pulling both its arms in defensively. Much better.
The shadow stalker lowered its arms, its glowing red eyes on Bliss. It pulled back and smiled. Just like that, it vanished into the shadows.
This … is not good. This is not good at all. Bliss glanced around nervously, her golden eyes unable to find her foe. Both her bunny ears and tail twitched. Did it run away? No way. She turned around, a feeling of unease pouring over her. It can hide in and move through shadows. This whole environment is shadowy. Even with my Night Vision, I cannot see it when it does that. She felt a sensation on the back of her neck, and her bunny ears twitched again. She turned to find large, black claws coming for her. She jumped back narrowly avoiding the attack.
It is an ambush type. She gulped as she watched the shadow stalker dissolve into the shadows again. It was fighting me head on when it did not view me as a real threat. Now … Now it is using the dimly-lit environment to its advantage. She ducked a swipe and turned to watch it disappear yet again. This complicates things. I’m in trouble if I cannot counter attack. Her golden eyes went to Lati. I do not know if she would actually be much help against this kind of opponent, but … Bliss jumped out of range of the shadow stalker’s next claw attack. I can kind of sense its attacks coming. That means … Bliss sidestepped the shadow stalker’s next claw attack and scored a Shadow Claw to its face.
The shadow stalker reeled back, howling in pain once more. A few life-force lights drifted up from its wounds. It lowered its arms, a grimace on its face. Anger showed in its glowing, red eyes. It rushed Bliss, throwing its right claws at her.
Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.
Did I enrage it? She ducked the shadow stalker’s claws and cut into it again with her own. A few more life-force lights spilled out from it. It did not pull back though, not this time. Instead, it smiled and threw its left claws at her. Guess it gave up on going stealth. That makes this easier. She sidestepped, and the shadow stalker’s left claws vanished as they passed her. Her golden eyes went wide. It can move through shadow. Does that mean? She glanced back and paled. The shadow stalker’s left claws were coming right at her from behind. Oh hell. She pivoted, desperately trying to avoid what looked like it could be a fatal attack. She almost made it. The attack bit into her side, and red splattered forth.
Bliss fell to her knees, her breathing labored, her ears and wings drooping. Her claws faded away. She held her right hand against her wound, red oozing out from between her fingers. I should have known it was up to something when it smiled. It can move through shadows. I should have known. She looked up weakly, her golden eyes going to the shadow stalker. Said shadow stalker raised its arms, a smile still on its face. I’m too weak to dodge. I am going to … die. Her expression changed to that of a hundred-yard-stare. I am going to die. She closed her eyes. I do not want to see it coming.
Her bunny ears twitched as the sound of a scuffle came to her. She cracked her golden eyes open. I am still … alive. Before her, her friend, Lati, had latched onto the shadow stalker from behind with a bear hug. Now the snake woman and the shadow stalker struggled against one another.
“Thanks, Lati.” Bliss’s voice came out weak. I … lost quite a bit … of blood. She took a potion from her inventory, popped the cork, and brought it to her lips. Weakly, she swallowed the sweet, milky liquid. A warmth came to her, replacing the cold feeling that had taken root in her body. The wound at her side knitted shut. A wave of relief rushed over her, and she slouched forward. Her golden eyes went back to the struggle between Lati and the shadow stalker. “Thanks for saving my life, Lati.”
[Inventory:
1. Potion
2. Rock
3. Pocket-watch
4. Empty
5. Empty]
Lati still had the shadow stalker in a bear hug from behind. Even though the monster flailed about trying desperately to shake the snake woman off, she absolutely refused to let go for now. Lati smiled and then sank her fangs into the shadow stalker’s black flesh, injecting her venom into the monster. Only then did the beautiful snake woman let go and back up.
The shadow stalker spun around to face her, pure rage emanating from it. It moved forward and raised its right arm. Instead of attacking, it ended up dropping its right arm and reeling back. Its face contorted as pain wracked it. Its glowing, red eyes bulged outwards. A spittle of blood erupted from its mouth, and then it collapsed lifelessly to the stone floor, more life-force lights spilling out from it. Lati’s venom truly was deadly.