She, or better yet, it walked confidently towards him.

He cursed his fate and roared, "let's get this over with."

The tiny woman made out of mist started to slowly slash its blades left and right like some martial artist flexing its muscles. Zef cursed and guarded himself as best as he could with sweaty palms and watched in trepidation.

It was still ten yards away when suddenly it launched itself towards him in a sudden snap, left sword aiming for his stomach.

Zefs' reflex intercepted with sudden speed and swatted the blade downward while moving backward; he did it with the similar-looking katana but hissed as he unintentionally stepped on his injured foot. The foot flared, then buckled, making him trip on the satchel behind him to land on his rear.

He didn't have time to think. Another thrust advanced towards his chest, which he barely swatted with his large walking stick. It missed his heart and penetrated his shoulder. All this happened in a matter of seconds, he yelled in pain, dropping the stick in the process, and instantly grabbed the blade with the same hand. It cut deep into his palm, but he defiantly roared and stopped it from piercing out of his shoulder.

He might have won that test of strength, yet it slashed him with its left blade, which he blocked again with his right blade. Wittingly it whirled its sword around his in a circular fashion so quickly that he lost his grip, and the blade flew out of his right hand.

He quickly pulled back his free arm, claws extended, and used his long reach to spear into its armpit; his claws dug deep into something that felt like flesh and did enough damage that it dropped the blade silently, which quickly disappeared.

"Not even a scream," he trembled.

The creature's eyes suddenly turned bright like two red dwarf stars as it pulled its blade out of his shoulder with such strength that it cut his palm up to the bone. Zef screamed in agony; snot and spit spewed out of his face.

The misty monster changed its grip on the hilt of its lone sword and swiped it towards his arm, which was still lodged in its armpit. He instinctively withdrew his hand, blades missing his fingers by a few inches.

Its arm didn't stop and swayed like a pendulum, upwards then downwards, aimed towards his neck. Zef used the back of his hand, claws fully extended to throw it off course. Luckily sparks flew as the sword missed his neck and cut a bloody line on his face, blood splashed his chest, but he ignored the burning feeling on his face.

Zef spat a glob of blood onto its eyes, followed by a monstrous kick with his right foot aimed at its crotch with all his strength.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

A crunching sound emitted out of its body, and it flew backward, followed by a tumbling that went on for several yards.

Zef wanted to shout in triumph then noticed the amount of blood spilling out of his shoulder. He tried to think of a plan while putting pressure on his wound.

Jinn!! I'm fighting a jinn, one made out of mist instead of smoke or fire. They don't die...they never die so easily, need to cut off its head. I need to surprise it.

Zef wasn't sure if he was fighting jinn, but it sure seemed like one to him. The old lore of his people said that jinn usually didn't bother people unless it was an evil one and met one to recite scriptures or cut off its head.

Knowing this, he did the only thing he could think of and laid d flat on the ground and played dead.

Across from him, the grey monstrosity quickly got back to its feet, wobbling slightly, staring at itself. Its crotch bent inwards as its spine leaned forward similar to a hunchback, its left arm dangled, but it gazed at Zef with crimson eyes and noticed he was lying down on his back without a sound.

With a glint in its eye, it walked towards him, a blade whirled into being and found purchase on its hand. More tendrils of mist swirled slowly towards its pelvis and armpit and fixed it in no time. Its gem-like eyes dimmed a bit. Still, it dashed towards Zef, who still played dead.

It strafed towards his right and noticed his eyes were closed and his chest silent. It took a few more steps towards the direction of his face and suddenly leaped into the air, both hands on its lone blade thrusting down onto his head.

Zef's senses picked up its movement. His ears and antennas were able enough to discern its position. His antennas warned of something sharp falling towards his head, and he quickly moved his face to the side as the blade scraped his ears and thrust itself onto the yellow stone. His eyes unfolded, and he used his right arm to grab it by the throat and yanked it closer towards him. It tried to roll like an alligator. Nevertheless, he kept his grip tight, which quickly encircled deftly around its neck, and he used every bit of strength to crush it.

They stared into each other golden eyes meeting red when its thrashing increased as it tried to open its grip around its neck. Zef felt elated and watched its glowing eyes dim into a dull red. One of its hands left his hold and hid behind its back. It quickly produced a knife. Zef didn't even notice the change until it plunged the knife into him. A scream escaped him, then the monster twisted the blade, and the lone hand wrapped around its neck fell to the ground abruptly.

The monster touched its almost crushed neck and used its mist to fix the damage; moreover, it perched itself on his chest, watching his eyes dim. It then plucked out the knife from his side as he gasped silently. The smoky entity then looked into his eyes and licked the edge with its grey tongue. Zef could see its misty silhouette brighten a bit when it licked his blood.

As they stared into each other's eyes. The only thought he could think of how its ruby-like eyes reminded him of hell. Then he thought of the red stoned knife which the mantis had cursed him with. The more he thought about it, the angrier he got, even at deaths' doors.

Suddenly, Zef felt the sure hilt of a blade on his right hand with his thumb touching a round jewel. He didn't have to look to know what it was as his antennas affirmed his conclusion. He laughed weakly as bubbles of blood emerged out of his mouth, revealing his canines smeared in red, and watched it grin back when he stabbed the knife into its jugular deftly and twisted it slowly.

Not even a scream came out of its mouth, but shock he could recognize in its eyes as the monster disintegrated into a cloud of mist which swiftly got sucked into his knife through its red gemstone. The gem then turned bright red before going back to its usual luster.